What is so special about Kaisika Dwadasi?
Well, Lord Varaha Himself has said that the person who sings the glory of the Lord on this day, as told by Him, will definitely attain moksha and will also get the power to save the people who seek his refuge. As per Varaha Purana, the story goes that after saving Bhoomi Piratti, the Lord was consoling the crying Devi.
The Devi said, “ My Lord, as I’m Your wife, You immediately came to My rescue. But what about My children, the Bhooloka vasis (beings on Earth)? Will You also save them from this ocean of samsara?
The Lord narrates the story of Nampaaduvaan
The Lord, consoling the Devi said that, by singing My Glory, one is sure to get salvation and thus stressing the point, He narrated to the Devi, the story of Nampaaduvaan.
In the town of Thirukkurungudi, in the Tirunelveli district, lived an ardent devotee by the name “Nampaaduvaan”. Though he was not allowed to enter the temple for his birth in a low sect, he always sang of the glories of the Lord standing outside the temple.
Thus, on one Kaisika Ekadashi day in Sukla Paksha of Karthika (November – December) he observed the fast, and by night had begun to travel to the temple, which was far away from his home so that the next day morning, he, as usual, could stand outside the temple to sing about the glory of the Lord.
Promises
En route, he had to pass through a forest. Thus singing about the Lord, as he was walking through it, suddenly, a Brahmarakshasa (demon) came and stopped him to feed on him. Nampaaduvaan, who was afraid, not for his life, but because he would not be able to complete his fast by singing in front of the Lord, pleaded to the Brahmarakshasa, to let him go, promising to him that he’d come back after singing in front of the Lord.
But the Brahmarakshasa didn’t believe him. Nampaaduvaan had to make eighteen promises to him to get released.
Hurriedly he went to the temple, completed his singing, and was on his way back when, the Lord, to test him, came in the form of a human, enquired about him, and tried to somehow dissuade him from going back to the Brahmarakshasa. But Nampaaduvaan was adamant in his promise and went forward.
An astonished Brahmarakshasa gave him an offer, “If you would give me the fruits (essence) of his offerings that you had sung today, I’ll let you go”. But Nampaaduvaan said, “I would happily die than giving the essence to you”. The Brahmarakshasa now started pleading to Nampaaduvaan that, “ in my previous birth, I was a Brahmin named ‘Soma Sarma’.
While performing a yagna, as I had wrongly uttered the mantras, I was cursed to be a Brahmarakshasa”. He thus begged to Nampaaduvaan to give him the fruit of at least one pann (raga) sung by him.
Compassionate Nampaaduvaan said, “ I had sung a raga named ‘Kaisika’. I give its fruits to you”. Immediately, the Brahmarakshasa was liberated and reached heaven.
The path to liberation
Lord Varaha said to Bhoomi Piratti, “Like Nampaaduvaan, whoever reads or listens to ‘Kaisika Mahaathyam’ on Dwadasi day in the month of Karthika, will be liberated and will also get the power to save the people who seek his refuge”.
Kaisika Dwadasi celebration in Tirumala
In Tirumala temple, the Kaisika Dwadasi festival is celebrated grandly. Kaisika Purana is recited. Also, Lord Ugra Srinivasamurthy (one among the Panchaberas; five forms of the Lord) along with His Consorts will be taken in procession around the temple in the wee hours and will be brought back inside the temple before sunrise, on this special day.
Only on this day, Sri Ugra Srinivasa Murthy is taken out from the temple in a procession. So, let us all read and listen to the ‘Kaisika Mahaathmyam’ on this Kaisika Dwadasi day in the temple of the Lord and thus attain His Lotus feet.
