|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
In Brahmanda Puranam Sage Vashishta narrates to King Mandata
about the glories of Amlaki Ekadashi. King Mandata earnestly enquired
Sage Vasishta to explain the means to attain the highest of
pieties in one's life. Sage Vashishta replied that whoever observes
Amlaki Ekadashi with utmost devotion and faith in Lord Hari would be
rewarded with the highest of merits known as ‘Salvation’ and enormous wealth,
faithful observation of this Ekadashi would bring the devoutness of hundreds of
cows given as alms to Brahmin/ Go Dhanam and it eradicates all the sins of the
worshipper.
There was a city named Vaidiska ruled by King Chaitraratha.
He was a righteous ruler and wisely ruled his kingdom, all the people in his
kingdom were lived a happy and prosperous life. The people were
highly intellectuals and enriched with enormous prowess. The people in his Kingdom were virtuous; all
the four Varnas performed their 'Dharma' truthfully and they were followed
all the rituals prescribed in Sastras in a perfect manner.
King Chaitraratha was a strict follower of Ekadashi. It was
an Amlaki Ekadashi day; he went to the river banks and performed ablutions and
arrived in a temple of Lord Vishnu situated on the river banks. There he
was found an Amla Tree in the temple premise. The King was aware that the
Amla tree is the dwelling place of Lord Vishnu. He fervently placed a
pitcher full of water beneath the Amla tree along with all the offerings
in the form of precious jewels, umbrella, sandals, clothes and offered prayers
to Lord Parasurama. King Chaitraratha and his men continued to
worship Lord without any intake and chanting the glorious verses of Lord
Hari. In the night King and his men were awake and engaged in chanting
the name of Lord. While the worship of Lord Hari was in progress, there
arrived a hunter and he was very tired of hunger. The loud voices of
chanting and singing, praising the glories of Lord made him curious and witnessed
the entire rituals meticulously. Thus, the fortunate hunter
spent the Ekadashi day engaged in the worship of Lord Hari along with King
Chaitraratha and his men. As usual on the day of Dwadashi, the King and
his men were returned to the palace after Parana and morning prayers.
Likewise, the hunter also returned home and had his meal. After several years, the hunter died and took
birth as a prince due to the merits he had achieved by observing Amlaki
Ekadashi. He was born as the son of a righteous King Vidurath
who was the ruler of the City Jayanthi and the child was named Vasurath, year’s
passes by Vasurath grown into a charming young adult with enormous prowess and
he has the endurance of Mother Earth. In due course of time Vasurath
was crowned as the King of Jayanthi. King Vasurath was
very wise and courageous; compassionate ruler, well versed in Veda, he had
performed several Yagnas and Yagas and he was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.
One day, King Vasurath went for an hunting expedition with his
men. In the middle of the woodlands he gone off track and
trapped in the forest. Soon he realized that he is in the middle of a
deep forest with no one to help him. He
was tired of hunger and eventually drifted to sleep. While
he was asleep, a few outcaste men arrived there with their deadly
weapons. They with all their mounted rage started to infuriate the King
and aimed several weapons on him. Surprisingly, even a single weapon
couldn't harm his body. The men continued their heinous act, suddenly
a beautiful woman transcended from the body of the King
Vasurath. She was fuming with rage, her eyes were red like fire
balls and she was holding a dice in her hand. She started to fight with
the men and killed them effortlessly. At this moment King opened his eyes
and saw the dead bodies of the outcast men were all around him. He
sincerely offered his prayers to Lord for saving him from the danger. He
could listen to a mysterious voice replied that he was saved by Lord Keshava
who is the sole protector of all souls. Eventually King Vasurath
returned to his palace and ruled the city wisely for many years.
During his regime the entire city was prosperous with rich natural resources
and people were lived happily.
Sage Vasishta concluded, whoever fast and worships Lord Hari on
this day of Amlaki Ekadashi would attain the Lotus feet of Sriman Narayana and
it would eradicate the sins of the listener.
Thus ends the glories of Amlaki Ekadashi described in Bhramanda Purana.
|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
