|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
Brahma Vaivarta Puranam
describes the grandeur of Papankusha Ekadashi/ Ashwin Shukla Paksha
Ekadashi. Lord Krishna explains
the devoutness of observing Papankusha Ekadashi to King Yudhishtira, fasting on
the day of Ekadashi and feeding righteous Brahmin on the day of Dwadashi is a
part of serving Lord Maha Vishnu. Worship of Lord Vishnu/Padmanabha
and following the austerities of Papankusha Ekadashi would eradicate the sins
committed in this life, all the desires would be fulfilled, ultimately attain
the abode of Lord Vishnu. Humble
obeisance to Lord Vishnu on this propitious day would bring the merit of severe
austerities and penance, reciting the sacred verses of Lord Vishnu provides the
merit of dip in the holy rivers. Whoever
donate gold, sesame seeds, umbrella, water, land, cow, food grains or pair of
shoes, on this auspicious day would never undergo the hellish torture in the
abode of Lord Yama.
There was a hunter named
Krodhana lived in the city of Vindhyachal, he engaged in all the wicked deeds
like theft, killing animals, torturing others etc.. He continued this malicious
act till the end of his death. At the final moments, Lord Yama sent
his representatives down to the Earth with the command of bringing him to hell.
Krodhana was miserable with the fear of death; he approached
Sage Angira – one of the Saptharishis. The Sage advised Krodhana to
observe fast on the day of Papankusha Ekadashi which would fall on the very
next day and worship Lord Vishnu. Krodhana faithfully observed
Papankusha Ekadashi and followed the austerities advised by Sage Angira.
Finally, he attained Salvation at the Feet of Lord Sriman Narayana.
Lord Krishna narrates; the
merits obtained by fasting on this day would provide the devoutness of more
than hundred horse sacrifices and Rajasuya Yagnam respectively, these sacrifices
and Yagnas could provide not even 1/16 of one Papankusha Ekadashi Vrata, there
is no austerities superior than fasting on this propitious day, no other
austerity is superior than this Ekadashi Vratha which could please Lord Padmanabha
in the three worlds and there is no merit available in the three worlds that
can be obtained superior to this Ekadashi Vratha, it removes all the sins of
the worshipper, it provides abundance of merits including good health, wealth,
chaste and beautiful woman as companion, ultimately liberation from the cycles
of birth and death, mere chanting of Lord Vishnu's name itself would provide
the merit of holy dip in the sacred rivers Ganga, Gaya, Pushkara
theertham and the pieties’ of visiting the holy land Kurushetra.
Thus, the devout act would provide salvation to the departed souls
of ten generations from the paternal and maternal sides.
Lord Krishna concluded that
whoever perform sacrifices and whoever determined to build temple pond and
Garden, shelter places etc.. would remain blessed and whoever observes
the pious deeds would be blessed with long life, wealth, birth in superior clan
and would be freed from all illnesses, ultimately whoever observe Papankusha
Ekadashi would undeniably reach the Lotus Feet of Lord Sriman Narayana.
|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
