Vijaya Ekadashi fasting story

  Significance of Vijaya Ekadashi:

Dharmaraja Yudhishthira said: O Janardana! You have narrated very beautiful description of Jaya Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Magh. Now what is the name of Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Falgun month? And what is his method? Please you tell me.

Sri Bhagavan said: O king, the name of Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Falgun month is Vijaya Ekadashi. Due to the effect of its fast, man gets victory. This is the best fast of all fasts. By hearing and reciting the greatness of this Vijaya Ekadashi, all sins are destroyed. Vijaya Ekadashi has the power to give you victory in a critical situation when you are surrounded by fierce enemies and defeat is standing in front of you.

Vijaya Ekadashi fasting story

Once upon a time, Devarshi Naradji said to the world's father, Brahmaji, Maharaj! Please tell me the Ekadashi Vidhi of Krishna Paksha of Falgun month. Brahmaji started saying that O Narada! The fast of Vijaya Ekadashi is going to destroy old and new sins. I have not told anyone the method of this Vijaya Ekadashi till date. It gives victory to all human beings.

In Treta Yuga, when Maryada Purushottam Shri Ramchandraji, who was an incarnation of Vishnu, was exiled for fourteen years, he along with Shri Lakshmana and Sitaji started residing in Panchavati. There, when the evil Ravana abducted Sita, Shri Ramchandraji and Lakshmana were very distraught by this news and went in search of Sitaji.

While roaming around, when he reached near the dying Jatayu, Jatayu went to heaven after telling him the story of Sitaji. After some time, he befriended Sugriva and killed Bali. Hanumanji went to Lanka and found Sitaji and described the friendship of Shri Ramchandraji and Sugriva with her. After returning from there, Hanumanji came to Lord Rama and told all the news.

Shri Ramchandraji, along with the monkey army, departed from Sugriva's property to Lanka. When Shri Ramchandraji reached the shore from the sea, seeing that vast sea full of crocodiles etc., he told Lakshmanji that how will we cross this sea.

Shri Lakshmana said, O Puran Purushottama, you are the Adi Purush, you know everything. Half a yojana away from here resides a sage named Vakdalbhya in Kumari Dweep. They have seen many Brahmas, you go to them and ask their solution. Hearing such words of Lakshmanji, Shri Ramchandraji went to Vakdalbhya Rishi and sat down after proofing him.

The sage also took him as a human being, considering him as Purushottama, and asked him, 'O Ram! How did you come? Ramchandraji started saying that O Rishi! I have come here with my army and am going to Lanka to conquer the demons. Please tell me some way to cross the sea. This is why I have come to you.

Vakdalbhya Rishi said that O Rama! By observing the best fast on Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Falgun month, you will definitely win, as well as you will definitely cross the ocean. The method of this fast is to make a pitcher of gold, silver, copper or clay on the day of Dashami. Fill that pitcher with water and place five Pallavas on the altar. Place Satanja at the bottom of that pitcher and barley on top. Install a golden idol of Lord Shree Narayan on it. On the day of Ekadashi, after retiring from bathing, worship God with incense, lamp, naivedya, coconut etc.

After that spend the day sitting in front of the pitcher and do awakening at night by sitting in the same way. On the day of Dwadashi, after retiring from the daily rules, give that pot to the Brahmin. Oh Ram! If you also observe this fast with the generals, then you will surely win. Shri Ramchandraji performed this fast according to the sage's statement and with its effect won victory over the demons.

Therefore, O king! Whoever observes this fast lawfully, he will surely have victory in both the worlds. Shri Brahmaji had told Naradji that O son! Whoever reads or listens to the greatness of this fast, gets the fruit of the Vajapeya Yagya.