Bhaimyekadashi 2012 date

Bhaimyekadashi 2012 date is 10 February. Bhaimyekadashi falls on the eleventh lunar day of the light half of Magha.

Legend behind Bhamyekadashi

Bhaimyekadashi is a festival of traditional origin, said to have been first observed by Bhima, one of the Pandava prince, in the honour of lord Vishnu, according to the instructions of Vasudeva. Every eleventh lunar day, it may be observed, is held in extravagant veneration by the Hindus, but more particularly by the Vaishnavas, Fasting on the eleventh is declared to be equally efficacious with a thousand aswamedhas, and eating during its continuance as heinous a sin as parricide, or the murder of a sage. This extravagance demonstrates its sectarian character, and consequently it’s more modern origin. The notion may have grown, however, out of particular appropriations of the lunar day, when the eleventh was set apart, as in the present case, to the adoration of Vishnu.

Methods to observe Fast

According to the ritual, the worshipper on this occasion is to fast on the tenth, and bathe at sunset. He is to bathe at dawn on the eleventh, and having previously constructed a temporary temple in the court-yard of his house, he is to cause burnt-offerings to be made to Purushottama and other forms of Vishnu, by Brahmans acquainted with the Vedas; he himself going through a rather complicated series of prayers and gesticulations. There is no image of Vishnu, and he is invoked by formula derived from the Vedas. The worshipper observes a strict fast throughout the day, and keeps a vigil at night with music and singing. On the morning of the twelfth he dismisses the Brahmans with presents, bathes and then takes a meal of which flesh forms no part. The performance of this ceremony expiates the sin incurred by omission of any of the prescribed fast during the preceding twelve month.