Mohini Ekadashi fast is observed on Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month. Regarding the significance of this fast, it has been said in Padma Purana that by observing this fast, the devotee gets freedom from the sins of this birth as well as the sins of his previous birth. It is mandatory for the person observing this fast to read the story of the fast. Let us know in detail the fasting story of Mohini Ekadashi told in Padma Purana.
(Photo : Collected)
Yudhishthir Asked :
Janardan! Which name's Ekadashi is observed in the Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month? What is its result? And what is the method for that?
Lord Shri Krishna Said :
Maharaj! In ancient times, the most intelligent Shri Ramchandraji had asked the same thing to Maharishi Vashishtha, which you are asking me today.
Shri Ram Had Said :
Lord! I want to hear about the best fast among fasts which can eradicate all the sins and remove all kinds of sorrows.
Vashishtha Ji Said :
Shri Ram! You have asked a very good question. Man becomes purified from all sins just by taking your name. However, for the welfare of the people, I will describe the holy and best fast among the holy ones. The name of Ekadashi which falls in Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month is Mohini. She is the destroyer of all sins and the best. Due to the effect of his fast, people get freed from the trap and group of people.
There is a beautiful city named Bhadravati on the beautiful banks of Saraswati river. A king named Dyutiman, who was born in the Chandra dynasty, ruled there. There lived a Vaishya in the same city, who was rich and prosperous. His name was Dhanpal. He was always engaged in virtuous deeds. He used to build a pond, well, monastery, garden, pond and house for others. He had a deep passion for devotion to Lord Shri Vishnu. He was always calm. He had five sons – Sumana, Dyutiman, Medhavi, Sukrit and Dhrishtabuddhi.Dhrishtabuddhi was the fifth. He always indulged in big sins. He had great attachment to vices like gambling etc. He was eager to meet prostitutes. His intellect was neither used in worshiping the gods nor in paying respect to the ancestors and Brahmins. That evil spirit used to waste his father's money by following the path of injustice.
One day he was seen wandering at the crossroads with his arm around the neck of a prostitute. Then his father threw him out of the house and his relatives also abandoned him. Now he was immersed in sorrow and grief day and night and started wandering here and there, suffering one after another. One day, due to the rise of some virtue, he reached the ashram of Maharishi Kaundinya. It was the month of Vaishakh. Tapodhan Kaundinya had come after taking bath in Ganga. Dhrishtabuddhi, suffering from the burden of grief, went to Munivar Kaundinya and stood in front with folded hands and said – 'Brahmin! Dwijshreshtha! Please have mercy on me and tell me some fast which will liberate me due to its virtue.
Kaundinya Said :
Fast on the famous Ekadashi known as Mohini in the Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh. By fasting on Mohini, even the great sins committed by living beings in many births like Meruparvat are destroyed. Vasisthaji says- Shri Ramchandra! Hearing these words of the sage, Dhrishtabuddhi became happy. He observed the fast of Mohini Ekadashi as per the advice of Kaundinya. The best! By observing this fast he became sinless and assumed a divine body and went to Shri Vishnudham, free from all kinds of troubles, mounted on Garuda. Thus, this fast of Mohini is very good. By reading and listening to it one gets the result of thousands of blessings.
