Toli Ekadasi (తొలి ఏకాదశి)

Toli Ekadasi (తొలి ఏకాదశి)is considered as the first festival of coastal Andhra Pradesh.Ekadasi is also known as Deva Sahayani Ekadasi or Hari Sayani Ekadasi and the Chatur Mas Vrat (Four Holy Months in Hinduism) begins from the day.The night time of Devas begins on this day and is believed  that Lord Vihnu goes to sleep from the day.

Toli Ekadasi is celebrated in Coastal Region of Andhra Pradesh,in the month of may or early part of june.

Toli Ekadasi is regarded as a very sacred day to Farmers.This festivals replicates Eruvaka festival that is celebrated by farmers.Farmers sow seeds after the first rain on the day of Toli Ekadasi.This festival is marked with pooja of all agricultural implements.As this is a sacred festival for farmers,people who want to get into farming are imposed on this day.

The farmers fast on this sacred day to pay their homage and break the fast at the dawn commensing with a  pooja and eat fruits after the fast.

It is believed that by praying on Toli Ekadasi will help a person from redumption if sins.

MEDITATION ON VISHNU
Om sāntākāram bhujaga-shayanam padma-nābham suresham

vishvādhāram gagana-sadrisham megha-varnam sabhāngam

Lakshmi-kāntam kamala-nayanam yogi-vidya dhyāna-gamyam

vande Vishnum bhava-bhaya-haram sarva-lokaika-nātham

I salute Vishnu, the sole master of the universe, whose presence is very peaceful, who stretches Himself on a serpent-bed, who sports a lotus in His navel, who is the one lord of all the Devas, who is the support of the worlds, who is subtle and all-pervading like the sky, whose complexion is like that of the clouds, whose form is very beautiful, who is the consort of Sri, whose eyes are like lotus petals, who is meditated upon by yogis and who eradicates the fear of samsara.

śuklāṁbaradharaṁ viṣṇuṁ śaśivarṇaṁ caturbhujam |

prasannavadanaṁ dhyāyet sarvavighnōpaśāṁtaye || 1 ||

Dressed in white you are,

oh,all prevading one,

and glowing with the colour of moon.

With four arms,you are,the all knowing one

I meditate on your ever-smiling face,

and pray,romove all obstacles on my way.