॥ Papankusha Ekadashi Puja Vidhi ॥
- Wake up early in the morning, take a bath and wear clean clothes.
- Worship Lord Padmanabha, first apply tilak and then offer flowers, incense sticks, prasad etc.
- Chant mantras, recite Vishnu Purana and Katha.
- Conclude the puja by performing aarti of Lord Vishnu Ji.
***
॥ Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat Katha॥
In ancient times, a hunter named Krodhan lived on Vindhya Mountain. He was very cruel. His whole life was spent in violence, robbery, drinking and bad company.
When his last time came, Yamraj’s messengers came to take the hunter and Yamdoot told the hunter that tomorrow is the last day of your life, we will come to take you tomorrow. Hearing this, the hunter became very scared and reached the ashram of Maharishi Angira and fell at the feet of Maharishi Angira and started praying, O Rishivar! I have done only sinful deeds throughout my life.
Please tell me about a way by which all my sins are erased, and I attain salvation. On his request, Maharishi Angira told him to observe the fast of Papankusha Ekadashi of Ashwin Shukla according to the rules.
As per the advice of Maharishi Angira, the hunter observed this fast and got rid of all his sins and with the power of this fast and worship, by the grace of God, he went to Vishnu Lok. When Yamraj’s messenger saw this miracle, he returned to Yamlok without taking the hunter.
By observing this fast in childhood, youth and old age, even a sinful man does not get bad fate but attains good fate. The people who observe the fast of this Papankusha Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month, they reach Harilok in the end and get free from all sins. By donating gold, sesame, land, cow, food, water, umbrella and shoes, the man does not see Yamraj.
The man who spends his days without doing any kind of pious deeds is like a lifeless person breathing like a blacksmith’s furnace. Poor people should also donate according to their capacity and the rich should donate by building ponds, gardens, houses etc. Such people do not have to see the door of Yamraj and live a long life in this world and remain wealthy, noble and disease-free.
***