Saphala Ekadashi Vrat is Coming on 8 January 2013.
About Saphala Ekadashi Vrat
Saphala Ekadashi Vratkatha
The following is the Saphala Ekadasi Vrat Katha or Safala Ekadasi Vrat Katha
Once there lived a great and powerful king by the name of Mahishmitha. He had four sons. The eldest was called Lumpaka. Lumapaka was arrogant and was indulging all the possible bad deeds that a person should not do. He was not even refraining himself from hurting people. He used to punish common people and enjoy.
The king saw this for a long time and warned Lumpaka to change his behaviour. After few warnings also Lumpaka did not change. As per dharma Lumpaka was supposed to be given a death sentence but King Mahishmitha could not kill his son and so ordered him to leave the kindom. Lumpaka was exiled from the kingdom.
Lumpaka started to live in a forest outside the kingdom. Exiling him did not change the behavior of Lumpaka. He was still the same. Once there was a very cold winter and Lumpaka was finding it very difficult to find food. Lumpaka began very weak and soon his health detoriated. He fell ill and was unconscious for two days.
He woke up on the day of Saphala Ekadasi. Because of his weakness he was not in a position to hunt so was not able to get any food. There was a idol of Lord Vishnu at he place he fell unconscious. He saw the idol and prayed to Lord Vishnu for his fast recovery. He offered the fruits that fell on the ground to Lord Vishnu.
Lumpaka was not able to get any food was fasting the whole day and as he did not have enough food was not able to sleep the whole night.
Lumpaka has actually performed the Ekadasi Vrat of fasting for the whole day and keeping awake for the whole night. The virtue of performing the Ekadasi Vrat is very high and removes all the sin. Observing the Ekadasi Vrat would fetch wealth and prosperity.
By virtue of the Saphala Ekadasi Vrat Lumpaka observed that his energy was renewed. His sins were washed off and his thought process was also changed. Now Lumpaka became a completely different person. A person who would respect elders, follow the Dharmas, love others etc.
Suddenly there was a voice from the sky which said that Lumpaka was freed from all the sins and that he should return to his father and rule the kingdom.
As soon as Lumpaka reached his kingdom, he saw that Mahishmitha was there to welcome him. He was astonished and was eager to know how his father knew that he was coming.
Mahishmitha replied that Lord Vishnu had come in his dream last night and said that Lumpaka would return to the kingdom. The lord also said that Lumpaka was changed and should be welcomed. He ruled the kingdom after his father following all the dharmas and was applauded by one and all.
Thus by observing the Saphala Ekadasi Vrat Lumpaka was able to change his fortune and himself.
By observing Saphala Ekadasi one would get back all that is lost and much more like health, wealth, belongings, affection, honor etc.
Saphala Ekadashi Vrat Process
Lord Narayana is worshipped on the day of Saphla Ekadashi fast. The person observing the fast should begin following the rules of the fast from Dashmi (a day before Ekadashi). He should follow the general rules of fast. He should only have satvik food on Dashmi and avoid taking salt.
Meal should be taken only once on the night of Dashmi. On the day of Ekadashi, person observing the fast should wake up early in the morning and complete his routine work like bathing etc. Then, the resolution of this fast is taken before the idol of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is worshipped with incense sticks, lamps, fruits etc. And, Lord Narayana is worshipped with Panchamrit.
Person observing this fast should not sleep in the daytime, on Ekadashi. In the night, Jagran should be performed. On Dwadashi (a day after Ekadashi), after bathing, Brahmans are given alms. This way, the fast is concluded.
Significance of Saphla Ekadashi
There was a king named Mahismaan in a city called Champavati. The king had four sons. His eldest son was Lumpak and he was a great sinner. He always used to do wrong works. He used to waste his father’s money in his evil works.
He always used to say bad about God, Brahman etc. Once, the king got to knew about the activities of his son. He threw his son, out of the Kingdom. When Lumpak was abandoned by everyone, he started thinking what to do and what not to do. At night he decided to steal in the kingdom of his father.
In the daytime in used to stay out, and at night he did stealing and other wrong activities like creating trouble for the people residing in the kingdom etc. Guards used to catch him and leave him considering as king’s son. The forest in which Lumpak lived was very dear to Lord. There was a very old Pipal tree, under which Lumpak used to stay. After few days, on Dashami of Krishna Paksha, Paush Masa, Lumpak fainted because of the cold. That night was very tough for him. He came back to his consciousness, during the afternoon.
Because of the weakness in body, he could not eat anything. He collected the nearby fruits and kept near the roots of Pipal tree. And asked God to have those fruits. Then he again became unconscious. He again woke up at night. This way, Lord was pleased by the fast and Jagran performed by the sinner, Lumpak. All of his sins were removed.
Lumpak got excited by hearing that all his sins were removed. He immediately wore new clothes and reached to his father. His father handed over the kingdom to Lumpak, and went into the woods, leaving everything behind.
