As winter’s first month arrives, and the auspicious Ekādaśī graces the calendar, a devoted soul prepares for a sacred observance. At the quiet hour of Brāhma Muhūrta, before dawn, he rises—his heart free from desire and anger—ready to honor the holy day. He journeys to the confluences of rivers, sacred fords, ponds, or streams, seeking their purifying waters. If unable to travel, he bathes at home, maintaining self-control and reverence. As he bathes, he prays: “Having bathed in all the sacred fords, grant me always that merit of bathing.” With his senses restrained, he satisfies the gods and ancestors through prayer and japa. Then, he turns to worship the Lord Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, bathing their image with the five nectars and fragrant water. He offers a heartfelt mantra: “You are bathed, O Lord of gods, accompanied by Lakṣmī, Lord of the universe; O Lord, deliver me from the terrible bondage of worldly existence.” Next, he worships Janārdana and Lakṣmī with Vedic and Purāṇic mantras, pouring out his devotion. He offers sandal and other offerings, reciting: “Salutations to the god Matsya, salutations to the god Kūrma.” He continues: “Salutations to the god Vārāha and to Narasiṃha; salutations to the god Buddha, and again, salutations to Kalki. Salutations to the god Rāma, salutations to you, god Viṣṇu; salutations to you, the soul of all.” He worships Hari, invoking names beginning with Keśava. He offers incense, divine, fragrant, pure, and sweet-scented: “O Lord of gods, please accept it.” He lights a lamp, knowing it dispels darkness and bestows radiance, and prays: “May Janārdana be pleased with me.” He presents food, offering it to Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa as the highest nectar. With devotion, he meditates on Janārdana and offers arghya, pouring water with a fruit or a conch in hand. He prays: “Whatever sin I have committed over thousands of lifetimes, let all of that be destroyed by Your grace, O Keshava.” Thus, he recites the arghya mantra. He brings a new, spotless pot filled with ghee or oil before Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. Upon this, he places a copper or clay vessel and sets a wick made of ninety threads. He kindles the lamp, sets the pot firmly, and worships it with flowers and fragrant offerings. Pure in mind and body, he makes a resolve. He recites: “In the dwellings where there is no wind, the one sovereign lord of what has been and what will be shines forth.” He prays that the lamp, arranged for a year like an unbroken fire-offering, may please Keshava. Throughout the observance, he masters his senses and devotes himself to scriptural knowledge, avoiding conversation with fallen sinners or heretical men. At night, he keeps vigil with singing, dancing, musical instruments, and recitations of sacred texts, stories of dharma, and observances. At dawn, he performs the morning rites, then feeds Brahmins with devotion, honoring them as his means allow. After breaking his fast, he bows and takes leave, maintaining his resolve to observe day and night for a year. The lamp, ideally made of a pala of gold, or half or a quarter of that, bears a wick of silver, or even half or a quarter of two palas. The pot is filled with ghee and accompanied by a copper vessel; the image of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa is fashioned from gold, as one’s means permit. This observance is for the devoted who seek the gateway to liberation. A learned man invites excellent and virtuous Brahmins: twelve in the bright half of the month, six in the middle, or three or even one, as circumstances allow. A peaceful Brahmin with his wife, skilled in rituals, learned in history and Purana, knowledgeable in dharma, and gentle, is chosen. He honors ancestors, teachers, gods, and Brahmins, offering water for the feet, garments, and ornaments. Together with his wife, he worships Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa with devotion, accompanied by the lamp and wick. Placing them upon a copper vessel and with a pot of ghee, he gives them to a Brahmin, meditating on supreme Narayana and reciting: “In this world pervaded by the darkness of ignorance, you are the destroyer of sin, the giver of knowledge and the bestower of liberation; therefore, I offer this, O sinless one.” He gives gifts to the Brahmin according to his ability, then feeds them with ghee, rice pudding, and drinks. Afterwards, he covers the Brahmin and his wife with garments, gives a bed with furnishings, and presents a cow with its calf. He gives gifts as he can, and also feeds and honors friends, relatives, and kinsmen. At the conclusion of the lamp vow, a great festival is held. With humility, he bows, dismisses the guests, and asks forgiveness. The merit gained by this observance, as well as that obtained by solstitial rites, is attained through the year-long lamp vow. The fruits of monthly vows, innumerable acts of charity, and vows of yoga are also achieved by performing this vow. The reward a learned man obtains from gifts of cows, land, gold, and especially household gifts, is gained by one who gives a lamp. Thus, the sacred observance, performed with devotion and purity, becomes a luminous path to merit, wisdom, and liberation.