Lord Krishna told the importance of the Utpanna Ekadashi fasting to his childhood friend Arjuna in the Bhavishya Purana.

Arjuna told Lord Krishna that why you have declared this Ekadashi as the most sacred among all pilgrimages, please explain to me in detail. 

Then Shri Krishna told Arjuna that O Partha, there used to be a powerful, fierce demon named the Mur in the golden age. The demon named Mur had won his victory over all the demigods. Then all the demigods fled and went to the shelter of Lord Shiva and requested Lord Shiva that, all the people are living their lives in the world of death after getting defeated by the demon named the Mur. Due to the fear of all those demons, we are unfortunate and are also suffering terribly. Devraj Indra, the king of the demigods, said that Lord, you tell us some way to escape from this demon named the Mur. After listening to the demigods like this, Lord Shiva who is very innocent asked Devraj Indra, please go to Lord Vishnu. He will tell you the solution to this problem.

Then all the demigods like Indra went to Lord Shri Hari & started praising Lord Vishnu, O Shri Hari, and you are the Lord of all the three worlds, you are the savior of the whole world, that’s why we have a lot of respect for you. We all are in Your shelter; you protect us from that terrible demon, and because of the atrocities of that demon, we all have come under your protection; please save us from that monster in any way. All of us have been expelled from Devloka by that demon. That’s why we live our lives in the world of death, facing a lot of suffering due to the fear of that demon. That is why, Jagannath, you protect us.

In this way,after  praised by demigods, Lord Vishnu asked, please tell me which is such a terrible Demon, due to which this situation has happened to you. 

Hearing such words of ShriVishnu, Devraj Indra said, that O Lord, this is an Asura named Nadijangham, who was born in the Brahmavansh in ancient times. This demon has a son named the Mur who resides in the city named Chandra Vati. It is so fierce and powerful that it has conquered death in the entire Devloka by its strength. By removing all the demigods from Devloka, he has made the demons of his Daitya clan as Indra Niyam Varun Moon, etc. And by becoming the Sun himself, the earth gets austerity in the strong sunlight and the form of a cloud. He rains vital water on the people of the planet. That is why God save us from this terrible monster.

After listening carefully to all the words of the demigods, Lord Shri Hari urged all the demigods to accompany me to the city of Chandravati. That demon named the Mur had already known the words of the demigods and Lord Shri Vishnu before his brilliance. Lord Vishnu was coming to the battlefield with all the Creators to fight the war with that demon. Then there was a fierce battle between the demigods and that demon, due to which all the demigods became more and more afraid. After that, Lord Shri Krishna himself had to fight the war on the battlefield, and He fought with that demon for 100 years. But Lord Vishnu had to conquer him because of the Leela of that demon. In the end, he entered a cave named Hemavati, 38 km long, located in the Badrika ashram for rest. 

As soon as the Lord went to rest in that cave, a demon named Mur also followed him. Seeing Lord Vishnu sleeping, the devil planned to kill the Lord. 

But he could not succeed in it.

At the same time, a beautiful women appeared from the body of Lord Shri Hari in the form of Mohini. 

She started fighting by challenging the demon named the Mur. The demon was stunned, and he thought that after all, where did this women come from, but still he kept fighting with that women. The women got very angry, and she cut the weapon of that demon into pieces and destroyed his chariot. Due to all this, the demon got very angry and started fighting with that Lady.

That stunning women pushed that demon unconscious and severed his head from the body. Just as soon as he fell on the earth, the demon attained the world of death. Seeing the end of their king like this, all the remaining Asuras fled away.

After that, Lord Shri Hari Vishnu got up from his sleep, seeing that demon dead. He was shocked at who killed this terrible monster. Then that women pleaded with folded hands in front of Lord Shri Hari and said that Lord, this demon was ready to kill you. Then I, born from your body, killed this demon. Lord Shri Hari was pleased with him and said that you had killed this terrible monster. That is why I am pleased with you. You have got the demigods of the three peoples relieved from their sufferings; that’s why I will fulfill your every wish, whatever the boon you want to ask.

The supreme personality of Godhead said,You were born from my body on the day of Ekadashi; that’s why your name will be known as Utpanna Ekadashi in the future. Whoever observes a fast on this Ekadashi will be freed from all the sins of this world; saying this, Lord Shri Hari disappeared from there.

Then Lord Krishna told Arjuna that he was the son of Pandu. In this way, the fasting of Ekadashi is the best and most fruitful fast of the festival. By observing this Ekadashi fast, a person also attains salvation. All the creatures who observe Ekadashi, the best of all the fasts, will attain salvation in the end after enjoying worldly pleasures. That is why everyone should do this Ekadashi fast without worry. And on the day of Ekadashi, one should remember Krishna.

Ekadashi of Margashirsha month is also called Mokshada Ekadashi. On the day of Mokshada Ekadashi, our ancient religious text Shrimad Bhagavad Gita was also born from the mouth of Lord Shri Krishna. In our Indian culture, the Gita of Shrimad Bhagavad is revered and exemplary. This is the only such book in our entire world, whose birth anniversary is also celebrated as Gita Jayanti in the whole country. The essence of Vedic texts is hidden in the Gita, which Lord Sri Lord Krishna told Arjuna with his Sri Mukha during the war of Mahabharata.

In the Gita, Lord Krishna told Arjuna that one who surrenders to Shrimad Bhagavad with complete devotion and respect. There is no effect of any foul misdeeds on that person. Mokshada Ekadashi was when Shrimad Bhagwat was descended on this holy land. Anyone who follows the principles laid down in the Bhagavad Gita, this religious book, never gets hurt in his life, and they get the solution of all the problems of their life in it.

In the Brahmanda Purana, Lord Krishna told Yudhishthira about the Ekadashi coming on the Shukla Paksha of Margashirsha month.

Once the Pandava’s son Shri Yudhishthira Maharaj asked Lord Shri Krishna that Oh Lord, you are the Lord of all the three worlds, you are the one who gives happiness to all, and you are the savior of the world, all the people are your well-wishers, I salute you, Lord, you clear one of my doubts. Would you please tell me the name of the Ekadashi of the month of Margashirsha? Which deity is worshiped on this day, what is its method, please tell me about the most important.

Lord Shri Krishna told Yudhishthira that, Yudhisthira, you have asked an excellent question. With this question, your fame will spread all over the world.

Margashirsha Ekadashi is the destroyer of many sins, and its name is Mokshada Ekadashi. On this day, Lord Damodar is worshiped with incense lamps, Naivedya, Tulsi Manjari, etc. The story of Ekadashi is as follows.

In ancient times, the Vaikhanas kings used to rule in Champak city. Brahmins, who knew all the four Vedas, also lived in his kingdom, and they used to take care of their subjects like a son. One night, the king saw his father suffering the tortures of hell in his dream. In this way, seeing the night dreams, the king became very worried, and he became very disturbed and called the pundits in the morning and told them about this dream.

The king told the brahmins that I saw my father suffering the torment of hell at night. In a dream, the king’s father said to him, ” Son, I am suffering a lot in this hell. Get me free from this hell. I am not relieved to hear these words of my father. I do not feel that the whole kingdom is pleasing to me. I am not feeling anything good. What should I do, where should I go, O Brahmin gods, please tell me the solution of this problem so that I can free my father from that hell? If I do not free my father from that hell, then my life on this earth is meaningless. That is why, please tell me a solution to this problem as soon as possible.

Hearing this pain of the king, all the Brahmins had some discussions with each other and told the king that O king, the knower of the past, the present, the present, the mountain Mahamuni, lives nearby here. If you go to him and tell his real suffering, he will free you from this problem. Then the king went to the sage’s hermitage. In that ashram, many other sages were engaged in penance with a calm mind. Mount Muni, the knower of the four Vedas, looked like Brahma.

The king bowed to him and gave his complete introduction. The king told the sage that everything was well in my kingdom, but suddenly a problem came in front of me, due to which my heart had become wholly disturbed. The king, weeping in the night’s dream, told his father what was bothering him in front of the mountain sage. And requested Munishwar that you please tell me such a way by which I can get my father free from that hell.

The mountain sage listened carefully to the king’s whole thing, closed his eyes, and started contemplating the past and future. After that, the sage told the king that I have acquired the knowledge of all your father’s misdeeds. Your father had discriminated against his wives so much that he has to suffer this hell. Then King Vaikhanas prayed to Munishwar in pleading words that you should show some way of his salvation.

Then the mountain sage told the king that the Ekadashi, which comes in the Shukla Paksha of the month of Margashirsha, is called Mokshada Ekadashi. This Ekadashi is going to give salvation. By taking the resolution of fasting on this Ekadashi, you can free your father from this hell. Your father will get saving due to fasting on this Ekadashi. Hearing such words of king Parvat Muni, he returned to his kingdom and, together with his family, fasted on Mokshada Ekadashi. Due to the effect of fasting on Mokshada Ekadashi, the king offered his virtue to his father. Then the king’s father got freedom from that hell.

Shri Krishna told Yudhishthira that those who observe a fast on Mokshada Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of this Margashirsha month, all their sins are destroyed, and they get a place in the higher lokas. There is no other fast that bestows salvation than the fasting of this fast. This fast is like a Chintamani, which gives salvation. By observing this quickly, all the wishes of a person are fulfilled.

That is why the fast of Mokshada Ekadashi is said to be the best for all human beings who desire salvation. This fast should be done with complete devotion and devotion in front of Lord Shri Hari.

On the auspicious occasion of Mokshada Ekadashi, various significant books like Bhagavad Gita in the form of scriptures will be distributed in all the temples of ISKCON. This divine message of God can be passed on to all the people. All of you have become a participant in this holy work. Make your life bright and successful by buying all these books, studying them, distributing them elsewhere.

Moreover, you can also get your copy of Bhagavad Gita from- www.BuyGita.in

According to Vedic scriptures, fasting on the Ekadashi day makes Lord Hari happy and bless his devotees. The Ekadashi day occurs twice a month. One is a dark lunar fortnight, and the other one is a darker fortnight.

According to the Almanac, every 11th date is suitable for Ekadashi fasting. Therefore, fasting on an Ekadashi day holds great importance.

Especially the person who is willing to take a fast on an Ekadashi day must follow some essential rules and rituals from a day before the fasting day itself to continue the fast from the early morning before sunrise of the Ekadashi day. This is because this one day of fasting is believed to provide lifelong happiness and salvation.

The importance of Papankusha Ekadashi is mentioned in the dialogues of Lord Krishna and the great king ‘Yudhishtira’ in Brahma Vaivarta Purana.

THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN LORD KRISHNA AND YUDHISHTIRA

The great king Yudhishtar asks- hey! Janardan, what is the name of the Ekadashi occurring in the Ashwin month of the darker fortnight?

Lord Krishna says, – hey! Yudhishthira, the Ekadashi day that destroys all the sins, is known as Papankusha Ekadashi. This day is called Papankusha because it eliminates the elephant-faced corruption by the control of virtue of this fast.

Hey! King this day, a Human must worship Lord lawfully. This Ekadashi provides desired fruits to humans and helps them achieve high planets. However, the fruit achieved by many austerities is achieved only by offering obeisances to the Lord Garuda flag.

Hari named hymns to provide you with all the pilgrimage virtue’s fruit. So the person who takes the shelter of Lord Hari does not have to go through all the pain that is equivalent to death.

 The fruit that a person achieves from shastra Vajpayee and horse sacrifice is not even equal to the 16th part of the Ekadashi fast. 

Unless the person takes a fast of Lord Padmanabha’s Ekadashi day, all the sins reside in his body.

Hey! King the Ekadashi day helps provide high planets, salvation, health, etc.

Hey! Yudhishthira, this fast rescue up to the 10th generation of mother’s side and 10th generation of father’s side. He wearing a divine body, having a four-armed form, wearing a pitamber and carrying a garland in his hand, climbs Garuda and goes to Vishnuloka. Whoever takes the fast of Ashwin month’s free side of this Papankusha Ekadashi day, he at the end of his life goes to the abode of Lord and gets liberation from all the sins.

RULES THAT ARE NEEDED TO FOLLOW

In Ekadashi fast, you are not supposed to eat grains anything, and one should adopt and follow celibacy. This fast does not end with the Ekadashi day ritual, but on the next day (12th day), one must finish and complete the fast by donating food and honorarium to Brahmans early in the morning.

A SMALL NARRATIVE TO CONVEY THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DAY

Once there was a fowler named Mahakrura Krodhan who used to live in the Vindhya Mountains.

He spent all his life committing sins, and at the last moments of his life, Yamraj approved to bring him to his court. However, all the messengers informed him of this thing before the decided time, and he got scared to death and went to Angira sage’s hermitage and started pleading so that he would not have to go to Yamaraj’s court.

Then Angira Sage suggested he worship Lord Vishnu on the lunar day of Ashwin month’s darker fortnight. The worship of Ekadashi day and fasting on this day liberated him from all the sins, and he went to Vishnu Lok.

So, we should all have fast on this sins destroyer Ekadashi day. So that along with the quenching of sins, we can chant more Hare Krishna maha-mantra, read, hear the glories of the Lord, and concentrate on the lotus feet of Krishna from the very bottom of our hearts. The ultimate goal of life is to get the devotional service of Lord Sri Krishna.  

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Fast Breaking Time at ISKCON  Delhi Temple is – 06:28 AM – 09:46 AM on 26th October 2023. (New Delhi)

The Ekadashi of Ashwin, Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon), is called Indira Ekadashi. On this auspicious day, Lord Sri Vishnu is worshipped. This Indira Ekadashi fast helps the devotees to get free from there all the sufferings and problems.

Why is this Ekadashi fasting special

Being Ekadashi of Pitra Paksha, Ekadashi is best for the salvation of ancestors is considered paternalistic. So the ancestors get liberation from this Ekadashi, and their souls in another world find peace. 

What is the significance of this fast

According to the Puranas, Indira Ekadashi benefits the devotee even after his death. Due to its effect, all the sins of the person perishes, and by this fast, he goes to higher planets, and their ancestors get relief from all past misdeeds.

From Brahmavaivarta Purana

In the Brahmavaivarta Purana, the description of Indira Ekadashi is found, Once Pandava King Yudhishthira asked Sri Krishna to explain the significance of Indira Ekadashi. To answer all the questions regarding the fast, He wondered what its method and result are? 

Lord Krishna replied, “This auspicious day is called Indira Ekadashi. This Ekadashi destroys the sins and gives salvation to the ancestors. Sri Krishna also said, Oh! King, listen to the story carefully because the one who hears about the sacred Ekadashi achieves the great merits.

Here’s How the story unfolded

In the Satya-Yuga, there was a city named Mahismati. There was the majestic King named Indrasen, who was so powerful and followed his kingdom righteously. He took good care of his citizens. He was a tremendous devotee of Lord Sri Vishnu.

One day, when the King was happily sitting in his meeting, Maharishi Narada came down from the sky and came to his meeting. On seeing him, the King stood with folded hands and lawfully gave his seat, washing his feet, and welcomed him. 

Then Narada Muni said to the Maharaj Indrasen, Oh! King, your seven limbs are in good working order. Your intellect is in religion, and your mind resides in devotion to Sri Vishnu. Hearing such words of Devarshi Narada, the King replied, “Oh! Maharishi, by your kind grace, everything is well in my kingdom and please explain the reason for your kind visit here.

Then Narada Muni said that oh! King, listen to my words of wonder. Once I descended from Brahmaloka to Yamaloka, I glorified Yamaraj as he worshipped me with great reverence. Then I saw your great and wise father in the same assembly because of breaking the Ekadashi fast. Your father had given me a message for you.

So, your father said that I am in Yamaloka because of the sins done unknowingly in my previous birth. Suppose my son observes the fast of Indira Ekadashi of Ashwin Krishna Paksha and gives wealth in charity. In that case, I will be promoted to higher planets.

Hearing this, King Indrasen asked, Oh! Maharishi, please tell me the method of observing this fast.

Narada Muni said,

1. The day before Ekadashi, One should rise early in the morning, take a bath and then do some service of Lord Vishnu.

    

2. In the afternoon, take a bath in running water or river, then do shradh of the ancestor with reverence, and be sure not to eat more than once on this day and sleep on the floor at night. 
3. Then follow the rule of the fast with devotion and take a vow that I will fast on Ekadashi with giving up all sorts of bodily pleasure. Oh, Infallible Supreme Lord! Oh, Pundarikaksha, I am in your shelter, and I beg for protection. 
4. After performing shradh in front of the Lord’s deities, offer him the fruit. Serve qualified Brahmins and Cows by giving them Prasadam.

Narada Muni started saying that Oh! Rajan, by this method, if you fast on this Ekadashi without being lazy and with controlled senses, your father will go to higher planets. Saying this, Narada Muni has gone into deep meditation and disappeared from there.

As Narada Muni’s instructed, King Indrasen followed this Ekadashi with all rules and regulations along with his all family members. Because of this, Ekadashi, His father, was promoted to a higher planet.

Indrasen himself was able to rule his kingdom without any hindrances. In the end, he handed over the kingdom to his son, and he also went to the spiritual planet.

This is the greatness of Indira Ekadashi. By reading and hearing the glory of Indira Ekadashi, a person gets freed from all sins and finally attains Vaikuntha.

So let’s keep this very auspicious Indira Ekadashi to get freed from all sinful reactions of our past lives. On this day, by hearing & reading more and more of the Lord’s pastime and chanting his Holy names, we get the blessing of Supreme Lord Krishna and go back to godhead, where we live eternally.