Other Events today:
Bhisma Panchaka
Gaura
Kishora dasa Babaji maharaj - Tirubhav
Lord Brahma said to Narada Muni, "Dear son, O best of
the sages, I shall narrate to you the glories of Haribodhini Ekadasi, which
eradicates all kinds of sins and bestows great merit, and ultimately liberation,
upon the wise persons who surrender unto the Supreme Lord.
"O best of the brahmanas, the merits acquired
by bathing in the Ganges remain significant only as long as Haribodhini
Ekadasi does not come. This Ekadasi, which occurs during the light
fortnight of the month of Kartika, is much more purifying than a bath in
the ocean, at a place of pilgrimage, or in a lake. This sacred Ekadasi
is more powerful in nullifying sin than one thousand Asvamedha sacrifices
and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices."
Narada Muni inquired, "O father, please describe
the relative merits of fasting completely on Ekadasi, eating supper (without
grains or beans), or eating once at midday (without grains or beans)."
Lord Brahma replied, "If a person eats once at
midday on Ekadasi, the sins of his previous birth are erased, if he eats
supper, the sins acquired during his previous two births are removed, and
if he fasts completely, the sins accumulated during his pervious seven
births are eradicated.
"O son, whatever is only rarely achieved within
the three worlds is obtained by him who strictly observes Haribodhini Ekadasi.
A person whose sins equal Mount Sumeru in volume sees them all reduced
to nothing if he simply fasts on Papaharini Ekadasi (another name for Haribodhini
Ekadasi). The sins a person has accumulated over a thousand previous
births are burned to ashes if he not only fasts but also remains awake
throughout Ekadasi night, just as a mountain of cotton can be burned to
ashes if one lights a small fire in it.
O Narada, a person who strictly observes this
fast achieves the results I have mentioned. Even if one does a small
amount of pious activity on this day, following the rules and regulations,
one will earn merit to Mount Sumeru in volume; however a person who does
not follow the rules and regulations given in the Scriptures may perform
pious activity equal to Mount Sumeru in volume, but he will not earn even
a small amount of merit. One who does not chant the Gayatri mantra
three times a day, who disregards fast days, who does not believe in God,
who criticises the Vedic Scriptures, who thinks the Vedas bring only ruination
to one who follows their injunctions, who enjoys another's wife, who is
utterly foolish and wicked, who does not appreciate any service that has
been rendered to him, or who cheats others - such a sinful person can never
perform any religious activity effectively. Be he a brahmana or a
shudra, whoever tries to enjoy another man's wife, particularly the wife
of a twice-born person, is said to be no better than a dog-eater.
"O best of the sages, any brahmana who enjoys
sex with a widow or a brahmana lady married to another man brings ruin
to himself and his family. Any brahmana who enjoys illicit sex will
have no children in his next life, and any past merit he may have earned
is ruined. Indeed, if such a person displays any arrogance toward
a twice-born brahmana or a spiritual master, he loses all his spiritual
advancement immediately, as well as his wealth and children.
"These three kinds of men ruin their acquired
merits: he whose character is immoral, he who has sex with the wife of
a dog-eater, and he who appreciates the association of rogues. Whoever
associates with sinful people and visits their homes without a spiritual
purpose will go directly to the abode of Lord Yamaraj, the superintendent
of death. And if someone eats in such a home, his acquired merit
is destroyed, along with his fame, duration of life, children, and happiness.
"Any sinful rascal who insults a saintly person
soon loses his religiosity, economic development, and sense gratification,
and he at last burns in the fire of hell. Anyone who likes to offend
saintly persons, or who does not interrupt someone who is insulting saintly
persons, is considered no better than an ass. Such a wicked man sees
his dynasty destroyed before his very eyes.
"A person whose character is unclean, who is a
rogue or a swindler, or who always finds fault with others does not achieve
a higher destination after death, even if he gives charity generously or
performs other pious deed. Therefore one should refrain from performing
inauspicious acts and perform only pious ones, by which one will acquire
merit and avoid suffering. "However, the sins of one who, after due consideration,
decides to fast of Haribodhini Ekadasi are erased from one hundred previous
lives, and whoever fasts and remains awake overnight on this Ekadasi achieves
unlimited merit and after death goes to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu,
and then thousand of his ancestors, relatives, and descendants also reach
that abode. Even if one's forefathers were implicated in many sins
and are suffering in hell, they still attain beautifully ornamented spiritual
bodies and happily go to Vishnu's abode.
O Narada, even one who has committed the heinous
sin of killing a brahmana is freed of all stains on his character by faster
on Haribodhini Ekadasi and remaining awake that night. The merit
that cannot by won by bathing in all the places of pilgrimage, performing
a horse sacrifice, or giving cows, gold, or fertile land in charity can
easily be achieved by fasting on this holy day and remaining awake throughout
the night.
"Anyone who observes Haribodhini Ekadasi is celebrated
as highly qualified and makes his dynasty famous. As Death is certain,
so losing one's wealth is also certain. Knowing this, O best of sages,
one should observe a fast on this day so dear to Hari - Sri Haribodhini
Ekadasi.
"All places of pilgrimage in the three worlds
at once come to reside in the house of a person who fasts on this Ekadasi.
Therefore, to please the Lord, who holds a disc in His hand, one should
give up all engagements, surrender, and observe this Ekadasi fast.
One who fasts on this Haribodhini day is acknowledged as a wise man, a
true yogi, an ascetic, and one whose senses are truly under control.
He alone enjoys this world properly, and he will certainly achieve liberation.
This Ekadasi is very dear to Lord Vishnu, and thus it is the very essence
of religiosity. Even one observance of it bestows the topmost reward
in all the three worlds.
"O Naradaji, whoever fasts on this Ekadasi will
definitely not enter a womb again, and thus faithful devotees of the Supreme
Godhead give up all varieties of religion and simply surrender to fasting
on this Ekadasi. For that great soul who honours this Ekadasi by
fasting and remaining awake throughout the night, the Supreme Lord, Sri
Govinda, personally terminates the sinful reactions that soul has acquired
by the actions of his mind, body, and words.
"O son, for anyone who bathes in a place of pilgrimage,
gives charity, chants the holy names of the Supreme Lord, undergoes austerities,
and performs sacrifices for God on Haribodhini Ekadasi, the merit thus
earned all becomes imperishable. A devotee who worships Lord Madhava
on this day with first-class paraphernalia becomes free from the great
sins of a hundred lifetimes. A person who observes this fast and
worships Lord Vishnu properly is freed from great danger.
"This Ekadasi fast pleases Lord Janardana so much
that He takes the person who observes it back to His abode, and while going
there the devotee illuminates then ten universal directions. Whoever
desires beauty and happiness should try to honour Haribodhini Ekadasi,
especially if it falls on Dvadasi. The sins of one's past hundred
births - the sins committed during childhood, youth and old age in al those
lifetimes, whether those sins are dry or wet - are nullified by the Supreme
Lord Govinda if one fasts on Haribodhini Ekadasi with devotion.
Haribodhini Ekadasi is the best Ekadasi.
Nothing is unobtainable or rare in this world for one who fasts on this
day, for it gives food grains, great wealth, and high merit, as well as
eradication of all sin, the terrible obstacle to liberation. fasting
on this Ekadasi is a thousand times better than giving charity on the day
of the solar or lunar eclipse. Again I say to you, O Naradaji, whatever
merit is earned by one who bathes in a place of pilgrimage, performs sacrifices,
and studies the Vedas is only one then-millionth the merit earned by the
person who fasts but one on Haribodhini Ekadasi. Whatever merit one
has acquired in his life by some pious activities becomes completely fruitless
if one does not observe the Ekadasi fast and worship Lord Vishnu in the
month of Kartika. Therefore, you should always worship the Supreme
Lord, Janardana, and render service to Him. Thus you will attain
the desired goal, the highest perfection.
"On Haribodhini Ekadasi, a devotee of the Lord
should not eat in another's house or eat food cooked by a non devotee.
If he does so, he achieves only the merit of fasting on a full moon day.
Philosophical discussion of Scriptures in the month of Kartika pleases
Sri Vishnu more than if one gives elephants and horses in charity or performs
a costly sacrifice. Whoever chants or hears descriptions of Lord
Vishnu's qualities and pastimes, even if but a half or even a fourth of
a verse, attains the wonderful merit derived from giving away a hundred
cows to a brahmana. O Narada, during the month of Kartika one should
give up all kinds or ordinary duties and devote one's full time and energy
especially while fasting, to discussing the transcendental pastimes of
the Supreme Lord. Such glorification of Sri Hari on the day so dear
to the Lord, Ekadasi, liberates a hundred previous generations. One
who spends his time enjoying such discussions, especially in the month
of Kartika, achieves the results of performing ten thousand fire sacrifices
and burns all his sins to ashes.
"He who hears the wonderful narrations concerning
Lord Vishnu, particularly during the month of Kartika, automatically earns
the same merit as that bestowed upon someone who donates a hundred cows
in charity. O great sage, a person who chants the glories of Lord
Hari on Ekadasi achieves the merit earned by donating seven islands."
Narada Muni asked his glorious father, "O universal
sire, I best of all demigods, please tell me how to observe this most sacred
Ekadasi. What kind of merit does it bestow upon the faithful?"
Lord Brahma replied, "O son, a person who wants
to observe this Ekadasi should rise early on Ekadasi morning, during the
brahma-muhurta hour (an hour and a half before sunrise until fifty minutes
before sunrise). He should then clean his teeth and bathe in a lake,
river, pond, or well, or in his own home, as the situation warrants.
After worshipping Lord Sri Keshava, he should listen carefully to the sacred
descriptions of the Lord. He should pray to the Lord thus:
'O Lord Keshava, I shall fast on this day, which is so dear to You, and
tomorrow I shall honour Your sacred prasadam. O lotus-eyed Lord,
O infallible one, You are my only shelter. Kindly protect me.'
"Having spoken this solemn prayer before the Lord
with great love and devotion, one should fast cheerfully. O Narada,
whoever remains awake all night on this Ekadasi, singing beautiful songs
glorifying the Lord, dancing in ecstasy, playing delightful instrumental
music for His transcendental pleasure, and reciting the pastimes of Lord
Krishna as records in bona-fide Vedic literature - such a person will most
assuredly reside far beyond the three worlds, in the eternal, spiritual
realm of God.
"On Haribodhini Ekadasi one should worship Sri
Krishna with camphor, fruits, and aromatic flowers, especially the yellow
agaru flower. One should not absorb oneself in making money on this
important day. In other words, greed should be exchanged for charity.
This is the process for turning loss into unlimited merit. One should
offer many kinds of fruits to the Lord and bathe Him with water from a
conchshell. Each of these devotional practices, when performed on
Haribodhini Ekadasi, is ten million times more beneficial than bathing
in all the places of pilgrimage and giving all forms of charity.
"Even Lord Indra joins his palm and offers his
obeisances to a devotee who worships Lord Janardana with first-class agastya
flowers of this day. The supreme Lord Hari is very pleased when he
is decorated with nice agastya flowers. O Narada, I give liberation
to one who devotedly worships Lord Krishna on this Ekadasi in the month
of Kartika with leaves of the bel tree. And for one who worships
Lord Janardana with fresh tulasi leaves and fragrant flowers during this
month, O son, I personally burn to ashes all the sins he has committed
for then thousand births.
"One who merely sees Tulasi Maharani, touches
her, mediates on her, narrates her history, offers obeisances to her, prays
to her for her grace, plants her, worships her, or waters her lives in
the abode of Lord Hari eternally. O Narada, one who serves Tulasi-devi
in these nine ways achieves happiness in the higher world for as many thousands
of yugas as there are roots and subroots growing from a mature tulasi plant.
When a full grown tulasi plant produces seeds, many plants grow from those
seeds and spread their branches, twigs, and flowers, and these flowers
also produce numerous seeds. For as many thousands of kalpas as there
are seeds produced in this way, the forefathers of one who serves tulasi
in these nine ways will live in the abode of Lord Hari.
"Those who worship Lord Keshava with kadamba flowers,
which are very pleasing to Him, get is mercy and do not see the abode of
Yamaraj, death personified. What is the use of worshipping someone
else if all desires can be fulfilled by pleasing Lord Hari? For example,
a devotee who offers Him bakula, ashoka, and patali flowers is freed from
misery and distress for as long as the sun and moon exist in this universe,
and at last he achieves liberation. O best of the brahmanas, an offering
of kannera flowers to Lord Jagannatha brings as much mercy upon the devotee
as that earned by worshipping Lord Keshava for four yugas. One who
offers tulasi flowers (manjaris) to Sri Krishna during the month of Kartika
receives more merit than can be obtained by donating ten million cows.
Even a devotional offering of newly grown sprouts of grass brings with
it a hundred times the benefit obtained by ordinary ritualistic worship
of the Supreme Lord.
"One who worships Lord Vishnu with the leaves
of the samika tree is freed from the clutches of Yamaraja, the lord of
death. One who worships Vishnu during the rainy season with champaka
or jasmine flowers never returns to the planet earth again. One who
worships the Lord with but a single kumbhi flower achieves the boon of
donating a pala of gold (two hundred grams). If a devotee offers
a single yellow flower of the ketaki, or wood-apple, tree to Lord Vishnu,
who rides on Garuda, he is freed from the sins of ten million births.
Furthermore, one who offers Lord Jagannatha flowers and also a hundred
leaves anointed with red and yellow sandalwood paste will certainly come
to reside in Svetadvipa, far beyond the coverings of this material creation.
"O greatest of brahmanas, Sri Narada, after thus
worshipping Lord Keshava, the bestower of all material and spiritual happiness,
on Haribodhini Ekadasi, one should rise early the next day, bathe in a
rive, chant japa of Krishna's holy names, and render loving devotional
service to the Lord at home to the nest of one's ability. To break
the fast, the devotee should first offer some prasadam to brahmanas and
only then, with their permission, eat some grains. Thereafter, to
please the Supreme Lord, the devotee should worship his spiritual master,
the purest of the Lord's devotees, and offer him sumptuous food, nice cloth,
gold, and cows, according to the devotee's means. this will certainly
please the Supreme Lord, the holder of the disc.
"Next the devotee should donate a cow to a brahmana,
and if the devotee has neglected some rules and regulation of spiritual
life, he should confess them before brahmana devotees of the Lord.
Then the devotee should offer them some dakshina (money). O king,
those who have eaten supper on Ekadasi should feed a brahmana the next
day. That is very pleasing to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
"O son, if a man has fasted without asking the
permission of his priest, or if a woman has fasted without asking her husband's
permission, he or she should donate a bull to a brahmana. Honey and
yoghurt are also proper gifts for a brahmana. Someone who has fasted
from ghee should donate milk, one who has fasted from grains should donate
rice, one who has slept on the floor should donate a bedstead with a quilt,
one who has eaten on a leaf plate should donate a pot of ghee, one who
as remained silent should donate a bell, and one who has fasted from sesame
should give gold in charity and feed a brahmana couple with sumptuous food.
A man who wants to prevent baldness should donate a mirror to a brahmana,
one who has second-hand shoes should donate shoes, and one who has fasted
from salt should donate some sugar to a brahmana. During this month
everyone should regularly offer a ghee lamp to Lord Vishnu or to Srimati
Tulasidevi in a temple.
"An Ekadasi fast is complete when one offers a
qualified brahmana a gold or copper pot filled with ghee and ghee wicks,
along with eight waterpots containing some gold and covered by cloths.
One who cannot afford these gifts should at least offer a brahmana some
sweet words. One who does so will surely attain the full benefit
of fasting on Ekadasi.
"After offering his obeisances and begging permission,
the devotee should eat his meal. On this Ekadasi, Chaturmasya ends,
so whatever one gave up during Chaturmasya should now be donated to brahmanas.
One who follows this process of Chaturmasya receives unlimited merit, O
king of kings, and goes to the abode of Lord Vasudeva after death.
O king, anyone who observes the complete Chaturmasya without a break attains
eternal happiness and does not receive another birth. But if someone
breaks the fast, he becomes either a blind man or a leper.
"Thus I have narrated to you the complete process
for observing Haribodhini Ekadasi. Someone who reads or hears about
this achieves the merit earned by donating cows to a qualified brahmana."
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Karttika-sukla Ekadasi - also known as Haribodhini Ekadasi or Devotthaani Ekadasi - from the Skanda Purana.
This story is from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press.
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
European Secretary
Bhagavat Dharma Samaj
PRABODHINIM UPOSYA EVA NA GARBHE VISATE NARAH
SARVA DHARMAN PARITYAJYA TASMAT KURVITA NARADA
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/289 from SKANDA PURANA spoken by Lord Brahma)
Oh Narada Muni, one who fasts on Prabodhini (when the Lord gets up) Ekadasi, does not enter again into the womb of another mother. Therefore, a person should give up all varieties of occupation and fast on this particular Ekadasi day.
DUGDHABDHIH BHOGI SAYANE BHAGAVAN ANANTO
YASMIN DINE SVAPITI CA ATHA VIBHUDHYATE CA
TASMINN ANANYA MANASAM UPAVASA BHAJAM
KAMAM DADATY ABHIMATAM GARUDANKA SAYI
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/293 from PADMA PURANA)
One who fasts with one pointed intelligence on the day when the Supreme Lord Sri Hari, Who sleeps on a bed of the enemy of Garuda (snake) goes to take rest in the Milk ocean on the bed of Ananta Sesa and also the day He gets up, gets all of his desires fulfilled.
BHAKTIPRADA HAREH SATU NAMNA KSATA PRAVODHINI
YASA VISNOH PARA MURTIR AVYAKTA ANEKA RUPINI
SA KSIPTA MANUSE LOKE DVADADI MUNI PUNGAVA
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/301 from VARAHA PURANA conversation between Yamaraja and Narada Muni)
This Prabodhini Ekadasi is famous for rewarding devotion to Lord Sri Hari. Oh best of the sages (Narada Muni), the personality of Ekadasi is present on this earthly planet in an unmanifested form of Lord Hari.
Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks in his Digdarsini-tika that one who exactly observes the Ekadasi fast by observing this, he directly worships Lord Sri Hari. This is the meaning of this verse. Therefore, Ekadasi is said to be equal to Lord Sri Hari Himself.
CATUR DHA GRAHYA VAI CIRNAM CATUR MASYA VRATAM NARAH
KARTIKE SUKLAPAKSE TU DVADASYAM TAT SAMACARET
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/412 from MAHABHARATA)
A person who observed Caturmasya fast stated in four different ways should end his fast on the Dvadasi day on the light fortnight of the month of Karttika.
EVAM YA ACARET PARTHA SOBHANAM DHARMAM APNUYAT
AVASANE TU RAJENDRA VASUDEVA PURAM VRAJET
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/433 from BHAVISYA UTTARA PURANA)
Oh son of Prtha, Oh best of the kings, one who follows his vows properly as it is stated here achieves the highest merit and at last goes to the abode of Lord Sri Hari, the son of Vasudeva.
See Bhisma Panchaka
See Gaura
Kishora dasa Babaji maharaj
The Ekadasi Page:
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati's Navadwip Panjika Intro'
Vaishnava Calendar Page
Ekadasi Vratas according to Hari Bhakti Vilas smriti
Ekadasis Throughout the year in detail - their observances, benefits, and individual origin