Indira Ekadashi : Mon 18th Sep, 2006

[Guest guest]

Yudhisthira Maharaja said, " O Madhusudana, O killer of

the Madhu demon,

what is the name of the Ekadasi. that occurs during

the dark fortnight

of the month of Asvina [september-October]? Please

describe its glories

to me. "

 

The Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, replied, " This holy day

is called Indira

Ekadasi. If a person fasts on this day, all his sins

are eradicated and

his forefathers who have fallen into hell are

liberated. O best of

kings, one who simply hears about this Ekadasi.

achieves the great merit

earned by performing a horse sacrifice. "

 

In the Satya-yuga there lived a king named Indrasena,

who was so

powerful that he destroyed all his enemies. His

kingdom was called

Mahismati-puri. The glorious and highly religious King

Indrasena took

good care of his subjects, and therefore he was rich

in gold, grains,

sons, and grandsons. He was greatly devoted to Sri

Visnu as well. He

especially enjoyed chanting My name, calling out

'Govinda! Govinda!' In

this way King Indrasena systematically dedicated

himself to pure

spiritual life and spent much time meditating on the

Absolute Truth.

 

One day, as King Indrasena happily and peacefully

presided over his

assembly, the perfect orator, Narada Muni, was seen

descending from the

sky. The king offered Devarsi Narada, the saint among

the demigods,

great respect by greeting him with joined palms,

inviting him into the

palace, offering him a comfortable seat, washing his

feet, and speaking

sweet words of welcome. Then Narada Muni said to

Maharaja Indrasena, 'O

king, are the seven limbs of your kingdom prospering?'

Is your mind

absorbed in thinking of how you can properly perform

your occupational

duty? Are you becoming more and more devoted to the

Supreme Lord, Sri

Visnu?'

 

The king replied, 'By your kind grace, O greatest of

sages, everything

is quite well. Today, just by your presence all the

sacrifices in my

kingdom are successful! Please show me mercy and

explain the reason for

your visit here.'

 

Sri Narada, the sage among the demigods, then said, 'O

lion among kings,

listen to my astonishing words. When I descended from

Brahmaloka to

Yamaloka, Lord Yamaraja praised me very graciously and

offered me an

excellent seat. As I glorified his truthfulness and

wonderful service to

the Supreme Lord, I noticed your father in Yamaraja's

assembly. Though

he had been very religious, because he broke an

Ekadasi fast

prematurely, he had to go to Yamaloka. Your father

gave me a message for

you. He said, " In Mahismati lives a king named

Indrasena. Please tell

him about my situation here-that because of my past

sinful deeds I have

somehow been forced to reside in Yamaraja's kingdom.

Please give him

this message from me: 'O son, kindly observe Indira

Ekadasi and give

much in charity so I can go upward to heaven.'

 

Narada continued, 'Just to deliver this message, O

king, have I come to

you. You should help your father by observing the fast

of Indira

Ekadasi. By the merit you gain, your father will go to

heaven.'

 

King Indrasena asked, 'O great Naradaji, please be

merciful and tell me

specifically how to observe a fast on Indira Ekadasi,

and also tell me

during what month and on what day it occurs.'

 

Narada Muni replied, 'O king, please listen as I

describe to you the

full process of observing Indira Ekadasi. This

Ekadasi. occurs during

the dark fortnight of the month of Asvina. On Dasami,

the day before

Ekadasi. rise early in the morning, bathe, and then do

some service for

God with full faith. At noon, bathe again in running

water and then

offer oblations to your forefathers with faith and

devotion. Be sure not

to eat more than once on this day, and at night sleep

on the floor.

 

" 'When you awaken on Ekadasi morning, cleanse your

mouth and teeth

thoroughly and then with deep devotion for the Lord

take this sacred

vow: " Today I shall fast completely and give up all

kinds of sense

enjoyment. O lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of

Godhead, O infallible

one, please give me shelter at Your lotus feet. " At

noon, stand before

Sri Salagrama-sila and worship Him faithfully,

following all the rules

and regulations; then offer oblations to your

forefathers. Next, feed

qualified brahmanas and offer them some charity

according to your means.

Now take the food you offered to your forefathers,

smell it, and then

offer it to a cow. Next, worship Lord Hrsikesa with

incense and flowers,

and finally, remain awake all night near the Deity of

Sri Kesava.

 

Early in the morning of the next day, Dvadasi, worship

Sri Hari with

great devotion and invite brahmanas to a sumptuous

feast. Then feed your

relatives, and finally take your meal in silence. O

king, if you

strictly observe a fast on Indira Ekadasi in this way,

with controlled

senses, your father will surely be elevated to the

abode of Lord Visnu.'

After saying this, Devarsi Narada immediately

disappeared.

 

King Indrasena followed the great saint's instructions

perfectly,

observing the fast in the association of his relatives

and servants. As

he broke his fast on Dvadasi, flowers fell from the

sky. The merit

Indrasena earned by observing this fast released his

father from the

kingdom of Yamaraja and caused him to attain a

completely spiritual

body. Indeed, Indrasena saw him rising to the abode of

Lord Hari on the

back of Garuda. Indrasena himself was able to rule his

kingdom without

any obstacles, and in time he handed over the kingdom

to his son and

also went to Vaikuntha.

 

O Yudhisthira, these are the glories of Indira

Ekadasi, which occurs

during the dark fortnight of the month of Asvina

Whoever hears or reads

this narration certainly enjoys life in this world, is

freed of all his

past sins, and at death returns home, back to Godhead,

where he lives

eternally.