THE STORY BEHIND EKADASI

Many Brahmins follow the ritual of fasting during Ekadasi which falls twice a lunar month.  There is an interesting story behind Ekadasi and one needs know the background of Ekadasi before following it.

 

Once there lived a demon called Nadijangha.  He wanted to conquer the whole universe and dethrone Lord Indra.  He waged a war against them and was swiftly defeated by the Demi-gods.  He had a son by name MURA.  Young Mura consoled his father and said that he will take revenge against the demi-gods and become the king of swargalogha. 

He went to the foot of Kailash and started his Tapasya (penance) which ran into several years.  His body shrank and mud started covering his body.  But he had no sense of anything and was continuing his Tapasya and reached a stage where he was able to control the Air around him.  When the Demi-gods felt a change in the atmosphere, they went and enquired about this change with Lord Shiva.  Lord Shiva explained to them about the Tapasya done by Mura.  On the request of Lord Indra, Lord Shiva appeared before Mura and granted him a Boon.  But on seeing Lord Shiva he was unable to think anything and was only staring at the Lord.  Lord Shiva touched Mura’s body with his Trishul and he got his old body back and also all his memory.  He asked Lord Shiva to grant him a Boon that no one Created by Lord Brahmin shall kill him.  The Boon was granted by Lord Shiva.

On getting the Boon, Mura went back to his home, comforted his father and started the war against the Demi-gods and brought them into his control very quickly.  They all ran away, and he started ruling the Swarghalogha.  The Demi-Gods led by Lord Indra ran to Lord Shiva and requested him to do something and help them regain their positions.  Lord Shiva said that since he gave the Boon, only Lord Narayan can help them.

Lord Indra and others went and prayed to Lord Narayana and pleaded him to help them.  The Lord Narayana accompanied the Demi-Gods and went to confront Mura.  During the battle, the Demi-Gods were unable to sustain the power and might of Lord Mura and they all ran away.  Lord Narayana could have killed Mura instantly, but he wanted to give respect and honour the boon given by Lord Shiva.  So, he played a game and was acting as if he was losing and he too started running away towards Badrinath Mountains and stayed in a cave.

Mura also proceeded him and was looking for Lord Narayana everywhere, in and around Badrinath.  He spent a year looking for the Lord.  Finally, he found the Lord in a small cave, which is located around 1 Km before the Badrinath Bus Terminus, presently.  Lord Narayana was sleeping.  Mura thought that this was a good opportunity to destroy Lord Narayana and become the supreme power of the universe.  When he was about to take his weapon, he witnessed a bright light and from the Lord’s body manifested a young and beautiful Girl. 

 

The Girl (Goddess) fought with Mura.  On seeing her Mura refused to fight her as she was a Girl.  But the beautiful girl said that one who wins over her in a fight shall marry her.  This prompted Mura to fight with her with full force. Within a day, Mura was killed and so were all the men who accompanied him.  The rest of the Demons ran back to Pathala Lokha.

Lord Narayana woke up and saw the Girl with all the Weapons and also a dead Mura at the entrance of the Cave.  He asked the Girl on who killed the demon Mura and she said that it was her who killed the Demon after appearing from the Lord’s body.

Lord Narayana was very pleased and praised the Girl for having brought happiness and joy in all the three worlds by killing Mura and his men and for helping the Demi-Gods.  The Lord offered 3 boons to the Girl.  The Girl asked the following three boons.

1.  One who fasts on this day conquering all their 5 elements and stays awake in the night, singing your glories shall attain Vaikunta Lokha for many kalpas.

2.  One who eats only in the evening (abstaining Grains) on this day shall get half of what one gets as per the first boon.

3.  One who eats only at midday today shall get only half of the pious credit.

She requested the Lord to grant such devotees, Dharma, Wealth and at last Moksha.  The Lord granted her all the 3 boons.  Since she appeared on an Ekadasi day, the Lord named her as Ekadasi and the Lord said that because of her if a person fasts on Ekadasi, the Lord shall burn all the Sins of that person and bestow upon him his abode.  The merit one attains by fasting on Ekadasi is greater than what one gets by going on a pilgrimage or given charity.

The Ekadasi Gufa (Cave) is still there and those who are blessed to visit Badrinath should keep an eye on the last curve (about 1 Km) on the road that leads to Badrinath.

 

(The above article was written for publication in Jan. 2019 issue of PRINCE'S VOICE - my Community eMagazine.)