Ananta Chaturdashi is a notable Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Vishnu, celebrated on the fourteenth day of the waxing moon during the Bhadrapada month in the Hindu lunar calendar. The festival is significant for honoring Vishnu’s Ananta form, symbolized as the divine serpent Shesha (Sheshnag), and marks the culmination of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, commonly referred to as Ganesh Chaudas. On this day, devotees perform the immersion (visarjana) of Lord Ganesha’s idols, signifying the end of the Ganesh festival.

Historical and Mythological Context

The mythological roots of Ananta Chaturdashi are found in ancient texts like the Mahabharata and the Agni Purana. According to these sources, the festival celebrates the Ananta form of Vishnu, who is believed to offer liberation from sins and eternal blessings to his devotees. The legend associated with this festival emphasizes themes of devotion, repentance, and divine intervention.

The Legend of Sushila and Kaundinya

The festival’s legend, detailed in the Mahabharata, narrates the story of a devoted woman named Sushila. While journeying near a riverbank, Sushila came across a group of women engaged in the worship of Ananta. They informed her that their ritual, known as vrata, was a pious observance that would bring great merit and protection from misfortune. The ritual involved creating an Ananta form from darbha (sacred grass) and placing it in a basket, which was then honored with flowers, lamps, incense, and food offerings.

Motivated by their explanation, Sushila participated in the ritual and was adorned with a 14-knotted sacramental thread, which was tied around her wrist. After the ritual, she and her husband, Sage Kaundinya, relocated to the town of Amaravati. The townspeople, impressed by their piety, provided them with a lavish home. Kaundinya’s fortunes soared, but he soon observed the thread on Sushila’s wrist and dismissed its significance. Believing their prosperity was solely due to his efforts, he discarded the thread into the fire despite Sushila’s pleas.

As a consequence of this act of disrespect, Kaundinya and Sushila faced severe misfortune. They fell into poverty, lost the support of their neighbors, and their house was destroyed by fire. Realizing the gravity of his actions, Kaundinya set out on a quest to seek forgiveness from Ananta. During his journey, he witnessed various divine phenomena and eventually encountered Ananta in the guise of an old Brahmin. After explaining the significance of the sights he had seen and expressing his regret, Kaundinya received Ananta’s forgiveness. Ananta instructed Kaundinya to observe the Ananta Chaturdashi vow for fourteen years, promising him renewed prosperity and a place among the stars after his death. Kaundinya and Sushila followed this directive and led a life of continued prosperity and happiness.

Religious Observances and Rituals

Ananta Chaturdashi is marked by elaborate rituals and observances, particularly in regions such as Nepal, Bihar, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The rituals are deeply symbolic and involve several key elements:

1. Preparation of the Ritual Plank

✪Creating the Plank: A wooden plank is prepared with fourteen vertical strips of kumkuma (vermilion powder). These strips symbolize the fourteen knots of the Ananta thread and represent the sacredness of the occasion.

✪Offering Food Items: On these kumkuma strips, fourteen puris (fried wheat bread) and fourteen puas (sweet deep-fried wheat bread) are placed. These offerings are symbolic of the abundance and blessings sought from Vishnu.

2. Symbolic Offerings

✪Panchamrita: A bowl of panchamrita, a sacred mixture made of milk, curd, jaggery or sugar, honey, and ghee, is placed on the wooden plank. Panchamrita represents the Kshira Sagara (Ocean of Milk) and is an essential element of the worship.

3. Ananta Thread Ritual

✪Preparation: A thread with fourteen knots, symbolizing Vishnu’s Anantarupa (form of Ananta), is wrapped around a cucumber. This thread is then dipped into the panchamrita five times, symbolizing the divine essence of Vishnu.

✪Wearing the Thread: The Ananta thread is tied on the right arm above the elbow by men and on the left arm by women. This thread remains tied for fourteen days and is then ceremoniously removed.

4. Fasting and Devotional Practices

✪Fasting: Devotees observe a fast (upavasa) on Ananta Chaturdashi, abstaining from food and engaging in prayers and spiritual practices to seek Vishnu’s blessings.

✪Prayers and Pujas: Special prayers and pujas (ritualistic worship) are performed, focusing on the Ananta form of Vishnu and seeking his divine grace and protection.

Significance and Impact

Ananta Chaturdashi holds profound spiritual significance, symbolizing the interplay of devotion, repentance, and divine intervention. The festival’s rituals and legends emphasize the importance of honoring divine forms, the consequences of disrespect, and the path to redemption. By observing these traditions, devotees aim to strengthen their spiritual connections, seek forgiveness for past misdeeds, and attract divine blessings for prosperity and well-being.