Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, “Oh Janardana, protector of
all living entities, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during
the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September).”
The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, then replied, “Oh King, hear
Me attentively. The name of this sin-removing, sacred Ekadasi is Aja. Any
person who fasts completely on this day and worships Hrishikesha, the master of
the senses, becomes free of all reactions to his sins. Even one who simply
hears about this Ekadasi is freed from his past sins. Oh King, there is no
better day than this in all the earthly and heavenly worlds. This is true
without a doubt.
There once lived a famous king named Harishchandra, who was
the emperor of the world and a person of great truth and integrity. His wife’s
name was Chandramati, and he had a son named Lohitashva. By the force of
destiny, however, Harishchandra lost his great kingdom and sold his wife and
son. The pious king himself became a menial servant of a dog-eater, 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-rasa, 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 shall I go? How can I be delivered from this plight?’ In this
way he drowned in an ocean of anxiety and sorrow.
One day a great sage happened by, and when the king saw him
he happily thought, ‘Ah, Lord Brahma has created brahmins just to help others.’
Harishchandra paid his respectful obeisances to the sage, whose name was
Gautama Muni. With joined palms the king stood before Gautama Muni and narrated
his pitiful story. Gautama Muni was astonished to hear the king’s tale of woe.
He thought, ‘How has this mighty king been reduced to collecting clothes from
the dead?’ Gautama Muni became very much compassionate toward Harishchandra and
instructed him on the process of fasting for purification.
Gautama Muni said, ‘Oh king, during the dark fortnight of
the month of Bhadrapada there occurs an especially meritorious Ekadasi named
Aja (Annada), which removes all sins. Indeed, this Ekadasi 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.
So 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 come to an end. Oh Harishchandra,
I have come here because of your past pious deeds. Now, all good fortune to you
in the future!’ So saying, the great sage Sri Gautama Muni immediately
disappeared from his vision.
King Harishchandra followed Gautama Muni’s instructions
concerning fasting on the sacred day of Aja Ekadasi. Oh Maharaja Yudhisthira,
because the king fasted on that day, the reactions to his previous sins were
completely destroyed at once. Oh lion among kings, just see the influence of
this Ekadasi fast! It immediately vanquishes whatever miseries one may be
suffering as a result of past karmic sinful activities. Thus all
Harishchandra’s miseries were relieved. Just by the power of this wonderful
Ekadasi, he was reunited with his wife and son, who had died but were now
revived. In the heavenly regions the devas (demigods) began beating on their
celestial kettledrums and showering down flowers upon Harishchandra, his queen,
and their son. By the blessings of the Ekadasi fast, he regained his kingdom
without difficulty. Moreover, when King Harishchandra left the planet, his
relatives and all his subjects too, went with him to the spiritual world.
Oh Pandava, whoever fasts on Aja Ekadasi is surely freed
from all his sins and ascends to the spiritual world. And whosoever hears and
studies the glories of this Ekadasi achieves the merit gained by performing a
horse sacrifice.”
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Bhadrapada-krishna
Ekadasi, or Aja Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
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