In the Lok of Swarag, there is a beautiful garden in the name of Chaitrarath. Nearly all devtas go to the garden and spend most of their time for relaxation. The Rishis spent their time performing penance in order to please the Supreme Almighty God. Once Kamdeva, out of revenge wanted to disturb and break the continuous penance of a Rishi named as Medhavi. The path Kamdev chose was to send an attractive dancer named “Manjughosha” and encourage Medhavi Rishi into loosing concentration to God and instead focus on the dancing and falling into the cage of fantasy illusion. Upon dancing, Medhavi Rishi got entangled with the dancer and began living with her. The Rishi spent most of his time in looking after the dancer and overlooked the meditation of God. He would not let her out of his sight for even a second.
As this was getting too much for the dancer, she called upon the Rishi and pleaded, “O Rishi, please allow me to go home now. My parents and family must be waiting for my arrival.” Listening to her request, Medhavi Rishi asked her to stay until nightfall and thereafter she was free to go. Scared to say, the dancer replied, “O Rishi, Are you in any sense how many nights I have been with you?” When the Rishi began thinking, he realized that 75 years had passed by staying with the dancer. Furious at this, the Rishi realized that he had been setup with this evil act of the devtas and the dancer. Angrily, he cursed the dancer to become a ghost. But on constant pleading of the dancer, Rishi’s heart melted. So the Rishi told the dancer and said, “O Devi, keep a full fast vrat on Papmochani Ekadashi which arrives in the month of Fagan. You will be freed from my curse.”
Medhavi Rishi went to his father Chavan Rishi and pleaded, “O Father, I have broken the continuous communion to God and ended up in living in sin with this dancer. Please guide me and show me how I can get released from these sins.” Chavan Rishi replied, “O Son, by keeping full vrat of Papmochni Ekadashi frees you from all sins.”
Medhavi Rishi and the dancer both performed the vrat of Papmochni Ekadashi and were ultimately freed from their sins.
Papmochani Ekadashi Food
Ekadasi, or Ekadashi, is an important Upvaas (fast) dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Millions of Hindu devotees observe Ekadasi, which is considered highly auspicious by Lord Vishnu devotees. The traditional approach is to abstain from food completely on the day. But nowadays a complete fast is not possible for many people. Such people consume certain food items on the Ekadasi day and observe only a partial fast.
It is believed that demon Mura found a dwelling place in the rice and Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Ekadasi to annihilate Mura. Therefore devotees who fast on the Ekadashi day avoid food made from grains.
Many devotees due to several reasons – like health and job commitments – observe partial fast on the day. Such people avoid non-vegetarian and food items made from beans, pulses and grains, especially rice. The most preferred Ekadasi fasting food in western parts of India is Sabudana Khichadi with potatoes and ground nut – but no onion and garlic.
The food that can be consumed on the Ekadasi day includes fresh and dried fruits, milk products, vegetables and nuts.
As the list of Ekadasi food expands there will be new issues cropping up like – Are you sure this can be consumed on Ekadasi?
So the golden rule is avoid pulses and grains on Ekadasi.
Drink lots of water and eat fresh and dried fruits.
In Hinduism, Upvaas is meant to bring a person close to Brahman. So forget about the rules and regulations and what you are going to gain from the Ekadashi fast. Spend the day in purifying the mind and body.
