Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “Oh Keshava, what is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Ashadha (June – July) and what is the process for observing this event?”

Lord Sri Krishna replied, “I shall tell you a wonderful historical event that Lord Brahma once narrated to his son Narada Muni. One day Narada Muni asked his father, ‘What is the name of the Ekadashi that comes during the light part of the month of Ashadha? Kindly tell me how I should observe this Ekadashi and thus please the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu.’

Lord Brahma replied, ‘Your question is as usual excellent for all mankind. For this reason I shall tell you about this Ashadha-shukla Ekadashi.Fasting on this Ekadashi purifies one of all sins and fulfills all desires.Ashadha-shukla Ekadashi is also known as Padma Ekadashi. Just to please the Supreme Lord Hrishikesha, the master of the senses, one should fast on this day. Listen carefully, Oh Narada, as I relate to you a wonderful historical event that was recorded in the scriptures regarding this Ekadashi. Just hearing this account destroys all kinds of sins.

There was once a saintly king in the Surya Vamsha (Sun dynasty) whose name was Mandhata. Because he always stood up for the truth, he was appointed emperor. All his subjects were very wealthy. The king’s own treasury was free of any ill-gotten money, and thus he ruled happily for many years.

Once, however, because of some sin in his kingdom, there was a drought for three years. The lack of food grains made it impossible for the people to perform the prescribed Vedic sacrifices, etc. Finally, they all came before their beloved king and said, ‘Oh king, we humbly beg your assistance now. Everyone and everything in this world needs water. The Vedas call water Nara, and because the Supreme Personality of Godhead sleeps upon water, His another name is Narayana. In His form as the clouds, the Supreme Lord is present throughout the sky and pours forth rains, from which grow the grains that maintain every living entity. The severe drought has caused a great lack of valuable grains; thus we are all miserable, please find some solutions to this problem.’

The king replied, ‘Grains are like Brahman, the Absolute Truth, who lives within grains and thereby sustains all beings. If a king (or head of the country) is irreligious, both he and his subjects suffer. After searching my past and present character I can honestly say that I find no sin. Still, I shall try to remedy the situation.”

King Mandhata assembled his army and entourage, paid his obeisances to me, and then entered the forest. He wandered here and there, seeking great sages in their Ashrams and inquiring about how to resolve the crisis in his kingdom. At last he came upon the ashram of one of my other sons, Angira Muni, whose effulgence lit up all directions. King Mandhata was very pleased to see that exalted sage, whose senses were completely under control.

The king immediately dismounted his horse and offered his respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of Angira Muni. Then Angira Muni asked the king why he had undertaken such a difficult journey into the forest, and the king told him of the affliction his kingdom was suffering. The king said, ‘Oh great sage, to solve this mystery, I have approached you for help.’

Angira Rishi said to the king, ‘The present age, Satya yuga, is the best of all ages, for in this age Dharma stands on all four legs (Truthfulness, Austerity, Mercy, and Cleanliness). In this age everyone respects Brahmins as the topmost members of society. Also, everyone fulfills his occupational duties, and only twice-born Brahmins are allowed to perform Vedic austerities and penances. Although this is a standard, there is one shudra (uninitiated, untrained person) who is thus unlawfully performing the rites of austerity and penance in your kingdom. This is why there is no rain in your land. You should therefore punish this labourer with death, for by so doing you will remove the contamination inflicted by his actions and restore peace to your subjects.’

The king then replied, ‘How can I kill an offenseless performer of austerity and sacrifice? Please give me some spiritual solution.’

Angira Muni then said, ‘Oh king, you should observe a fast on the Ekadashi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Ashadha. This auspicious day is named Padma Ekadashi, and by its influence plentiful rains and thus grains and other foodstuffs will surely return to your kingdom. This Ekadashi bestows perfection upon its faithful observers, removes all kinds of bad elements, and destroys all obstacles on the path to perfection.’

The king offered his obeisances and then returned to his palace. When the Padma Ekadashi arrived, King Mandhata and all his subjects strictly observed it, the rains fell, just as the sage had predicted, and in due course of time there were abundant crops and a rich harvest of grain. By the mercy of the Supreme Lord Hrishikesha, the master of the senses, all the subjects of King Mandhata became extremely happy and prosperous.

Therefore, Oh Narada, everyone should observe this Ekadashi fast very strictly, for it bestows all kinds of happiness, as well as ultimate liberation, upon the faithful devotee.’

Lord Sri Krishna concluded, “My dear Yudhishthira, Padma Ekadashi is so powerful that one who simply reads or hears its glories becomes completely sinless. Oh Pandava, one who wishes to please Me should strictly observe this Ekadashi, which is also known as Deva Shayani Ekadashi.”

“Jai Shri RadheKrishna”

Yudhishthira Maharaj said, “Oh Supreme Lord, I have heard the glories of the Nirjala Ekadashi, which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha (May – June). Now I wish to hear from You about the Shuddha Ekadashi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashadha (June – July). Kindly describe to me all about it in detail.”

Sri Krishna, then replied, “Oh king, I shall indeed tell you about the best of all fasting days, the Ekadashi that comes during the dark part of the month of Ashadha. Famous as Yogini Ekadashi, it removes all kinds of sinful reactions and awards liberation.

This Ekadashi delivers people who are drowning in the vast ocean of material existence and transports them to the shore of the spiritual world. In all the three worlds, it is the chief of all sacred fasting days. I shall now reveal this truth to you by narrating a history recounted in the Puranas.

The king of Alakapuri – Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods – was a steadfast devotee of Lord Shiva. He had a servant named Hemamali who was his gardener. Hemamali, a Yaksha like Kuvera, was lustfully attracted to his wife, Swarupavati, who had enchanting eyes.

Hemamali’s daily duty was to visit Manasarovara lake and bring flowers for his master, Kuvera, which he would use in the puja offerings to Lord Shiva. One day, after picking the flowers, Hemamali went to his wife instead of returning directly to his master. Absorbed in loving affairs with his wife, he forgot to return to the abode of Kuvera.

While Hemamali was enjoying with his wife, Kuvera had begun the worship of Lord Shiva and soon discovered that there were no flowers ready to be offered. The lack of such an important item angered Kuvera, and he asked a Yaksha messenger, ‘Why has dirty-hearted Hemamali not come with the daily offering of flowers? Go find out the exact reason.’ The Yaksha returned and told Kuvera, ‘Oh lord, Hemamali has become lost in the company of his wife.’

Kuvera became extremely angry and at once summoned Hemamali before him. Hemamali approached his master in great fear. Enraged, Kuvera cried out to Hemamali, ‘Oh you sinful rascal! I curse you to suffer from leprosy and to become separated from your beloved wife! Leave this place immediately and betake yourself to the lower planets to suffer!’

And so Hemamali fell at once from grace in Alakapuri and became ill with the terrible affliction of leprosy. He awoke in a dense and fearful forest, where there was nothing to eat or drink. Thus he passed his days in misery, unable to sleep at night due to pain. He continued to worship Lord Shiva with faith, his consciousness remained purely fixed and steady. Although implicated by great sin and its attendant reactions, he remembered his past life because of his piety.

After wandering for some time Hemamali eventually came upon the vast expanse of the Himalayan mountain ranges. There he had the good fortune to come in contact with the great saintly soul Markandeya Rishi, whose duration of life it is said, extends to seven of the days of Brahma.

Markandeya Rishi was seated peacefully at his ashrama. Hemamali, feeling very sinful, stood at a distance and offered his humble obeisances. Markandeya Rishi saw the leper and called him near, ‘What sort of sinful deeds have you done to earn this dreadful affliction?’ Hearing this, Hemamali painfully replied, ‘I am a Yaksha servant of lord Kuvera, and my name is Hemamali. It was my daily service to pick the flowers from the Manasarovara lake for my master’s worship of lord Shiva, but one day I was negligent and was late in returning with the offering because I had become overwhelmed with passion for my wife. When my master discovered this, he cursed me in great anger to be as I am before you. But fortunately I have come upon you, and now I hope to receive from you an auspicious benediction, for I know that devotees such as you are as merciful as the Supreme Lord. Oh best of sages, please help me!’

Softhearted Markandeya Rishi replied, ‘Because you have told me the truth, I shall tell you about a fast day that will benefit you greatly. If you fast on the Ekadashi that comes during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashadha, you will surely be freed of this terrible curse.’

Hemamali fell to the ground in complete gratitude and offered him his humble obeisances. As the sage had instructed him, Hemamali dutifully observed the Ekadashi fast, and by its influence he again became a handsome Yaksha. Then he returned home, where he lived happily with his wife.”

Lord Sri Krishna concluded, “So, you can readily see, Oh Yudhishthira that fasting on Yogini Ekadashi is very powerful and auspicious. Whatever merit one obtains by feeding eighty-eight thousand brahmanas is also obtained simply by observing a strict fast on Yogini Ekadashi. For one who fasts on this sacred Ekadashi, she (Ekadashi Devi), destroys heaps of past sinful reactions and makes him most pious.”

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Ashadha-krishna Ekadashi, or Yogini Ekadashi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.

“Jai Shri RadheKrishna”