A Friendly Reminder:
Today is Kamada Ekadasi
Breaking of fast: Monday in between 6:04 and 10:36 AM
Kamada Ekadasi Mahatmya:
Once, long ago, there existed a city-state named Ratnapura. King Pundarika was the ruler of this most beautiful kingdom where many Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and Apsaraas were among its citizens. Among the Gandharvas were Lalita and his wife Lalitaa, who was an especially lovely dancer. These two were intensely attracted to each other, and their home was full of great wealth and fine food. Lalitaa loved her husband dearly, and likewise he constantly thought of her within his heart.
Once, at the court of King Pundarika, many Gandharvas were dancing and Lalita was singing alone, without his wife. He could not help thinking about her as he sang, and because of this distraction he lost track of the song's meter and melody. Indeed, Lalita sang the ending of his song improperly, and one of the envious snakes who was in attendance at the king's court complained to the king about that. The king became furious upon hearing this. Suddenly he shouted, 'Oh foolish knave, because you were lustfully thinking of a woman instead of reverently thinking of your king as you performed your court duties, I curse you to at once become a cannibal-- a great man-eating demon whose appearance terrified everyone. Seeing her husband suffering as a horrible cannibal, Lalitaa became overwhelmed with grief. She had to wander everywhere in the thick jungle with her monstrous husband. However, Lalitaa came upon the sage Shringi one day. He was sitting on the peak of Vindhyaachala Hill. Approaching him, she immediately offered the ascetic her respectful obeisance. The sage noticed her and said, 'Oh most beautiful one, who are you? Whose daughter are you, and why have you come here? '"Lalitaa replied, 'Oh great sage, I am the daughter of the great Gandharva Viradhanvaa, and my name is Lalitaa. I roam the forests and plains with my dear husband, whom King Pundarika has cursed to become a man-eating demon. What pious act can I perform to free him from this demonic form, Oh best of brahmaness?'
The sage replied: there is an Ekadashi named KAmadaa that occurs in the light fortnight of the month of Chaitra. Whoever fasts on this day has all his desires fulfilled. If you observe this Ekadashi fast according to its rules and regulations your husband will be freed from the curse at once. "'"Lalita faithfully observed the fast of KAmadaa Ekadashi according to the instructions of the sage Shringi, and on Devadasi she appeared before him and the Deity of Lord Vasudeva and said, 'I have faithfully observed the fast of Kamada Ekadashi. By the merit earned through my observance of this fast, let my husband be free from the curse that has turned him into a demoniac cannibal.
As soon as Lalitaa finished speaking, her husband, who stood nearby, was at once freed from the king's curse. He immediately regained his original form as the Gandharva Lalita. All this was accomplished by the power and glory of Kamada Ekadashi. At last the Gandharva couple boarded a celestial airplane and ascended to heaven.
Suggestion: Please keep on chanting as much you can at least 25 rounds of Mahamantra on this Ekadasi day. Stay away from grains and beans. Try to observe half day fasting with only lunch of Ekadasi Prasadam—fruits, vegetables, and milk products—and drink one glass of milk in night. This way, you can take advantage of your health once in fifteen days on every Ekadasi.
Thank you,
Servant of servants of Guru and Gouranga
Karunanidhi Das
ISKCON,Chicago
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