Apara Ekadashi - Saturday 24th May
Apara Ekadashi - Vaishakh Vad Ekadashi
King Yudhishthir asked, "O Janardan! What is the name of Ekadashi that falls in the dark (Vad) fortnight of Vaishakh? What is its Mahatmya? Please tell me this in great detail."
Bhagwan Shree Krishna replied, "O King Yudhishthir! You have asked a very good question. Vaishakh Vad Ekadashi is called Apara Ekadashi. It is capable of fulfilling one's all worldly desires as well as negating all sins. A person fasting on this Ekadashi earns a great fame in this world. Even major sins such as killing a Brahmin, who tormenting or destroying his own family, killing a child in mother's womb, defaming someone with intent or committing adultery with other woman are washed away by observing the Vrat of Apara Ekadashi.
The one who lies in court under the oath, who deceives his customers by underweighting or who deceives others by misinterpreting the scriptures is indeed consigned to hell. However, he can be redeemed from his sins by sincerely observing the Vrat of Apara Ekadashi. A Kshatriya warrior who surely deserves hell for running away from a battlefield is directed to heaven by observing the Vrat of this Ekadashi. Similarly a sinner disciple speaking ill of his guru is saved from the punishments of hell if he repents by observing the Vrat of Apara Ekadashi. O king! The Punya one earns by undertaking the Vrat of Apara Ekadashi is equal to bathing in holy Lake Pushkar on an auspicious day of Kartik Purnima; bathing in holy River Ganga at Prayag on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti or in the month of Magh; fasting on Shivratri at Kashi; performing Shradhdh at Gaya; bathing in holy River Godavari when Jupiter in Leo Zodiac; having Darshan of Kedareshwar Mahadev when Jupiter in Aquarius; bathing at Kurukshetra during the eclipse of the Sun and giving generous alms to scholar and deserving Brahamcharis and saints. The Vrat of Apara Ekadashi is an axe that cuts down the tree of sins, a fire to burn down the woods of sin and the Sun to dispel the darkness that is accumulated sins. O Yudhishthir! Whoever is afraid of committing any sorts of sins shoukld undertake the Vrat of Apara Ekadashi. Indeed, any person observing the Vrat of this Ekadashi by fasting and worshipping Bhagwan Vishnu becomes free from his sins and attains Vaikunth Dhaam. I have narrated Mahatmya of Apara Ekadashi for the benevolence of mankind. Anyone listening to or narrating to others this Mahatmya Katha of Ekadashi will be redeemed from all of his sins"
This Mahatmya of Apara Ekadashi is narrated in the Brahmand Puran.
