|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
Skandhapuranam describes the glories of
Parama Ekadashi which occurs in the dark fortnight in the leap year. Lord Krishna describes the splendor of Parma
Ekadashi to King Yudhishtira.
The legend has that there was a pious
Brahmin Sumedha and his chaste wife Pavithra lived in the city of Kampilya. This couple had to face extreme poverty due to
the sins committed by Sumedha in his previous life; his wife Pavithra was
highly devoted to her husband in their worse living conditions too. She relentlessly served her guests with her
share of food and she would remain abstaining from consuming meal, due to this
her body started to fade but her affection towards her husband remained firm. Sumedha was dejected to see their pitiable
living conditions, once he revealed his intention to leave the city in search
for livelihood, but his dutiful wife Pavithra discouraged him with the
consequences it. One day great Sage
Kaundinya arrived in Kampilya. Sumedha and Pavithra offered their respectful
obeisance to the Sage and received him with great honor. Pavithra served the Sage with sumptuous meal she
could offer with the alms her husband had brought home. Pavithra explained the pitiable state of them
and enquired the Sage for any austerities, or pilgrimage to get rid of their
poverty. Sage Kaundinya narrated the
glories of fasting on Parama Ekadashi which could provide abundance of merit
includes removal of sins and miseries. It was observed by Lord Kubera/Lord of Wealth,
King Harishchandra observed this Ekadashi and reunited with his family and
regained his lost glories. Sage
Kaundinya advised Pavithra to observe the glorious Parama Ekadashi with utmost
faith and devotion that would fulfill their desires and eradicate all the
miseries. Whoever feed Vedic/scholarly
Bhramins for five days/Pancharathrika would attain the heavenly abode, all the
deities, forefathers and demons would be pleased with this pious deed, offering
water to a thirsty Bhramin on all these five days would bring the pieties of
offering the world as charity, whoever donate a vessel filled sesame seeds
would reside in the heaven, whoever donates golden vessel filled with ghee
would attain the abode of Lord Surya after a living a luxurious life on Earth, whoever
observe strict austerities and abstain from sensual pleasures during these
auspicious five days would attain the luxuries of celestial abode and remain in
the Indraloka. Pavithra and Sumedha
sincerely observed the Parma Ekadashi and witnessed a celestial being; emissary
of Lord Bhrama approached them and offered a beautiful home with all the
luxuries and the entire village for their livelihood. The couple lived happily and finally attained
the abode of Lord Vishnu.
Lord Krishna concluded whoever observes
the Parama Ekadashi along with Pancharathrika would be freed from all the sins
and attains the abode of Lord Vishnu.
The pieties include bathing in sacred river Ganga and Pushkar, offering
cows as charity and performance various religious rites. Bhramins are treated as superior among the
Varnas likewise Cow among four legged creatures, Lord Indra among the
celestials, in the same manner Parma Ekadashi along with the Pancharathrika is
treated as highly meritorious that could eradicate all the sins.
|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
