Shattila Ekadashi

Which name's Ekadashi occurs in the Krishna Paksha of Magh month? Which deity is worshiped in this? What is the method of fasting? What result is obtained by observing this fast?

Yudhishthira asked, "Jagannath! Shri Krishna! Adideva! Jagatpate! Which Ekadashi falls in the Krishna Paksha of Magha month and what is its significance? Great sage- "please kindly tell me all about it." Lord Sri Krishna replied, " Noble king, listen ! The Ekadashi that occurs in the Krishna Paksha of Magha month is known as 'Shattila' and is renowned for destroying all sins. Now ,I will narrate the story of 'Shattila,' which was told by the great sage Pulastya to Dalbhya."Dalbhya asked, "Oh Brahman! Beings in the mortal world often engage in sinful deeds. Please enlighten me about the means to avoid going to hell due to those sins."

Worship method :

Pulastya replied, "Listen ! You have asked a very good question and I shall now narrate it to you. When the month of Magha arrives a person should take a bath and purify oneself keeping the senses under control and renouncing all evils like desire, anger, ego, greed, and gossip. Then, remembering the Supreme God, Lord Vishnu, one should collect cow dung from the ground. After excluding sesame seeds and cotton from it, make one hundred and eight balls (pindikas) of cow dung. When the Ekadashi of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in Magha, under the Ardra or Mool Nakshatra comes, observe the fast with due adherence (fulfilment) to the rules. After taking a holy bath and purifying oneself, worship Lord Vishnu with a pure heart. If there is any mistake, chant the name of Lord Krishna. During the night, perform the vigil and offer worship. Perform the puja and archna (ritual offering) of Lord Hari, who holds the conch, discus, and mace, with sandalwood, camphor, coconut, and other ingredients. Then, continuously chanting the name of Lord Krishna, offer arghya (a respectful offering of water) in a vessel made of clay, coconut, or bilva fruit, following the prescribed method. If other ingredients are not available, the puja and arghya can be offered with one hundred betel nuts .The Arghya Mantra is as follows:

"Krishna Krishna Kripalustvamagatīnāṁ gatirbhava।

Sansārārṇavamagnānāṁ prasīda puruṣottama॥

Namaste puṇḍarīkākṣha namaste viśvabhāvana।

Subrahmaṇya namaste'stu mahāpuruṣa pūrvaja॥

Gṛhāṇārghyaṁ mayā dattaṁ lakṣmyā saha jagatpate।"

"O Lord Shri Krishna, the embodiment of truth, consciousness and bliss. You are the most compassionate. You are the refuge for us who are helpless beings. Oh Purushottam (Supreme Person) ! We are drowning in the ocean of the worldly existence please be merciful to us. Oh lotus-eyed one ! I offer my salutations to you the universal creator and to Subrahmanya, the great person and the ancestor of all.

O Jagatpate (Lord of the Universe) ! Please accept the arghya (offering) I give along with Goddess Lakshmi. Then perform the worship of a Brahmin, offering a water-filled vessel to him, along with an umbrella, shoes, and clothing. While giving the donation, say, "May Lord Shri Krishna be pleased with this offering." According to your ability, offer a black cow as a gift to an excellent Brahmin and to a learned person give a vessel filled with sesame seeds, as those sesame seeds, when sown, can yield as many branches as there are in heaven for thousands of years. Bathe with sesame seeds, apply sesame seed paste, offer oblations with sesame seeds, drink water mixed with sesame seeds, give sesame seeds as a donation, and use sesame seeds in your food. By utilizing sesame seeds in these six ways, this Ekadashi is called 'Shattila,' which can destroy all sins.

Verified from Puran…………

Writer:- Ruchi Tewari