Today in our country, all the people keep fasting. If you observe a fast for one day in the middle of a week, it has a definite purpose. It is told in the Brahmavarta Purana that fasting is to abstain from all kinds of sins and sense gratification. Indeed fasting on Ekadashi leads to the attainment of dharma, artha, kama, moksha, besides remembrance of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna is also attained. In Bhavishya Uttara Purana, the story of Putrada Ekadashi has been described by Lord Krishna and Dharmaraja Yudhishthira’s dialogue.

Glories of Putrada Ekadashi

Once Maharaj Yudhishthira asked Lord Sri Krishna, that oh Lord, please tell me the importance of fasting on Putrada Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of the past month, what is the method of observing this fast, which Lord is worshipped on this Putrada Ekadashi please tell me about all these in detail.

Lord Sri Krishna told Maharaj Yudhishthira that I describe the fast of this Putrada Ekadashi for the welfare of this world. Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Paush month is called Putrada Ekadashi. The fast of this Ekadashi is the destroyer of all sins. 

Listen in detail to the story of Putrada Ekadashi.

In ancient times, a king named Suketuman ruled in Bhadravati city. This King had no children. The King was very worried about this. King Suketuman wondered who would do his Pind Daan after his death. 

The King had started living so sad day by day. One day he had thought of leaving his body. But again, the thought came back in his mind that committing suicide is considered a great sin on this earth. That is why he had removed this thought from his mind as well. He rode on a horse and went to the forest. 

Saddened by all these thoughts, one day, the King rode on a horse and went to the forest, birds. He saw in the forest that the deer. Lions, monkeys etc., are roaming in the forest. The King saw that at some places, jackals are making hoarse words. Somewhere peacocks are dancing with their family. Seeing these forest scenes, the King became even sadder: why doesn’t he have a son? It was an afternoon in this thought.

The King started thinking that in my lifetime, I have done so many sacrifices etc., have fed Brahmins, and have done all the virtuous works, yet why I did not get the happiness of children. After all, what is the reason for this due to which I am suffering so much?
Taking a bath of all these things, the King started feeling thirsty, riding on his horse, started moving forward in the forest, saw a lake on the way, their crocodiles were playing water in the lake, and lotus flowers were blooming in that lake.

Seeing all these, the King’s left limbs started twitching, considering all these as auspicious omens. The King got down there, and there was a sage’s ashram nearby. When he bowed down to the great sages, O King, we are happy with you. Please tell us what you want. The King told all those brahmins who you are and what you are doing here. The sage said – O King, today is Putrada Ekadashi to give the best son to the one who wishes for a son. After five days, there is a Magha bath, so all of us have come here to take a Magha bath. After listening to the sages, the King said that I also do not have any son, so I am unfortunate.

Please, all of you give me the boon of having a son, then all the sages said that today is Putrada Ekadashi, you should fast on Putrada Ekadashi. By the grace of Lord Shri Hari, you will get a son. So the King fasted as per his instructions and also broke the fast on the day of Dwadashi. And after bowing down to the sages came back to his city.

By the grace of Lord Sri Hari, the queen became pregnant, and after nine months, a brilliant son was born to the King. When the prince started growing up, he became a very bright, wealthy, successful, stunning and follower of the subjects. Therefore, O King, everyone should observe the fast of this Putrada Ekadashi. In this world, whoever follows this fast according to the rules, is sure to get a son, and by enjoying the happiness of this world, he attains a higher planet.

Whoever observes this fast, praising its glory, will attain the same virtue as the Ashwamedha Yagya. Putrada Ekadashi, which gives progress in devotional service, should be fasted by all the people in the world. Grains have to be given up on Ekadashi. Consumption of food made from rice, wheat, maize, barley, gram etc., is prohibited in Ekadashi. To reduce all the body’s needs, one should remember Lord Shri Hari throughout the day. Lord Sri Krishna is very pleased with this mind of his. When Lord is pleased, then by his majesty, a person gets true happiness. Apart from this, it also becomes easy to get priceless Chintamani like devotional service to Supreme Lord.

Hare Krishna,
Fast opening time (14th January): 7.15 am to 10.45 am (New Delhi)

Ekadashi of Margashirsha month is also called Mokshada Ekadashi. On the day of Mokshada Ekadashi, our ancient religious text Shrimad Bhagavad Gita was also born from the mouth of Lord Shri Krishna. In our Indian culture, the Gita of Shrimad Bhagavad is revered and exemplary. This is the only such book in our entire world, whose birth anniversary is also celebrated as Gita Jayanti in the whole country. The essence of Vedic texts is hidden in the Gita, which Lord Sri Lord Krishna told Arjuna with his Sri Mukha during the war of Mahabharata.

In the Gita, Lord Krishna told Arjuna that one who surrenders to Shrimad Bhagavad with complete devotion and respect. There is no effect of any foul misdeeds on that person. Mokshada Ekadashi was when Shrimad Bhagwat was descended on this holy land. Anyone who follows the principles laid down in the Bhagavad Gita, this religious book, never gets hurt in his life, and they get the solution of all the problems of their life in it.

In the Brahmanda Purana, Lord Krishna told Yudhishthira about the Ekadashi coming on the Shukla Paksha of Margashirsha month.

Once the Pandava’s son Shri Yudhishthira Maharaj asked Lord Shri Krishna that Oh Lord, you are the Lord of all the three worlds, you are the one who gives happiness to all, and you are the savior of the world, all the people are your well-wishers, I salute you, Lord, you clear one of my doubts. Would you please tell me the name of the Ekadashi of the month of Margashirsha? Which deity is worshiped on this day, what is its method, please tell me about the most important.

Lord Shri Krishna told Yudhishthira that, Yudhisthira, you have asked an excellent question. With this question, your fame will spread all over the world.

Margashirsha Ekadashi is the destroyer of many sins, and its name is Mokshada Ekadashi. On this day, Lord Damodar is worshiped with incense lamps, Naivedya, Tulsi Manjari, etc. The story of Ekadashi is as follows.

In ancient times, the Vaikhanas kings used to rule in Champak city. Brahmins, who knew all the four Vedas, also lived in his kingdom, and they used to take care of their subjects like a son. One night, the king saw his father suffering the tortures of hell in his dream. In this way, seeing the night dreams, the king became very worried, and he became very disturbed and called the pundits in the morning and told them about this dream.

The king told the brahmins that I saw my father suffering the torment of hell at night. In a dream, the king’s father said to him, ” Son, I am suffering a lot in this hell. Get me free from this hell. I am not relieved to hear these words of my father. I do not feel that the whole kingdom is pleasing to me. I am not feeling anything good. What should I do, where should I go, O Brahmin gods, please tell me the solution of this problem so that I can free my father from that hell? If I do not free my father from that hell, then my life on this earth is meaningless. That is why, please tell me a solution to this problem as soon as possible.

Hearing this pain of the king, all the Brahmins had some discussions with each other and told the king that O king, the knower of the past, the present, the present, the mountain Mahamuni, lives nearby here. If you go to him and tell his real suffering, he will free you from this problem. Then the king went to the sage’s hermitage. In that ashram, many other sages were engaged in penance with a calm mind. Mount Muni, the knower of the four Vedas, looked like Brahma.

The king bowed to him and gave his complete introduction. The king told the sage that everything was well in my kingdom, but suddenly a problem came in front of me, due to which my heart had become wholly disturbed. The king, weeping in the night’s dream, told his father what was bothering him in front of the mountain sage. And requested Munishwar that you please tell me such a way by which I can get my father free from that hell.

The mountain sage listened carefully to the king’s whole thing, closed his eyes, and started contemplating the past and future. After that, the sage told the king that I have acquired the knowledge of all your father’s misdeeds. Your father had discriminated against his wives so much that he has to suffer this hell. Then King Vaikhanas prayed to Munishwar in pleading words that you should show some way of his salvation.

Then the mountain sage told the king that the Ekadashi, which comes in the Shukla Paksha of the month of Margashirsha, is called Mokshada Ekadashi. This Ekadashi is going to give salvation. By taking the resolution of fasting on this Ekadashi, you can free your father from this hell. Your father will get saving due to fasting on this Ekadashi. Hearing such words of king Parvat Muni, he returned to his kingdom and, together with his family, fasted on Mokshada Ekadashi. Due to the effect of fasting on Mokshada Ekadashi, the king offered his virtue to his father. Then the king’s father got freedom from that hell.

Shri Krishna told Yudhishthira that those who observe a fast on Mokshada Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of this Margashirsha month, all their sins are destroyed, and they get a place in the higher lokas. There is no other fast that bestows salvation than the fasting of this fast. This fast is like a Chintamani, which gives salvation. By observing this quickly, all the wishes of a person are fulfilled.

That is why the fast of Mokshada Ekadashi is said to be the best for all human beings who desire salvation. This fast should be done with complete devotion and devotion in front of Lord Shri Hari.

On the auspicious occasion of Mokshada Ekadashi, various significant books like Bhagavad Gita in the form of scriptures will be distributed in all the temples of ISKCON. This divine message of God can be passed on to all the people. All of you have become a participant in this holy work. Make your life bright and successful by buying all these books, studying them, distributing them elsewhere.

Moreover, you can also get your copy of Bhagavad Gita from- www.BuyGita.in

15th Wednesday

Breakfast Time 07.06 am to 10.32am (New Delhi) 

Lord Krishna told the importance of the Utpanna Ekadashi fasting to his childhood friend Arjuna in the Bhavishya Purana.

Arjuna told Lord Krishna that why you have declared this Ekadashi as the most sacred among all pilgrimages, please explain to me in detail. 

Then Shri Krishna told Arjuna that O Partha, there used to be a powerful, fierce demon named the Mur in the golden age. The demon named Mur had won his victory over all the demigods. Then all the demigods fled and went to the shelter of Lord Shiva and requested Lord Shiva that, all the people are living their lives in the world of death after getting defeated by the demon named the Mur. Due to the fear of all those demons, we are unfortunate and are also suffering terribly. Devraj Indra, the king of the demigods, said that Lord, you tell us some way to escape from this demon named the Mur. After listening to the demigods like this, Lord Shiva who is very innocent asked Devraj Indra, please go to Lord Vishnu. He will tell you the solution to this problem.

Then all the demigods like Indra went to Lord Shri Hari & started praising Lord Vishnu, O Shri Hari, and you are the Lord of all the three worlds, you are the savior of the whole world, that’s why we have a lot of respect for you. We all are in Your shelter; you protect us from that terrible demon, and because of the atrocities of that demon, we all have come under your protection; please save us from that monster in any way. All of us have been expelled from Devloka by that demon. That’s why we live our lives in the world of death, facing a lot of suffering due to the fear of that demon. That is why, Jagannath, you protect us.

In this way,after  praised by demigods, Lord Vishnu asked, please tell me which is such a terrible Demon, due to which this situation has happened to you. 

Hearing such words of ShriVishnu, Devraj Indra said, that O Lord, this is an Asura named Nadijangham, who was born in the Brahmavansh in ancient times. This demon has a son named the Mur who resides in the city named Chandra Vati. It is so fierce and powerful that it has conquered death in the entire Devloka by its strength. By removing all the demigods from Devloka, he has made the demons of his Daitya clan as Indra Niyam Varun Moon, etc. And by becoming the Sun himself, the earth gets austerity in the strong sunlight and the form of a cloud. He rains vital water on the people of the planet. That is why God save us from this terrible monster.

After listening carefully to all the words of the demigods, Lord Shri Hari urged all the demigods to accompany me to the city of Chandravati. That demon named the Mur had already known the words of the demigods and Lord Shri Vishnu before his brilliance. Lord Vishnu was coming to the battlefield with all the Creators to fight the war with that demon. Then there was a fierce battle between the demigods and that demon, due to which all the demigods became more and more afraid. After that, Lord Shri Krishna himself had to fight the war on the battlefield, and He fought with that demon for 100 years. But Lord Vishnu had to conquer him because of the Leela of that demon. In the end, he entered a cave named Hemavati, 38 km long, located in the Badrika ashram for rest. 

As soon as the Lord went to rest in that cave, a demon named Mur also followed him. Seeing Lord Vishnu sleeping, the devil planned to kill the Lord. 

But he could not succeed in it.

At the same time, a beautiful women appeared from the body of Lord Shri Hari in the form of Mohini. 

She started fighting by challenging the demon named the Mur. The demon was stunned, and he thought that after all, where did this women come from, but still he kept fighting with that women. The women got very angry, and she cut the weapon of that demon into pieces and destroyed his chariot. Due to all this, the demon got very angry and started fighting with that Lady.

That stunning women pushed that demon unconscious and severed his head from the body. Just as soon as he fell on the earth, the demon attained the world of death. Seeing the end of their king like this, all the remaining Asuras fled away.

After that, Lord Shri Hari Vishnu got up from his sleep, seeing that demon dead. He was shocked at who killed this terrible monster. Then that women pleaded with folded hands in front of Lord Shri Hari and said that Lord, this demon was ready to kill you. Then I, born from your body, killed this demon. Lord Shri Hari was pleased with him and said that you had killed this terrible monster. That is why I am pleased with you. You have got the demigods of the three peoples relieved from their sufferings; that’s why I will fulfill your every wish, whatever the boon you want to ask.

The supreme personality of Godhead said,You were born from my body on the day of Ekadashi; that’s why your name will be known as Utpanna Ekadashi in the future. Whoever observes a fast on this Ekadashi will be freed from all the sins of this world; saying this, Lord Shri Hari disappeared from there.

Then Lord Krishna told Arjuna that he was the son of Pandu. In this way, the fasting of Ekadashi is the best and most fruitful fast of the festival. By observing this Ekadashi fast, a person also attains salvation. All the creatures who observe Ekadashi, the best of all the fasts, will attain salvation in the end after enjoying worldly pleasures. That is why everyone should do this Ekadashi fast without worry. And on the day of Ekadashi, one should remember Krishna.

A very famous saint Tukaram Maharaj of Maharashtra, said that- A person who obeys and fast on Ekadashi, he indeed attains the abode of God. The person who does not like the tithi of this Ekadashi is a person who lives in hell.

Tukaram Maharaja says that the one who has collected a good amount of virtue from the previous birth, only that person observes the Ekadashi fast.

Utthana Ekadashi is also known as devutthani Ekadashi, prabodhani, haribodhani Ekadashi.

This Ekadashi is considered more significant and more sacred than other Ekadashi. According to Vishnu Purana, Lord sleeps in Kshirsagar for four months on Ashada Shukla Ekadashi. 

According to Vishnu Purana, all their sorrows go away on this day, those who worship and remember Lord Hari. In the Skanda Purana, Brahma dev and Narada muni have been described as the glory of Utthan or prabodhini Ekadashi’s dialogues. Once Brahma dev started telling Devarshi Narada, let me recite the sage about the Ekadashi, which gives virtuous bliss and salvation to all.

The Glories of Utthana Ekadashi

This Ekadashi falls in the Shukla Paksha of Kartik month.The virtue obtained by observing this Ekadashi is many times more than the virtue obtained by performing a thousand Ashwamegh Yagya or a hundred Rajasuya Yagya. So after hearing this, Narada asked O Father, please tell me about the outcomes that can be achieved on this day by eating one time or doing complete fasting.

–Conversation between lord Brahma deva and Narada Muni

Brahma dev said- Eating fruits at one time on Ekadashi destroys the sins of a person of one birth. O son, by observing Utthana Ekadashi, a scarce virtue is attained in Tribhuvan. Like the mountain of Mandar, sins are also destroyed by the effect of this fast. The purity of this day can only be compared to Mount Sumeru.

Narada Muni has said, that Swami, please, how should this Ekadashi be done?” Tell us about this.

Lord Brahma said, O Dwijshrestha, after taking a bath in the morning, worship Lord Keshav, observe a fast so that O Lord Arvindaksha, I will not eat grains on Ekadashi. I will eat grains only on Dwadashi.

O Achyut, please protect me. Brahma Dev further said that one should observe fast for the whole day with love and devotion. One should awaken at night by chanting the name of Hari, listening to Kirtan and His sweet pastimes. One should give up the attitude of greed on Ekadashi. Whosoever virtuous observes such a fast, and he achieves his ultimate goal. Brahma Dev said whoever offers Kadamba flowers on this day to Lord Janardan. He never has to go to Yamaloka.

 O Narada Muni, one should do Hari Jagran on the night of Ekadashi and the day of Dwadashi, worship Lord Hari and complete the fast by feeding Brahmins. According to one’s ability, by worshipping the spiritual master, he should be given worthy Dakshina. This pleases Lord Hari. Thus Brahma explained the importance of Utthan Ekadashi to Devarshi Narada.

In Brahma Vaivarta Purana, it is said that whoever observes a fast on the day of Ekadashi. He becomes free from all sinful activities and progresses in spiritual life.

The Main Motive of Fasting

The basic principle is not to be hungry on that day, but to reduce the needs of our body and use our mind, intellect and senses to remember him more and invest more time in the service of the Lord and have to strengthen our loyalty and love for Supreme Lord Krishna even more.

Therefore, let us all also observe this most auspicious Ekadashi fast and most dear to Lord Krishna and listen to the divine pastimes of the Lord in the company of devotees.

Chant Hari Naam and do Naam Sankirtana to increase the Love of Krishna, the ultimate goal of life.

Hare Krishna!

Utthana Ekadashi Mahotsava ki Jai!

Fast opening time(16th Tuesday) : 06:44am – 08:04 am (ISKCON New Delhi)