The Anantha chaturdashi-vrata (Bhadrapada shukla Chaturdashi) is widely observed in India. It is also called ‘Ananthapadmanabha-vrata’. Lord Vishnu appeared on this day as Padmanabha lying on the couch of Anantha Sesha (the thousand-hooded serpent).
Anantha vrata is observed with the intention of fulfillment of worldly desires (‘kamya vrata’). This vrata is mainly observed for regaining lost prosperity. On the day of Anantha Chaturdashi, the frequencies of Sri Vishnu are active in the Universe. It is easy for average people to attract and absorb these frequencies on this day.
The presiding Deity of Anantha vrata is Anantha, that is, Sri Vishnu. The Deities Yamuna and Shesha also accompany Sri Vishnu. Anantha Vrata, is dedicated to Lord Anantha Padmanabha Swamy. It is observed on the fourteenth day in Shukla Paksha during Bhadrapada month. Anantha means the infinite and endless. Anantha Padmanabha is Lord Vishnu reclining on the snake Anantha in Anantha Shayana posture. This posture of Lord Vishnu resembles his concern and thoughts about the Universe and its prosperity.
Anantha Padmanabha puja makes devotees free from all their sorrows and keeps them in readiness to challenge any attack from their enemies. Throughout India, Anantha Chaturdashi vrata is observed with utmost devotion. In South India, Anantha Vratha is observed in a festive atmosphere. Special sweets and other dishes are prepared on the day and a portion of it is offered to Brahmins. Anantha Vratha is observed for 14 consecutive years for marital bliss and prosperity of the family.
Why is Ananta Padmanabha Vrata is performed?
Devotees of Lord Vishnu believe that worship of Lord Vishnu in the form of Ananta Padmanabha, will remove their sorrows. The word ‘Ananta itself gives the meaning – endless. Endless joy and happiness is provided by performing Anantha Vratham. Ananta Vratam has to be observed for 14 consecutive years by married couple for their long and everlasting bond of love and affection.
Legend of Ananta Padmanabha Vrata
The legend and the Anant Vrat Katha are mentioned in several Puranas. According to some legends, Lord Krishna suggested King Yudhishtira to observe Anant Vrata for 14 continuous years to get rid of his sorrows and to bring back his wealth and kingdom that he lost in gambling game of Kauravas.
Ananta Daaram – Sacred thread of Anant Vrata
The important ritual of Anant Vrata is tying the Sacred Thread, Anant Daara, to hand. The performers of Anant Vrata place the Anant Daaram along with the idol of Anant Padmanabha to sanctify the thread. Anant Daara is worshipped along with the Lord by showering turmeric powder, kumkum and akshata and all other pujas. Ananta Daara is made of 14 strands which indicate the 14 years of the observance of Anantha Vratha. In some places people prepare it of 14 knots.
After performing Ananta Vratham, women tie Anantha Daaram on their left hand men on to their right hand or vice versa. In some regions, devotees prepare an idol of Lord Anantha Padmanabha swami with Durva (garika or darbha) grass blades and worship the Lord with placing it in a bamboo basket.
Significance of Anantha
Anantha is one of the most significant and prominent names of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. We find several references to the name Anantha.
Anantha means the one who is all pervasive, who is eternal, who is beyond all boundaries and for whom there is no limit either by space, time or location. He is the one who has infinite number of forms and He dwells in the entire Universe. He is invincible and omnipresent. His glory is infinite. He is highly meritorious among the meritorious. No one can describe or define Him precisely. He is also popularly called as Padmanabha the one who has a Lotus like navel or the one who has Lotus in the navel. Anantha Padmanabha is none other than Lord Sri Maha Vishnu.
As per scripts it is said that Lord Sri Krishna had narrated the significance of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Vratha to Dharmaraja. On the advice and direction of Lord Sri Krishna, Dharmaraja had performed this Vratha during their exile in forests. It is said that details of Anantha Padmanabha Vratha Kalpa are mentioned in Bhavishyottara Purana. It is believed and said that those who perform this austerity as per the norms with total devotion and sincerity will be bestowed with multiple merits viz. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Giving a Cow as a charity (Ghodana) on this day is considered as highly sacred and meritorious.
Anantha Chaturdashi Katha
There once lived a brahmin called Sumanta born in Vasishtha Gotra and had married Brighu’s daughter Dheeksha. They had a charming daughter called Susheela. When Susheela was a young girl, she lost her mother. Her father married a woman called Karkashe who was hard hearted and quarrelsome. She made the life of Susheela miserable. In spite of these difficulties at home, Susheela grew to be a fine lady ready to be married. When Sumanta was worried over her marriage, there came to his house looking for a bride, a rishi called Kaundinya. Sumanta gives his daughter to Kaundinya rishi in marriage. With his wife being uncooperative, he could give to his son in law as a marriage gift, a little of fried wheat flour.
Kaundinya accompanied by his wife Susheela left the place and reached the bank of a river during their travel. That day being Bhadrapada shukla Chaturdashi many brahmins and their wives who were wearing red dress, were worshiping Ananta Padmanabha. Curious Susheela approaches these ladies and asks them for details of the vrata. They say that the vrata is called Anantha vrata and the fruits are infinite (anantha); when Susheela showed interest in performing the vrata, they tell her in detail as follows:
The vrata is to be performed on Bhadrapada shukla Chaturdashi. Having taken bath and wearing a clean dress, decorate the altar with devotion. Keep a kalasha on the south of the altar in which you invite the Lord. Keep seven darbhas tied to each other to represent Ananta. Keep a red thread with 14 knots on the altar. Worship the Lord with 14 variety of flowers and 14 variety of leaves. The prasad for this vrata is Atiras. Make 28 of them and serve them to brahmanas. Those attending should be given food and respect. Do this vrata for 14 years each year replacing the thread that was worn in the earlier year. On the 15th year do the udyapana (conclusion with donation of gifts to brahmanas).
Having listened to the narration with attention, faith and devotion, Susheela performed the puja with those gathered there, distributed half of the fried wheat flour to brahmanas, wore the red thread and with the thoughts of Ananta Padmanabha accompanied her husband to his ashram. Because of the power of Anantha vrata, Kaundinya’s ashram acquired beauty and wealth. All his relatives were eagerly waiting to do the Anantha vrata. Susheela had acquired an aura of brilliance.
One day Kaundinya sees the red thread on Susheela’s hand and asks for an explanation. In spite of her telling him the truth, in a fit of anger and jealousy, Kaundinya forcibly removes the thread and throws it in the fire. Susheela picks up the half burnt thread and immerses it in milk. This behavior proved very dear to Kaundinya; pretty soon all his wealth was lost; his relatives deserted him; his cattle died and he now knew that this was on account of his rudeness to Ananta Padmanabha swami in the form of the red thread.
Kaundinya leaves his house in search of Anantha Padmanabha. Like a demented person he enters the jungle. After some days he falls down. The Lord in His infinite compassion comes there in the form of an old brahman, revives him and takes him to a palace where he shows him his four armed form along with Mahalakshmi. Kaundinya praises the Lord in many stotras. The Lord pleased, gives him three boons viz., removal of poverty, ability to follow dharma, mukti saubhagya.
Kaundinya returned home and did the puja with shraddha and bhakti. He lived a life of wealth and happiness. In the bygone days, sages like Agastya, kings like Janaka, Sagara, Dilipa, and Harishchandra have performed this vrata.
Temples of Lord Anantha Padmanabha
We have number of temples especially in South India which are dedicated to Lord Sri Anantha Padmanabha. Prominent among them is the temple at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in Kerala known as Anantha Sayanam. There is also an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Sri Anantha Padmanabha at Sri Kshethra Kudupu near Mangalore. It is said that this temple is in existence since Krita Yuga. Aslesha Bali pooja performed at this temple for Naga dosha is vey popular. It is a rare temple dedicated to Lord Sri Anantha Padmanabha.
There is also another very ancient temple dedicated to Lord Anantha at Ananthagiri about 75 km from Hyderabad city. Here the Lord is said to have manifested as a Salagrama Shila who appears in Trimurthi Swaroopa of Anantha, Narasimha and Srinivasa. It is said that Sage Markandeya had performed penance at this place.
The three Ranganatha kshetras at Sri Rangam (Trichy), Srirangapatna (near Mysore) and Shivana Samudra (about 100 km from Bangalore near Mandya on the way to Mysore) all the three on the banks of sacred river Kaveri also have temples of Lord Maha Vishnu in reclining form resting on Anantha (Bhujaga sayana).
On this auspicious day of Anantha Chaturdasi special celebrations are held at all those temples that are dedicated to Lord Sri Anantha Padmanabha. Reciting Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram, Purusha Sooktham, Sri Vishnu Sooktham on this day is considered as highly meritorious.
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