Amalaki Ekadasi

[Guest guest]

Hare Krsna!

 

Once King Mandhata asked the sage Vasistha:

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"O most fortunate one if you are pleased with and merciful to me then

kindly describe to me about a vow by following of which I can attain all

auspiciousness."

 

The sage Vasistha replied:

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"O King, now I will explain to you the glories and history of a great vow

which awards one all auspiciousness. O King! The name of this vow is

Amalaki Ekadasi. The influence of the piety accumulated by following this

Ekadasi certainly destroys all one's sinful reactions and awards liberation

as well as the result of donating one thousand cows in charity."

 

 

In the ancient times there was a city named Vaidisa that was

inhabited by many healthy and prosperous brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas,

sudras. O lion-hearted King, there was no atheistic or sinful person in

this beautiful city. The entire city was filled with the sound of Vedic

mantras. In this famous city there lived a truthful pious king named

Caitraratha who was born in the family of King Pasabinduka, a member of the

dynasty of the moon. King Caitraratha was powerful, herioc, opulent, and

well versed in the scriptures.

 

 

During the reign of this King all auspiciousness and prosperity was

found in the kingdom. All his subjects were attached to the devotional

service of Lord Vishnu and all of them observed the vow of Ekadasi. Due to

remaining engaged in the devotional service of Lord Hari everyone lived

happily in his kingdom. There was not a single poor or miserly person in

his kingdom.

 

 

After living happily for many many years in this way once Amalaki

Ekadasi conjoined with Dvadasi which occurs during the waxing moon in the

month of Feburary/March.Realizing that this Ekadasi bestows great benefits,

the King and his subjects resolved to observe this Ekadasi with proper

rules and regulations.

 

Early in the morning on the day of Ekadasi the king and his

subjects took bath in the river and went to the temple of Lord Vishnu which

was situated on the river bank. Within the temple there was an amalaki tree

where the King placed a pitcher filled with water and an umbrella, cloths,

shoes, and five kinds of jewels for the worship.

 

Thereafter the King worshipped Lord Parasurama and amalaki by

offering water, shoes, canopy, gold, diamonds, rubies, pearls, sapphires

and fragrant incense. Then the king, led by the sages and followed by his

subjects offered prayers to Lord Parasurama as follows:

 

'O Lord Parasurama! O son of Renuka! O You who is situated under

the shade of the amalaki tree! O bestower of material enjoyment and

liberation, I offer my respectful obeisances to You.'

 

Then they offered prayers to the amalaki. 'O amalaki! O sustainer

of the universe! O offspring of Lord Brahma! O destroyer of all sins! We

offer our respectful obeisances to you. Kindly accept our offering.'

 

After properly worshipping the Lord and amalaki in this, the king,

accompanied by his subjects remained awake that night within the temple of

Lord Vishnu. They sang songs and offered beautiful prayers with devotion in

praise of the Lord and the amalaki tree. At that time, by the arrangement

of Providence, a hunter came there. This hunter earned his livelihood

simply by killing various living entities.

 

When he came to the temple which was decorated with a ghee lamp,

incense and other auspicious items and saw that many people were remaining

awake while glorifying the Lord,he sat down with them and began to

comtemplate what was going on?

 

The fortunate hunter took darsana of Lord Damodara who was placed

on the top of the pitcher and began to hear the transcendental topics of

Visnu. Athough he was afflicted with hunger he was astonished to see this

and remained awake that whole night while hearing the glories of Ekadasi.

 

In the morning the king left for his palace accompanied by his

subjects. The hunter also returned home and happily took his meal. After

many, many years the hunter left his body. By the influence of Amalaki

Ekadasi and as a result of remaining awake on the night of this Ekadashi in

his next life the hunter became a King with innumerable elephants, horses,

chariots and a large army. The hunter took birth as Vasurath the powerful

son of king Vidurath who ruled the famous ciy of Jayanti.

 

King Vasurath ruled one million villages. He was a brilliant as the

sun, as effulgent as the moon as powerful as Lord Vishnu, and as tolerant

as the earth. He was truthful and fixed in his occupational duties and thus

became a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.

 

One day king Vasurath, who was very kind and charitable, lost the

his way while hunting in the forest. He was extremely tired and afflicted

with hunger. Not finding any other alternative the king lied down within

that dense forest using his arm as a pillow.

 

At that time some mlecchas who lived in that forest came before the

sleeping king and began to torture him in various ways. Considering the

king to be their enemy, they attempted to kill him. They thought that this

king had previously killed our fathers, mothers, sons, grandsons, and

uncles and has compelled us to wander aimlessly. Speaking in this way the

mlecchas took up their different weapons and began to beat the king. But to

their utter surprise, none of their weapons touched the body of the king,

and as a result the king did not feel any injury at all. When all their

weapons were used up the mlecchas became morose and lifeless due to

fear.They lost all power to move any further.

 

At that time a beautiful extraordinary woman decorated with various

ornaments and fragrant sandalwood paste appeared from the body of the king.

She was decorated with an attractive flower garland and her eyes were

reddish due to anger. She raised her eye brow, and holding a disc in her

hand, she rushed towards the mlecchas to kill them in an angry mood. Within

a moment that powerful woman killed all the sinful mlecchas. After this

incident, the king saw his fierce looking enemies lying killed he became

astonished and said, 'Alas! Who is that most well-wishing friend of mine

who has protected my life by killing these powerful enemies? I convey my

heartfelt gratitude to him for this great act.'

 

At that time a voice from the sky was heard, 'Who else except Lord

Kesava is capable of protecting His surrendered souls? He alone is the

maintainer of surrendered devotees.'After hearing this voice from the sky,

the king became extremely amazed and his heart melted with devotional

feeling. Thereafter the king returned to his place and ruled his kingdom

just like Indira, without any obstacles.

 

The sage Vasistha continued, "My dear king! Any person who observes

the vow of this sacred Amalaki Ekadasi undoubtedly returns to the abode of

Lord Vishnu."

-Haribol-