The Glories of UTPANNA EKADASI
Oh Arjuna, in the beginning of winter (northern hemisphere), on the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight (waning phase) of the month of Margashirsha (November–December), a novice should begin his practice of observing a fast on Ekadasi.
The next morning the devotee should make a vow to observe fasting.
At midday he should bathe properly in a river, lake, or small pond. If neither a river, lake, nor pond is accessible, he may bathe with well-water.
The devotee should chant this prayer containing the names of Mother Earth:
Oh Asvakrante! Oh Rathakrante! Oh Vishnukrante! Oh Vasundhare!
Oh Mrttik! Oh Mother Earth!
Kindly remove all the negative reactions and karma I have accumulated throughout my many past lives so that I may enter the sacred abode of Lord Vishnu (God in His Preserver form).
During the fast day, the devotee should be very careful with his energy — with what he thinks, shares, eats, drinks, and expresses.
Those who are serious about devotional service should consider the Ekadasis that occur during waning fortnights to be as good as those that occur during waxing fortnights. Oh king, one should never discriminate between these two kinds of Ekadasi.
Be sure that giving charity to those in need is the best of all acts, and there never has been nor ever will be a better charity than this.
Oh son of Kunti, all the forefathers and angels in heaven become very satisfied when one gives food grains in charity. But the merit one obtains by observing a complete fast on Ekadasi cannot be measured.
Oh Arjuna, best of men, the powerful effect of this merit is inconceivable even to the angels — and half this merit is attained by one who eats only supper on Ekadashi.
One should therefore observe fasting on Lord Hari’s day, either by eating only once at midday (abstaining from grains and beans) or by fasting completely.
The processes of staying in places of pilgrimage, giving charity, and performing fire sacrifices may boast only as long as Ekadashi has not arrived. Therefore, anyone afraid of the miseries of material existence should observe Ekadasi.
On Ekadasi one should not drink water from a conch shell, kill living entities such as fish or pigs, or eat any grains or beans.
Arjuna then asked:
Oh Lord, according to You, a thousand Vedic sacrifices do not equal even one Ekadasi fast. How can this be? How has Ekadasi become the most meritorious of all days?
Lord Sri Krishna replied:
I will tell you why Ekadasi is the most purifying of all days.
In the Satya-Yuga, the Golden Age, there once lived a fearsome demon called Mura. Always angry, he terrified all the angels, defeating even Indra, the king of heaven; Vivasvan, the sun-god; the eight Vasus; Lord Brahma; Vayu, the wind-god; and Agni, the fire-god.
With his terrible power, he brought them all under his control.
Lord Indra then approached Lord Shiva and said:
We have all fallen from our planets and are now wandering helplessly on the earth.
Oh lord, how can we find relief from this affliction? What will be the fate of us demigods?
Lord Shiva replied:
Oh best of the angels, go to that place where Lord Vishnu, the rider of Garuda, resides. He is Jagannatha, the master of all universes and their shelter as well. He is devoted to protecting all souls surrendered to Him.
Lord Krishna continued:
Oh Arjuna, winner of wealth, after Lord Indra heard these words of Lord Shiva, he proceeded with all the angels to the place where Lord Jagannatha, the protector of all souls, was resting.
Seeing the Lord sleeping upon the water, the angels joined their palms and, led by Indra, recited the following prayers:
Oh Supreme Personality of Godhead, all obeisances to You.
Oh Lord of lords, praised by the foremost angels, enemy of all demons, lotus-eyed
Lord, Madhusudana (killer of the Madhu demon), please protect us.
Afraid of the demon Mura, we angels have come to take shelter of You.
Oh Jagannatha, You are the doer of everything and the creator of everything. You are the mother and father of all universes.
You are the creator (Brahma), the maintainer (Vishnu), and the destroyer (Shiva) of all.
You are the supreme helper of all the angels, and You alone can bring peace
to them.
You are the earth, the sky, and the universal benefactor.
You are Shiva, Brahma, and also Vishnu, the maintainer of the three worlds.
You are the gods of the sun, moon, and fire.
You are the clarified butter, the oblation, the sacred fire, the mantras, the rituals, the priests, and the silent chanting of japa.
You are the sacrifice itself, its sponsor, and the enjoyer of its results.
Nothing within these three worlds, whether movable or immovable, can exist independent of You.
Oh Supreme Lord, protector of those who take shelter of You, please rescue and protect us.
Lord Krishna continued:
Having heard Indra and the other angels speak these words, Sri Vishnu replied:
What demon possesses such great power that he has been able to defeat all the angels?
What is his name, and where does he live?
Where does he get his strength and shelter?Tell Me everything, oh Indra, and do not fear.
Indra replied:
Oh Lord of lords, there was once a powerful demon of the Brahma dynasty named Nadijangha.
His son, Mura, is even more fearsome.
Mura’s capital city is Chandravati, and from there he has conquered the world and driven us all from heaven.
Please, Lord Vishnu, kill this demon and make the angels victorious again.
Hearing these words, Lord Janardana became very angry and said:
Oh powerful angels, all together you may now advance on Mura’s capital city of Chandravati.
Encouraged thus, the assembled angels proceeded to Chandravati with Lord Hari leading the way.
When Mura saw them, he roared loudly, surrounded by countless demons with shining weapons. The mighty-armed demons attacked the angels, who fled in all directions.
Seeing the Supreme Lord Hrisikesha present on the battlefield, the furious demons rushed toward Him with weapons in hand. The Lord pierced their limbs with His sharp arrows, and many hundreds of demons died by His hand.
At last, the chief demon Mura fought directly with the Lord. Mura used his mystic power to neutralize the Lord’s weapons. They felt to him like flowers.
After fighting with weapons for a thousand celestial years, the Lord, apparently fatigued, withdrew to Badarikashrama. There He entered a beautiful cave named Himavati to rest.
The demon followed and saw the Lord asleep. Thinking, “Today I will kill this slayer of demons,” he prepared to strike.
But from the Lord’s body manifested a radiant young girl, armed with celestial weapons. She challenged Mura to battle and fought him fiercely.
Astonished by her power, the demon said:
Who has created this angry, fearsome girl who fights me so powerfully, like a thunderbolt?
The goddess shattered his weapons and cut off his head. Mura fell dead, and the remaining demons fled underground.
When the Lord awoke and saw the maiden bowing before Him, He asked:
Who has killed this vicious demon? He even defeated Me and made Me hide in this cave. Who has so mercifully protected Me?
The maiden said:
It is I who have killed this demon, appearing from Your transcendental body. I am Your great internal potency, who strikes fear into the hearts of Your enemies. I have slain him to protect the three worlds.
Shri Vishnu said:
Oh pure one, I am pleased with you. Because you have brought joy to all the angels, ask any boon you desire.
The maiden said:
Oh Lord, grant that those who fast on this day will be freed from their greatest karma
May half the merit of one who fasts accrue to one who eats only at night, and half of that to one who eats only at midday.
May those who strictly fast on my appearance day go to Your abode after enjoying all kinds of pleasures in this world.
Krishna said:
Oh most auspicious lady, what you have requested is granted.
Because you have appeared on the eleventh day of the waning moon, your name will be Ekadashi.
Whoever fasts on Ekadasi will have all karma burned away and attain My transcendental abode.
From that time onward, the Ekadasi day became most meritorious and famous throughout the universe.
Oh Arjuna, if a person strictly observes Ekadasi, I destroy all his enemies and grant him the highest destination.
Indeed, Ekadasi removes all karma eternally and bestows perfection upon all who observe it.
One should not discriminate between the Ekadasis of the waxing and waning moons, for both are equally sacred.
Whoever completely fasts on Ekadasi will achieve the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu, who rides upon Garuda.
On Dvadasi, the day after Ekadasi, one should pray:
Oh Pundarikaksha, Oh lotus-eyed Lord, now I will eat. Please shelter me.
Then the devotee should offer flowers and water to the Lord’s feet, inviting Him to eat by chanting three times:
om namo nārāyaṇāya
If the devotee wishes to gain the fruit of his fast, he should drink water from the vessel offered to the Lord.
On Dvadasi one must avoid sleeping during the day, eating in another’s home, overeating, sexual relations, eating from bell-metal plates, eating urad dhal, or rubbing oil on one’s body.
From noon on Ekadashi until dawn on Dvadasi, one should engage in bathing, worshipping the Lord, and acts of charity and devotion.
A devotee who hears the glories of Ekadashi with faith will be elevated to the Lord’s planet and freed from all sin.
For all eternity there will be no better way of worshiping Lord Vishnu than observing a fast on Ekadasi.
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Margashirsha-Krishna Ekadasi, or Utpanna Ekadasi, from the Bhavishya-Uttara Purana.