Falgun Mas's(March Month) Second Ekadashi Story: Fasting on this Ekadashi Removes Your Past Sins.
Ekadashi comes every fortnight, and each Ekadashi has enormous importance.
Fasting has great importance, and it has benefits beyond physical well-being.
Many religions acknowledge fasting and the importance of offering prayers on special occasions.
In Hindu mythology and traditions, Ekadashi is one such occasion that comes every fortnight. As the name suggests, Ekadashi means a day that comes on the eleventh day of each fortnight.
But before I share the importance of fasting on Ekadashi, I am sharing Krishna shloka so that Lord Krishna comes to know that we remember him all the time.
वसुदेव-सुतं देवं कंस-चाणूर-मर्दनम् |
देवकी-परमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ||vasudeva-sutam devam kaMsa-chANUra-mardanam |
devakI-paramAnandam kRiShNam vande jagad-gurum ||
Meaning of the shloka
Vasudeva-Sutam means who is son of a Vasudeva
Devam means O! Lord
Kansa-chANUra-mardanam means you killed devils like Kansa & Chanur
Devaki-paramAnandam means reason and bliss of Devaki
kRiShNam vande jagad-gurum means I bow to you, Lord Krishna, because you are the greatest teacher.
Importance of Ekadashi
Yudhishthir asked Lord Krishna once about the importance of Pap Mochini Ekadashi.
He questioned, what are the benefits of fasting on this Ekadashi?
Krishna responded, O! Great King, Yudhishthir.
Let me explain the importance of Pap Mochini Ekadashi. Fasting on this Ekadashi helps every human to get an apology for past transgressions.
Whoever keeps fast on this day not only gets wise but gains spirituality.
I will explain how to maintain fast on Ekadashi, but before that, let me tell you the story behind Pap Mochini Ekadashi.
The anecdote about Pap Mochini Ekadashi
Once upon a time in a forest. There were a plethora of flower species to be found in that area. Indra, the king of the gods, was a frequent visitor to this location.
Meghavi, the son of saint Chavan, was also a devotee of Lord Shiva in the same forest.
To shatter Meghavi's meditative state, Kamdeva asked nymph Manjughosha, the Lord of Sexuality, to do so.
Manjughosha was a stunning nymph in a sea of them.
She used every trick for heaven's shake to grab Meghavi's attention.
Even though Manjughosa was a devotee of saint Meghavi, she nevertheless found the fortitude to disrupt the Saint's meditative state.
St. Meghavi's meditation was shattered after a series of mishaps on her part.
The Saint, meditating for so many years, ended his practice.
Manjughosha, a nymph, began living with Saint Meghavi, and he lost all of his spirituality.
As her mission to shatter the saints' meditative state was complete, she wanted to return to paradise.
Angry at squandering so much time with the nymph Manjughosha, Saint Meghavi vented his rage.
The Saint knew that Manjughosha was the cause of his fall.
A furious Saint Meghavi cast the devil's curse on Manjughosha.
At the saints' feet, Manjughosha cried. She apologised and asked for pardon.
The nymph inquired as to how she could regain her previous shape.
Meghavi cooled down and instructed Manjughosha to observe a fast to obtain forgiveness and return to her original form on Pap Mochini Ekadashi.
His father, saint Chavan, was waiting for him in the ashram. He went into detail about what had occurred.
He asked Manjughosha to fast on Pap Mochini Ekadashi after hearing Meghavi curse at him.
I am accountable for cursing Manjughosha since he said so. You should fast on Pap Mochini Ekadashi to earn your pardon.
Pap Mochini Ekadashi was a sacred day for the saints, and he kept to his father's command. Manjughosha, on the other hand, observed the Pap Mochini Ekadashi fast.
Saint Meghavi and nymph Manjughosha were able to return to heaven after fasting on this Ekadashi because of their devotion.
There are many benefits for those who hear this story, including blessings and the opportunity to be pardoned.
Ekadashi fasting: how to stay on track
Complete fast or one-time fast; it's up to you, but keep it basic.
Ekadashi fasting is done by abstaining from all grains for the day.
If you want to stay on the fast, you can eat fruit, but not veggies.
On this day, read religious texts and recite mantras or shlokas.
On Ekadashi, be careful not to fall asleep too early.
Also, observe the proper fast-breaking times the following morning.