Shatila Ekadashi fasting story

Shatila Ekadashi Vrat Mahatmya:-

At one time the Dalabhya sage asked Pulastya Rishi that O Maharaj, in the earth world, human beings commit great sins like Brahma hatya, stealing foreign wealth and seeing the progress of others, they are jealous. At the same time, they are trapped in many kinds of addictions, yet they do not get to hell, what is the reason for this?

They do not know what charity they do, by which their sins are destroyed. You say all this kindly. Pulastya Muni started saying that Oh great! You have asked me a very serious question. This will greatly benefit the creatures of the world. Even Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, and Indra, etc. do not know this secret, but I will definitely tell you this secret element.

He said that as soon as the month of Magh begins, one should remain pure by taking bath, etc. By subduing the senses, one should remember God by giving up lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego, jealousy, and malice, etc. In Pushya Nakshatra, mix cow dung, cotton, and sesame seeds and make their cakes(Kanda/Upla). Havan should be done 108 times with those cakes(Kanda/Upla).

If there is Mool Nakshatra on that day and Ekadashi date, then follow the rules that give good virtues. After retiring from regular bathing rituals, worship the God of all gods, Shri Bhagwan, and observe Ekadashi fast. The awakening should be done at night.

On the second day, after worshiping God with incense-lamp, naivedya, etc., offer Khichdi. After that, offering arghya to Petha, coconut, cilantro, or betel nut should be praised-

Oh, God! You are the giver of refuge to the poor, the savior of those trapped in the ocean of this world. O Pundarikaksha! Oh, world! O Subrahmanya! O, ancestor! O Jagapte! You along with Lakshmi ji should accept this insignificant Arghya.

After this, donate Kumbh (pot) filled with water to the Brahmin and it is also best to give Shyama cow and sesame pot to the Brahmin. Sesame bath and food both are excellent. In this way, the number of sesame seeds that a person donates, he lives in heaven for a thousand years.

1. Sesame bath, 2. Sesame paste, 3. Sesame havan, 4. Sesame tarpan, 5 sesame food and 6. Sesame donation – These are the 6 types of sesame seeds. Due to their use, it is called Shatila Ekadashi. Many types of sins are destroyed by observing this fast. After saying this, Rishi Pulastya started saying that now I tell you the story of this Ekadashi.

Shatila Ekadashi fasting story:-

At one time Naradji had asked the same question to Lord Shri Vishnu and the greatness of Shatila Ekadashi which God said to Naradji- So I tell you. God told Naradji that O Narada! I tell you the true incident. Listen carefully.

In ancient times there lived a Brahmin in the world of death. She used to fast all the time. At one time she kept fasting for a month. Due to this, his body became very weak. Although she was very intelligent, she never donated food or money to the gods or Brahmins. With this I thought that Brahmini has purified her body by fasting etc., now she will get Vishnulok but she never donated food, it is difficult to satisfy her.

God further said- Thinking like this, I went to that Brahmin in the guise of a beggar and asked for alms from him. That Brahmin said - Why have you come, Maharaj? I said - I want alms. On this, he put an earthen lump in my begging bowl. I took him back to heaven. After some time Brahmin also renounced the body and came to heaven. By donating soil to that Brahmin, he got a beautiful palace in heaven, but he found his house empty of all material things.

Terrified, she came to me and started saying that Lord, I worshiped you with many fasts, etc. But still, my house is empty of all things. What is the reason for this? On this I said- first you go to your home. The gods will come to see you. First, listen to them the virtue and method of Shatila Ekadashi, then open the door. Hearing my words, she went to her house. When the gods came and asked to open the door, the Brahmin said – If you have come to see me, then tell me the importance of Shatila Ekadashi.

One of the gods started saying what I say. When the Brahmin heard the greatness of Shatila Ekadashi, the door opened. The gods saw her that she was neither a Gandharva nor a demoniac, but a human as before. That Brahmin observed the fast of Shatila Ekadashi according to his statement. Due to this effect, she became beautiful and beautiful and her house became full of all the materials.

Therefore, people should give up their stupidity and fast on Shatila Ekadashi and don't get greedy and donate Til etc. It removes misfortune, poverty, and many kinds of suffering and attains salvation.