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;
- 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.
- 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.
Madhwa saints 