|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
Bavishyothara Puranam describes the glory
of Varuthini Ekadashi which falls on the wanning period of
moon. Lord Krishna explains to King Yudhishtira about
the austerities should be followed on the day of Varuthini Ekadashi.
Lord Krishna narrates to King Yudhishtira,
that the observer should strictly follow the austerities from the previous
day of Ekadashi by consuming meal once and abstaining from all the sensual
pleasures. Moreover, the food consumed should be self-cooked in earthen
pots, and consumption of meat, chickpeas, honey, spinach, Dal, betel leaf
and nuts, should be strictly avoided. On the day
of Varuthini Ekadashi, the observer should not indulge in gambling, sleeping,
tattletale or engage in any of the sinful deeds. The observer should fast on this
day, worship Lord Hari and chanting His glories with utmost faith and devotion
and keep awake in the night. On the day after Varuthini Ekadashi (Dwadashi)
after ablutions and worship of Lord Hari with Bhog, Dwadashi Parana should be
performed within the specified time.
Lord Krishna continued, King Mandata and
Dhunthumara were the strict followers of Ekadashi, which brought them the
highest of the piety, freed them from the cycles of birth and
death. Observing the Varuthini Ekadashi brings the remarkable
piousness known as 'Salvation'. It also provides good fortune,
perpetual happiness and eradicates all the sins committed. One can
achieve the merit that is equivalent to observing austerities for ten
thousand years by observing a Varuthini Ekadashi. The piousness includes,
donating 40 kilos of gold during the time of solar eclipse in the righteous
land Kurukshetra.
Lord Krishna narrates the types of
charities, donating an elephant is superior than donating a
horse, donating a land is superior than donating an elephant,
donating sesame seeds are greater than donating a piece
of land, donating gold is greater than donating the sesame seeds, donating
food grains is greater than donating gold and donating food grains earns the
highest merit in the charities which is equivalent to
donating cows, by this act one can satisfy deities, forefathers
and all the living entities, last but not the least giving
knowledge about sacred texts and scriptures to others is one of the most
rewarding and highest among all the charities.
Lord Krishna explains some of the
heinous acts that mount up the sins are giving away a girl child in
exchange of money out of greed or for livelihood is the highest among
the sins, the sinner of the above act will be born as cat in his/her
next birth and the latter remains in the hell until the total annihilation
to the Universe takes place. The parents who perform the marriage of
a young maiden as per the prescribed rules and rituals would attain the
piety which is difficult to count or describe not even by Chitra Gupa, who
is the chief in the ministry of Abode of Lord Yama. Lord
Krishna concluded that by following Varuthini Ekadashi with utmost faith
and devotion, one could attain all the devoutness and whoever reads or listens
to the glories of Varuthini Ekadashi would attain the merit of donating
one thousand cow and the worshiper would be freed from all the sins, it brings
good fortune and attain the Abode of Lord Sri Hari.
||Jai Sriman Narayana ||
