Yudhishthira Maharaj said, “Oh MadhusUdana, Oh killer of the Madhu demon, what is the name of the EkAdasii that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Ashwina (September-October)? Please describe its glories to me.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna then replied, “This Holy day is called IndirA EkAdasii. If a person fasts on this day, all his sins are eradicated and his forefathers who have fallen into hell are liberated. Oh best of kings, one who simply hears about this sacred EkAdasii achieves the great merit earned by performing a horse sacrifice.
“In the Satya-yuga there lived a king named Indrasena, who was so powerful that he destroyed all his enemies. His kingdom was called Mahishmati-puri. The glorious and highly religious King Indrasena took good care of his subjects, and therefore he was rich in gold, grains, sons, and grandsons. He was greatly devoted to Lord Sri Vishnu as well. He especially enjoyed chanting My name, calling out ‘Govinda! Govinda!’ In this way King Indrasena systematically dedicated himself to pure spiritual life and spent much time meditating on the Absolute Truth.
“One day, as King Indrasena happily and peacefully presided
over his assembly, the perfect orator, Sri NArada Muni, was seen descending.
White as a conch, shining like the moon, like a jasmine flower, like a
lightening bolt, NArada Muni descending from the sky. He is decorated
with matted locks of reddish hair. The king offered Devarishi NArada, the
saint among the devas (demigods), great respect by greeting him with joined
palms, inviting him into the palace, offering him a comfortable seat, washing
his feet, and speaking sweat words of welcome. Then NArada Muni said to
MahArAj Indrasena, ‘Oh king, are the seven limbs of your kingdom prospering?
The
seven limbs of a king’s domain being; the king’s well being himself, his
ministers, his treasury, his military forces, his allies, the braAhmaNas,
the sacrifices performed in his kingdom, and the needs of the king’s subjects.
Is your
mind absorbed in thinking of how you can properly perform your occupational
duty? Are you becoming more and more devoted and dedicated to the service
of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu?
“The king replied, ‘By your kind grace, Oh greatest of sages, everything is quite well. Today, just by your presence all the sacrifices in my kingdom are successful ! Please show me mercy and explain the reason for your kind visit here.’
“Sri NArada, the sage among the devas, then said, ‘Oh
lion among kings, listen to my astonishing words. When I descended from
Brahmaloka to Yamaloka, Lord YamarAja praised me very graciously and offered
me an excellent seat. As I glorified his truthfulness and wonderful service
to the Supreme Lord, I noticed your father in YamarAja’s assembly. Though
he had been very religious, because he broke an EkAdasii fast prematurely,
he had to go to the Yamaloka. Your father gave me a message for you. He
said, “In Mahishmati lives a king named Indrasena. Please tell him about
my situation here – that because of my past sinful deeds I have somehow
been forced to reside in YamarAja’s kingdom. Please give him this message
from me: ‘Oh son, kindly observe the coming IndirA EkAdasii and give much
in charity so I can go upward to heaven.’ “
Philosophically
we can understand that very living entity is an individual, and individually
everyone has to practice Krishna consciousness to traverse back to home,
back to Godhead. As stated in GaruDa PurANa, someone who is suffering in
hell cannot practice Krishna consciousness, because this requires some
mental peace, which the reactionary tortures of hell make impossible. If
a relative of a sinner suffering in hell gives some charity in the name
of the sinner, he can leave hell and enter the heavenly planets. But if
the sinner's relative observes this EkAdasii fast for his suffering kinsman,
the kinsman goes directly to the spiritual world, as stated in this narration
based on Brahma-vaivarta PurANam.
“NArada continued, ‘Just to deliver this message, Oh king, have I come to you. You should help your father by observing the fast of IndirA EkAdasii. By the merit you gain, your father will go to heaven.’
“King Indrasena asked, ‘Oh great NAradji, please be merciful and tell me specifically how to observe a fast on IndirA EkAdasii, and also tell me during what month and on what day it occurs.’
“NArada Muni replied, ‘Oh king, please listen as I describe
to you the full process of observing the IndirA EkAdasii. This EkAdasii
occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwina. On the Dashami
tithi, the day before EkAdasii, rise early in the morning, take bath, and
then do some service for God with full faith. At noon, bathe again in running
water and then offer oblations to your forefathers with faith and devotion.
Be sure not to eat more than once on this day and at night sleep on the
floor.
“When you
awaken on EkAdasii morning, cleanse your mouth and teeth thoroughly and
then with deep devotion for the Lord take this sacred vow: ‘Today I shall
fast completely and give up all kinds of sense enjoyment. Oh lotus-eyed
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Oh infallible one, please give me shelter
at Your lotus feet.” At noon, stand before the sacred form of the Sri Shaligram
Shila and worship Him faithfully, following all the rules and regulations;
then offer oblations of ghee into the sacred fire, and tarpana directed
to help your forefathers. Next, feed qualified Brahmins (obviously non-grain
prasadams) and offer them some charity according to your means. Now take
the food pindas you offered to your
forefathers, smell it, and then offer it to a cow. Next, worship Lord Hrishikesha
with incense and flowers, and finally, remain awake all night near the
Deity of Lord Sri Keshava.
“Early
in the morning of the next day, DvAdasi tithi, worship Sri Hari with great
devotion and invite Brahmin devotees to a sumptuous feast. Then feed you
relatives, and finally take your meal in silence. Oh king, if you strictly
observe a fast on IndirA EkAdasii in this way, with controlled senses,
your father will surely be elevated to the abode of lord Vishnu.’ After
saying this, Devarishi NArada immediately disappeared from the scene to
bless someone else with his presence.
“King
Indrasena followed the great saint’s instructions perfectly, observing
the fast in the association of his relatives and servants. As he broke
his fast on the DvAdasi tithi, flowers fell from the sky. The merit that
Indrasena maharaj earned by observing this fast released his father from
the kingdom of YamarAja and caused him to attain a completely spiritual
body. Indeed, Indrasena saw him rising to the abode
of
Lord Hari on the back of GaruDa Vahan. Indrasena himself was able to rule
his kingdom without any obstacles, and in time when he handed over the
kingdom to his son he also went to the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha.
“Oh
Yudhishthira, these are the glories of the IndirA EkAdasii, which occurs
during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwina. Whoever hears or reads
this narration certainly enjoys life in this world, is freed of all reactions
to his past sins, and at the time of death returns home, back to Godhead,
where he lives eternally.”
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Ashwina-krishna EkAdasii,
or IndirA EkAdasii,
taken from the Brahma-vaivarta PurANa.
These stories have been summarised and slightly changed or abbreviated from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press. pages 121-124.
The Ekadashi Book is now available in its entirety -free to download
with our blessing at http://www.krsna.org
Entire book acknowledged to Mahamandelswar Mahant Krsna Balaram Swami
Dr. Vijay K. Parmar
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The Ekadasi Page:
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati's Navadwip Panjika Intro'
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Ekadasi Vratas according to Hari Bhakti Vilas smriti
Ekadasis Throughout the year in detail - their observances, benefits, and individual origin