Devotees Flock to Narayan Temples on Harishayani Ekadashi

Kathmandu. On the occasion of Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi, also known as Harishayani Ekadashi, devotees have been crowding since early this morning to worship and visit Narayan temples in the valley, including Budhanilkantha, Chaturvyuh Narayansthan, and Narayan temples across the country.

Devotees have been crowding Narayan temples since early morning to worship and visit Lord Vishnu. It is a religious belief that Lord Vishnu sleeps in Ksheersagar from today. A crowd of devotees has gathered at Chandranarayan, Seshanarayan, Ichangunarayan, and Bishankhunarayan temples in the valley. These Narayan temples are called the four Narayans.

It is a popular belief that worshipping and visiting the four Narayans today and on Hari Bodhini Ekadashi will fulfill one's desires. Therefore, devotees come from far and wide, reserving vehicles, to worship and visit the four Narayans.

Those who cannot visit the four Narayans can visit Budhanilkantha Narayansthan in the northern part of the valley, and it is believed that their wishes will be fulfilled. In Budhanilkantha, the idols of Hari and Har, i.e., Vishnu and Shiva, are installed on the same large stone.

Similarly, a crowd of devotees has gathered at the Chaturvyuh Narayan temple located in Narayanhiti in Durbar Marg. The chief priest of the Narayanhiti Chaturvyuh Math, Rajeshwarananda Saraswati, informed that the Chaturvyuh Narayan temple houses the idols of all four Narayans. He stated that those who cannot visit the four Narayans will receive the same merit as visiting all four temples by visiting the Chaturvyuh Narayan temple. Based on this belief, devotees have been crowding the temple since early this morning.

Mahant Nigamananda Swami informed that devotees have been crowding the temple since three in the morning. As devotees started arriving, the Budhanilkantha Narayansthan Dashanami Math opened the temple doors for visitors from three in the morning.

There is a unique idol of Lord Narayan sleeping on a water pond. This idol attracts both domestic and foreign tourists to Budhanilkantha.

Nepalis are also starting special worship of Tulsi in their homes from today. This worship continues until Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, also known as Hari Bodhini Ekadashi. This four-month period is also called Chaturmas. Many devotees fast during these four months. Chaturmas discourses are also given at Narayan temples during this period.

Similarly, devotees have been crowding Narayan temples in Narayanatar in Godawari Municipality Ward No. 5, various Narayan temples in the Pashupati area, Satya Narayan temple in the Handigaun area, Narayan temple in Basantapur Durbar area, and other Narayan temples across the country, including the Kathmandu Valley.