Vrat & Upasana

The gandharva Lalit sang off-key while thinking of his wife and was cursed into a fearsome demon. His wife Lalita kept Kamada Ekadashi on sage Shringi's advice and gave him its merit, and he was restored.

King Mandhata, lost in meditation, was mauled by a bear and lost a leg. Vishnu told him to keep Varuthini Ekadashi at Mathura and worship Varaha; he regained a whole, radiant body.

Dhrishtabuddhi, the wayward son of a pious merchant, was cast out and fell into misery. Sage Kaundinya taught him Mohini Ekadashi; his sins dissolved and he reached Vishnu's abode. Also the day Vishnu took the Mohini form.

Righteous King Mahidhwaja was murdered by his jealous brother and became a restless ghost in a peepal tree. Sage Dhaumya kept Apara Ekadashi for him and transferred the merit, freeing the king.

Bhima could not bear hunger and missed every Ekadashi. Vyasa told him that one waterless fast in Jyeshtha gives the merit of all 24 — so he kept it, and it is called Bhimseni Ekadashi.

Hemamali, Kubera's gardener, neglected the flowers for Shiva's worship to be with his wife and was cursed with leprosy. Sage Markandeya prescribed Yogini Ekadashi, which cured him.

King Mandhata's kingdom suffered a three-year drought; sage Angiras advised this Ekadashi and the rains returned. Vishnu begins his four-month Yoga Nidra — Chaturmas starts.

A hot-tempered landlord killed a Brahmin in a quarrel and was shunned. A sage told him to keep Kamika Ekadashi and worship Vishnu with tulsi; the grave sin was washed away.

King Mahijit was childless because, in a past life, he had driven a thirsty cow away from water. On sage Lomasha's advice his subjects kept this Ekadashi and offered him the merit; a son was born.

King Harishchandra lost kingdom, wife and son and served at a cremation ground. Sage Gautama told him of Aja Ekadashi; keeping it ended his trials, his son was revived and his kingdom restored.

The sleeping Vishnu turns on his side this day. Its katha is of Vamana, who took the world in three steps from King Bali and, pleased with his surrender, promised to stay with him in Patala.

Through Narada, King Indrasena learned his late father was suffering in Yama's realm. He kept Indira Ekadashi during Pitru Paksha and gave the merit, and his father rose to Vishnu's abode.

Krodhana, a cruel hunter of the Vindhyas, grew terrified as death neared and begged sage Angiras for help. Keeping Papankusha Ekadashi freed him from a lifetime of sin.

Princess Chandrabhaga's frail husband Shobhan died keeping Rama Ekadashi but won a divine but unstable city by its merit. Her own years of Ekadashi merit made that kingdom stable and the two were reunited.

Vishnu wakes from his four-month sleep and Chaturmas ends; Tulsi is married to Shaligram/Vishnu and auspicious work like weddings resumes. Fasting and night vigil on this day are praised above a thousand yajnas.

While Vishnu rested in a cave, the demon Mura came to kill him; a maiden born of Vishnu's power slew Mura. Vishnu named her Ekadashi — the origin of the vrat; those starting Ekadashi fasts often begin here.

King Vaikhanasa dreamt his father was suffering in hell. Sage Parvata advised Mokshada Ekadashi; the merit freed his father. Also Gita Jayanti; in the South often Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

Lumpaka, the exiled son of King Mahishmat, lived by theft in a forest. One freezing night he unknowingly fasted, stayed awake and offered fruits under a peepal tree; Vishnu's grace reformed him and he later ruled well.

King Suketuman and Queen Shaibya of Bhadravati were childless and in despair. Sages at a lake advised Putrada Ekadashi; keeping it, they were blessed with a worthy son.

A devout woman fasted often but never gave food in charity; when Vishnu begged as a monk she gave him a lump of clay, and in heaven found an empty house. Keeping Shattila Ekadashi with sesame charity filled it. Sesame is used six ways this day.

Gandharvas Malyavan and Pushpavati, distracted in Indra's court, were cursed to live as goblins in the cold Himalayas. Starving and sleepless on Jaya Ekadashi, they kept it unknowingly and regained their divine forms.

Before crossing the sea to Lanka, Rama asked sage Bakadalbhya how to win; he prescribed Vijaya Ekadashi with a kalash puja. Rama kept it with his army and won the war.

King Chitraratha's people worshipped the amla tree and kept vigil on this Ekadashi. A hungry hunter who merely watched was reborn as King Vasuratha, protected by a divine power when attacked.

The apsara Manjughosha broke sage Medhavi's penance; he cursed her to become a pishachi. Sage Chyavana told both to keep Papmochani Ekadashi, which released them from the curse and the sin.

King Kritavirya's queen Padmini did long penance for a son. On Anasuya's advice she kept this Adhik-month Ekadashi; Vishnu blessed her with the mighty Kartavirya Arjuna.

A poor but honest Brahmin, Sumedha, and his wife Pavitra lived in want. Sage Kaundinya taught them Parama Ekadashi with a five-day observance; poverty left their home and prosperity came.