Fagan Shudi Aamalki Ekadashi
The greatness of Aamalki Ekadashi is explained in the Brahmand Puran.
King Maandhata asked Vashisht Muni: What is the highest performance that one should undertake, in order to gain salvation? Thereafter, the rushi told the king that: I am going to explain to you the way one should observe the Aamalki Ekadashi. By observing a fast on this day, even a violent hunter can achieve moksha.
King Chaitrarath was a humble, noble and religious ruler, who lived in a beautiful city named Vaidik. His Kingdom consisted of loyal, religious and joyful people. They used to observe fasts on the holy days of Ekadashi with motivation. On the day of Aamalki Ekadashi, the King along with the people in the city, observed a fast. They went to bathe in the river and then went to the temple. They performed pooja by presenting a pot of perfumed water, consisting of a mixture of milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar (panchamrut), in front of Lord. They lit a candle besides the pot and put a big, heavy ornamented umbrella over it. On top of the pot, they established the murti of Lord Parshuram and performed pooja to the tamarind tree which was beside the pot. They bowed down to it, and all devotees stayed awake all night singing devotional songs.
At that moment of time, a hunter, who was tired and hungry, came to the temple. A holy discourse was going on. The hunter became so engrossed to it; he sat down there and then and passed that whole night awake with the other devotees. It was now morning. Everyone returned back to their homes including the hunter. As time went on, the hunter passed away.
In his next life, the hunter took birth as the son of King Vidurak. This was because he unknowingly listened to the holy words from the discourse on the day of Aamalki Ekadashi. His name was Vasurath and he grew up to be a strong, powerful, truthful, motivated, and very religious King. Once, King Vasurath went hunting in the forest. There, he forgot the pathway to go back to the Kingdom. He became exhausted and fatigued and fell into deep sleep under a tree in the forest.
At that time, a group of barbarians from the jungle, who considered the King to be his enemy, came next to the King and grabbed him by his arm. He was getting ready to kill the King when a divine lady appeared from inside the Kings body. There was a chakra in her hand and she was wearing divine garments. She killed the barbarians and saved the King.
The King woke up and saw barbarians lying injured on the floor. He started to think that: who must have killed all these barbarians who were against me? Who saved me? Suddenly, a divine speech was heard from the sky: Your savior can be no other than Lord. The reason Maharaj came to the rescue was because you had devoted yourself upon Him on Aamalki Ekadashi. The King became so delighted and returned back to his Kingdom. He understood the greatness of Lord and his devotion increased day by day.
Vashisht Rushi said: Oh King! Whoever observes a fast on Aamalki Ekadashi is assured to live blissfully in this world and in the next with Lord’s blessings showered upon them.
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