Mohini Ekadashi

Mom has been visiting Shiva Temple of Kirtipur Shivanagar to celebrate Ekdasi..If the tenth day completes just 96 minutes before sunrise, then that day is celebrated as Ekādaśī. If the tenth day is incomplete at 96 minutes before sunrise, but still continues to be Dashimi sometime during that day, then the Ekādaśī fast is performed on the following day. 

We fast on Ekadasi in order to minimize the demands of the body so we can engage more of our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing some other devotional service. The best thing to do on these fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Krishna and to hear His Holy name being sung and chanted. In the book "Nectar of Devotion" Srila Prabhupada tells us the purpose of Ekadasi is to increase our love for Krishna. On the day of Ekadasi we should plan to chant more rounds and read more devotional literature. If possible we should spend more time with devotees at the temple.

Today ,the day of Mohini Ekadashi .According to Panchang,Mohini Ekadashi is observed on the ekadashi (11th day) during the Shukla Paksha (the bright fortnight of moon) in the Hindu month of ‘Vaisakha’ that falls during the months of April-May, according to the Gregorian calendar. This ekadashi is observed by all Hinduism followers as it helps in washing away all the sins committed by a person, including those from his/her previous births. 

In Hindu mythology, Mohini is the name given to the disguised form of Lord Vishnu and since the lord appeared in this form on the ekadashi tithi, the day began to be celebrated as ‘Mohini Ekadashi’ from then onwards. This Ekadashi is celebrated in the month of ‘Vaisakha’ in Northern India and adjoining regions, however according to the Tamil calendar, it falls during the month of ‘Chithirai’, in the ‘Jyestho’ month of the Bengali calendar and in the Malayalam calendar Mohini Ekadashi falls during the month of ‘Edava’. Hindu devotees observe this ekadashi to seek divine blessings for living a happy and prosperous life.

When Yudhishthir questioned Lord Krishna about the most important Ekadashi, he replied that this Vrat was performed by Lord Ram in Treta Yug. When Lord Ram was separated from Devi Sita, he was advised by sage Vasistha to perform this Vrat. Performing the Vrat helped Lord Ram to overcome every obstacle. He brought back Sita after killing Ravana.

A famous story that depicts the importance of Mohini Ekadashi was told by Sage Vasistha to Lord Rama. King Dyutimana who belonged to Chandra Vansh, was ruling The beautiful city of Bhadravati was situated on the banks of River Saraswati. Dhanapala, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, was very pious and kind-hearted. He was a Vaishya and worked for the welfare of the people all the time. He had five sons - Samana, Dyutimana, Medhavi, Sukriti, and Dhrustabuddhi. 

The youngest son, Dhrustabuddhi was very wicked and involved in sinful activities. He neither cared for his family nor the society. He misused his father’s name and money. Fed up by his vices, Dhanapala threw him out of his house. Soon he was done away with all the money and ornaments that he had. He had to become a thief. Several times he was caught by the king’s men and then released. The king thought of punishing him. He decided to thrown him out of the city.

Dhrustabuddhi had to leave the kingdom and had no place to go. He went into a jungle. He wandered like a hunter in the forests for many years. One day he met Rishi Kaundinya. It was the month of Vaisakha, and the sage was returning to his ashram after taking a bath in the holy river Ganges. Suddenly, a drop of water from the sage’s clothes fell on Dhrustabuddhi. He bowed before Rishi Kaundinya and asked him to relieve him of all the sins that he had committed. He was advised to follow Mohini Ekadashi Vrat. He obeyed Rishi’s instructions and observed the Vrat with dedication. His sins were pardoned, and he attained a divine body. It is believed that after his death he was taken to the abode of Lord Vishnu by Garuda, his divine carrier.

Special ‘Mandaps’ is prepared with idols of Lord Vishnu. Devotees worship the lord with sandalwood, sesame seeds, colorful flowers and fruits. Offering Tulsi leaves is very propitious as it is dear to Lord Vishnu. On Mohini Ekadashi day in some regions, Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu is also worshipped.

Mom and granny always love Ekadashi.Even in Puranas we find many stories relating to the importance of fasting on this particular day. This day comes when waning or waxing moon is in its 11th day of its 15 days cycle. Why importance is given to eleventh day and why not to tenth day or ninth day? There is a reason behind this.

Astrologically moon revolves around earth at the rate of 12 degrees per every 24 hours. This period of 12 degree travel is called a tithi in  Panchang Language.  Moon when at 180 degrees away from Sun forms Full moon day and when conjoint with Sun forms New moon day. During these two cycles we have already seen many instances where new moon and full moon shows its impact and gravitational and magnetic pull of sea tides and human minds. As human body consist of 80 per cent water, it is always under the influence of moon. This is the reason behind moon being treated as mind controller in Indian Astrology.

It is known that Sun and Moon do not always exert same influence on Earth.  On 11th day of each cycle moon forms trine with earth or sun. From this day moon’s influence on liquids in our body and mind starts rising. As long as important organs such as brain, digestive system function properly our body will never get any disease. All diseases start with indigestion. But from this 11th day our body gets into the  gravitational  and magnetic pull of moon heavily and our digestive system doesn't secrete proper fluids that will help us digest our food.

I love Ekdashi and the communication about such topic has been the motivational factor to relate our daily life with festive mood of the every month,moon and nature for spiritual significance of Poornima, Spiritual significance of Amavasya,and Spiritual significance of Basant Panchami  like Ekdashi festival etc.The fast on Ekadashi also helps the transmutation of chemicals in the body into subtler factors like ectoplasmic stuff of the mind (i.e. chitta or mindstuff) so that the ectoplasmic stuff associates with the still higher spheres.  

If the science of meditation is practised by the aspirant, fasting does not only mean not eating anything, it also means not drinking any thing in the stricter sense. The meaning of fast, i.e. 'upavasa' spiritually means staying with divine ideas, i. e. living closer to the Supreme Conscious Being. This can be done only by shunning the activities of the sensory and motor organs (indriyas) extroversally and dwelling instead on the various aspects (bhaava) of the Supreme Consciousness or the Supreme Lord.  By not eating and drinking on Ekadashi days along with dwelling on the divine (bhagavata-bhaava), it will certainty help an aspirant to keep himself or herself perfect physiologically and psychologically and thereby help attain the ultimate spiritual purpose of life.