Ananta Chathurdashi/Ananta vrata

Ananta vrata suladhi

• This vratha is performed every year on the 14th day (Chaturdasi) of sukla paksha in Bhadrapada Masam.
• In this vratha, Lord Sri Maha Vishnu is worshipped in the form of Anantha with shodasa upachaara pooja.
• Seven # Dharbha  are tied together representing Lord Anantha with seven hoods.
• Goddess Yamuna Devi is also worshipped along with Lord Anantha on this day.
• Two kalasas are prepared for this vrata, one for yamuna and one for ananta. Perform yamuna pooja followed by ananta pooja.
• It is believed 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 stay 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 blessed with  Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha
• The word ‘Ananta’ means endless and devotees believe that Lord Narayana will clear all the difficulties in one’s life, if the Ananta Vrata is observed with utmost devotion.

Significance of ananta padmanabha in vishnu sahasra naama:

Kamadevah kamapalah kami kantah krutagamah
Anirdeshya-vapur vishnur viro ananto dhananjayah

Ananto huta-bhug bhokta sukhado naikajo-grajah
Anirvinnah sadamarshi lokadhishthana-madbhutah

Ananta-rupo ananta-shri jitamanyur bhayapahah
Chaturashro gabhiratma vidisho vyadisho dishah

Namostvananthaya Sahasramuurthaye!
SahasraPaadaakshi Sirorubaahave!
Sahasranaamne Purushaya Saswathe!
SahasraKoti Yugadhaarine Namah!!

Shaantaakaaram Bhujaga-Shayanam Padmanaabham Suresham
Vishvaadhaaram Gagana-Sadrisham Meghavarnam Shubha-angam
Lakshmi-Kaantam Kamala-Nayanam Yogibhir-dhyana-gamyam
Vande Vishnum Bhava-Bhaya-Haram Sarva-Lokaika-Natham

Significance of number 14 in this vrata:

• It is performed on the 14th day in the Lunar Calendar.
• This vratha is performed for 14 years before it is ended with Udyapana.
• Lord Ananta is worshipped with 14 varieties of flowers, fruits and dishes.
• A special sweet dish made with wheat flour and jaggery(atiras) is prepared in 28 # and half of it is given as prasada to a Brahmin after Nivedana to Lord Anantha.
• Worshipping Lord Anantha with a red coloured silk thread having 14 knots known as Thora.

Thora (Sacred Thread)

• On completion of the pooja this Thora is tied to the shoulder or wrist of the Grihastha. It is believed to act as a protection (Raksha) to the one who wears it.
• It is retained till next year and replaced with a new one at the time of Sri Anantha Padmanabha vratha.
• Both men and women participate in this vratha.

Find Ashtothra link: Ananta chathurdashi Ashtothra namavali

Dora granthi pooja
1)krishnaya namah Prathama granthim Poojayaami
2)vishnave namah Dwitheeya granthim Poojayaami
3)jishnave namah Thruteeya granthim Poojayaami
4) kalaya namah Chaturtha granthim Poojayaami
5) bramhane namah Panchama granthim poojayaami
6) bhaskaraya namah shashta granthim poojayaami
7) sheshaya namah Saptama granthim poojayaami
8)somaya namah ashtma granthim poojayaami
9) eshwaraya namah Navama granthim poojayaami
10) vishwatmane namah Dashama granthim poojayaami
11) mahakalaya namah ekadasha granthim poojayaami
12)srishtisthityaantakarinye namah Dwdasha granthim poojayaami
13) achyutaya namah trayodasha granthim poojayaami
14) anantapadmanabhaya namah Chaturdarsha granthim poojayaami

Ananatha chaturdarshi Dhora grahana Mantra:
Samsaara gaharaguhaasu sukham vivarthum
Vaam Chamthi Ye Kuru kulodhbhava Shudhdha sathwaah||

Sampoojya cha thribhuvanesham Ananatha Devam
Bhadnamthi dakshina kare vara dhhorakam the||

Story:

(Source:http://www.divyashaligram.com/articles/ananth_chaturdashi.html#.V84F5oYrLIU)

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.