Pasankusha Ekadashi

Pasankusha Ekadashi is observed during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in the Hindu month of Ashwin (September - October). The significance of this Ekadashi is mentioned in the Brahmavaivarta Purana and was narrated to Yudhishtira by Lord Krishna.

Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Madhusudan, what is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Ashwin [September-October] ? Please be merciful and tell this to me."

The Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, replied, "oh king, please listen as I explain the glories of this Ekadashi - Pasankusha Ekadashhi-which removes all sins. On this day one should worship the Deity of Padmanabha, the lotus naveled Lord, according to the rules and regulations. By doing so, one achieves whatever heavenly pleasures he wants in this world and at last attains liberation. Simply by offering one's humble respects to Lord Vishnu, the rider of Garuda, one can achieve the same merit as is won by performing great penances for a long time with completely controlled senses. Although a person might have committed unlimited sins, he can still escape hell just by paying his respects to Lord Hari, who removes all sins.

The merit obtained by performing one thousand horse sacrifices and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices is not equal to even one sixteenth of the merit a person obtains by fasting on Ekadashi. There is no higher merit one can achieve than that attained by fasting on Ekadashi. Indeed, nothing in all the three worlds is as pleasing or as able to purify one of sin as Ekadashi, the day of the lotus-naveled Lord, Padmanabha.

"Oh king, until a person observes a fast on the day of Lord Padmanabha named Pasankusha Ekadashi, he remains sinful, and the reactions of his past sinful deeds never leave him. There is no merit in all the three worlds that can match the merit one attains by observing a fast on this Ekadashi. Whoever observes it faithfully never has to see death personified, Lord Yamaraja. One who desires liberation, heaven, good health, wealth, and food grains should simply fast on this Ekadashi. Hey King, neither the Ganga, Gaya, Kam, nor Puskara, nor even the holy site of Kuruksetra, can grant as much merit as Pasankusha Ekadashi.

"Oh Yudhisthira, protector of the earth, after observing Ekadashi during the daytime, the devotee should remain awake through the night, for by doing so he easily attains to the abode of the Supreme Lord, Sri Visnu. Ten generations of ancestors on his mother's side, ten generations on his father's side, and ten generations on his wife's side are all liberated by a single observance of a fast on this Ekadashi. All these ancestors attain their original, four-armed, transcendental forms. Wearing yellow garments and beautiful garlands, they ride to the spiritual world on the back of Garuda, the enemy of the snakes. This is the benediction My devotee earns simply by observing one Pasankusha Ekadashi properly.

"Oh best of kings, whether one is a child, a youth, or an old person, fasting on Pasankusha Ekadashi frees him of sins and makes him immune to suffering a hellish rebirth. Whoever donates gold, sesame seeds, fertile land, cows, grain, drinking water, an umbrella, or a pair of shoes on this most holy day will never have to visit the abode of Yamaraja, who always punishes sinners. But if a resident of earth fails to perform spiritual deeds, especially the observance of a fast on holy days such as Ekadashi, his breathing is said to be no better than the puffing of a blacksmith's bellows.

"Oh best of kings, especially on Pasankusha Ekadashi, even the poor should first bathe and then give some charity and perform other auspicious activities according to their ability. "Whoever performs sacrifices or builds public ponds, resting places, gardens, or houses does not suffer the punishments of Yamaraja. Indeed, one should understand that a person must have performed such pious activities as these in his past life if he is long-lived, wealthy, of high birth, or free from all diseases. But a person who observes Pasankusha Ekadashi goes to the abode of the Supreme Lord."

Lord Krishna concluded, "Thus, Oh saintly Yudhisthira, I have narrated to you the glories of Pasankusha Ekadashi".