Today 21 December is an Ekadashi. This is special because today is Mokshada Ekadashi. This is supposed to be the day when Krishna told Arjuna about Bhagwada Gita. As per Brahmanda Purana, Yudhistira was told by Krishna, about the greatness of this day.
Krishna is worshiped this day. All Vaishnava temples will have a big rush, with devotees queing up to get a glimpse of the Lord.
This is what Krishna told Yudhistira.
In the city of Champaka Nagara, Vaikhaanasa, ruled over his subjects as if they were his very own children. The brahmins in that capital city were all expert in Vedic knowledge. The king dreamt one night that his dead father was suffering in hell. He asked the brahmins what this meant.
The brahmins told the king to seek the guidance of the saint Parvata who would be able to correctly interpret the dream.
The distressed king immediately went there. The king offered his humble obeisances to the sage, bowing his head and then prostrating his entire body before him. He then told the sage about the dream.
The sage said - Your father is suffering the results of committing a great sin, and I have discovered what it is. In his previous life he quarrelled with his wife and forcibly enjoyed her sexually during her menstrual period. She tried to protest and resist his advances and even yelled out, but he did not stop or leave her alone. It is on account of this grievous sin that your father now has fallen into such a hellish condition of suffering.
The king then said, how can I liberate my father?
The sage said - During the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha (Magha, December) there occurs an Ekadasi called Mokshadaa. If you observe this sacred Ekadasi strictly, with a full fast, and give directly to your suffering father the merit you thus attain/obtain, he will be freed from his pain and instantly liberated.
The king returned to his palace to perform his rite.In the month of Margashirsha , the king faithfully waited for the Ekadasi tithi to arrive, and then perfectly and with full faith observed the Ekadasi fast with his wife, children, and other relatives.
He dutifully gave the merit from this fast to his father, and as he made the offering, beautiful flower petals showered down from the Gods .
The king's father was then praised by the messengers of the Gods and escorted to the celestial region.
As he passed his son, as he traversed the lower to middle to higher planets, the father said to the king - All auspiciousness unto you. Saying this , he reached the heavens.
Krishna thus concluding, told Yudhistira that who ever strictly observes the sacred Mokshadaa Ekadasi, following the established rules and regulations, achieves full and perfect liberation after death.
There is no better fasting day than this Ekadasi of the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha,
Whoever faithfully observes this Ekadasi fast, obtains special merit.
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While this is not a common practice in North India, here in the south today, all temples have a big line.
Krishna is worshiped this day. All Vaishnava temples will have a big rush, with devotees queing up to get a glimpse of the Lord.
This is what Krishna told Yudhistira.
In the city of Champaka Nagara, Vaikhaanasa, ruled over his subjects as if they were his very own children. The brahmins in that capital city were all expert in Vedic knowledge. The king dreamt one night that his dead father was suffering in hell. He asked the brahmins what this meant.
The brahmins told the king to seek the guidance of the saint Parvata who would be able to correctly interpret the dream.
The distressed king immediately went there. The king offered his humble obeisances to the sage, bowing his head and then prostrating his entire body before him. He then told the sage about the dream.
The sage said - Your father is suffering the results of committing a great sin, and I have discovered what it is. In his previous life he quarrelled with his wife and forcibly enjoyed her sexually during her menstrual period. She tried to protest and resist his advances and even yelled out, but he did not stop or leave her alone. It is on account of this grievous sin that your father now has fallen into such a hellish condition of suffering.
The king then said, how can I liberate my father?
The sage said - During the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha (Magha, December) there occurs an Ekadasi called Mokshadaa. If you observe this sacred Ekadasi strictly, with a full fast, and give directly to your suffering father the merit you thus attain/obtain, he will be freed from his pain and instantly liberated.
The king returned to his palace to perform his rite.In the month of Margashirsha , the king faithfully waited for the Ekadasi tithi to arrive, and then perfectly and with full faith observed the Ekadasi fast with his wife, children, and other relatives.
He dutifully gave the merit from this fast to his father, and as he made the offering, beautiful flower petals showered down from the Gods .
The king's father was then praised by the messengers of the Gods and escorted to the celestial region.
As he passed his son, as he traversed the lower to middle to higher planets, the father said to the king - All auspiciousness unto you. Saying this , he reached the heavens.
Krishna thus concluding, told Yudhistira that who ever strictly observes the sacred Mokshadaa Ekadasi, following the established rules and regulations, achieves full and perfect liberation after death.
There is no better fasting day than this Ekadasi of the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha,
Whoever faithfully observes this Ekadasi fast, obtains special merit.
==========
While this is not a common practice in North India, here in the south today, all temples have a big line.
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