Indira Ekadashi !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Brahmavaivartha Puranam describes the glory of Indira Ekadashi which falls on the waning period of moon.  Lord Krishna narrates the grandeur, pieties and rules of observance of Indira Ekadashi to King Yudhishtira.

There was a king named Indrasena, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.  He was the empire of Mahishmatipuri in Satya Yuga.  Indrasena was a great warrior and a righteous leader, he ruled his Kingdom wisely.   His Kingdom flourished thereby people lived a happy and prosperous life.  King Indrasena also lived an extremely happy and peaceful life with his children and grandchildren. 

Once, Maharishi Narada appeared before King Indrasena at his faithful devotion to Lord. King Indrasena welcomed Maharishi with due honor and paid respectful obeisance to him.  Maharishi Narada enquired the King about the living conditions of the people, performance of sacrifices and religious principles etc..  King Indrasena replied earnestly at the questions of Maharishi Narada.  Maharishi Narada was pleased at the humble and sincere replies of the King.  Indrasena sincerely enquired Maharishi Narada about his purpose  of the visit.

Maharishi Narada continued to explain about his recent visit to the Abode of Lord Yama.   Maharishi Narada was received by Lord Yama with utmost reverence.  While, they were in the assembly occupied in a dialogue, Maharishi Narada met King Indrasena’s father.  Even though Indrasena’s father was a pious and righteous ruler, he had committed a serious sin of forgotten his vow when he was alive.  As a result, he had to live in the Abode of Lord Yama after his death.  Maharishi Narada informed King Indrasena about the incident and his purpose of visit was mainly at the request of Indrasena’s father.  Maharishi Narada instructed King Indrasena to observe Indira Ekadashi to save his departed father’s soul from the clutches of Lord Yama.    King Indrasena requested Maharishi Narada to enlighten him with the prescribed rules of observance of Indira Ekadashi which falls on the waning period of moon.

Maharishi Narada narrated the procedures of observance of Indira Ekadashi.  On the previous day of Indira Ekadashi the worshipper should   perform homage to one’s ancestors, eat only once and should not indulge in any sensual pleasures or comforts.  On the Eakadashi day, the worshipper should take bath early in the morning before sunrise, engage in chanting the holy names of Lord Hari, performance of sacred bath to Salagrama, observe complete fast, feed the Brahmin and provide them with the alms, offering should be made to cows  etc.. are the procedures of observance of Indira Ekadashi.  As a part of austerities, Lord Hrishikesha is worshipped and offerings are made in the form of Bhog, flowers, ghee lamp, sandal paste, incense sticks etc.  The worshipper should remain awake in the night chanting and listening to the glories of Lord.  On the next day after worshipping Lord Hari, the worshipper breaks his/her fast with the members of the family.  Maharishi Narada educated King Indrasena with the prescribed rules of observance of Indira Ekadashi and blessed the King that the faithful observance of Indira Ekadashi would make his father’s soul free from the clutches of Lord Yama. 

King Indrasena observed the Indira Ekadashi and attained abundance of pieties.  Thus, he freed his father from the Abode of Lord Yama.  King Indrasena ruled Mahishmatipuri for several years without any impediment.  At the age of Vanaprastha, he left the Kingdom under the custodian of his legal inheritor and continued his spiritual journey.

Lord Krishna continued, whoever listens to the glories of Indira Ekadashi would be released from the sins committed and attain the Lotus feet of Sriman Narayana.  Moreover, the pieties of observance of Indira Ekadashi are capable to eradicate the sins committed and provide salvation to ancestors.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!