ISSO Shree Swaminarayan Temple - Los Angeles

Under Shree Nar Narayan Dev Gadi

Rama EkadashiRama Ekadashi

Rama Ekadashi

Rama Ekadashi is observed during the waning phase of moon in Ashwin month (October - November). The importance of this Ekadashi was narrated to Yudhishtira by Lord Krishna and is recorded in the Brahmavaivarta Purana. People observing the fast read or listen to the Rama Ekadashi Vrat Katha. It is said that this Ekadashi is a wish fulfilling one.

"There once lived a famous king named Muchukund, who was friendly with Lord Indra, the king of heaven, as well as with Yamaraja, Varuna, and Vibhisana, the demon Ravana's pious brother. Muchukund always spoke the truth and constantly rendered devotional service to Me. Because he ruled according to religious principles, there were no disturbances in his kingdom.

"Muchukund's daughter was named Chandrabhaga, after a sacred river, and the king' gave her in marriage to Sobhana, the son of Chandrasena. One day, Sobhana visited his father-in-law's palace on the auspicious Ekadashi day. This visit made Sobhana's wife, Chandrabhaga, quite anxious, for she knew that her husband was physically very weak and unable to bear the austerity of a day-long fast. She said to him, 'My father is very strict about following Ekadashi On Dashami, the day before Ekadashi he strikes a large kettledrum and announces, "Nobody should eat on Ekadashi, the day of Lord Hari!"'

"When Sobhana heard the sound of the kettledrum, he said to his wife, 'oh beautiful one, what am I to do now? Please tell me how I can save my life and obey your father's strictures at the same time!'.

"Chandrabhaga replied, 'My dear husband, in my father's house nobody not even the elephants and horses, what to speak of human beings-eats on Ekadashi. Indeed, none of the animals are given their ration of grains, leaves, or straw-or even water!-on Ekadashi, the day of Lord Hari. So how can you escape fasting? My beloved, if you must eat something, then you should leave here at once. Now, with firm conviction decide what to do.'

"Prince Sobhana replied, 'I have decided to fast on the sacred Ekadashi. day. Whatever my fate is, it will surely come to pass.' "Deciding thus, Sobhana attempted to fast on that Ekadashi, but he became unbearably disturbed with excessive hunger and thirst. Eventually the sun set in the west, and the arrival of the auspicious night made all the Vaisnavas very happy. O Yudhisthira, all the devotees enjoyed worshiping Lord Hari and remaining awake through the night, but to Prince Sobhana that night became absolutely unbearable. Indeed, when the sun rose on Dvadashi, Sobhana was dead.

Due to the influence of observing Rama Ekadashi, Prince Shobhana became the king of Devapura - kingdom of celestial beings - and the city was located atop the Mandara Mountain. But the kingdom was a temporary one as the Prince had only observed the Ekadashi fasting once.

Once a learned saint from the land of King Muchukund visited Shobhana. The Prince was happy to receive the saint and to hear about his wife. Then Shobhana told the saint that he needed the help of his wife to make his temporary kingdom permanent as she was always observing Ekadashi fasting and she has the power to do it.

The saint went to the Princess and told about her husband, Shobhana, and his new Kingdom. Princess Chandrabhaga wanted to meet her husband and for this she took the help of Sage Vamadeva who was residing in the Mandara Mountain. Soon she was transported to the temporary celestial kingdom of her husband. Due to the power of observing Rama Ekadashi the kingdom became permanent and royal couple became celestial beings.".

"Anyone who observes sacred Ekadashi during both the light and the dark fortnight of each month is undoubtedly freed from the reactions to the sin of killing a brahmanas One should not differentiate between the Ekadashis of the light and the dark part of the month. Just as black cows and white cows give milk of equal quality, the Ekadashis of the dark fortnight and the light fortnight award the same high degree of merit and eventually liberate one from the cycle of birth and death. Anyone who simply hears the glories of this sacred day, Rama Ekadashi, is freed from all kinds of sin and attains the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu.".

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