Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Annada Ekadasi Aug 21st

If one fasts completely on this day and worships Hrishikesha, the master of the senses, one becomes free of all reactions to his sins. Even one who simply hears about this Ekadasii is freed from his past sins. Oh King, there is no better day than this in all the earthly and heavenly worlds. This is true without a doubt.

“There once lived a famous king named Harishchandra, who was the emperor of the world and a person of great truth and integrity. His wife’s name was Chandramati, and he had a son named Lohit Ashva. By the force of destiny, however, Harishchandra lost his great kingdom and sold his wife and son. The pious king himself became a menial servant of a dog-eater, who made him guard a crematorium. Yet even while doing such menial service, hedid not forsake his truthfulness and good character, just as soma-rasa,even when mixed with some other liquid, does not lose its ability to bestow immortality.

“The king passed many years in this condition. Then one day hesadly thought, ‘What shall I do? Where shall I go? How can I be deliveredfrom this plight?’ In this way he drowned in an ocean of anxiety andsorrow.

“One day a great sage happened by, and when the king saw him he happily thought, ‘Ah, Lord Brahma has created brahmins just to help others.’ Harishchandra paid his respectful obeisances to the sage, whose name was Gautama Muni. With joined palms the king stood before Gautama Muniand narrated his pitiful story. Gautama Muni was astonished to hear theking’s tale of woe. He thought, ‘How has this mighty king been reducedto collecting clothes from the dead?’ Gautama Muni became very much compassionate toward Harishchandra and instructed him on the process of fasting for purification.

“Gautama Muni said, ‘Oh king, during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada there occurs an especially meritorious Ekadasii named AjA (Annada),which removes all sins. Indeed, this Ekadasii is so auspicious that if you simply fast on that day and perform no other austerity,all your sins will be nullified. By your good fortune it is coming in justseven days. So I urge you to fast on this day and remain awake through the night. If you do so, all the reactions of your past sins will come to anend. Oh Harishchandra, I have come here because of your past pious deeds.Now, all good fortune to you in the future!’ So saying, the great sage Sri Gautama Muni immediately disappeared for their vision.

“King Harishchandra followed Gautama Muni’s instructions concerning fasting on the sacred day of AjA Ekadasii. Oh Maharaja Yudhisthira, because the king fasted on that day, the reactions to his previous sins were completely destroyed at once. Oh lion among kings, just see the influence ofthis Ekadasii fast! It immediately vanquishes whatever miseries one maybe suffering as a result of past karmik sinful activities.

Thus all Harishchandra’s miseries were relieved. Just by the power of this wonderful Ekadasii, he was reunited with his wife and son, who had died but were now revived. In the heavenly regions the devas (demigods)began beating on their celestial kettledrums and showering down flowers upon Harishchandra, his queen, and their son. By the blessings of the Ekadasii fast, he regained his kingdom without difficulty. Moreover, when King Harishchandra left the planet, his relatives and all his subjects too, went with him to the spiritual world.

“Oh Pandava, whoever fasts on Aja Ekadasii is surely freed from all his sins and ascends to the spiritual world. And whosoever hears and studies the glories of this Ekadasii achieves the merit gained by performing a horse sacrifice.”

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