Nirjala Ekadashi

Importance of Nirjala Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month

Yudhishthir asked Shri Krishna - Which Ekadashi is observed in the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month? What is its importance and describe it?

Shri Krishna ji said- Rajan! This will be described by the most virtuous Satyavati Nandan Vyas ji, Because he is a philosopher of complete scriptures and an expert scholar of Vedas.

Then Ved Vyas ji started saying – Do not eat food on Ekadashi of both the sides (Krishna paksh and Shukla paksh). On Dwadashi, become pure by taking bath etc., worship Lord Keshav with flowers and after completing the daily rituals, first give food to the Brahmins and finally eat yourself. Rajan! One should not eat food on Ekadashi even during Janana-saucha (the time during child birth) and Marana-saucha (time when there is a death in the family).

Hearing this, Bhimsen said – Most intelligent Grandfather! Listen to my best. King Yudhishthir, Mother Kunti, Draupadi, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahadev - they never eat food on Ekadashi and always say to me too, 'Bhimsen! You too should not eat on Ekadashi. But I tell these people that I can not fast because I can not resist my hunger. After listening to Bhimsen, Vyas ji said - If you wish to attain heaven and consider hell as impure, then do not eat food on Ekadashi of both the pakshas.

Bhimsen said- Great wise Grandfather! I tell you the truth, I cannot do the fast even after eating once. Then how can I continue fasting? The fire called Vrik always burns in my stomach; So it calms down only when I eat a lot. That's why Mahamune! I can fast only once in a year; Please decide on one such fast which will make attaining heaven easy and by observing which I can be a partaker of welfare. I will follow it properly.

Vyas ji said- Bhim! In the month of Jyeshtha, whether the Sun is in Taurus or Gemini; On the Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha, observe fast without water. You can put water in the mouth only for gargling or auchamna, except that, a learned man should not put any other kind of water in the mouth, otherwise the fast gets broken. If a person abstains from water from sunrise on Ekadashi till sunrise on the next day, then this fast is completed. After that, on Dwadashi, take bath in the clear morning and donate water and gold to the Brahmins in a ritual manner. After completing all the work in this way, Jitendriya men should eat with the Brahmins. There is no doubt that a person gets the results of all the Ekadashi that happen throughout the year by doing Nirjala Ekadashi. Lord Keshav, who holds the conch, disc and mace, had told me that if a human being leaves everything and comes to Me alone and remains fasting on Ekadashi, then he is freed from all sins.

A person observing Ekadashi fast is not visited by the fierce Yamdoots of huge, monstrous shape and black complexion, wielding a stick and a noose. At the end of time, the messenger of Vishnu, having yellow clothes, having a gentle nature, holding Sudarshan in his hand and having the speed of mind, comes and takes this Vaishnav man to the abode of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, one should fast on Nirjala Ekadashi with full effort. You too should fast and worship Shri Hari diligently for the atonement of all sins. Be it a man or a woman, if he has committed a sin as great as that of Mount Meru, then all of it gets burnt to ashes due to the effect of Ekadashi. It has been heard that he gets the result of donating millions of gold coins in one hour. Whatever a person does like bathing, charity, chanting, home etc. on the day of Nirjala Ekadashi is inexhaustible, those who fast and donate on Ekadashi in the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha will attain the supreme position. Those who fast on Ekadashi become free from all sins even if they are murderers, drunkards, thieves or traitors to their Guru. Kunti Nandan! On the day of Nirjala Ekadashi, listen to the special donations and duties prescribed for devout men and women - on that day, one should worship Lord Vishnu who sleeps in water and donate a cow along with its calf Or directly donate the cow along with Dhenu or ghee.

Adequate Dakshina and variety of sweets should be given with all efforts to satisfy the Brahmins. By doing this the Brahmins are definitely satisfied and when they are satisfied, Shri Hari grants salvation. Those who have observed the fast of this Nirjala Ekadashi by donating, worshiping Lord Hari, manifesting themselves in Dakshina and keeping awakening at night, have taken along with themselves the hundred generations past and the future generations to the supreme abode of Lord Vasudev. On the day of Nirjala Ekadashi, food, clothes, cow, water, bed, beautiful seat, kamandalu and umbrella should be donated. One who donates shoes to a noble and worthy Brahmin, gets established in heaven by sitting on a golden plane. Bhimsen! Nirjala (without water) fast should be observed on the auspicious Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Jyeshtha and on that day, pitchers of water with sugar should be donated to the real Brahmins. By doing this, man gets close to Lord Vishnu and experiences joy. After that, after serving food to the Brahmins on Dwadashi, eat the food yourself. One who observes the fast of Ekadashi which destroys sins, becomes free from all sins and attains Anamaya Pada. Hearing this, Bhimsen also started fasting on this auspicious Ekadashi. Since then, this Ekadashi became famous by the name of Pandava Dwadash Ekadashi.

Verified from Purana……….

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