Shayani or Padma Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 19th JULY 2013

On the advice of Angira Ṛishi , King Mandhata and his whole kingdom strictly observed Padma Ekadhasi

This is the day where Sriman Narayana falls asleep with the other demigods in Ksheerasagar – cosmic ocean of milk – on Shesha naaga, the thousand-headed cosmic serpent. Vishnu finally awakens from his slumber four months later on Prabodhini Ekadhasi during Oct-Nov. This period is known as Chathurmasya and coincides with the rainy season. Thus, Shayani Ekadashi is the beginning of Chathurmasya. Devotees start observing the Chathurmasya Vratha to please Vishnu on this day. Thus this Ekadhasi is also known as Deva-Shayani Ekadhasi. Deva refers to Sri Vishnu and Shayani denotes resting or sleeping.

Sriman Narayana has told that,

• “Whether one takes fruits, roots, or even water on My sleeping day, or My turning-over-on-My-side day of Ekadhasis, he pierces My heart with a sharp spear.”

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Āṣāḍha (June-July) is the Shayani or Padma Ekadhasi.

• As Sri Hari will be going into Yoga Nidra on this Ekadhasi, One should fast this Ekadhasi completely even without taking water.
• Whoever observes this sacred fast will never enter into hell.
• This Ekādhaśī bestows perfection upon its faithful observers, removes all kinds of bad elements, and destroys all obstacles on the path to perfection.
• As Chathurmasya starts from this Ekadhasi, by fasting completely on this Ekadhasi brings invaluable merits.

   There is a wonderful historical event that was recorded in the scriptures regarding this Ekādhaśī. Just hearing this account destroys all kinds of sins, along with all obstacles on the path to spiritual perfection.

   There was once a saintly king named Māndhātā in the Sun dynasty who always stood up for the truth. Once because of some sin in the kingdom, there was a drought for three years. Everything became impossible for everyone without water and grains. The king meditated upon the cause of their problem for a long time, but even after searching his past and present character he honestly said that he can find no sin. Finally the king decided to go into forest searching for advices from sages.

   At last he came upon the Aṅgirā Muni, whose effulgence lit up all directions. King Māndhātā was very please and immediately dismounted his horse and offered his respectful obeisances and told him their problem.

   Aṅgirā Ṛṣi said to the king, “The present age, Satya yuga, is the best of all ages, for in this age Dharma stands on all four legs. In this age everyone respects brāhmaṇas as the topmost members of society. Only twice-born brāhmaṇas are allowed to perform Vedic austerities and penances. Although this is a standard, there is one śudra who is unlawfully performing the rites of austerity and penance in your kingdom. This is why there is no rain in your land. You should therefore punish this laborer with death, for by so doing you will remove the contamination inflicted by his actions and restore peace to your subjects.”

   The king then replied, “How can I kill an offense-less performer of austerity and sacrifice? Please give me some spiritual solution.”

   Aṅgirā Ṛṣi said, “O king, you should observe a fast on the Ekādhaśī that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Āṣāḍha. This auspicious day is named Padmā Ekādhaśī, and by its influence plentiful rains and thus grains and other foodstuffs will surely return to your kingdom. This Ekādhaśī bestows perfection upon its faithful observers, removes all kinds of bad elements, and destroys all obstacles on the path to perfection. O king, you, your relatives, and your subjects should all observe this sacred Ekādhaśī fast. Then everything in your kingdom will undoubtedly return to normal.”

   Hearing these words King Māndhātā assembled all the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiṣyas and śudras in his kingdom and instructed them to strictly observe this important fast day. After they had observed it, the rains fell, just as the sage had predicted, and in due course of time there were abundant crops and a rich harvest of grain. By the mercy of the Supreme Lord Hṛṣīkeśa, the master of the senses, all the subjects of King Māndhātā became extremely happy and prosperous.

Yogini Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 4th JULY 2013

Fasting on Yogini Ekadhashi destroys heaps of past sinful reactions and makes most pious, will be freed from terrible curses.

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Jyeshta (May – June) is the Yogini Ekadhasi.

• Fasting on Yogini Ekadhasi will nullify all the curses. The curses and its reactions in this birth and in our previous births will be nullified by fasting Yogini Ekadhasi.
• Whatever merit one obtains by feeding 88,000 pious brāhmaṇas is also obtained simply by observing a strict fast on Yoginī Ekādaśī.
• This fast will destroy heaps of past sinful reactions and makes us most pious.
• In the puranas, an incident has been noted that Hemamali, the Yaksha has nullified his curse and its reactions by fasting on this Yogini Ekadhasi.

The king of Alakāpuri – Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods – was a steadfast devotee of lord Śiva. Hemamali was his personal gardener. Hemamālī‟s daily duty was to visit Mānasarovara Lake and bring back flowers for his master, Kuvera, with which he would use them in the puja offerings to lord Śiva. One day, after picking the flowers, Hemamālī went to his wife for sex instead of returning directly to his master and fulfilling his duty by bringing the flowers for the puja.

Knowing this , Kuvera who was totally angry cursed Hemamali to fall in the lower planets and to suffer from white leprosy and to become separated from your beloved wife. And so Hemamālī fell at once from grace in Alakāpurī and became ill with the terrible affliction of white leprosy. 

As he was wandering near Himalayas, he had the wonderful good fortune to come upon the great saint Mārkandeya rishi, the best of ascetics, whose duration of life it is said, extends to seven of the days of Brahmā. Hemamali told the rishi all his story and asked him for help.

Softhearted Mārkandeya rishi replied, “Because you have told me the truth, I shall tell you about a fast day that will benefit you greatly. If you fast on the Ekādhaśī that comes during the dark fortnight of the month of jeshta you will surely be freed of this terrible curse.”

Upon hearing these blessed words from the renowned sage, Hemamālī fell to the ground in complete gratitude and offered him his humble obeisances again and again. But Mārkandeya rishi stood there and lifted Hemamālī up, filling him with inexpressible happiness.

Thus, as the sage had instructed him, Hemamālī dutifully observed the Ekādhaśī fast, and by its influence he again became a handsome Yakṣa. Then he returned home, where he lived very happily with his wife.

Nirjala Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 20th JUNE 2013

If a person fasts on Nirjala Ekadhasi, the Visnuduttas will protect him from the fearful Yamadutas and take him to Lord Vishns abode

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Jyeshta (May-June) is the Nirjala Ekadhasi.

• Whoever fasts on this Ekādhaśī receives the merits of bathing in all the places of pilgrimage, giving all kinds of charities to worthy persons, and fasting on all the dark and light Ekādaśīs throughout the year, in one go.
• Whoever fasts on this Ekādhaśī truly becomes a great person and achieves all manner of opulence and wealth, grains, strength, and health. And at the fearful moment of death, the terrible Yamadūtas will refuse to approach him.
• Even if sins are equal in volume to Mount Sumeru or to Mandarācala Hill, if he or she observes this Ekādhaśī, the sins that have been accumulated all become nullified and are burned to ashes. Such is the great power of this Ekādhaśī.
• Observance of this Ekādhaśī fast alone promotes one to the supreme abode of Śrī Vishnu.
• Whosoever eats any grains on Ekādhaśī becomes contaminated by sin and verily eats only sin. In effect, he has already become a dog-eater, and after death he suffers a hellish existence.
• Who observes this sacred Jyeṣṭha-śukla Ekādhaśī and gives something in charity certainly achieves liberation from the cycle of repeated birth and death and attains to the supreme abode.
• Observing this Ekādhaśī, which is merged with Dvādhaśī, frees one from the horrible sin of killing a brāhmaṇa, drinking liquor and wine, becoming envious of one’s spiritual master and ignoring his instructions, and continually telling lies.
• On the next day (Dwadhasi), if one satisfies a qualified brāhmaṇa with nice sweets and a donation of cows and money – such a person certainly pleases the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva, so much so that one hundred previous generations in his family undoubtedly go to the Supreme Lord’s abode, even though they may have been very sinful, of bad character, and guilty of suicide, etc. Indeed, one who observes this amazing Ekādhaśī rides on a glorious celestial airplane (vimāna) to the Lord’s abode.
• One who on this day gives a brāhmaṇa a waterpot, an umbrella, or shoes surely goes to the heavenly planets.
• Whoever performs the śrāddha ceremony to the forefathers on the dark-moon day called amāvasyā, particularly if it occurs at the time of a solar eclipse undoubtedly achieves great merit. But this same merit is achieved by him who simply hears this sacred narration – so powerful and so dear to the Lord is this Ekādhaśī.

Apara Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 4th JUNE 2013

Whoever fails to observe Apara Ekadasi must be reborn in the material world like one bubble among millions in the sea

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Vaishaka (April-May) is the Aparā Ekādhaśī.

• This Ekādhaśī is so sublime and meritorious that even the greatest sins can be erased by its potency.
• This Aparā Ekādhaśī is unlimitedly meritorious. Whoever fasts on this holy day becomes famous all over the universe. Even such sins as killing a brahmana, a cow or an embryo; blasphemy; or having sex with another man’s wife are completely eradicated by observing Aparā Ekādhaśī.
• Warriors who fall from their kṣatriya-dharma and flee the battlefield go to a ferocious hell. But, even such a fallen kṣatriya, if he observes fasting on the Aparā Ekādhaśī, is freed of that great sin and goes to heaven.
• One who does not observe this fast must be born again in the material world, like one bubble among millions in a huge body of water, or like a small ant among all other species.

People who bear false witness are most sinful. A person who falsely or sarcastically glorifies another; one who cheats while weighing something on a scale; one who fails to execute the duties of his varṇa or āśrama (an unqualified man’s posing as a brāhmaṇa, for example, or a person reciting the Vedas wrongly); one who invents his own scriptures; one who cheats others; one who is a charlatan astrologer, a cheating accountant, or a false āyurvedic doctor. All these are surely as bad as persons who bears false witness and they are all destined for hellish punishments. But simply by observing Aparā Ekādhaśī, all such sinners become completely free of their sinful reactions.

A disciple is the greatest sinner who, after receiving a proper spiritual education from his spiritual master, turns around and blasphemes him. Such a so-called disciple suffers unlimitedly. But even he, rascal though he be, if he simply observes Aparā Ekādhaśī, can attain to the spiritual world. 

The merit attained by one who performs all of the following acts of piety is equal to the merit achieved by one who observes Aparā Ekādhaśī:

• bathing three times daily in Puṣkara-kṣetra during Kārtika (October-November);
  
• bathing at Prayāg in the month of Māgh (January-February) when the sun is in the zodiac of Capricorn;
• rendering service to Lord Śiva at Varāṇasī during Śiva-rātri; offering oblations to one‟s forefathers at Gayā;
  
• bathing in the sacred River Gautamī when Jupiter transits Leo;
  
• having darśana of Lord Śiva at Kedārnātha;
  
• seeing Lord Badrinātha when the Sun transits the sign of Aquarius;
  
• bathing at the time of a solar eclipse at Kurukṣetra and giving cows, elephants, and gold there in charity.
  

All the merit one gets from performing these pious acts is gained by a person who observes the Aparā Ekādhaśī fast. Also, the merit attained by one who donates a pregnant cow, along with gold and fertile land, is attained by one who fasts on this day.

In other words, Aparā Ekādhaśī is an axe that cuts down the fully matured forest full of trees of sinful deeds, it is a forest fire that burns sins as if they were kindling firewood, it is the sun blazing before one’s dark misdeeds, and it is a lion stalking the meek deer of impiety.

Therefore, whoever truly fears his past and present sins must observe Aparā Ekādhaśī very strictly and worship the Supreme Personality of God, Śrī Trivikrama. One who does so is freed of all his sins and promoted to the abode of Lord Viṣṇu.

Anyone who hears or reads this description is certainly freed from all kinds of sins.

NOTE : The Vedas declare, narAh budbudA samAh: “The human form of life is like a bubble in water”. In water, many bubbles form and then suddenly burst a few seconds later. Thus if a person does not utilize his rare human body to serve the Supreme Personality of God, Śrī Vishnu, his life has no more value or permanence than a bubble in water. Therefore, as the Lord herein recommends, we should serve Him by fasting on Hari-vAsara, or Ekādhaśī.

Kaamadha Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 22nd APRIL 2013

Kaamadha Ekadhasi

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the light fortnight of the month Chaithra Maasa (March-April) is the Kaamadha Ekadhasi. 

• Several sin’s carried from several previous births will be burned to ashes by fasting on Kaamadha Ekadhasi.
• By this vratha, the soul gets purified and it bestows the highest merit.
• It eradicates even the sin of killing.
• It also nullifies demoniac curses and cleanses the consciousness.
• In all the three worlds, among movable and immovable living entities, there is no better day.
• Lord Sri Rama’s great grandfather King Dilipa once asked Sri Vashishta muni about Kaamadha Ekadhasi. He related King Dilipa a story. A gandharva was cursed to become a cannibal (a great man eating demon) by a King. But his wife, with the advice of Sage Shrngi, fasted on Kaamadha Ekadhasi and on dwadhasi day she gave away all the merits to her husband which completely burned all his sins and made him back to normal.
• Thus Ekadhasi is a very powerful vratha which nullifies and eradicates any kind of negative vibrations and sins.
• It will neutralize all the negative happenings.
• Let us utilize this great Ekadhasi vratha everytime and follow this life long. Om Shree Raghavendraya Namaha.

Papamochani Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 6th APRIL 2013

Papamochani Ekadhasi

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month Phaagluna Maasa (March-April) is the Papamochani Ekadhasi.

• All the influences of ghosts and demons will be completely nullified for one who fasts on this Papamochani Ekadhasi.
• This Ekādhaśī also awards the eight perfections of life, fulfils all kinds of desires, purifies one’s life of all sinful reactions, and makes a person perfectly virtuous.
• Whoever fasts on this sacred day becomes completely freed from having to take birth in any kind of devilish form.
• Sri Krishna has told – “Whoever reads or hears about Pāpamochanī Ekādhaśī obtains the very same merit he would get if he donated a thousand cows in charity, and he also nullifies the sinful reactions he may have incurred by killing a brāhmaṇa, killing an embryo through abortion, drinking liquor, or having sex with his guru’s wife. Such is the incalculable benefit of properly observing this holy day of Pāpamochanī Ekādhaśī”.

There’s one bad incident which happened even for great sages. During spring season, Gandharvas and kinnaras used to group themselves at some beautiful garden to spend their time on devotional services and also to service Lord Indra. There, was a great sage by name Medhavi, who was very powerful for his penances and vairaghyam and the very attractive girls will always attempt to seduce him. Among them Manjugosha was totally attracted to this sage and was trying her best to seduce him. But she didn’t come near the sage as she had fear on his spiritual powers.

After many days of this routine, Sage Medhavi was completely tempted and went for this girl forgetting all his spiritual powers, penance, purity etc. He stayed with Manjugosha for more than 57years. At one point the sage recollected all his spiritual powers and penance. He realized his mistakes and started showing the anger on Manjugosha for tempting him and cursed her to become a evil spirit (pisacha). But later the sage himself advised Manjugosha how to surpass his curse. 

Sage Medhavi said that she has to observe the Papamochani Ekadhasi and he will also observe that Ekadhasi so that she will be relieved of the ghostly body and even the sage himself will get back all his spiritual powers back. Thus Papamochani Ekadhasi is very powerful which nullifies several sins and liberates one’s soul. Let us utilize this opportunity and fast on this Ekadhasi to one’s best.

Aamalaki Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 23rd MARCH 2013

Aamalaki Ekadhasi

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the light fortnight of the month Phaagluna Maasa (February – March) is the Aamalaki Ekadhasi.

• The merits of this Ekadhasi was once told by Vashishta muni to King Mandhatha.
• He who faithfully observes a fast on this Ekādhaśī obtains enormous wealth, gets free of the effects of all kinds of sins, and attains liberation.
• Fasting on this Ekādhaśī is more purifying than donating one thousand cows in charity to a pure brāhmana.
• Prahlada says, “Wherever there is a person remaining awake overnight on Ekadhashi, which is very dear to Lord Krishna, all the demigods, including Brahma, Indra and Siva, are all available there. And where there is such a wake going on, all of the great sages, headed by Narada Muni and Vyasadeva, are available there and I (Prahlada Maharaja) who am always engaged in worshiping Lord Shri Hari, am also available there.”

Aamalaki tree is very auspicious to worship. It is told that Aamalaki tree is a offspring of Lord Brahma. It is told that Sri Rama has worshipped Aamalaki tree. Whoever circumambulates (i.e doing pradhakshinam) the Aamalaki tree, their sins will reduce. This Ekadhasi is related with worshipping Aamalaki tree.

Once a hunter, who lives by killing animals, was struck in a forest on Aamalaki Ekadhasi day. There many kings and sages were doing jaagarne throughout the night by worshiping Sri Vishnu and Aamalaki tree. He was taken away by the scared songs and other devotional services which were happening during jaagarne. It become next morning and the hunter died after going home. But due to the merits he earned by fasting and doing jaagarne on Aamalaki Ekadhasi, he was again born as a King namely Vasūratha and ruled like second Indra. Though he had several enemies, no one were able to touch him because of the merits of Ekadhasi.

It is told that whoever observes Ekadhasi vratha, Vishnu duthas will be protecting them. Several negative forces will be destroyed and nullified by the great merits of Ekadhasi vratha. Hope everyone irrespective of caste and creed should follow Ekadhasi vratha. Om Shree Raghavendraya Namaha !!!

Vijaya Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 8th MARCH 2013

Vijaya Ekadhasi

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month Magha Maasa (February-March) is the Vijaya Ekadhasi.

• Nārada Muni once asked Lord Brahmā about the scerets and merits of Vijaya Ekadhasi. Lord Brahma told, ” My dear son, this oldest of fasting days is pure, and it nullifies all sins. I have never revealed this to anyone until today, but you can understand beyond any doubt that this Ekādhaśī bestows the result indicated by its name… (Vijayā means Victory).”
• “Sri Rama and his group were able to cross the Lanka and got victory over Ravana because of the merits they gained by fasting Vijaya Ekadhasi.”
• This fast is powerful enough to eradicate all one’s sinful reactions, even the most abominable ones.
• Anyone who reads or hears this history will attain the same great merit as that which is earned by performing a horse sacrifice.

Everyone knows that Sri Rama went to Lanka to save Sitadevi. At one point Sri Rama and the monkey army were finding themselves very difficult to cross the ocean. Then Sri Lakshmana suggested that Sri Bakadaalbhya muni is near Lanka and they can have his blessing and advice. Accordingly they all approached that muni.

Bakadaalbhya muni could understand, however, that Śrī Rāma was actually the Supreme Personality of God, who for His own reasons had appeared on the Earth as a human being. Sri Rama told his situation. Bakadaalbhya muni told him that they will surely corss the river and get great victory if that fast the great Vijaya Ekadhasi. He told them a procedure to worship Sriman narayana with a water pot on Ekadhasi and dwadhasi.

Sri Rama did just as Bakadaalbhya Muni instructed and thus He conquered all demoniac forces. Similarly, anyone who observes the Vijayā Ekādhaśī in this way will always be victorious in this mortal world, and after leaving this world he/she will reside forever in the anxiety free realm of the Kingdom of God.

Mokshadha ekadhasi (VAIKUNTA EKADHSAI 2012)

Fasting to be observed on 24th DECEMBER 2012 (VAIKUNTA EKADHASI)

Mokshadha Ekadhasi

 

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the light fortnight of the month Mārgaśirṣa (November-December) is the Mokshadha Ekadhasi.

Mokshada Ekādhaśī is special in two regards;

1. It was the auspicious day on which Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke the Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, at the place now known as Jyotisar Tirtha.
2. Anyone who gifts a Bhagavad Gītā away to a deserving person on this day is bestowed profuse blessings by the Śrī Kṛṣṇa Bhagavān.

• This Ekādhaśī purifies the faithful devotee of all sinful reactions and bestows liberation upon him.
• By the influence of this fasting merit, one’s forefathers, mothers, sons, and other relatives who have gone to hell by chance can turn around and go to the heavenly kingdom.
• Puranas tell that this Ekadhasi burns several million sins to ashes. Also gives the merit of performing Ashwamedha yaagam by hearing the following narration.

In the city named Champaka nagara, there lived a great King Vaikhanasa. He once got a dream and saw his father suffering severely in the hell and was yelling to save him. The King asked his court brahmanas, they adviced him to meet Parvatha muni who was near his Kingdom.

The King met Parvatha muni and offered his respects. Parvatha muni closed his eyes and meditated upon the Kings past, presemt and future and started telling “Your father is suffering the results of committing a great sin and I have discovered what it is. In his previous life he quarrelled with his wife and forcibly enjoyed her sexually during her menstrual period. She tried to protest and resist his advances and even yelled out, “Someone please save me! Please do not interrupt my monthly period in this way!” Still he did not stop or leave her alone. It is on account of this grievous sin that your father now has fallen into such a hellish condition of suffering.”

Parvatha muni further told that there is one way to save his father. He told him to strictly observe fast on Mokshadha Ekadhasi and give away all the merits to his father which will burn his sins to ashes and will save him. Accordingly the King followed a strict fast and gave all the merits to his father on dwadhasi day and he saw his father being taken by the demigods to vishnu lokha in the celestial plane.

Utpanna Ekadhasi

Fasting to be observed on 9th DECEMBER 2012

Utpanna Ekadhasi

The Ekādhaśī that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month Kartika (October – November) is the Utpanna Ekadhasi.

• This is the day Sri Ekadhasi Devi manifested herself from Sri Vishnu and killed the demon Mura.
• Sri Ekadhasi Devi (Sri Vishnu’s maha shakthi) has taken a boon from Sri Vishnu, the power to deliver from the greatest sins that person who fasts of this day.
• One who strictly observes a complete fast on my appearance day (On Ekadhasi), with controlled senses, go to the abode of Lord Vishnu for one billion kalpas after he has enjoyed all kinds of pleasures in this world. 
• Bathing at Śaṅkhoddhāra, where the Lord killed the Śaṅkhāsura demon, nor the merit one receives upon seeing Lord Gadadhāra directly is equal to one sixteenth of the merit one obtains by fasting this Ekādhaśī.

Neither the merit by doing few yaagas nor giving charity on a Monday when the moon is full nor feeding brahmachari nor by donating land to the needy nor by giving away a virgin girl in marriage to a young, well-educated, responsible man nor educating children properly on the spiritual path, without expecting any reward in return nor giving food grains to the hungry etc can all be measured. But the merit one obtains by observing a complete fast on this Ekādhaśī cannot be measured. The powerful effect of this merit is inconceivable even to the demigods.