Vijaya Ekadasi - February and March

Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “Oh Lord Sri Krishna, O glorious son of Vasudeva, please be merciful to me and describe the EkAdasii that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of PhAlguna (February-March).”

Lord Sri Krishna replied, “Oh Yudhisthira, Oh king of kings, gladly I shall tell you about this great fast, known as VijayA EkAdasii. Whoever observes it certainly achieves success in this life and the next. All the sins of one who fasts on this EkAdasii and hears its sublime glories are eradicated.

“Narada Muni once asked lord BrahmA, who sits on a lotus flower about the VijayA EkAdasii. Sri NArada said, ‘Oh best of all the demigods, kindly tell me the merit one can achieve by faithfully observing VijayA EkAdasii.’

“Narada’s great father then replied, ‘My dear son, this oldest of fasting days is pure, and it nullifies all sins. I have never revealed this to anyone until today, but you can understand beyond any doubt that this EkAdasii bestows the result indicated by its name… (VijayA meaning Victory).

“When Lord Rama was exiled to the forest for fourteen years, He, the goddess SitA, and His divine brother Lakshmana stayed at Panchavati as mendicants. Mother SitA was then kidnapped by the demon RAvana, and Lord Rama seemingly became bewildered like an ordinary man by distress. While searching for His beloved consort, the Lord came upon the dying JatAyu and thereafter killed His enemy Kabandha.. The great devotee-vulture JatAyu returned to Vaikuntha after telling Rama how His dear SitA had been abducted by Ravana.

“ ‘Later, Lord Rama and Sugriva, the king of the monkeys, became friends.  Together they amassed a grand army of monkeys and bears and sent HanumAnji his minister to Sri LankA, where he was able to see Janaki (Srimati SitA devi) in an Ashoka grove garden. He delivered Lord Rama’s message and showed the ring proving his authenticity for rendering such great service to the Supreme Lord Sri Rama.

 “ ‘With the help of Sugriva, Lord Rama proceeded toward Sri LankA. Upon arriving at the shore of the ocean with the army of monkeys, He could understand that the water was uncommonly deep and hostile. Thus He said to Lakshmana, “Oh son of SumitrA, how can We earn enough merit to be able to cross this vast ocean, the unfathomable abode of Varuna deva? I can see no easy way to cross it, teeming as it is with sharks and other ferocious aquatics.”

“ ‘Lakshmana replied, “Oh best of all beings, Oh origin of all the devas, Oh primal personality, the great sage BakadAlbhya lives on an island just four miles from here. Oh Raghava, he has seen many BrahmAs come and go, so aged and wise is he. Let us go to him, take his darshan (audience) and ask him how We can safely reach Our goal.”

 “ ‘So Rama and Lakshmana proceeded to the humble Ashrama of the incomparable BakadAlbhya Muni. Approaching him, the two Lords paid Their respectful obeisances to him as if he were a second Vishnu. BakadAlbhya could immediately understand, however, that Sri Rama was actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who for His own reasons had appeared on the Earth and was enacting just like a human being.

 “ ‘ “Rama, “ said BakadAlbhya, “Oh best of the human beings, why have You come to my lowly abode?”

 “ ‘The Lord replied, “Oh great, twice born brahmin, I have come here to the ocean shore with My phalanx of monkey and bear warriors in order to cross the sea and conquer LankA and its demon horde headed by Ravana. Oh greatest of sages, please be merciful unto Me and please tell Me how I can cross this vast ocean. That is why I have come to your Ashrama today.”

 “ ‘The sage said, “Oh Lord Sri Rama, I shall tell you of the most exalted of all fasts, observing which You will surely conquer Ravana and be eternally glorified. Kindly now listen with full attention.

“ ‘ “On the day before EkAdasii, fashion a water pot of gold or silver, or even copper. Even  clay will do if these metals are unavailable. Fill the pot with pure water and then decorate it nicely with mango leaves. Cover it and place it near a holy altar upon a mound of seven grains (the seven grains are barley, wheat, rice, corn, chickpeas, kukani, and dahl or peas). Now take Your morning bath, decorate the water pot with flower garlands and sandalwood paste, and inn the concave lid atop the pot place there the barley, pomegranate, and coconut. Now with great love and devotion worship the water pot Deity form and offer Him incense, sandalwood paste, flowers, a ghee lamp, and a plate of sumptuous foods. Remain there awake that night beside this sacred pot. On top of the lid filled with barley, etc., place a golden mUrthy of Lord Sri NArAyana.

 “ ‘ “When EkAdasii dawns, take Your morning bath and then decorate the water pot with fine sandalwood paste and garlands. Then worship the pot again with first class incense, lamps, sandalwood paste and flowers dipped in sandalwood paste, and then devoutly/devotedly place many kinds of cooked food, pomegranate, and coconut before the water pot. Then remain awake over night.

“ ‘ “When the DwAdasi dawns, take the water pot to the bank of a holy river, or even to the shore of a small pond. After worshipping it again properly, Oh King of kings, offer it with all the aforementioned ingredients to a pure hearted brahmin, expert in the Vedic sciences. If You and Your military commanders observe the VijayA EkAdasii in this way, You will surely be victorious in every way.”

“” ‘Lord Sri RAmachandra Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did just as BakadAlbhya Muni instructed, and thus He conquered all demoniac forces. Similarly, anyone who observes the VijayA EkAdasii in this way will always be victorious in this mortal world, and after leaving this world he/she will reside forever in the anxiety free realm of the Kingdom of God known as the Vaikunthas.”

“ ‘Oh NArada, my son, from this history you can understand why one should observe this EkAdasii fast properly, strictly following the rules and regulations. This fast is powerful enough to eradicate all one’s sinful reactions, even the most abominable ones.”

Lord Sri Krishna concluded, “Oh Yudhisthira, anyone who reads or hears this history will attain the same great merit as that which is earned by performing a horse sacrifice on days of yore.”

Amalaki Ekadasi - February and March

King MAndhAtA once said to Vasishtha Muni, "O great sage, kindly be merciful to me and tell me of a holy fast that will benefit me eternally."
        Vasishtha Muni replied. "O king, kindly listen as I describe the best of all fast days, Amalakii EkAdasi.  He who faithfully observes a fast on this EkAdasii obtains enormous wealth, gets free of the effects of all kinds of sins, and attains liberation.  Fasting on this EkAdasii is more purifying than donating one thousand cows in charity to a pure brAhmana.  So please hear me attentively as I tell you the story of a hunter who, though daily engaged in killing innocent animals for his living, achieved liberation by observing a fast on Amalakii EkAdasii and following the prescribed rules and regulations of worship.
"There was once a kingdom named VaidishA, where all the brAhmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras were equally endowed with Vedic knowledge, great bodily strength, and fine intelligence.  Oh lion among kings, the whole kingdom was full of Vedic sounds, not a single person was atheistic, and no one sinned.  The ruler of this kingdom was King PAshabinduka, a member of the dynasty of Soma, the moon.  He was also known as Chitraratha and was very religious and truthful.  It is said that King Chitraratha had the strength of ten thousand elephants and that he was very wealthy and knew the six branches of Vedic wisdom perfectly.
"During the reign of Maharaja Chitraratha, not a single person in his kingdom attempted to practice another's dharma (duty) so perfectly engaged in their own dharmas were all the brAhmanas, kshatriyas, vaisyas, and sudras.  Neither miser nor pauper was to be seen throughout the land, not was there every drought or flood.  Indeed, the kingdom was free of disease, and everyone enjoyed good health.  The people rendered loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, as did the king, who also rendered special service to Lord Shiva.  Moreover, twice a month everyone fasted on EkAdasii.
"In this way, O best of kings, the citizens of VaidishA lived many long years in great happiness and prosperity.  Giving up all varieties of materialistic religion, they completely dedicated themselves to the loving service of the Supreme Lord, Hari.
"Once, in the month of Phalguna (February - March), the holy fast of Amalakii EkAdasii arrived, conjoined with DvAdasi.  King Chitraratha realised that this particular fast would bestow especially great benefit, and thus he and all the citizens of VaidishA observed this sacred EkAdasii very strictly, carefully following all the rules and regulations.
"After bathing in the river, the king and all his subjects went to the temple of Lord Vishnu, where an Amalakii tree grew.  First the king and his leading sages offered the tree a pot filled with water, as well as a fine canopy, shoes, gold, diamonds, rubies, pearls, sapphires, and aromatic incense.  Then they worshiped Lord ParashurAma with these prayers: 'Oh Lord ParashurAma, Oh son of RenukA, Oh all-pleasing one, Oh liberator of the worlds, kindly come beneath this holy Amalakii tree and accept our humble obeisances.'
Then they prayed to the Amalakii tree: 'Oh Amalakii, Oh offspring of Lord BrahmA, you can destroy all kinds of sinful reactions.  Please accept our respectful obeisances and these bumble gifts.  O Amalakii, you are actually the form of Brahman, and you were once worshiped by Lord RAmachandra Himself.  Whoever circumambulates you is therefore immediately freed of all his sins.'
"After offering these excellent prayers, King Chitraratha and his subjects remained awake throughout the night, praying and worshiping according to the regulations governing a sacred EkAdasii fast.  It was during this auspicious time of fasting and prayer that a very irreligious man approached the assembly, a man who maintained himself and his family by killing animals.  Burdened with both fatigue and sin, the hunter saw the king and the citizens of VaidishA observing Amalakii EkAdasii by performing an all-night vigil, fasting, and worshiping Lord Vishnu in the beautiful forest setting, which was brilliantly illuminated by many lamps.  The hunter hid nearby, wondering what this extraordinary sight before him was.
        'What is going on here?' he thought.  What he saw in that lovely forest beneath the holy Amalakii tree was the Deity of Lord DAmodara being worshiped upon the Asana of a waterpot, and what he heard were devotees singing sacred songs describing Lord Shri Krishna's transcendental forms and pastimes.  Despite himself, that staunchly irreligious killer of innocent birds and animals spent the entire night in great amazement as he watched the EkAdasii celebration and listened to the glorification of the Lord.
"Soon after sunrise, the king and his royal retinue - including the court sages and all the citizens - completed their observance of EkAdasii and returned to the city of VaidishA.  The hunter then returned to his hut and happily ate his meal.  In due time the hunter died, but the merit he had gained by fasting on Amalakii Ekadasii and hearing the glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as well as by being forced to stay awake all night, made him eligible to be reborn as a great king endowed with may chariots, elephants, horses, and soldiers.  His name was VasUratha, the son of King VidUratha, and he ruled over the kingdom of Jayanti.
"King VasUratha was strong and fearless, as effulgent as the Sun, and as handsome as the Moon.  In strength he was like Shri Vishnu, and in forgiveness like the Earth itself.  Very charitable and ever truthful, King VasUratha always rendered loving devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Shri Vishnu.  He therefore became very well versed in Vedic knowledge.  Always active in the affairs of state, he enjoyed taking excellent care of his subjects, as though they were his own children.  He disliked pride in anyone and would smash it when he saw it.  He performed many kinds of sacrifices, and he always made certain that the needy in his kingdom received enough charity.
"One day, while hunting in the jungle, King VasUratha strayed from the footpath and lost his way.  Wandering for some time and eventually growing weary, he paused beneath a tree and, using his arms as a pillow, fell asleep.  As he slept, some barbarian tribesmen came upon him and, remembering their longstanding enmity toward the king, began discussing among themselves various ways to kill him.  'It is because he killed our fathers, mothers, brothers-in-law, grandsons, nephews, and uncles that we are forced to aimlessly wander like so many madmen in the forest.'  So saying, they prepared to kill King VasUratha with various weapons, including spears, swords, arrows, and mystic ropes.
"But none of these deadly weapons could even touch the sleeping king, and soon the uncivilised, dog-eating tribesmen grew frightened.  Their fear sapped their strength, and before long they lost what little intelligence they had and became almost unconscious with bewilderment and weakness.  Suddenly a beautiful woman appeared from the king's body, startling the aborigines.  Decorated with many ornaments, emitting a wonderful fragrance, wearing an excellent garland around her neck, her eyebrows drawn in a mood of fierce anger, and her fiery red eyes ablaze, she looked like death personified.  With her blazing chakra discus she quickly killed all the tribal hunters, who had tried to slay the sleeping king.
"Just then the king awoke, and seeing all the dead tribesmen lying around him, he was astonished.  He wondered, 'These are all great enemies of mine!  Who has slain them so violently?  Who is my great benefactor?'
"At that very moment he heard a voice from the sky: 'You ask who helped you.  Well, who is that person who alone can help anyone is distress?  He is none other than Sri Keshava, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He who saves all who take shelter of Him without any selfish motive.'
"Upon hearing these words, King VasUratha became over-whelmed with love for the Personality of Godhead Shri Keshava (Krishna).  He returned to his capital city and ruled there like a second lord Indra (king of the heavenly regions), without any obstacles at all.
"Therefore, Oh King Mandhata," the venerable Vasishtha Muni concluded, "...anyone who observes this holy Amalakii EkAdasii will undoubtedly attain the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu, so great is the religious merit earned from the observance of this most sacred fast day."