[Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Indira Ekadashi : Mon 18th Sep, 2006-ANY ANSWERS??

[Guest guest]

HARI AUM

 

Appreciate the posting very much.

 

Apart from the ritualistic part what could be the

spirit and message ? How can one accomplish the

purpose? What other actions can be done in the place

of those mentioned?

 

Just some food for thought.

 

Regards

 

Balagopal

 

NARAYANA NARAYANA NARAYANA

 

 

 

--- vinita manikantan <vinitamanikantan

wrote:

 

>

> 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,

>

=== message truncated ===

 

 

 

 

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