Let all our spiritual senses get active and we rise to the almighty, Shri Radhe.
Wondering what I ‘m talking about and how this will happen. Let’s begin.
Jai Shree Krishna!
Friends, today we are going to delve into the fasting world. We are going to discuss Varuthini Ekadashi fasting, which is connected to spirituality in many ways. We will understand how it holds significance in people’s lives. All about its existence, story and other important rituals.
Introduction
Ekadashi is the eleventh day (tithi) according to Hindu lunar calendar. There are a total 26 Ekadashi tithis in a year. Varuthini Ekadashi falls in Vaishaka or chaitra month of Hindu calendar during Krishna Paksha (waning moon). This ekadashi is of utmost importance due to its positive influence on people who observe it. It protects devotees from evil and bestows them good fortune.
Story About Varuthini Ekadashi 2025
It is a time when king Yudhishthira (one of the Pandavas) was sitting with Lord Shri Krishna. They were discussing the importance of Ekadashi fasting in people’s lives. King Yudhishthira asked Lord Shri Krishna about the significance and benefits of observing Varuthini Ekadashi.
On this, Shri Krishna replied that Varuthini Ekadashi is special of all Ekadashis as it blesses devotees with prosperity and good fortune. It rids devotees of all previously done bad deeds (karma). It blesses people for not only the current life but also the next life after death. Moreover, people who observe this fast in every life gradually reach their final destination and get rid of all the evils and attain moksha.
As per the Hindu texts, there was a king Mandhata who resided by the Narmada river. He was a great devotee of God always involved in good deeds (karma), prayers and sacred rituals.
So, once he went to the forest to practice penance. While he was lost in meditation one bear came and started eating his leg. King Mandhata carried out his penance and pleaded to God for help. Immediately Lord Vishnu appeared with his Sudarshan chakra and directed it towards the bear. Bear was killed at the moment. King Mandhata showed his gratitude to God. Though he was saved, his leg was eaten by the bear. Seeing him sad, Lord Vishnu asked him to visit Mathura and observe Varuthini Ekadashi immediately. On his instruction, King Mandhata went to Mathura and observed Varuthini Ekadashi. As a result, he was blessed, all his body parts revived and became more beautiful. At last he was enlightened and went to heaven.
Another Story
There was a king named Trishanku who presided over a royal Kingdom of Ikshvaku. King Trishanku’s son was King Dhundhumara, who was brave, charismatic and a devotee of God. He was once cursed by Lord Shiva and suffered from Leprosy. So, he came to know about Varuthini Ekadashi. He observed the fast and followed all the rituals strictly. As a result he was cured and Leprosy came to an end and he attained divinity.
Significance
Varuthini Ekadashi is extremely important and significant due to various reasons:
- Devotees enjoy the similar benefits acquired by the donation of gold during the Solar Eclipse or Surya Grahan.
- It also gives similar benefits which a devotee acquires after the penance of ten thousand years.
- People who are dependent on their daughters’ earnings, go through hell like suffering until the end. On the vice versa, people who get their daughters married and send them away with good wealth and things enjoy heaven until the end.
- Last but not the least, people who only listen or read about the significance of Varuthini Ekadashi are blessed with the benefits of donating one thousand cows.
Rituals Done
To attain maximum benefit from Ekadashi fasting, one should follow certain rules.
- Wake up early in the morning in (Brahma Muhurta) around 4 a.m.
- Take a bath, if possible, in a holy river.
- Put on clean clothes and worship Tulsi plant and Lord Vishnu along with Goddess Lakshmi.
- Offer water, roli, yellow flowers, yellow sweet, dhoop and deep to Tulsi and Lord Vishnu.
- Read and listen to Ekadashi vrat katha.
- Keep all night vigil and do kirtan, sing sacred songs and rhymes.
- Try having one meal (falahaar) a day.
- Indulge in prayers, worship and kirtan in group the entire day.
- Donate food, clothes, sweets and other things to brahmin and the needy.
Don’t s on Ekadashi
- Abstain from brushing teeth, sleep during daytime, shaving, head wash, using soaps or other similar products, unwanted gossip, lying, anger, sexual activity, violence and any sort of bad deed.
- Do not intake rice or products made from rice.
- Do not eat non- vegetarian food, black gram, honey, betel nut, paan, chickpea, spinach, brinjal, tomato and others.
Date and Time
Fasting Day and Time: 24th April, 2025, Thursday
Fasting tithi begins from Dashami Tithi which is on 23rd April, 2025 from 4:23 p.m.
Paran Day and time: 25th April, 2025
5:46 a.m. to 08:23 a.m.
So friends, if you follow all these rituals carefully, I am sure you will observe a rewarding change in your life.
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