“Ekadashi vratam mama sarva kama phala pradam

Kartabyam sarvada viprair Vishnu prinana karanam”

“It is said that the brahmanas should always observe the vow of Ekadashi to please the Lord and to fulfil his desires.”It is stated in the Brihad Naradia Puran that if everyone including Brahman, kshatriya, vaisya, sudra and women observe the vow of Ekadashi then they will certainly attain liberation. Srila Rupa Goswami an associate of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has described the devotional services. Among sixtyfour limbs of devotional services, following the vow of Ekadashi is an very important limb.

Another name of Ekadashi is Hari-vasara. The main purpose of observing the vow of Ekadashi is to please the Supreme Lord Krishna (Hari) with ones all senses. On the day of Ekadashi one should remain aloof from all kinds of sense gratification, sinful activities, give up all kinds of household activities and live near the Supreme Lord by chanting His holy name, getting knowledge about Him, hearing about His pastimes, singing His prayers and bhajans for the whole day.

A description about the following the vow of Ekadashi is given by Srila Jagadananda Pandit an associate of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in his book Prem Vivarta –once Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said,”if one disregards the vow of Ekadashi he brings ruination in his life, one should simply respect the grain Prasad on the day of Ekadashi and save it for the next day. The pious vaisnavas are simply satisfied by drinking the nectar of Lord Krishna’s holy name. They don’t indulge in any kind of sense gratification, they don’t speak about any useless topic and abundone all kinds of material enjoyment. Honouring Prasad is an eternal activity of the pure vaisnavas and they never eat anything that is not offered first to the Supreme Lord. The devotees should fast totally on the Ekadashi day and eat only the remnants of the Lord on the next day. In a special case a devotee can take non-grain remnants of the Lord. Cultivate the limbs of the devotional services with respect then you will attain the mercy of Bhaktidevi. Give up the assotion of non-devotees(those who don’t follow the discipline of pleasing the Supreme Lord) and strictly follow the vow of Ekadashi by engaging yourself in chanting the holy name of the Lord.

There are twentysix names of the auspicious Ekadashi days-

1. Utpanna Ekadashi 2. Moksada Ekadashi

3.Saphala Ekadashi 4.Putrada Ekadashi

5.Sat-tila Ekadashi 6.Jay Ekadashi

7.Vijay Ekadashi 8.Amaloki Ekadashi

9.Papmochni Ekadashi 10.Kamada Ekadashi

11.Varuthini Ekadashi 12.Mohini Ekadashi

13.Apara Ekadashi 14.Nirjala Ekadashi

15. Yogini Ekadashi 16.Sayana Ekadashi

17. Kamika Ekadashi 18.Pavitra Ekadashi

19.Annada Ekadashi 20.Parswa Ekadashi

21.Indira Ekadashi 22.Pasankusha Ekadashi

23.Ram Ekadashi 24.Uththana Ekadashi

25.Padmini Ekadashi 26.Parama Ekadashi

24 Ekadashis occur during one complete year, apart from them there are two more Ekadashi days namely Padmini and Parama Ekadashis which occur during the extra days of a leap year.

Once in Vrindavan gopis asked Shrimati Radharani, O Radhe! You are directly the ocean of every knowledge, please describe us particularly the names of those who have previously observed the vow of Ekadashi and was benifited.

Shrimati Radharani replied them ,-

O gopies! In order to regain their lost kingdome the demigods observed the vow of Ekadashi long, long ago.

King Vaishanta observed the vow of Ekadashi in order to deliver his forefathers from the abode of Yamraj.

The sinful king Lumpaka who was rejected by his subjects, observed the vow of Ekadashi and regained his lost kingdome.

King Ketuman of Bhadravati who had no son, by observing the vow of Ekadashi according to the instruction of learned brahmanas the king was blessed with a son.

Once the wives of demigods instructed a wife of a Brahman to observe the vow of Ekadashi ,being an ordinary human being the wife of the Brahman achieved prosperity and the heavenly pleasure.

Pushpadanta and Malyavan both became ghosts being cursed by their enemies but by observing the vow of Ekadashi they regained their Gandharva form.

In order to build a bridge on the ocean and to kill Ravana the famous demon, Lord Ramchandra observed the vow of Ekadashi.

At the end of the annihilation all the demigods observed the vow of Ekadashi under an Amaloki tree for the benefit of the whole world.

Sage Medhavi observed the vow of Ekadashi according to the instruction of his father and become freed from the bad association of the apsaras and became fully effulgent.

A Gandharva named Lalit become demon by the curse of Kuber but by observing the vow of Ekadashi he regained his position as a Gandharva.

By observing the vow of the Ekadashi many great kings like Mandata, Sagar, Kakutstha, Muchkunda, Dhundhumar went back to the spiritual world.

By observing the vow of Ekadashi Shivji became free from the curse of Brahmaji.

A vaisyas son named as Dhristabudhdhi returned to Vaikuntha by observing the vow of Ekadashi.

King Rukumangad also observed the vow of Ekadashi and enjoyed the whole world as his kingdom and at the end of his life went back to the Vaikuntha with his subjects.

King Ambarish observed the vow of Ekadashi,as a result even the inevitable curse of Brahmaji couldnot touch him.

A Yaksha named Hema-mali became afflicted by white leprosy as he was cursed by Kuber, became as good as moon only by observing the vow of Ekadashi.

By observing the vow of Ekadashi king Mahijit was blessed with a son and at the end of the life he returned to Vaikuntha.

In Satya yuga there was a king Shobhna who became the son-in-law of king Muchkunda. He observed the vow of Ekadashi and attained a beautiful place among the demigods in Mandar mountain.

Shrimati Radharani also said, O gopis! Know for certain that the vow of Ekadashi is the highest of all , there is no tithi as auspicious as the tithi of Ekadashi.”

The descriptions about the glorification of Lord Hari on the Ekadashi day in Chaitanya Bhagbat Madhya khanda,

The devotees limbs shown with garlands and sandalwood paste. Testing the nectar of blissfully singing about Lord Krishna, they forget everything else.(ch. 8 text- 187).

The sound of the holy name filled and made it break in two, all that was inauspicious fled in the four directions.(ch. 8, text- 189).

Lord Chaitanya danced with Lord Nityananda,I can hear the chanting sound that is coming from their feet as they are dancing,(ch. 8,text – 200).

One Ekadashi day after visiting Gundicha temple Lord Chaitanya came and sat down at Jagannath Ballabh garden,the Lord spent the entire day by chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna.Lord was accompanied by many resident devotees like Swaroop Damodar,Ramananda Rai, Vakreshwar Pandit and others.The Lord said,”today all of you should chant the holy name of Lord Krishna with prescribed numbers of rounds, some of you should offer the obeiscences, some of you should discuss the topics of Lord Krishna and Lord Balaram. Stay anywhere and constantly chant the name of Govinda and always be intoxicated with love of the Lord.

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna HareHare

Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare “

At the beginning of the material worlds creation the Supreme Lord Hari created the moving and non-moving living entities within this world made of five gross material elements, simultaneously for punishing the sinful persons Lord created a personality whose form was the embodiment of sins the Sanskrit word is Papapurusha. The different limbs of this personality were constructed of various sinful activities, his complexion is black and the colour of his eyes is yellow. He inflicts extreme misery upon sinful person.

The Supreme Lord Hari who is the giver of happiness and distresses glorified with nice prayers then had Him sit upon the golden thrown. The Supreme Lord heard the loud crying sound from the southern side He asked Yamraj to know the fact. Yamraj replied,”O Lord! The different living entities of the planetary system have fallen into the hellish region. They are suffering extremely for their misdeeds. The horrible crying sound is because of suffering from the inflictions of their past bad karma(action).”

After hearing the reason of the loud crying sound from Yamraj Lord went to the hellish region of the south where the inhabitants were crying loudly, after seeing the Lord they began to cry even louder. The Supreme Lord’s heart became filled with compassion. Lord thought,”I have created all this progeny, and it is because of Me they are suffering.”After as Lord is always very merciful He suddenly manifested from His Own form the personality of the lunar day Shri Ekadashi.After that the different sinful living entities began to follow the vow of Ekadashi and were then elevated quickly to the abode of Lord Hari.So the lunar day of Ekadashi is the selfsame form of the Lord. The vow of Ekadashi is the utmost pious activity and is situated as the head among all vows.

Following the vow of Ekadashi, that personality who is the form all kinds of sinful activities gradually saw the influence of the Ekadadhi had so the Papapurush approached the Supreme Lord with doubts in his heart, he said,” I am Your created progeny and it is through me You wanted distress given to the living entities those who are very sinful. But now by the influence of the Ekadashi vow, I have become all but destroyed. Out of fear of Ekadashi I have tried to take shelter in every possible places but I cannot find a place where I can be free from the fear of Shri Ekadashi. Oh my Master! I am a product of Your creation, You are very merciful so kindly direct a place for me where I can reside feerlesly.”The Supreme Lord after observing the condition of Papapurush He laughed and told, “don’t lament any longer and listen, on the day of Ekadashi which is benefactor of the three worlds, you can take shelter of foodstuff in the form of grains. There is no reason to worry about this anymore, because My form of Ekadashi will no longer impede you.”

Therefore those persons who are seriously try for the ultimate benefit for the soul will never eat grains on the day of Ekadashi. According to the instructions of the Supreme Lord, every kind of sinful activity can be found in this material world takes shelter in this place od foodstuff(grains).

The Deity of Shri Ekadashi.

In the Satya Yuga once there lived a very fearsome demon called Mura,he terrified all the demigods, even he defeated the king of heaven Indra and by his terrible power he brought all of them under his control.All the demigods approached the Supreme Lord. When Lord came to know about the demon Mura Lord became very angry and immediately ordered all of them to attack Mura’s capital city Chandravati,all together and the Supreme Lord was leading them.Then there was a very big fight, the Supreme Lord faught with the demon for one thousand celestial years, for some rest Lord entered a beautiful cave named Himavati in Badrikashram. The demon was following the Lord so he also reached there. Seeing the Lord is sleeping he thought himself of killing Him.By the time Mura was planning, from the body of the Lord there manifested a beautiful young girl, who had a very bright complexion and equipped with various weapons. Being challenged by the goddess Mura preapared himself for fighting. Suddenly that effulgent goddess shattered Mura’s all the weapons and deprived him off his chariot also cut down his head brilliantly.

When the Supreme Lord wake up He saw the dead Mura and He also saw the beautiful goddess offering obeiscence to Lord,being pleased by the goddess Lord asked her for boon. The goddess prayed Him then told,” please give me the power to deliver those persons who will follow the vow of the Ekadashi day will be blessed by You and will get the religious attitude,wealth and liberation. “Lord was so pleased that He granted everything to the goddess and said,”you are My transcendental potency, have appeared on the eleventh day of the wanning moon so your name will be Shri Ekadashi. The person who will follow the vow of Ekadashi, Ishall burn up all his sins and bestow upon him My blessings and My transcendental abode.

(from Srila Vyasdev answering to the questions of Sage Jaimini).

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Krishna Himself appeared in a form,richly endowed with Shrimati Radharani’s love and emotions.

Lord Krishna personally descends in this material world for two reasons-He wants to taste the sweet essence of His transcendental mellowes and He wants to propagate within the world of devotional services on the platform of spontaneous love.After Lord Krishna disappeared from this world He thought,”For a long time I have not bestowed unalloyed loving service upon the inhabitants of this universe,and without such spontaneous attachment the existence of the entire material creation is useless.Everywhere people worship according to the shastric injunctions,but simply by following the regulative principles one cannot gain the sentiments possessed by the devotees of the Vrindavan. Therefore I shall personally inaugurate the religion of this age-Nama Sankirtan , the congregational chanting of My holy name. By accepting the role of a devotee I shall make the world dance in ecstasy and thus realize the four mellows of loving services. In this way I shall teach the world devotional services by personally practicing it.”

Beside secondary reason for Lord Krishna to appear once more He was not able to fulfil His three desires. He thought,”Although Iam the Absolute Truth and the reservoir of all rasas I can not understand the strength of Shrimati Radharani’s love for Me, with which She overwhelms Me.Whatever pleasure I get from tasting My love for Shrimati Radharani,She relishes ten million times more by Her love.Although there is nothing greater and nothing purer than Shrimati Radharani’s love, Shrimati Radharani is the highest abode of love and I am its only object.Therefore My mind becomes mad to taste the pleasure that is experienced by the abode of love Shrimati Radharani. If I can become the abode of that love then only I shall be able experience its joy.

Whenever Lord Krishna see His own beauty He think’s”My sweetness is unlimitedly wonderful,only Shrimati Radharani can taste the complete nectar of My sweetness by the strength of Her love.”So Lord Krishna wanted to experience this unlimited love of Shrimati Radharani,this was His first desire.

“Devotees taste My sweetness according to their respective love. I also feel tempted to taste this, I find that the only way I can relish My sweetness is to take the position of Shrimati Radharani”.This was His second desire.

His third desire was, He says “Everyone knows that I am the reservoir of all transcendental bliss, and indeed the whole world derives pleasure from Me.Who then can give Me pleasure?

Only Shrimati Radharani and His pure devotees can give Him pleasure by their wonderful love and services.Lord further says,”I am always very eager to taste the joy of Shrimati Radharani derives from Me and inspite of endeavouring I am unable to do so. Therefore, I can fulfil My three desires I shall assume Shrimati Radharani’s bodily complexion and ecstasic loving sentiments then descend as an Incarnation”.

Desiring to understand the glory of Shrimati Radharani’s love and the happiness that She feels upon realizing the sweetness of His love , Lord Krishna decided to appear in a form that was richly endowed with Shrimati Radharani’s love and emotions. { Chaitanya Charitamrita-Balya Lila.}

What is love?

Love is Lord Krishna’s transcendental mellows.He is the reservoir of all rasas(mellows), to understand love we have to know Lord Krishna the Absolute Truth.

How is it done?

To know the process of love how it is done our heart should be pure , this is the basic need, then we should practice to know Lord Krishna and Shrimati Radharani. Gradually by the mercy of their Lordship we may get the intelligence of understanding how divine is love ,then we will get the answer how it is done .

Lord Krishna explains His feelings about love for Shrimati Radharani. Although He is the most attractive, He has sixtyfour oppulances inspite of that He says,”the sight of Shrimati Radharani gives pleasure to My eyes,My ears become enchanted by the sweet words spoken by Her, scent of Her body captivates My mind and heart, I become charmed by the nectarian taste of Her lips, I feel refreshed by the touch of Shrimati Radharani,Her beauty and attributes are My life and soul.”

About Shrimati Radharani’s love Lord says,”when She gazes at Me She feels greater satisfaction.The whispering murmur of bamboo trees that rub against one another steals away Her mind, for She think’s that is the sound of My flute. She embresses Tamal tree mistaking it for Me, when the fragrance of My body carried to Her by the wind She becomes blinded by love and tries to fly into that breeze, when She tastes the betel nuts that has been chewed by Me She merges into an ocean of joy and forgets everything else.”

With whom it is to be done?

Scripture says everything comes from Lord Krishna. In Shrimad Bhagbat Gita Lord Krishna Himself explained this fact very clearly. Lord has explained that every living entity is His part,love the transcendental mellow comes from Him. He has also explained that this material world is temporary, everything here is temporary so He taught us to love Him.So love only Lord Krishna the reservoire of love. Know Him, worship Him,chant His holy name,and enjoy His real ocean of love. {Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Balya Lila}

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare hare

Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare .

Lord Krishna is the ocean of divine love. Whenever Krishna appeared on this earth He had this ocean of love with Him, but every time He had different roles and different actions so the ocean of love was not open for all. When Lord Krishna appeared as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with all His associates He opened the ocean of love for all and also enjoyed Himself. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught the lesson of Krishna Consciousness to the world as a devotee of Lord Krishna. The wonderful ocean of love made them thirsty more and more and they used the endless ocean more and more.

Srila Rupa Goswami said in his prayer Lord Chaitanya is a “Mahabadanyaya Avatar”, though He is none other than Lord Krishna Himself.Lord Chaitanya has shown so much of mercy on conditioned souls.

Srila Prabhupad explained in his purport of Chaitanya Charitamrita sloka-20 and 21,When Lord Krishna appeared He saved all His devotees those who took shelter on His Lotus Feet, but when He appeared as Lord Chaitanya He did not stop to see any person if he is devotee or not, even He did not see his eligibility. He distributed Krishna Prem to all.

Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur writes in his Anubhasya, As every living entity is the part of the Lord so every living entity has the eligibility for feeling of Krishna Prem, but the illusion of the material world is more active in them that they cannot come across the line, ultimately they find themselves in miseries all sufferings. Krishna Prem brings a man to the Lords ocean of love so the person feels the heavenly peace from the world of sufferings.

Srila Prabodhananda saraswati has explained in his book “Chaitanya Chandramrita” The Krishna Consciousness movement of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has a strong effect by His mercy on the conditioned souls that a person quickly realises the right or wrong. As those who are family men do not like wasting time by talking and thinking unnecessarily about their family, so called scholars are not reading more and more Vedas, the yogis are not practising more and more yogas, those who are tapaswis not practising hard tapasya, sanyasis have left the habit of reading more and more Sankhya-Darshan.

In this way many people started practising Krishna Consciousness more and more as explained and instructed by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and also enjoyed the heavenly pleasure by His mercy.

In Chaitanya Charitamrita , Lord Chaitanya says,

“Krishna Mantra hoite habe samsar mochan,Krishna Nam hoite pabe Krishner charan.”

Only by chanting the Mahamantra the conditioned soul can be delivered from this material world and by chanting the Holy name one can get darshan of His Lotus Feet.

The magic of Krishna Consciousness awakens Krishna Prem in living entities heart and gives him the great opportunity to be in the Lords Ocean of love. This is the magic of Krishna Consciousness that a devotee never think about Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. They only tries and practises for more and more “PREMANANDAMRITA SINDHU”.

As an ideal Acharya Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught us Krishna Consciousness and also by His mercy has blessed us by the Mahamantra. So it is truly said that, by chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra we will get bhaktibhava in our heart, follow the instructions of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to enjoy the heavenly pleasure .

. Krishna Nam hoite pabe Krishner charan.”