Hari-katha inspired by the Guru-varga Ekadasi-devi prays to Vamanadeva on our behalf, “O Prabhu, please free them from this pasu-vritti (animal nature).” Hearing Her prayer, the Lord takes this away from us with His second step. Then Ekadasi-devi says, “Prabhu, now only the soul remains. Please take this atma with Your third step.” When the…
Hari-katha inspired by the Guru-varga, spoken on 19 July 2013 Today is Ekadasi, Sayana Ekadasi. For the complete day we fast. Now, we will hear the glories of Ekadasi-devi. We should desire to have some respect for this holy day. Otherwise, if you don’t respect the appearance of Ekadasi-devi, don’t engage in her worship, and…
On this Ekadasi-day, if a person desiring to serve God follows bhakti’s rules, then it will not be possible for anyone to come near him and cheat him. Mohini Maya protects the devotees. She cheats others, but she will not cheat the followers of Ekadasi; this is her promise to God. Visnu’s external potency, Bahiranga sakti, bribes the jivas and cheats them by offering them her gifts. She steals their good fortune away. But, Mohini-devi says, “I will not cheat the devotees; I will always protect them. I will cheat others, but I will never cheat Ekadasi-devi’s followers. I will never cheat the Lorld’s bhaktas. I will protect His dependents from the influence of His external potency…”
Āmalakī Ekādaśī appears in the month of Phālguna (February/March) during the bright fortnight. Āmalakī refers to the amla fruit, which is also known as the dhātrī. Dhanvantari, the twelfth incarnation of the Lord and the founder of Ayurveda, describes the amla fruit to be like a mother or nursemaid (dhātrī). If you regularly take amla, as…
…We should desire to have some respect for this holy day. Otherwise, if you don’t respect the appearance of Ekadasi-devi, don’t engage in her worship, and don’t offer any paraphernalia to her, then by these actions you are disobeying, neglecting, and avoiding her. This can only mean that you don’t like Ekadasi-devi, and are far away, running hither and tither from this most auspicious day. After hearing these glories of Ekadasi-devi, if a desire to follow this day manifests in your heart, then this is called respect and faith…
…Will Ekadasi-devi be happy and pleased by only abstaining from water and fruits on her appearance day? Many people fast on Ekadasi. The patients in a hospital fast; people stop taking food and drinking water when they fight among themselves. Will they attain any benefit by such involuntary fasting? They will receive nothing. Their impurities will not be washed away. Will Ekadasi-devi be satisfied by completely fasting? When Yudhistira Maharaja asked Krsna this question, Krsna said, “No.”…
Aparā Ekādaśī tells her followers, “I will do an operation and surgery. I will not give anyone the chance to go the wrong way. I provide them with the support by which they will return to the right path. I will give them much energy and enthusiasm. They will never lose sight of me; they will never lose their bhajana and bhakti…”
The compassionate Lord replied, “If you want to be freed from lust, then seek the help of Kamada Ekadasi. Observe Ekadasi vrata on the eleventh rise of the waxing moon in the month known as Caitra. Kamada Ekadasi will help you.”
How can we become pure and how can our behavior be pleasing to Syamasundara and not just a drama? Our eternal svarupa does not change, but our temporary nature and principles are always changing. We follow the mind, whose business is to accept and reject ideas constantly, and we do asat-sanga. Therefore, Ekadasi-devi requests us today to take shelter of Yamuna-devi—then we will be purified. Thus Ekadasi-devi is called Papamocani…