Yogini Ekadashi // योगिनी एकादशी

Yogini Ekadashi // योगिनी एकादशी
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Jeshtha Krishna Ekadashi
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Yogini Ekadashi Fast Story
There ruled a king named Kuber, in the city called Alkapuri. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He used flowers in the Puja. Hema Mali used to bring flowers for the Puja. Hemamali had a beautiful wife named Visalakshi. Once, after bringing flowers from Mansarovar, he did not go for Puja and started spending time with his wife. King Kuber kept waiting for him till noon time.
Then, he ordered his servants, “Go and find Hema Mali. Why haven’t he brought the flowers up till now.” When servants returned back, they said, “Hey king, he is busy rejoicing with his wife.” Hearing this, king called Hema Mali. Now, Hema Mali got scared and trembled before the King.
King said, “By not bringing the flowers on time, you have insulted Lord Shiva. I curse you, that you will suffer the separation of your wife. And, you will have leprosy in the Mrityu Lok (earth).” By the curse, he immediately fell on earth from heaven and became a leper. He got separated from his wife. He suffered many problems in Mirtyu Lok.
By the grace of Lord, his mind did not forget the works of his last birth and he started moving towards the Himalayas. He met a Rishi on his way. Rishi had great powers. At that moment, the Rishi appeared like an ordinary Brahman. Hemamali reached to him and fell in his feet.
Rishi asked “What wrong did you do, that you have such a condition today.” Hemamali told the whole story to the Rishi. So, the Rishi said “You have spoken truth infront of me. I will help you to get salvation from this state of yours. Observe the fast of Ekadashi, called the Yogini Ekadashi.
You will get rid of all your sins.”
Now, Hema Mali became happy and observed the fast of Yogini Ekadasi in a systematic manner.
As a result, he got back to his original form and started living happily with his wife.
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The fruit of hearing Yogini Vrat Katha is equal to, offering food to 88000 Brahmans. Observing this fast removes all sorts of sins.
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HSVJ

Apara Ekadashi // अपरा (अचला) एकादशी

Apara Ekadashi // अपरा (अचला) एकादशी
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Ekadashi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Jyestha.
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Once Yudhishthira Maharaja said, 'Oh Lord Krishna, Oh Vasudeva, please accept my humble obeisance's. Please describe to me the Ekadashi that occurs during krishna paksha of the month of Jyeshtha (May-June). Please narrate to me everything like its name, importance etc. about this Ekadashi.

Lord Sri Krishna said, "Oh great king ! the name of this meritorious Ekadashi is Apara Ekadashi. Whoever fasts on this holy day becomes famous all over the universe. Even such sins as killing a brahman, a cow, or an embryo, blasphemy, or having sex with another man’s wife are completely eradicated by observing Apara Ekadashi. People who bear false witness, a person who falsely or sarcastically glorifies another, one who cheats while weighing something on a scale, one who invents his own scripture, one who cheats others, one who is a false astrologer, a cheating accountant, or a false Ayurvedic doctor. All these are surely as bad as persons who bears false witness, and they are all destined for hellish punishments. But simply by observing Apara Ekadashi, all such sinners become completely free of their sinful reactions. Warriors who fall from their kshatriya-dharma and flee the battlefield go to a ferocious hell. Even such a fallen kshatriya, if he observes fasting on the Apara Ekadashi, is freed of that great sinful reaction and goes to heaven. That disciple is the greatest sinner who, after receiving a proper spiritual education from his spiritual master, turns around and blasphemes him. Such a so-called disciple suffers unlimitedly. But even he simply observes Apara Ekadashi, can attain to the spiritual world.
The merit attained by one who performs all of the following acts of piety is equal to the merit achieved by one who observes Apara Ekadashi: bathing three times daily in Pushkara-kshetra during Kartika,bathing at the time of a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra, bathing at Prayag in the month of Magh when the sun is in the zodiac of Capricorn; rendering service to Lord Shiva during Shivratri, offering oblations to one’s forefathers , bathing in the sacred Gomti River when Jupiter transits Leo (Singha); and and giving cows, elephants, and gold in charity. All the merit one gets from performing these pious acts is gained by a person who observes the Apara Ekadashi fast. Also, the merit attained by one who donates a pregnant cow, along with gold and fertile land, is attained by one who fasts on this day. This Ekadashi is an axe that cuts down the fully matured forest full of trees of sinful deeds, it is a forest fire that burns sins as if they were kindling firewood, it is the sun blazing before one’s dark misdeeds. Therefore one who faithfully observes the Apara Ekadashi and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Trivikrama. One who does so is freed of all his sins and promoted to the abode of Lord Vishnu.

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HSVJ