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Indira Ekadashi falling during Pitru Paksha is considered to have special and supernatural significance in Sanatan Dharma, because it is the only fast which can help our ancestors attain salvation and Vaikuntha Dham while we are alive. It is believed that this fast, which is observed on the Ekadashi date of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month, due to its virtuous effect, even the ancestors who have reached the door of Yamraj get salvation and they go straight to Vaikuntha Lok. For those who want to save their ancestors and get freedom from the burden of sins in life, the fast story of Indira Ekadashi is no less than a boon. In this special article, we are going to tell you in detail about the mythological fasting story of Indira Ekadashi, its amazing significance and the complete method of worship, by reading which you can also please your ancestors.
According to mythology and religious texts, during the Satyayuga, an extremely valiant, pious and people-loving king named Indradyumna used to rule in Mahishmati Puri. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu and his kingdom was completely blessed with happiness and prosperity. One day when the king was sitting in his court, Devarshi Naradji came to his court through the sky. King Indradyumna welcomed Devarshi Narad with great respect and made him sit on a high seat. When Naradji asked him about his well-being, the king folded his hands and said, Lord, by your grace everything is fine, but I have a deep worry in my mind. The king told Naradji that his father is suffering in Yamalok after death due to some unknown sins in his previous birth and violation of Yamraj’s rules and he is very sad about this condition of his father. The king asked Devarshi, O Maharishi, what remedy or fast should I do so that my father can get freedom from the tortures of this terrible hell and he can directly reach heaven or Vaikuntha Dham.
Seeing this anxiety of King Indradyumna and his immense love for his father, Devarshi Narad was very happy and he closed his eyes and meditated for a while. After this Naradji told the king that O king, the solution to your worry is hidden in the Ekadashi date of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month, which is known as ‘Indira Ekadashi’. Explaining in detail, Naradji said that this Ekadashi fast destroys all types of sins and provides salvation to the ancestors. Devarshi ordered the king to observe the fast of Ashwin Krishna Ekadashi with all his subjects as per the rituals. With your resolve, offer all the virtuous fruits arising from the effect of this fast to your departed father. Naradji said that the effect of this fast is so powerful and miraculous that by observing it, your father will be freed from the tortures of Yamalok and will go directly to Vaikuntha, the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu, riding on Garuda through the sky.
Following the path shown by Devarshi Narad, King Indradyumna observed the fast of Indira Ekadashi with full rituals in his kingdom. There are some strict and special rules of this fast, following which it is considered very important for every fast holder. Indira Ekadashi fast actually starts from the evening of Dashami Tithi, in which there is a rule to have food before sunrise and before sunset so that the stomach remains completely empty at night. On the day of Ekadashi, one should wake up before sunrise in the morning, take bath etc., wear clean clothes and install the idol of Lord Vishnu in the temple of the house. After this, one should pledge to fast by taking water, flowers and Akshat in hand. Yellow flowers, incense, lamp, Tulsi leaves and seasonal fruits should be offered to Lord Vishnu. On this day one should especially recite or listen to ‘Indira Ekadashi Vrat Katha’, because without this the full results of the fast are not achieved. Along with this, providing food to Brahmins on this day and donating food, clothes and money as per one’s capacity is considered extremely virtuous.
According to astrology and religious beliefs, if a person has Pitra Dosh in his horoscope or his ancestors are wandering unsatisfied, then fasting on Indira Ekadashi during Pitripaksha is no less than a great Sanjeevani for him. The person observing this fast not only saves his relatives, but his own seven future generations also become pure. Those people who, due to some reason, are not able to perform Shraddha or Pinda Daan of their parents or ancestors properly, if they keep a fast on this Ekadashi and worship Lord Shri Hari Vishnu with full devotion, then they get the virtuous results equal to Pitra Yagya. Due to the effect of this fast, all kinds of obstacles, financial difficulties and mental unrest in the house automatically start going away. Therefore, every Sanatani must observe this holy fast during these days of Pitru Paksha and pray for the peace of the souls of their ancestors so that their life always remains happy and prosperous.
