Parshwa Ekadashi
Puja of Parshwa Ekadashi –
- Ekadashi fast starts from the night of Dashami Tithi. Food should not be consumed after sunset on Dashami Tithi, if not possible then fruits and milk can be consumed.
- On the day of Ekadashi Tithi, wake up before sunrise and take a bath in a holy river. If there is no holy river near your house, then you can take a bath by adding a little Ganga water to your bathing water.
- After taking a bath, wear clean clothes and meditate on Lord Vishnu and make a pledge to observe Ekadashi fast.
- Now sit in the puja room of your house facing east and keep a wooden stool in front of you.
- Now purify it by sprinkling a little Ganga water on this stool.
- Now spread a yellow cloth on the stool and install the idol or picture of Lord Vishnu.
- Light incense and a lamp of cow ghee in front of the idol of Lord Vishnu.
- Now install the Kalash in front of the idol of Lord Vishnu.
- Now offer fruits, flowers, betel leaves, betel nuts, coconut, cloves etc. to Lord Vishnu according to your capacity.
- In the evening, listen to the story of Parsva Ekadashi fast and eat fruits.
- If you are not able to fast for the whole day, then you can eat fruits during the day as well.
- The next day after taking a bath in the morning, feed the Brahmins and give them donations and break the fast.
- Reciting Vishnu Sahasranama on Ekadashi day brings special blessings of Lord Vishnu.
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Vrat – katha:
Pandava’s son Arjun said – “O Lord! What is the name of Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha of Bhadon and what is the rule of its fast? What fruit is obtained by observing the fast of that Ekadashi. O Krishna! Kindly explain all this.’
Shri Krishna said – “O Parth! Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapad month is also called Jayanti Ekadashi. By merely listening to the story of this Ekadashi, all sins are mitigated, and man becomes entitled to heaven. Even the lowest sinners are redeemed by the story of this Jayanti Ekadashi. If any religious man worships me on Ekadashi, then I give him the fruit of the worship of the world. The man who worships me, attains my world. There is no doubt about this. The man who worships Lord Shri Vaman on this Ekadashi, he worships all the three gods i.e. Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh. O Parth! Those people who observe fast on this Ekadashi, they have nothing left to do in this world. On this Ekadashi, Lord Vishnu changes sides, therefore it is also called Parivartini Ekadashi.’
On hearing this, Arjuna said in surprise – “O Janardan! I am confused after listening to your words that how do you sleep and change sides? Why did you tie Bali and what pastimes did you perform by assuming the form of Vaman. What is the rule of Chaturmasya fast and what is the duty of man when you sleep, please tell everything in detail.”
Lord Krishna said – “O Kunti’s son Arjuna! Now you listen carefully to this story which mitigates all sins. In Treta Yuga, there was a demon named Bali. He was a great devotee, generous, truthful and used to serve Brahmins. He always used to perform yajna, tapasya etc. Because of this devotion of his, he started ruling in heaven in place of Devendra. Devraj Indra and other gods could not tolerate this and went to Lord Shri Hari and started praying. Finally, I took the form of Vaman and defeated King Bali in the form of a radiant Brahmin boy. Hearing this, Arjun said – “O Leelapati! Please tell me in detail how you defeated Bali by taking the form of Vaman.’
Lord Krishna said – “I took the form of Vaman and requested King Bali – O King! You donate three steps of land to me, by this you will get the fruits of donating three worlds.
King Bali accepted this small request and agreed to give the land. When he gave me the promise, I increased my size and kept my feet in Bhulok, thighs in Bhuvan Lok, waist in Swargal Lok, stomach in Mahal Lok, heart in Janlok, throat in Taplok and face in Satyalok and raised my head high. At that time the Sun, stars, Indra and other gods started praising me. Then I asked King Bali that O King! Now where should I take my third step. Hearing this, King Bali lowered his head.
Then I placed my third step on his head and in this way for the benefit of the gods I sent my demon devotee to Patal Lok, then he started pleading with me.
I told him that O Bali! I am always with you, I will stay.
On the day of Ekadashi named Parivartini in the Shukla Paksha of Bhadon, one of my idols stays with King Bali and one rests on Sheshnag in the Ksheer Sagar.’
On this Ekadashi, Lord Vishnu turns his side while sleeping.
On this day, Triloki-nath Lord Vishnu is worshipped. Silver is donated along with rice and curd. One should stay awake at night on this day.
By fasting in this way, a man gets free from all sins and goes to heaven. Those people who listen to the story of this Ekadashi fast which destroys sins, get the fruits of Ashwamedha Yagna.
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Story-essence
After donating, a man should not be proud. King Bali was proud and went to the netherworld. This also makes us realize that excess of every work is bad.
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