Jaya Ekadashi fasting story

 Significance of Jaya Ekadashi:

Dharmaraja Yudhishthira said: O Lord! You have narrated a very beautiful description of Shatila Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Magha. You are the creator, nurturer and destroyer of all the four types of living beings, Swadej, Andaja, Udbhija and Jarayuj. Now please tell me about Magh Shukla Ekadashi also. What is the name of this Ekadashi and what is the law for its fast? What is its method? What is the result of observing this fast? And which deity is worshiped in it? Please say all this lawfully.

Shri Krishna started saying that O king! The Ekadashi that falls on Magh Shukla Ekadashi is known as Jaya Ekadashi. By observing this fast, a person attains salvation by getting rid of the sins of killing Brahma and due to its effect one becomes free from the evils of ghosts, demons etc. This fast should be done properly. Now let me tell you a story of its glory as described in the Padma Purana.

Jaya Ekadashi fasting story

Devraj Indra used to rule in heaven and all other gods lived happily in heaven. At one time Indra was staying with Apsaras in Nandan forest and Gandharva was singing as per his wish. The famous Pushpadanta and his daughters Pushpavati and Chitrasen and his wife Malini were also present among those Gandharvas. Also Malini's son Pushpawan and his son Malyavan were also present.

Pushpavati Gandharva girl was fascinated by seeing Mallyavan and started shooting arrows at Mallyavan. He subdued the wealthy by his grace and gesture. O king! That Pushpavati was very beautiful. Now they started singing to please Indra, but due to mutual fascination, their mind was confused.

Indra understood their love for not singing them properly and the vocal rhythm was not correct and he cursed them considering it as an insult. Indra said, O fools! You have disobeyed my orders, so damn you. Now both of you go to the world of death in the form of men and women and assume the form of a demon and enjoy the fruits of your actions.

Hearing such a curse from Indra, he became very sad and started living his life sadly on the Himalayan mountain. He had no knowledge of smell, taste, touch etc. There they were experiencing great sorrow. He could not sleep even for a moment.

It was very cold at that place, due to which his hair kept standing and the teeth of cold kept ringing. One day the vampire told his wife that what were the sins we had committed in the previous life, due to which we got this painful vampire vagina. It is better to bear the sorrows of hell than this vampire vagina. Therefore, we should not commit any kind of sin now. Thinking like this he was spending his days.

Due to divine yoga, in the month of Magha, there came an Ekadashi named Jaya of Shukla Paksha. He did not eat anything that day, and did good deeds. He spent the day eating only fruits and flowers and in the evening sat under a peepal tree in a sad state. At that time the sun god was setting. It was very cold that night, due to which both of them were very sad due to cold and clinging to each other like dead. He could not even sleep that night.

On the second day of Jaya Ekadashi fasting and night awakening, he got rid of his vampire vagina. Wearing the body of a very beautiful Gandharva and Apsara, adorned with beautiful ornaments, he left for heaven. At that time the gods started showering flowers in the sky praising him. Going to heaven, both of them bowed to Devraj Indra. Devraj Indra was very surprised to see them in the first form and started asking how did you get rid of this vampire vagina, so tell us all this.

Malyavan said, O Devendra! Due to the grace of Lord Vishnu and the effect of fasting on Jaya Ekadashi, our demon body has been released. Then Indra said that O rich man! By the grace of God and fasting on Ekadashi, not only did you get rid of your vampire vagina, but we also became worshipable because the devotees of Vishnu and Shiva are worshiped by us, so you are blessed. Now go and visit with Pushpavati.

Shri Krishna started saying that O king Yudhishthira! By fasting on this Jaya Ekadashi, one gets freedom from even the worst of the bad vaginas. The person who has fasted on Jaya Ekadashi, it is as if he has done all the sacrifices, chanting, charity etc. Those who observe a fast on Jaya Ekadashi, they surely reside in heaven for a thousand years.