Indirā Ekādaśī

Indirā Ekādaśī

The glories of Indirā ekādaśī are described in Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa in a conversation between Lord Kṛṣṇa and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.

Once, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said, “O Kṛṣṇa, O Madhusūdana, O killer of the demon Madhu, what is the name of the ekādaśī which occurs during the waning moon in the period of September-October? What are the rules and regulations for observing it, and what merit is gained?”

Lord Kṛṣṇa replied, “The name of this sacred ekādaśī is Indirā ekādaśī. By observing it, one can deliver his degraded forefathers, and all of his sinful reactions are eradicated.

“O king, there was a king named Indrasena who lived in Satya-yuga. He was an expert in subduing his enemies. There was great prosperity in his kingdom, Māhiṣmatī-purī. He lived happily with his many children and grandchildren. He was very attached to performing devotional service to Lord Viṣṇu. As a devotee, the king was constantly absorbed in spiritual consciousness, and he spent his time chanting the holy names of Śrī Govinda, the bestower of liberation.

“One day when the king was happily sitting on his royal throne, suddenly Śrī Nārada Muni appeared before him from the sky. Seeing the great sage Nārada, the king immediately stood up with folded hands, and then offered his respectful obeisances. Thereafter, the king duly worshiped the sage with sixteen ingredients. When the sage was happily seated, he asked Indrasena, ‘O great king, is everyone in your kingdom happy and prosperous? Is your mind fixed in religious principles? Are you engaged in devotional service to Viṣṇu?’

“The king replied, ‘O best of sages, by your mercy everything is well and auspicious. Today my life has become successful by having your darśana; now I have received the fruits of my sacrifices. O sage among the demigods, please tell me the purpose of your visit.’

“After hearing the humble words of the king, Nārada Muni replied, ‘O lion-like king, I want to tell you about a wonderful incident that happened to me. O best of kings, once I went from the abode of Lord Brahmā to the abode of Yamarāja. Yamarāja greeted me respectfully and worshiped me properly. After I was comfortably seated, I offered prayers to the pious, truthful Yamarāja. I saw your greatly pious father in the assembly of Yamarāja. Your father had to go there as a result of breaking a vow. O king, he requested that I convey a message to you.

He said, “Indrasena, the king of Māhiṣmatī-purī, is my son. O lord, please tell him that due to some sinful activities I committed in my previous life, I am now living in the abode of Yamarāja. Therefore, he should observe the vow of Indirā ekādaśī and donate the resulting piety to me. Then I will be released from my present situation.” Nārada Muni continued, ‘O king, this is your father’s request to you. In order to deliver your father to the spiritual world, you should observe the vow of Indirā ekādaśī.‘

“King Indrasena said, ‘O sage among the demigods, now kindly explain to me the procedure for following Indirā ekādaśī.’ “Nārada-muni replied, ‘On the day before ekādaśī, one should take bath early in the morning and faithfully offer oblations to the forefathers for their satisfaction. On that day, one should eat only once and sleep on the floor at night.

On ekādaśī, one should rise early in the morning, brush his teeth, wash his hands and mouth, and take bath. Thereafter, he should vow not to indulge in any kind of material enjoyment, and observe a total fast. He should pray to the Lord:“O lotus-eyed one, I take shelter of You.”

“‘At noon, he should offer oblations to his forefathers in front of śālagrāma-śilā according to proper rules and regulations. Then he should worship the brāhmaṇas, and after feeding them sumptuously, he should give dakṣiṇā to them. Later, he should give the remnants of the oblations to cows. During the day, he should worship Lord Hṛṣīkeśa by offering Him sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, lamps, and foodstuffs with devotion. He should stay awake that night and chant, hear, and remember the names, forms, qualities, and pastimes of the Supreme Lord.

On the day after ekādaśī, one should worship Lord Hari in the morning and feed the brāhmaṇas. Thereafter, one should break his fast by eating in silence with his brothers, children, grandchildren, and other relatives. O king, if you follow this ekādaśī as I have instructed, your father will certainly go to the abode of Viṣṇu.’ After speaking in this way, Nārada Muni disappeared.

Lord Kṛṣṇa concluded, “In time, King Indrasena, his children, his servants, and others strictly observed Indirā ekādaśī according to the instructions of Nārada Muni. As a result, flowers were showered in the sky. King Indrasena’s father was immediately taken on the back of Garuḍa to the abode of Lord Viṣṇu.

Thereafter, saintly King Indrasena happily ruled his kingdom without any impediments. At the end of his life, the king entrusted his kingdom to his son and he returned to the spiritual world. Such are the glories of Indirā ekādaśī. Anyone who reads or hears about these glories is freed from all sinful reactions, and ultimately returns to the abode of Viṣṇu.”