Fw: Indira Ekadashi Mahatmya

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Received this mail today - very interesting story - devottts who have read any

Swami Discourse on this may offer their remarks.

 

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JP

 

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Indira Ekadashi Mahatmya from Brahma Vaivarta PuranaFri, 30 Sep 2005 09:24:04 -0400

The glories of Indira Ekadashi

 

 

Yudhishthira Maharaj said, "Oh MadhusUdana, Oh killer of the Madhu demon, what

is the name of the EkAdasii that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna

paksha) of the month of Ashwin (September-October)? Please describe its glories

to me."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna then replied, "This Holy

day is called IndirA EkAdasii. If a person fasts on this day, all his sins are

eradicated and his forefathers who have fallen into hell are liberated. Oh best

of kings, one who simply hears about this sacred EkAdasii achieves the great

merit earned by performing a horse sacrifice.

"In the Satya-yuga there lived a king named Indrasena, who was so powerful that

he destroyed all his enemies. His kingdom was called Mahishmati-puri. The

glorious and highly religious King Indrasena took good care of his subjects,

and therefore he was rich in gold, grains, sons, and grandsons. He was greatly

devoted to Lord Sri Vishnu as well. He especially enjoyed chanting My name,

calling out 'Govinda! Govinda!' In this way King Indrasena systematically

dedicated himself to pure spiritual life and spent much time meditating on the

Absolute Truth.

"One day, as King Indrasena happily and peacefully presided over his assembly,

the perfect orator, Sri NArada Muni, was seen descending. White as a conch,

shining like the moon, like a jasmine flower, like a lightening bolt, NArada

Muni descending from the sky. He is decorated with matted locks of reddish

hair. The king offered Devarishi NArada, the saint among the devas (demigods),

great respect by greeting him with joined palms, inviting him into the palace,

offering him a comfortable seat, washing his feet, and speaking sweat words of

welcome. Then NArada Muni said to MahArAj Indrasena, 'Oh king, are the seven

limbs of your kingdom prospering?'

The seven limbs of a king’s domain being; the king’s well being himself, his

ministers, his treasury, his military forces, his allies, the braAhmaNas, the

sacrifices performed in his kingdom, and the needs of the king’s subjects.

'Is your mind absorbed in thinking of how you can properly perform your

occupational duty? Are you becoming more and more devoted and dedicated to the

service of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu?'

"The king replied, 'By your kind grace, Oh greatest of sages, everything is

quite well. Today, just by your presence all the sacrifices in my kingdom are

successful ! Please show me mercy and explain the reason for your kind visit

here.'

"Sri NArada, the sage among the devas, then said, 'Oh lion among kings, listen

to my astonishing words. When I descended from Brahmaloka to Yamaloka, Lord

YamarAja praised me very graciously and offered me an excellent seat. As I

glorified his truthfulness and wonderful service to the Supreme Lord, I noticed

your father in YamarAja’s assembly. Though he had been very religious, because

he broke an EkAdasii fast prematurely, he had to go to the Yamaloka. Your

father gave me a message for you. He said, "In Mahishmati lives a king named

Indrasena. Please tell him about my situation here - that because of my past

sinful deeds I have somehow been forced to reside in YamarAja’s kingdom. Please

give him this message from me: 'Oh son, kindly observe the coming IndirA

EkAdasii and give much in charity so I can go upward to heaven.' "

Philosophically we can understand that every living entity is an individual, and

individually everyone has to practice Krishna consciousness to traverse back to

home, back to Godhead. As stated in GaruDa PurANa, someone who is suffering in

hell cannot practice Krishna consciousness, because this requires some mental

peace, which the reactionary tortures of hell make impossible. If a relative of

a sinner suffering in hell gives some charity in the name of the sinner, he can

leave hell and enter the heavenly planets. But if the sinner's relative

observes this EkAdasii fast for his suffering kinsman, the kinsman goes

directly to the spiritual world, as stated in this narration based on

Brahma-vaivarta PurANam.

"NArada continued, 'Just to deliver this message, Oh king, have I come to you.

You should help your father by observing the fast of IndirA EkAdasii. By the

merit you gain, your father will go to heaven.' "King Indrasena asked, 'Oh

great NAradji, please be merciful and tell me specifically how to observe a

fast on IndirA EkAdasii, and also tell me during what month and on what day it

occurs.'

"NArada Muni replied, 'Oh king, please listen as I describe to you the full

process of observing the IndirA EkAdasii. This EkAdasii occurs during the dark

fortnight of the month of Ashwin. On the Dashami tithi, the day before

EkAdasii, rise early in the morning, take bath, and then do some service for

God with full faith. At noon, bathe again in running water and then offer

oblations to your forefathers with faith and devotion. Be sure not to eat more

than once on this day and at night sleep on the floor.

"When you awaken on EkAdasii morning, cleanse your mouth and teeth thoroughly

and then with deep devotion for the Lord take this sacred vow: 'Today I shall

fast completely and give up all kinds of sense enjoyment. Oh lotus-eyed Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Oh infallible one, please give me shelter at Your lotus

feet." At noon, stand before the sacred form of the Sri Shaligram Shila and

worship Him faithfully, following all the rules and regulations; then offer

oblations of ghee into the sacred fire, and tarpana directed to help your

forefathers. Next, feed qualified Brahmins (obviously non-grain prasadams) and

offer them some charity according to your means. Now take the food pindas you

offered to your forefathers, smell it, and then offer it to a cow. Next,

worship Lord Hrishikesha with incense and flowers, and finally, remain awake

all night near the Deity of Lord Sri Keshava.

"Early in the morning of the next day, DvAdasi tithi, worship Sri Hari with

great devotion and invite Brahmin devotees to a sumptuous feast. Then feed you

relatives, and finally take your meal in silence. Oh king, if you strictly

observe a fast on IndirA EkAdasii in this way, with controlled senses, your

father will surely be elevated to the abode of lord Vishnu.' After saying this,

Devarishi NArada immediately disappeared from the scene to bless someone else

with his presence.

"King Indrasena followed the great saint's instructions perfectly, observing the

fast in the association of his relatives and servants. As he broke his fast on

the DvAdasi tithi, flowers fell from the sky. The merit that Indrasena maharaj

earned by observing this fast released his father from the kingdom of YamarAja

and caused him to attain a completely spiritual body. Indeed, Indrasena saw him

rising to the abode of Lord Hari on the back of GaruDa Vahan. Indrasena himself

was able to rule his kingdom without any obstacles, and in time when he handed

over the kingdom to his son, he also went to the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha.

"Oh Yudhishthira, these are the glories of the IndirA EkAdasii, which occurs

during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin. Whoever hears or reads this

narration certainly enjoys life in this world, is freed of all reactions to his

past sins, and at the time of death returns home, back to Godhead, where he

lives eternally."

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Ashwin-krishna EkAdasii, or IndirA

EkAdasii, taken from the Brahma-vaivarta PurANa.

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