The greatness of Ekādaśī day Obeisance to Śrī Gaṇeśa
Obeisance to Śrī Kṛṣṇa 1. May the four arms of Hari protect you all—the arms dark like clouds in complexion, hardened by the friction (strokes) of the strings of the Śārṅga bow and which are like columns supporting the big pavilion (-like structure) of the three worlds. 2. May the lotus-like pair of Hari’s feet be the bestower of desires on us—the pair of feet refulgent with the brilliance of the polished crest jewels of Devas and Asuras (as they bow to him). Māndhātā said: 3. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, It behoves your honour to tell me what that fire is that burns both dry and damp fuel of terrible sins. 4. O sage, born of the four-faced deity (Brahmā), there is nothing that is unknown to you in the three worlds. O prominent Brāhmaṇa, the three-fold things (of the past, present and future time) are precisely known to you. 5. The sin committed unknowingly is called Śuṣka (dry) and the sin committed knowingly is cited as Ārdrā (wet). Please tell us the three events: that which are yet to be (future), that which has passed by (past), and that which is current (present). 6a. What is that fire whereby the sin may be reduced to ashes? This is esteemed by me (i.e. what I want to know). Vasiṣṭha said: 6b-9. O mighty king, may it be heard what that fire is whereby it is possible to reduce to ashes completely the dry as well as the wet kinds of sin. A person who, on the day of Lord Viṣṇu (i.e. Ekādaśī day) with due control of sense-organs observes fast, worships the killer of demon Madhu (i.e. God Viṣṇu), takes bath in water containing Emblic Myrobalan and keeps awake during that (Ekādaśī) night, completely absolves himself of all sins like a gambler losing all his wealth. 10. O king of kings, the fuel of sins even though accumulated (lit. generated) in the course of hundred births, is reduced to ashes through the fire called Ekādaśī. 11. O king, there is nothing that sanctifies men so much as the day of Padmanābha (i.e. Ekādaśī) that destroys sins. 12. O ruler of men, sins remain in this body, only so long as the creature (i.e. man) does not observe fast on the auspicious day of Padmanābha. 13. Thousands of horse-sacrifices and hundreds of Rājasūya sacrifices do not deserve even a sixteenth part of the fast observed on the Ekādaśī day. 14. O Lord, all the sins that have been committed by the eleven sense organs shall be dissolved, thanks to the fast on the Ekādaśī (eleventh) day. 15. O king, there is nothing equal to Ekādaśī that is destructive of sins. Even if it is observed under a pretext it exempts one from seeing the son of the Sun-god (i.e. Yama, the god of death and Hell). 16. It bestows heavenly pleasure and salvation; it yields kingdom and sons; it grants good wives and freedom from ailments to the body. 17-18. O king, neither Gaṅgā, nor Kāśī, nor Gayā, nor Puṣkara, nor Kurukṣetra nor the river Revā, or the Devikā, and neither the Yamunā nor the Candrabhāgā are more meritorious than the day of Hari. O leading king, Hari’s abode is attained without any strain. 19. By observing fast during the day on the day of Hari and by keeping awake during the night, a man is liberated from sins and he goes direct to the region of Viṣṇu. 20. O leading king, it uplifts ten generations on the mother-side, ten generations on the father’s side, and ten generations on the wife’s side. 21-23. O Sovereign king, he leads his own soul to the city of Viṣṇu. This rite of fast is like the Cintāmaṇi (wish-yielding stone) or it is equal to a Nidhi (treasure-trove) or it is like the Saṃkalpapādapa (wish-yielding tree). O the most excellent one among kings, those who resort to Dvādaśī (i.e. after observing fast on the previous day who break fast on this day) put forth two more arms (become like Viṣṇu four-armed), they ride on the enemy of serpents (i.e. Garuḍa) as their vehicle, they will be having garlands and yellow garments (like Viṣṇu). Thus they go to Hari’s abode. 24. Thus the power of Dvādaśī has been glorified by me, O king, it is called the fire that consumes the terrible fuel of sin. 25. The day of Hari should be observed as a day of fast by men, devoted to holiness and piety, who wish for abundant worldly pleasures as well as sons, grandsons etc. 26. The man who observes the day of Hari (Ekādaśī) with great respect, O most excellent one among men, never enters the womb of a mother even if he has committed many sins or even if he observes the fast with or without intention. He goes to the endless region of Viṣṇu, the Lord of the world. [1]: Māndhātā—An emperor of the solar race, son of king Yuvanāśva, He was born from his father’s belly. When the problem of feeding him arose, god Indra came forward and said, “He will suck me” (māṃdhātā). The Padmapurāṇa. tells us that when there was a drought for the continuous three years, the sages advised him to observe Ekādaśī Padma-nābhā (i.e. Padmā). He observed Ekādaśī Vrata and made all his subjects follow it. Rains showered, people became happy and the king prospered (Padmapurāṇa. VI—Uttara Khaṇḍa, Ch. 58. 33-38. [2]:The southern portion of the river Sarayū—The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India p. 55. According to Kālikāpurāṇa, (Ch. 53), Devikā is a distinct river between Gomatī and Sarayū and joins at the confluence of Gandak [Gaṇḍaka] and Gaṅgā and the confluence is called Triveṇi. K Rajaram IRS 291225 On Mon, 29 Dec 2025 at 08:19, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]> wrote: > *Vaikuntha Ekadashi – Gateway to Liberation* > > *Dear Friends,* > > *On 30th December 2025 (Vaikuntha Ekadashi), devotees of Lord Vishnu > celebrate this sacred day with fasting, prayers, and crossing the Vaikuntha > Dvaram (Sorkavasal) – the symbolic gateway to liberation.* > > · *Significance:* > > o *Vaikuntha Ekadashi is observed on the 11th day of the bright > fortnight of the Dhanu month.* > > o *It coincides with Mokshada / Putrada Ekadashi, believed to grant > liberation from sins.* > > o *Legends from the Padma Purana narrate how Lord Vishnu destroyed the > demon Murāsura through Goddess Ekadashi, who was empowered to absolve > humanity’s sins.* > > o *The story of King Ambarisha and Sage Durvasa highlights the power > of devotion and fasting on this day.* > > *Expanded Legends* > > · *Murāsura Legend (Padma Purana):* > Once, the demon Murāsura tormented the devas with a boon from Brahma. Lord > Vishnu fought him but could not defeat him directly. Retreating to > Simhavati cave near Badarikashrama, Vishnu invoked *Yogamaya*, born of > his divine energy. She slew Murāsura, and Vishnu named her *Ekadashi*, > granting her the power to absolve humanity’s sins > > · *Ambarisha & Durvasa:* > King Ambarisha, a devout Vaishnava, observed Ekadashi fasting with utmost > sincerity. When Sage Durvasa delayed his meal beyond the auspicious time, > Ambarisha broke his fast with water to uphold the vow. Durvasa, enraged, > cursed him, but Vishnu’s *Sudarshana Chakra* protected Ambarisha. The > sage realized his mistake and sought forgiveness. This story highlights the > *supremacy > of devotion and the sanctity of Ekadashi vows* > > · *Vaikuntha Dvaram:* > Another legend narrates that Vishnu opened the gates of Vaikuntha even for > two demons, granting the boon that anyone who hears their story and crosses > the *Vaikuntha Dvaram* would attain liberation > > *Famous Temples Celebrating Vaikuntha Ekadashi* > > This festival is observed with grandeur in several Vishnu temples across > India: > > · *Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh):* The > most famous, where lakhs of devotees gather for *Mukkoti Ekadashi* > darshan > > · *Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple (Tamil Nadu):* Known for the > majestic *Swargavasal opening* and elaborate rituals > > · *Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu):* > Celebrated with Divya Prabandham recitations and Vaikuntha Dvaram darshan > > · *Melkote Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple (Karnataka):* A major > center for Vaishnava traditions > > · *Other temples:* Paramapada Ekadashi at Vishnu shrines in > Kerala, and nationwide celebrations in Vishnu temples during Margazhi > > · *Traditions:* > > o *Temples across India open the Vaikuntha Dvaram (Sorkavasal) for > devotees to pass through, symbolizing entry into Vishnu’s abode.* > > o *Special recitations include Vedas, Naalayira Divya Prabandham, > Vaikuntha Gadyam, and services like Prakarotsavam, Oonjal Seva, Yagnas, and > discourses.* > > o *Vaishnavas observe fasting and Margazhi (Dhanurmasam) austerities > with devotion.* > > *On this auspicious day, I will be visiting the Old Adikesava Perumal > Temple, Govindan Road, West Mambalam, to cross the Sorkavasal and offer > prayers.* > > > > *May Lord Vishnu bless us all with purity, devotion, and liberation.* > > > *N Jambunathan , Chennai " What you get by achieving your goals is not as > important as what you become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a > happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things "* > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZoqymFeiHjrEpJ9-%3DwWdW5%3Don1TBj4PA%3DE0QBti4DkwePg%40mail.gmail.com.
