Saphala Ekadashi Puja Vidhi:
- Take a stool to perform Puja on the day of Saphala Ekadashi.
- Install the idol or photo of Lord Vishnu on the stool.
- Offer yellow flowers, fruits, incense, lamp and sandalwood to Lord Vishnu.
- Offer Panchamrit prepared from milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar.
- Make sure to add Tulsi to Panchamrit.
- Now chant the mantras of Vishnu ji.
- Recite the Ekadashi Vrat Katha.
- Finally, perform the Aarti of Lord Vishnu and ask for forgiveness for the mistake made during the Puja.
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Saphala Ekadashi Vrat Katha:
Once there was a huge kingdom called Champavati and Mahishmita was the ruler of that kingdom. The ruler has four sons and the eldest son was Loombak. He was a sinner because he had illicit relationships with other people’s wives. He even used to eat meat and gamble. Besides, he even indulged with prostitutes. He has wicked wisdom that even his father’s money was vanishing him. He used to be jealous of the demigods and believed that only he ruled the world and would condemn the demigods. Additionally, he even denounced Brahmins and Vaishnavas whenever he had the chance. King observed Loombak’s acts and understood they weren’t meant to beg for pardon. He abandoned his son and even expelled him from the home.
Loombak was devastated by this and unsure of what to do. But he had a wicked mind, so he thought to stay in the forest in the daytime and rob people at night. He then began robbing people at night while hiding out in the wilderness during the day to hunt and consume the meat of animals. People frequently caught him but left him because they knew he was the King’s son, and the King would become furious when they realised we had punished him. After that Loombak started living under a banyan tree to increase his sinful life. He started his day with sins and also ended with sins.
On one night of Saphala Ekadashi, he did not sleep due to the cold and was shivering the entire night. On the next morning of Saphala Ekadashi, he felt that his health was worse as he didn’t have any energy to even wake up and stand. He didn’t even have any strength left to hunt animals in the forest and eat their flesh. So, he started collecting the fruits that were fallen from the trees and came back under the Banyan tree. At night, he kept the fruits under the tree and got very upset. He started praying to Lord Hari and said to do mercy on him and accept the fruits as an offering. After offering those fruits to Sri Krishna the night, he again did not sleep due to coldness.
He followed the Ekadashi fast unknowingly and offered fruits to Lord Krishna. So, Hari got happy with that service and provided him with a boon. The very next day, a white horse came and stood near Loombak. He was surprised by seeing that an Akashvani occurred: your sorrow has ended thanks to the mercy of Vasudev, as you followed Saphala Ekadashi. So, your kingdom is also returned to you. You can sit on the horse and go and maintain the kingdom of your father.
Loombak sat on the horse and started handling the kingdom of his father. After that, he became a deep devotee of Lord Krishna while handling the kingdom nicely. He also started observing fast on Ekadashi, along with Hare Krishna chanting. When he turned old, he handed over his kingdom to his children while meditating and worshipping Krishna. After giving up the worldly body and all his materialistic desires, he further went to Golok.
Krishna said that anyone who hears this tale will get Rajsu Yagya as a result. And, the one who does kirtan of his name on the night of Saphala Ekadashi will get the outcome of Earth’s tenacity over the past 5000 years.
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