Apara Ekadasi, from the Brahmanda Purana.
Sri Yudhishthira Maharaj said, "Oh Janardana, what is the name of the Ekadasii that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Jyeshtha (May-June)? I wish to hear from You the glories of this sacred day of Hari. Please narrate everything to me."
Lord Sri Krishna said, "Oh king, your inquiry is wonderful because the answer will benefit the whole human society. This Ekadasii is so sublime and meritorious that even the greatest sins can be erased by its purity.
"Oh great saintly king, the name of this unlimitedly meritorious Ekadasii is Apara Ekadasii. Whoever fasts on this holy day becomes famous all over the universe. Even such sins as killing a brahmana, a cow, or an embryo; blasphemy; or having sex with another man's wife are completely eradicated by observing Apara Ekadasii.
"Oh king people who bear false witness are most sinful. A person who falsely or sarcastically glorifies another; one who cheats while weighing something on a scale; one who fails to execute the duties of his varna or ashrama (an unqualified man's posing as a brahmin, for example, or a person's reciting the Vedas wrongly); one who invents his own scriptures; one who cheats others; one who is a charlatan astrologer, a cheating accountant, or a false Ayurvedik doctor - all these are surely as bad as persons who bears false witness, and they are all destined for hellish punishments. But simply by observing Apara Ekadasii, all such sinners become completely free of their sinful reactions.
"Warriors who fall from their kshatriya-dharma and flee the battlefield go to a ferocious hell. But, Oh Yudhishthira, even such a fallen kshatriya, if he observes fasting on the Apara Ekadasii, is freed of that great sinful reaction and goes to heaven.
"That disciple is the greatest sinner who, after receiving a proper spiritual education from his spiritual master, turns around and blasphemes him. Such a so-called disciple suffers unlimitedly. But even he, rascal though he be, if he simply observes Apara Ekadasii, can attain to the spiritual world. Listen, Oh king, as I describe to you further glories of this amazing Ekadasii.
"The merit attained by one who performs all of the following acts of piety is equal to the merit achieved by one who observes Apara Ekadasii: bathing three times daily in Pushkara-kshetra during Kartika (October-November); bathing at Prayag in the month of Magh (January-February) when the sun is in the zodiac of Capricorn; rendering service to Lord Shiva at Varanasi (Benares) during Shiva-ratri; offering oblations to one's forefathers at Gaya; bathing in the sacred Gautami River when Jupiter transits Leo (Simha); having darshan of Lord Shiva at Kedarnatha; seeing Lord Badrinath when the Sun transits the sign of Aquarius (Kumbha); and bathing at the time of a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra and giving cows, elephants, and gold there in charity. All the merit one gets from performing these pious acts is gained by a person who observes the Apara Ekadasii fast. Also, the merit attained by one who donates a pregnant cow, along with gold and fertile land, is attained by one who fasts on this day.
"In other words, Apara Ekadasii is an axe that cuts down the fully matured forest full of trees of sinful deeds, it is a forest fire that burns sins as if they were kindling firewood, it is the sun blazing before one's dark misdeeds, and it is a lion stalking the meek deer of impiety.
"Therefore, Oh Yudhishthira, whoever truly fears his past and present sins must observe Apara Ekadasii very strictly. One who does not observe this fast must be born again in the material world, like one bubble among millions in a huge body of water, or like a small ant among all other species.
"Therefore one must faithfully observe the sacred Apara Ekadasii and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Trivikrama. One who does so is freed of all his sins and promoted to the abode of Lord Vishnu.
"Oh Bharata, for the benefit of all humanity I have thus described to you this the importance of the holy Apara Ekadasii.
"Anyone who hears or reads this description is certainly freed from all kinds of sins, oh best of saintly kings, Yudhishthira.
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Jyeshtha-krishna Ekadasii, or Apara Ekadasii, from the Brahmanda Purana. These stories have been summarised and slightly changed or abbreviated from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press. page 83-85.
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Apara Ekadasi, Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura -- Appearance
(fast from grains & beans) Vaishnava Calendar services says that although this day is technically Dvadasi, Ekadasi fasting is recommended today instead.
Vrindavana Dasa Thakura was the author of Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata, a biography of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is considered the manifest Vyasadeva (author of the Vedas) during Lord Chaitanya's pastimes. He was born shortly after the disappearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. At the age of twenty, he accepted formal initiation from Lord Nityananda. It was on Lord Nityananda's order that he wrote Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata.
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photo of the birthplace of Vrindavana dasa Thakura courtesy of gaudiyahistory.com
More info on Apara Ekadasi is available from Vaishnava Calendar Reminder Services.
Apara Ekadashi (16-May-2012)
Apara Ekadashi
Apara Ekadasi is observed during the Krishna Paksha (second fortnight) of the month Vaisakha masam. Apara Ekadasi is also called as Vaishak Vadi Ekadashi or Achala Ekadashi.
Apara Ekadasi occurs during the waning phase of moon in the month of Jyeshtha (May – June). The importance of Apara Ekadashi was explained by Lord Krishna to Yudishitira, the eldest of the Pandavas. Washing away the sins committed is the main benefit from observing Apara Ekadasi.
Fasting on this Ekadashi is beneficial to those people who are suffering from remorse or guilt due to sin or sins committed. One can attain moksha by observing a fast on Apara Ekadasi. Krishnaalso mentions that one who observes this particular Ekadashi will become famous through meritorious deeds.
Importance and Significance of Apara Ekadashi:
Apara Ekadashi mahatmyam was explained in the Brahmanda Purana. Observance of Apara Ekadashi fasting cleanses all sins of the performer and makes him/her free from all the bonds in the life.
It is believed that the performers of Apara Ekadashi will get the merits which are equal to – performing three times ritual bath in Pushkar Kshetra in Kartika masam, performing ritual bath in Prayag at in the month of Magha masam at Mesha Sankraman (when Sun transits to Capricorn), worshipping Lord Shiva in Varanasi, offering tharpan to forefathers at Gaya, performing ritual bath in the sacred Gautami river at the time of Simha Sankraman (when Sun transits to Leo) and etc.
Observing this Ekadasi removes the remorse associated with not performing a particular action, when the person had the opportunity to do it but shied away.