Mohini Ekadasi

[Guest guest]

Mohini EkAdashi

Story source: Kurma Puran

 

(in Mayapur is on May 1st- 2004).

 

Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Oh JanArdana, what is the name of the

EkAdasii

that occurs during the light fortnight (sukla paksha) of the month of

VaisAkha

(April-May) ? What is the process for observing it properly? Kindly narrate

all

of these details to me.

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna replied, "Oh blessed

son

of Dharma, what Vasishtha Muni once told to Lord Ramachandra I shall now

describe to you. Please hear Me attentively.

 

"Lord Ramachandra asked Vasishtha Muni, 'Oh great sage, I would like to hear

about the best of all fasting days that day which destroys all kinds of sins

and sorrows. I have suffered long enough in separation from My dear SitA,

and

so I wish to hear from you about how My suffering can be ended.'

 

"The sage Vasishtha replied, 'Oh Lord RAma, Oh You whose intelligence is so

keen, simply by remembering Your name one can cross the ocean of the

material

world. You have questioned me in order to benefit all of humanity and

fulfill

everyone's desires. I shall now describe that day of fasting which purifies

the

whole world.

 

'Oh Rama, that day is known as VaisAkha-sukla EkAdasii, which falls on

DvAdasii. It removes all sins and is famous as Mohinii EkAdasii. Truly, Oh

dear

Rama, the merit of this EkAdasii frees the fortunate soul who observes it

from

the network of illusion. Therefore, if You want to relieve Your

suffering(s),

observe this auspicious EkAdasii perfectly, for it removes all obstacles

from

ones path and relieves the greatest miseries. Kindly listen as I describe

its

glories, because for one who even just hears about this auspicious EkAdasii,

the greatest sins are nullified.

 

'On the banks of the Sarasvati River there was once a beautiful city named

BhadrAvati, which was ruled by King DyutimAn. Oh RAma, that steadfast,

truthful, and highly intelligent king was born in the dynasty of the Moon

(Chandra-vamsa). In his kingdom was a merchant named DhanapAla, who

possessed a

great deal of wealth of food grains and money. He was also very pious.

DhanapAla arranged for lakes to be dug, sacrificial arenas to be erected,

and

beautiful gardens to be cultivated for the benefit of all the citizens of

BhadrAvati. He was an excellent devotee of Lord Vishnu and had five sons:

SumAna, DyutimAn, MedhAvii, Sukriti, and Dhrishthabuddhi.

 

'Unfortunately, his son Dhrishthabuddhi always engaged in greatly sinful

activities, such as sleeping with prostitutes and associating with similar

degraded persons. He enjoyed illicit sex, gambling, and many other varieties

of

acts aimed at gratifying the senses. He disrespected the demigods (devas),

the

brahmins, the forefathers and other elders of the community, as well as his

family's guests. The evil-hearted Dhrishthabuddhi spent up his father's

wealth

indiscriminately, always feasting on untouchable foods and drinking alcohol

to

excess.

 

'One day DhanapAla kicked Dhrishthabuddhi out of the house after he saw him

walking along the road arm-in-arm with a known prostitute. From then on all

Dhrishthabuddhi's relatives were highly critical of him and distanced

themselves from him also. After he had sold all of his inherited ornaments

and

become destitute, the prostitute also abandoned him and insulted him because

of

his poverty.

 

'Dhrishthabuddhi was now full of anxiety, and also hungry. He thought, "What

should I do ? Where should I go ? How can I maintain myself ? He then began

to

steal. The king's constables arrested him, but when they learned who it was,

and that his father was the famous DhanapAla, they released him. He was

caught

and released in this way many times. But at last, sick of his arrogance and

total disrespect for others, and their property, the ill-mannered

Dhrishthabuddhi was apprehended, handcuffed, and then beaten. After whipping

him, the king's marshals warned him, "Oh evil minded one, there is no place

for

you in this kingdom.

 

'However, Dhrishthabuddhi was freed from his tribulation by his father and

immediately thereafter entered the dense forest. He wandered here and there,

hungry and thirsty and suffering greatly. Eventually he began killing the

jungle animals, the lions, deer, boars, and even wolves for food. Always

ready

in his hand was his bow, always on his shoulder was his quiver full of

arrows.

He also killed many birds, such as chakoras, peacocks, kankas, doves and

pigeons. He unhesitatingly slaughtered many species of birds and animals to

maintain his sinful way of life, the sinful results accumulating more and

more

each day. On account of his previous sins, he was now immersed in an ocean

of

great sin that was so relentless that it appeared that he could not get out.

 

'Dhrishthabuddhi was always miserable and anxious, but one day, during the

month of VaisAkha, by the force of some of his past merit he chanced upon

the

sacred Ashrama of KauNDinya Muni. The great sage had just finished bathing

in

the Ganges River, and water was dripping from him still. Dhrishthabuddhi had

the great good fortune to touch some of those droplets of water that were

falling from the great sage's wet clothing. Instantly Dhrishthabuddhi was

freed

of his ignorance, and his sinful reactions were reduced. Offering his humble

obeisances to KauNDinya Muni, Dhrishthabuddhi prayed to him with joined

palms;

"Oh great brAhmana, please describe to me some of the atonement I may

perform

without too much endeavour. I have committed so many sins in my life, and

these

have now made me very poor.

 

'The great rishi replied, "Oh son, listen with great attention, for by

hearing

me your life will change, and you will become free of all your remaining

sins.

In the light fortnight of this very month, VaisAkha (April-May) there occurs

the sacred Mohinii EkAdasii, which has the power to nullify sins as vast and

weighty as Mount Sumeru. If you follow my advice and faithfully observe a

fast

on this EkAdasii, which is so dear to Lord Hari, you will be freed from all

the

sinful reactions of many, many births.

 

'Hearing these words with great joy, Dhrishthabuddhi promised to observe a

fast

on Mohinii EkAdasii according to the sage's instructions and direction. Oh

best

of kings, Oh RAmachandra Bhagavan, by fasting completely on Mohinii

EkAdasii,

the once sinful Dhrishthabuddhi, the prodigal son of the merchant DhanapAla,

became sinless. Afterwards he achieved a beautiful transcendental form and,

free at last of all obstacles, rode upon the carrier of Lord Vishnu, Garuda,

to

the Supreme abode of the Lord.

 

'Oh RAmachandra, the fast day of Mohinii EkAdasii removes the darkest

illusory

attachments to material existence. There is thus no better fast day in all

the

three worlds than this.'

 

Lord Sri Krishna concluded, "and so, Oh Yudhishthira, there is no place of

pilgrimage, no sacrifice, and no charity that can bestow merit equal to even

one sixteenth of the merit a faithful devotee of Mine obtains by observing

the

Mohinii EkAdasii. And He who hears and studies the glories of Mohinii

EkAdasii

achieves the merit of giving away one thousand cows in charity.

 

Thus ends the narration of the glories of VaisAkha-sukla EkAdasii, or

Mohinii

EkAdasii, from the Kurma PurANa.