Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Brahmanda Puranam describes the splendor of
Mokshada Ekadashi. King Yudhishtira requests Lord Krishna to
explain the significance of the Mokshada Ekadashi and the procedures of
observing the same.
Mokshada Ekadashi purifies the worshipper from
the sins and blesses with liberation from the cycles of birth and death. Lord
Damodara should be worshipped on this auspicious day with flowers Tulsi,
incense and ghee lamp.
Lord Krishna narrates the story to King
Yudhishtira, there was a city named Champaka ruled by King Vaikhanasa. He
was a great ruler and the people in his Kingdom were happy. His kingdom
was full of ardent devotees of Lord Vishnu. The Brahmins in this city had
thorough knowledge in all the four vedas. One night King Vaikhanasa had a dream
in that he could visualize his deceased father was suffering from the tortures
of hell. Panicked and grief stricken, the King shed tears on his father’s
fate. The very next morning the King addressed the council of scholarly
Brahmins and described the dream seeking their expert advice. The King
explained that the Kingdom, his wealth, his wife and children and luxuries
doomed nothing to him after seeing the dreadful state of his father in the
hell. He lost all his pleasures and had had no peace of mind at
all. He requested the Council of Brahmins to advice about the
austerities, fasting, charity and meditation to save his father from the
hellish torture. He felt ashamed of himself as a powerful ruler,
but had no means to save his own father from hell. The Brahmins assembled
were advised him to meet Sage Parvata who may possibly help him with guidance.
The King Vaikhanasa desperately set out to meet
Sage Parvata in his hermitage. Sage’s hermitage was filled with
saintly people who were engaged in chanting Vedic hymns of Rig Yajur Sama
Atharvana Veda. Sage Parvata was seated in the middle of the Sages, who had the
resemblance of Lord Brahma /Maharishi Veda Vyasa.
King Vaikhanasa prostrated before Sage Parvatha.
The sage enquired about the welfare of the Kingdom and its People, Welfare of
the Ministry, Treasury, Alley, Military Forces, The Brahmins, The performances
of Sacrifices etc. etc..The King replied that his Kingdom and its people
were happy and lived peacefully with the Grace of Sages and Lord. Sage Parvatha
could realize that even though there was some problem persists, which made the
King to visit him. As a Trikalajyani (who can visualise the past, present
and future), the Sage could visualize the difficulty of King Vaikhanasa. The
sage replied the fact that, the King's father had committed a great sin which
forced him to propel into hell. The Sage explained the reason for his suffering
in hell for the merciless behavior towards his wife for abusing sexually during
her menstrual period. Though she begged him and protested the brutal attack,
the King was not kind enough to spare her. King Vaikhanasa
requested the sage to suggest any means to save his father from his sins and
the agonizing act of hell. Sage Parvatha suggested him to observe
fasting on the day of Mokshada Ekadashi which could bring salvation to his
father and attain the lotus feet of Sriman Narayana.
King Vaikhanasa observed the Shukla / Mokshada
Ekadashi with utmost faith and followed severe austerity; consequently his
father was liberated from hell. His father showered blessings on
his son.
Lord Krishna continued, whoever fasts and worship
Lord Hari on this auspicious day will be liberated from the cycles of birth and
death. Moreover, it brings abundant merits includes horse sacrifice.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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