Lord Vishnu,The Protector,is always in Yoga Nidra.
It is often thought that He sleeps.
He does not.
He is always awake.
Yoga Nidra is a posture,though appearing to be asleep ,one is always aware.
Many of us would have experienced this twilight zone between Sleep and Wakefulness.
What is Wakefulness and Sleep?
Article follows.
As the Protector,Vishnu can not afford to Sleep,nor do the other Gods in Hinduism.
God does not need rest.
It is said that if Lord Natarajan stops dancing,world dissolution would result.
Vishnu is derived from the Sanskrit root Jishnu, support.
Yet Vishnu is portrayed as going to Sleep during Shayari Ekadashi and wakes up on Probhidini Ekadashi.
These two instances are indicative of astronomical phenomenon.
Sanskrit texts have minimum three meanings.
The literal meaning,
One that conveys scientific truth or linked to Natural phenomena and
Deep Philosophical message.
I have written on Shayani Ekadashi.
The period between Shayari Ekadashi and Probhidini Ekadashi is Chatur Masya.
During this period Ascetics engage themselves in prayer in seclusion.
And they stay in one place.
An ascetic,Sanyasi, is not to stay in one place overnight or get food from the same house more than once.
Reason is that it is likely to result in attachment to the place or person.
But in Chatur Masya,the Sanyasi is is decision and is expected to diet barest minimum, preferably on Naturally occurring food,not cooked.
Chaturmas (Sanskrit: चातुर्मास, Cāturmāsa) is a holy period of four months (July to October), beginning on Shayani Ekadashi—the eleventh day of the bright half, Shukla paksha, of Ashadh (fourth month of the Hindu lunar calendar)—until Prabodhini Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the bright half of Kartik (eighth month of the Hindu lunar calendar) in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Chaturmas is reserved for penance, austerities, fasting, bathing in holy rivers and religious observances for all. Devotees resolve to observe some form of vow, be it of silence or abstaining from a favourite food item, or having only a single meal in a day.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturmas
Prabodhini Ekadashi also known as Devotthan Ekadashi, is the 11th lunar day (ekadashi) in the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu month of Kartik. It marks the end of the four-month period of Chaturmas, when god Vishnu is believed to sleep. It is believed that Vishnu sleeps on Shayani Ekadashi and wakes on Prabodhini Ekadashi, thus giving this day the name “Prabodhini Ekadashi” (“awakening eleventh”), Vishnu-prabodhini (“awakening of Vishnu”) and Dev-Prabodhini Ekadashi, Deothan, Dev uthav ekadashi or Dev Oothi ekadashi (“god’s awakening”). The end of Chaturmas, when marriages are prohibited, signifies the beginning of the Hindu wedding season.It is also known as Kartiki Ekadashi, Kartik Shukla ekadashi and Kartiki.Prabodhini Ekadashi is followed by Kartik Poornima….
Ritual.
A fast is observed on Prabodhini Ekadashi and the ritual marriage of the Tulsi plant is performed with god Vishnu, in the form of the holy black colored Shaligram stone, which is regarded as the husband of Tulsi, in its twenty four permutations. During evening time people prepare floor designs by geru paste( red soil) and rice paste which is a very well known tradition. Images of Lakshmi and Vishnu are also prepared from it. Lakshmipujan and Vishnu pujan is observed at evening time with sugarcane, rice, dried red chillies, etc. And, is then given to pandits. This ritual marriage is known as Tulsi Vivah and may be conducted on the next day of Prabodhini Ekadashi instead of Prabodhini Ekadashi itself.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prabodhini_Ekadashi
Tulsi Pooja Details
https://ramanan50.wordpress.com/2014/06/14/vishnu-destroys-chastity-turns-saligrama-blac/
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