नवीनतम
Devotees shall observe the Yogini Ekadashi Vrat today
Today is the Ekadashi Tithi, Ashadha, Krishna Paksha. Interestingly, the name of the month differs in the Amavasyant tradition. Therefore, for those following the Amanta calendar, the ongoing month is Jyeshtha. Nonetheless, the Tithi and significance remain the same. The Ekadashi of Ashadha/Jyeshtha Krishna Paksha is referred to as Yogini Ekadashi. Therefore, devotees of Shri Vishnu shall pay an ode to the deity by observing a vrat (fast). And the ritual of breaking the fast is called Parana. Yogini Ekadashi is regarded as one of the most important Ekadashis which helps devotees to get relieved from various health ailments.
According to the North Indian calendar, Yogini Ekadashi falls during Krishna Paksha of Ashadha month and during Krishna Paksha of Jyeshta month according to the South Indian calendar.
As per the Georgian calendar, Yogini Ekadashi falls in the month of June or July. However, this year, Yogini Ekadashi will be observed today on July 5, 2021. The Ekadashi Tithi begins at 19:55 on Jul 04, 2021, and ends at 22:30 on Jul 05, 2021.
On this day, people fast and perform puja to get bestowed with the divine blessings of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the one who observes a Yogini Ekadashi Vrat gets absolved of his/her past and present sins.
Parana time
Parana means breaking the fast. As per our vedic pandits, devotees who observe a day-long fast, break it on the next day when Dwadashi Tithi prevails.
* On Jul 6, Parana time is from 05:29 to 08:16
* On Parana Day Dwadashi End Moment: 01:02, Jul 07
The most preferred time to break the fast is Pratahkal. One should avoid breaking the fast during Madhyahna. If due to some reason one is not able to break the fast during Pratahkal then one should do it after Madhyahna.
Yogini Ekadashi Vrat Katha
In a heavenly kingdom named Alkapuri ruled by King Kuber, there lived a gardener called Hem. The king, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, would perform puja of the deity every day and offer flowers that Hem would fetch from the Manasarovar. One day, when Hem went to do his routine work, he got enticed by his wife, Vishalakshi's beauty and lost complete control over himself.
Elsewhere, the king expected Hem to arrive with the flowers, but he sent his men to find the gardener after waiting for a while. Finally, after searching for hours, the king's men found Hem with his wife in Manasarovar.
Subsequently, Hem appeared before the king, who fumed with anger. And in a fit of rage, the king cursed Hem and expelled him from heaven. Soon after facing the king's ire, Hem landed on earth, got separated from his wife and contracted a skin disease. He wandered in the forest in search of food and water and felt guilty for offending the king.
One day, he accidentally visited Sage Markandeya's ashram and sought his advice. He wondered what he could do to seek forgiveness for the blunder he has committed. Therefore, the sage suggested he must observe a vrat on the Ekadashi Tithi of Ashadha, Krishna Paksha and worship Lord Vishnu. Subsequently, Hem kept the vrat and, as a result, regained his lost form.
Yogini Ekadashi Vrat Parana Rules
* Rise early, preferably during Brahma Muhurat (approximately two hours before sunrise) on Dwadashi Tithi.
* Take a bath and wear clean clothes.
* Do Dhyana (Meditation).
* Light an oil lamp (Deep) and incense (Agarbatti and Dhoop) and place them on the altar in your home. You may also keep an idol or image of Lord Vishnu on it.
* Invoke Lord Vishnu and chant the 'OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya' Mantra as many times as you can.
* Offer your prayers while making offerings with water (Jal), flowers (Pushpa) and bhog (fruits or sweets or any other Sattvic food preparation) to the deity. Please note, fruits and flowers are optional.
* Seek forgiveness for any error you may have made while observing the fast.
* Reach out to those in need and offer vegetarian food preparation without onion/garlic.
* Break your fast only after donating food/essentials to the less privileged.
* Break the vrat during the time mentioned above.
* Complete the Parana rituals by consuming only Sattvic foods (vegetarian preparations sans garlic, onion or any other strong-flavoured or heat-generating ingredient.)
