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Fasting for Vijaya Ekadasi


Vijaya Ekadasi
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 namei (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."

Thus ends the narration of the glories of PhAlguna-krsna EkAdasii or VijayA
EkAdasii, from the Skanda PurAna.