|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
In Bavishyothara Purana Lord Krishna describes to King Yudhishtira
about the glories of Papamochani Ekadashi falls on the wanning period of moon,
on the day of Chaitra Krishna Paksha Ekadashi. King Yudhishtira earnestly
prayed to Lord Krishna to explain the splendor of Papamochani Ekadashi, which
was earlier described by Sage Lomaharshana to Emperor Mandata.
During the regime of Lord Kubera - Lord of Wealth, there was a
afforest Chithraratha which used to bear all array of flowers of alluring
beauty and aroma in all the seasons. This was one of most favorite enthralling
place of Lord Indra and His celestial dancers and singers and Kinnaras, a perfect
place for amusement. It was the dwelling
place for several sages who perform sacrificial rite, there lived Sage Medhavi
who was the son of Chyavana Rishi an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Sage
Medhavi followed severe austerities to please Lord Shiva. As per
the instruction of Lord Indra, the celestial dancers and singers tried hard to
put an obstacle to his austerity. Manju Ghosa, one of the celestial dancers
built a cottage near the sage's hermitage and started to live there. She
distracted Sage Medhavi’s meditation by all means; she started to sing in a
heavenly voice to capture the attention of the Sage. She continued her pastimes
and came out of the cottage smearing sandal paste all over her gorgeous body
and wearing alluring flower garlands around her neck and continued to play all
tricks to capture the attention of the Sage. Sage Medhavi, who was in the
hermitage of Chvyana Rishi happened to come out and was overwhelmed at the
stunning features of Manju Ghosa. He forgot the austerities and worship of Lord
instantly and engaged in the lustful company of Manju Ghosa for several years.
Manju Ghosa realized that the Sage has lost his austerities and
devotion to Lord completely and she had won over Sage Medhavi’ and his devotion
to Lord. She started to abandon him. One day she asked the permission to
return heaven. Since then, Sage and Manju Ghosa lived together for fifty seven
years, nine months and three days seemed a few moments to him. The attraction
towards Manju Ghosa made him unaware of the time he had spent and the urge to
be with her made him to beg her to stay with him. She spent few more years with
him and engaged him in all depraved acts. Once again, Manju Ghosa pleaded Sage’s
permission to leave Earth. He asked her to wait at least for a day to finish
his rituals. In return she advised sage Medhavi to reconsider the time he had
already spent with her without following any austerities and devotion to Lord. After listening to Manju Ghosa, Sage Medhavi
was terribly shocked and ashamed, tears of guilt started to run down his cheeks,
he realized her as destroyer of his spiritual life. In a sudden rage, he cursed Manju Ghosa to
become a witch.
Manju Ghosa turned into an ugly looking witch. She begged to
pardon her and relieve her from the curse. She pleaded him that she had spent
long and beautiful fifty seven years with him; she deserved to be forgiven. The
merciful Sage Medhavi, instructed Manju Ghosa to observe Papamochani Ekadashi
with utmost devotion that would help her to regain her real form as celestial
dancer. He left to his father Chyavana's hermitage. Rishi Chyavana was jubilant
at his son's return after several years. Sage Medhavi regretted for his sinful
deeds and begged for forgiveness. Chyavana Rishi instructed his son to follow
Papamochani Ekadashi with utmost faith and devotion to get rid of all the sins
he had committed. Sage Medhavi observed Papamochani Ekadashi and got relieved
from all his sins committed and once again he turned out dutiful, similarly
Manju Ghosa observed Papamochani Ekadashi faithfully and got back her form as a
celestial dancer and returned to heaven.
Sage Lomaharshana concluded whoever reads or listens to the
glories of Papamochani Ekadashi would attain the merit of one thousand 'Go
Dhanam' and relieved from all sins including sin of Brahmahathya, sin out
of killing an embryo, illicit relationship with women and consumption of
intoxicated drinks etc...Thus ends the glories of Papamochani Ekadashi
described in Bhavishyothara Purana.
|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
