Wash Away Your Sins This ‘Saphala Ekadashi Ekadashi’

The eleventh lunar day of the dark fortnight in the month of Paush is celebrated as Saphala Ekadashi or Paush Krishna Ekadashi. People in India worship Lord Vishnu in order to retrieve their lost wealth, honour, and rights. On the occasion of Saphala Ekadashi, people offer banana, pomegranate, coconut, betel nut, seasonal fruits, incense, and aromatic objects to Lord Vishnu. It is a custom to light ‘diyas’ on the evening of Saphala Ekadashi, and to stay awake throughout the night.

Saphala Ekadashi Date And Timings For 2024

As already mentioned, this Ekadashi generally falls in the Jyestha month of the Hindu calendar during the Krishna paksha. According to the western calendar, this falls in the months of January and December. The Saphala Ekadashi 2024 dates are mentioned below.

Saphala Ekadashi on Sunday, January 7, 2024

• Ekadashi Tithi Begins – 00:41 on Jan 07, 2024
• Ekadashi Tithi Ends – 00:46 on Jan 08, 2024
• Parana Time: 07:09 to 09:22 on Jan 08, 2024
• Dwadashi End Moment On Parana Day: 11:58 PM

Saphala Ekadashi on Thursday, December 26, 2024

• Ekadashi Tithi Begins – 22:29 on Dec 25, 2024
• Ekadashi Tithi Ends – 00:43 on Dec 27, 2024
• Parana Time: 07:09 to 09:17 on Dec 27, 2024
• Dwadashi End Moment On Parana Day: 07:09 AM

For more detailed Ekadashi Timings, check out Panchang!

This Ekadashi falls in summer, so those whose health is debilitated or have some problem can skip the fast. Worshipping Lord Vishnu with full devotion is more important. This ekadashi will help you attain immense wealth and property. So let us find out the Vrat katha.

Story Behind the Saphala Ekadashi:

There is a story behind the glory of this day. Once upon a time, there was a king named Mahishmati. Mahishmati had four sons. The youngest among them, Lumpak, was wicked and evil-minded. He was wasting all the wealth on sinful deeds. So, the king expelled him from his kingdom. Lumpak had to leave his father?s kingdom and wander through the jungles. But in spite of all this, he did not mend himself. He continued his bad habits.

Once he had to remain without food for three days as he was punished for a robbery. Unable to bear the pangs of hunger, he planned to rob the cottage of a hermit in the forest. It was the day of ‘Saphala Ekadashi’. After a thorough search, he found that there was no food in the cottage. When the hermit saw him frantically searching for food, he happily offered him food and clothing. This unexpected behaviour of the hermit, completely changed Lumpak. He thought: ‘How good is this man! I came to rob his house, even then he treated me like a guest. I am a human being just like him. But how wicked and sinful I am.’ He realised his own mistakes. He fell at the feet of the hermit, and begged pardon.

The hermit asked Lumpak to stay with him. Lumpak started living on alms brought by the hermit. Gradually, the dark side of his character started disappearing. The hermit advised Lumpak to observe penance on Saphala Ekadashi. In course of time, when Lumpak completely redeemed himself, the hermit revealed his own identity. He was none other than the king Mahishmati himself. As his son had now acquired all the good human qualities, the king brought him back to his palace and gave him charge of the royal administration. The subjects of the kingdom were astonished to see the change in Lumpak’s character. He performed all his royal duties sincerely. Lumpak observed penance(vrata) of Saphala Ekadashi throughout his life, and propagated the glory of this holy day.

Conclusion:

The moral of the legend is that even if one loses his health, wealth, belongings, honour, affection, and love, he will get it back if he observes Saphala Ekadashi with devotion.

Saphala Ekadashi falls on the 7th of January this year. You are advised to observe a fast on Saphala Ekadashi to retrieve your lost wealth and glory.

With Ganesha’s Grace,
Dharmesh Joshi,
www.GaneshaSpeaks.com