2)Vaikuntha Ekadasi
Vaikuntha Ekadasi (Vijaya Ekadasi)
Yudhisthira Maharaj said, Oh Lord Sri Krishna, O glorious son of
Vasudeva, please be merciful to me and describe the Ekadasi that occurs
during the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna (February-March).
Lord Sri Krishna replied, Oh Yudhisthira, Oh king of kings, gladly I
shall tell you about this great fast, known as Vijaya Ekadasi. Whoever
observes it certainly achieves success in this life and the next. All
the sins of one who fasts on this Ekadasi and hears its sublime glories
are eradicated. Narada Muni once asked lord Brahma, who sits on a lotus
flower about the Vijaya Ekadasi.
Sri Narada said, Oh best of all the
demigods, kindly tell me the merit one can achieve by faithfully
observing Vijaya Ekadasi.’ Narada’s great father then replied, My dear
son, this oldest of fasting days is pure, and it nullifies all sins. I
have never revealed this to anyone until today, but you can understand
beyond any doubt that this Ekadasi bestows the result indicated by its
name (Vijaya meaning Victory). When Lord Rama was exiled to the forest
for fourteen years, He, the goddess Sita, and His divine brother
Lakshmana stayed at Panchavati as mendicants. Mother Sita was then
kidnapped by the demon Ravana, and Lord Rama seemingly became bewildered
like an ordinary man by distress. While searching for His beloved
consort, the Lord came upon the dying Jatayu and thereafter killed His
enemy Kabandha. The great devotee-vulture Jatayu returned to Vaikuntha
after telling Rama how His dear Sita had been abducted by Ravana. Later,
Lord Rama and Sugriva, the king of the monkeys, became friends.
Together they amassed a grand army of monkeys and bears and sent
Hanumanji his minister to Sri Lanka, where he was able to see Janaki
(Srimati Sita devi) in an Ashoka grove garden. He delivered Lord Rama’s
message and showed the ring proving his authenticity for rendering such
great service to the Supreme Lord Sri Rama. With the help of Sugriva,
Lord Rama proceeded toward Sri Lanka. Upon arriving at the shore of the
ocean with the army of monkeys, He could understand that the water was
uncommonly deep and hostile. Thus He said to Lakshmana, Oh son of
Sumitra, how can We earn enough merit to be able to cross this vast
ocean, the unfathomable abode of Varuna deva? I can see no easy way to
cross it, teeming as it is with sharks and other ferocious aquatics.
Lakshmana replied, Oh best of all beings, Oh origin of all the devas, Oh
primal personality, the great sage Bakadalbhya lives on an island just
four miles from here. Oh Raghava, he has seen many Brahmas come and go,
so aged and wise is he. Let us go to him, take his darshan (audience)
and ask him how We can safely reach our goal. So Rama and Lakshmana
proceeded to the humble Ashram of the incomparable Bakadalbhya Muni.
Approaching him, the two Lords paid Their respectful obeisances to him
as if he were a second Vishnu.
Bakadalbhya could immediately understand,
however, that Sri Rama was actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
who for His own reasons had appeared on the Earth and was enacting just
like a human being. “Sri Rama”, said Bakadalbhya, “Oh best of the
beings, why have You come to my lowly abode?” The Lord replied, “Oh
great, twice born brahmin, I have come here to the ocean shore with My
phalanx of monkey and bear warriors in order to cross the sea and
conquer Lanka and its demon horde headed by Ravana. Oh greatest of
sages, please be merciful unto Me and please tell Me how I can cross
this vast ocean. That is why I have come to your Ashram today.” The sage
said, “Oh Lord Sri Rama, I shall tell you of the most exalted of all
fasts, observing which You will surely conquer Ravana and be eternally
glorified. Kindly now listen with full attention.”
“On the day before
Ekadasi, fashion a water pot of gold or silver, or even copper. Even
clay will do if these metals are unavailable. Fill the pot with pure
water and then decorate it nicely with mango leaves. Cover it and place
it near a holy altar upon a mound of seven grains (the seven grains are
barley, wheat, rice, corn, chickpeas, kukani, and dahl or peas). Now
take Your morning bath, decorate the water pot with flower garlands and
sandalwood paste, and in the concave lid atop the pot place there the
barley, pomegranate, and coconut. Now with great love and devotion
worship the water pot Deity form and offer Him incense, sandalwood
paste, flowers, a ghee lamp, and a plate of sumptuous foods. Remain
there awake that night beside this sacred pot. On top of the lid filled
with barley, etc., place a golden murthy of Lord Sri Narayana. When
Ekadasi dawns, take Your morning bath and then decorate the water pot
with fine sandalwood paste and garlands. Then worship the pot again with
first class incense, lamps, sandalwood paste and flowers dipped in
sandalwood paste, and then devoutly/devotedly place many kinds of cooked
food, pomegranate, and coconut before the water pot. Then remain awake
over night. When the Dwadasi dawns, take the waterpot to the bank of a
holy river, or even to the shore of a small pond. After worshipping it
again properly, Oh King of kings, offer it with all the aforementioned
ingredients to a pure hearted brahmin, expert in the Vedic sciences. If
You and Your military commanders observe the Vijaya Ekadasi in this way,
You will surely be victorious in every way.” Lord Sri Ramachandra
Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did just as Bakadaalbhya
Muni instructed, and thus He conquered all demoniac forces.
Similarly,
anyone who observes the Vijaya Ekadasi in this way will always be
victorious in this mortal world, and after leaving this world he/she
will reside forever in the anxiety free realm of the Kingdom of God
known as the Vaikunthas. Oh Narada, my son, from this history you can
understand why one should observe this Ekadasi fast properly, strictly
following the rules and regulations. This fast is powerful enough to
eradicate all one’s sinful reactions, even the most abominable ones.
Lord Sri Krishna concluded, Oh Yudhisthira, anyone who reads or hears
this history will attain the same great merit as that which is earned by
performing a horse sacrifice on days of yore.
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Phalguna-krishna Ekadasi or Vijaya Ekadasi, from the Skanda Purana.
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