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Ahja Ekadashi - Vrat Katha
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Falls on: Bhadrapadh krishna paksh
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Yudhisthir asked the protector of all living entities
Yudhisthir said, �Hai Janardan, please tell me the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during krishna paksh of Bhadrapadh�.
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Purna Prushotam revealed Sin-removing Vrat
Purna Prushotam Bhagwan Shri Krishna said, �Rajan, hear me attentively. The name of this
sin-removing, sacred Ekadashi is Ahja. Any person, who fasts completely on this day and
worships Bhagwan Hrishikesh, the master of the senses, becomes free of all reactions to his
sins. Even one who simply hears about this Ekadashi is freed of his past sins. Rajan, there
is no better day than this in all the earthly and heavenly worlds. This is true without a
doubt."
Shri Krishna narrates Harishchandra�s story
�There once lived a famous king named Harishchandra, who was the emperor of the world, a person
of great truth and integrity. His wife's name was Chandramati, and he had a son named Rohit.
By the force of destiny, Harishchandra lost his great kingdom and sold his wife and son.
The pious king himself became a menial servant of a dogeater, who made him guard a crematorium.
Yet even while doing such menial service, he did not forsake his truthfulness and good character, just as soma-ras, even when mixed with some other liquid, does not lose its ability to bestow immortality.
The king passed many years in this condition. Then one day he sadly thought, what shall I do? Where should I go? Can I be liberated from this plight? In this way, he drowned in an ocean of anxiety and sorrow."
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Encounter with Rishi
One day a great Rishi passed by, and when the king saw him, he happily thought, Brahma has created Brahmins just to help others.
Harishchandra paid his respectful obeisances to the Rishi, whose name was Gautam Muni.
With joined palms, the king stood before Gautam and narrated his pitiful story.
Gautam Muni was astonished to hear the king's tale of woe. He thought how this mighty king
has been reduced to collecting clothes from the dead! Gautam became very compassionate toward
Harishchandra and instructed him on the process of fasting for purification.
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Solution to King Harischandra plight
Gautam Muni said, �Rajan, during krishna paksh of Bhadrapadh there occurs an especially
meritorious Ekadashi named Ahja, which removes all sins. Indeed, this Ekadashi is so
auspicious that if you simply fast on that day and perform no other austerity, all your
sins will be nullified. By your good fortune, it is coming in just seven days. Therefore,
I urge you to fast on this day and remain awake through the night. If you do so, all the
reactions of your past sins will end. Harishchandra, I have come here because of your past
pious deeds. From now in the future you will have all good fortune.� Saying this the great
sage Gautam immediately disappeared. King Harishchandra followed Gautam's instructions
concerning fasting on the sacred day of Ahja Ekadashi.
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Glory of Ekadashi
�Yudhisthir, because the king fasted on Ahja Ekadashi day, the reactions to his sins were
destroyed at once. Rajan, just see the influence of this Ekadashi fast! It immediately
destroys whatever miseries one may be suffering because of past sinful activities. Thus,
all Harishchandra's miseries were relieved. Just by the power of this wonderful Ekadashi, he
was reunited with his wife, and son, who had died but were now revived. In heaven the Devtas
began beating their celestial kettledrums and showering down flowers upon Harishchandra, his
queen, and his son. By the blessings of the Ekadashi fast, he regained his kingdom without
difficulty. Moreover, when King Harishchandra left this planet, his relatives and all his
subjects went with him to the spiritual world.
"Hai Pandav, whoever fasts on Ahja Ekadashi is surely freed from all his sins and ascends to
the spiritual world. And whoever hears and studies the glories of this Ekadashi achieves the
merit gained by performing an Ashwayah-mavah-yagiya."
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