Ekadasi

The Holy Day of Hari

Ekadasi Morning Meditation on the Lord:

Lotus Feet: Om Damodaraya Namah

Thighs: Om Madhavaya Namah

Private Parts: Om Kamapataye Namah

Hips: Om Vamanaya Namah

Navel: Om Padmanabhaya Namah

Stomach: Om Vishvamutaye Namah

Heart: Om Jnanagamyaya Namah

Throat: Om Srikanthaya Namah

Arms: Om Sahasrabahave Namah

Lotus Eyes: Om Paramayogine Namah

Forehead: Om Urugayai Namah

Nose: Om Narakeshvaraya Namah

Hair: Om Sarvakamadaya Namah

Head: Om Sahasrashirshaya Namah

Midday: Bathe in river, lake or pond. Chant, while smearing mud

upon body: "O Asvakrante! O Rathakranthe! O Visnukranthe! O Mrttike! O

Mother Earth! Kindly remove all the sins I have accumulated throughout many

past lives so that I may enter the sacred abode of the Supreme Lord."

Light fortnight Ekadasi: meditate upon the 12 holy names

of Lord Vishnu while applying tilaka.

Dark fortnight: meditate upon 16 holy names:

om vasudevaya namah, om keshavaya namah, om narayanah namah, om madhavaya

namah, om sankarshanaya namah, om govindaya namah, om vaishnave namah, om

madhusudanaya namah, om pradyumnaya namah, om trivikramaya namah, om vamanaya

namah, om sridharaya namah, om aniruddhaya namah, om hrishikeshaya namah, om

padmanabhaya namah, om damodarayah namah.

One should read about the particular Ekadasi (The Ekadasi book).

Do not sleep in day, take massage, engage in sex life, take intoxication, touch impure people, shave.

On Dvadasi, one should not sleep in the day, eat in another's home,

eat more than once, eat urad dahl, rub oil on the body. One may break the

fast at the right time by drinking water if eating is difficult to arrange.

The Story of Ekadasi

(This article was originally written in 1956 by Sri Navincandra Cakravarti, a

disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and in 1979 translated

into English by Vyenkata dasa brahmacari.)

Many devotees are very inquisitive about the appearance of Sri Ekadasi and

about her special characteristics. Therefore I am presenting this description

from the fourteenth chapter of the Padma Purana, from the section entitled

"Kriya-sagara-sara."

Once the great sage Jaimini Rsi said to his spiritual master Srila Vyasadeva,

"Oh Gurudeva! Previously, by your mercy, you described to me thehistory of the

glories of the Ganga river, the benefits of worshipping Vishnu, the giving of

grains in charity, the giving of water in charity, and the magnanimity of

drinking the water that has washed the feet of the brahmanas. O best of the

sages, Sri Gurudeva, now, with great enthusiasm, I desire to hear the benefits

of fasting on Ekadasi and the appearance of Ekadasi.

kasmad ekadasi jata tasyah ko va vidhir dvija

kada va kriyate kim va phalam kim va vadasva me

ka va pujyatama tatra devata sad-gunarnava

akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum arhasi

"Oh Gurudeva! When did Ekadasi take birth and from whom did she appear? What

are the rules of fasting on the Ekadasi? Please describe the benefits of

following this vow and when it should be followed. Who is the utmost

worshippable presiding deity of Sri Ekadasi? What are the faults in not

following Ekadasi properly? Please bestow your mercyupon me and tell about

these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so."

Srila Vyasadeva, upon hearing this enquiry of Jaimini Rsi, became situated in

transcendental bliss. "Oh brahmana sage Jaimini! The results of following

Ekadasi can only be perfectly described by the Supreme Lord, Narayana, because

Sri Narayana is the only personality capable of describing them in full. But I

will give a very brief description in answer to your question."

"At the beginning of the material creation, the Supreme Lord created the

moving and nonmoving living entities within this world made of five gross

material elements. Simultaneously, for the purpose of punishing the humans

beings, He created a personality whose form was the embodiment of sin

(Papapurusha). The different limbs of this personality were constructed of the

various sinful activities. His head head was made of the sin of murdering a

brahmana, his two eyes were the form of the sin of drinking intoxicants, his

mouth was made of the sin of stealing gold, his ears were the form of the sin

of having illicit connection with the spiritual master's wife, his nose of the

sin of killing one's wife, his arms the form of the sin of killing a cow, his

neck made of the sin of stealing accumulated wealth, his chest of the sin of

abortion, his lower chest of the sin of having sex with another's wife, his

stomach of the sin of killing one's relatives, his navel of the sin of killing

those who are dependent on him, his waist of the sin of self appraisal, his

thighs of the sin of offending the guru, his genital of the sin of selling

one's daughter, his buttocks of the sin of telling confidential matters, his

feet of the sin of killing one's father, and his hair the form of lesser, less

severe sinful activities. In this way, a horrible personality embodying all

the sinful activities and vices was created. His bodily colour is black, and

his eyes are yellow. He inflicts extreme misery upon sinful persons."

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, upon seeing this

personality of sin, began to think to Himself as follows: 'I am the creator of

the miseries and happiness for the living entities. I am their master because

I have created this personality of sin, who gives distress to all dishonest,

deceitful, and sinful persons. Now I must create someone who will control this

personality.' At this time Sri Bhagavan created the personality known as

Yamaraj and the different hellishj planetary systems. Those living entities

who are very sinful will be sent after death to Yamaraj, who will in turn,

according to their sins, send them tom a hellish region to suffer.

"After these adjustments had been made, the Supreme Lord, who is the giver of

distress and happiness to the living entities, went to the house of Yamaraj,

with the help of Garuda, theking of birds. When Yamaraj saw that Lord Vishnu

had arrived, he immediately washed His feet and made an offering unto Him. He

then had Him sit upon a golden throne. The Supreme Lord, Vishnu, became seated

on the throne, whereupon He heard very loud crying sounds coming from the

southern direction. He became surprised by this and thus enquired from

Yamaraj, 'From where is this loud crying coming?'

"Yamaraj in reply said, 'Oh Deva! The different living entities of the

earthly planetary systems have fallen into the hellish regions. They are

suffering extremely for their misdeeds. The horrible crying is because of

suffering from the inflictions of their past bad karma (actions).'

"After hearing this the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, went to the hellish region to

the south. When the inhabitants saw who had come they began to cry even

louder. The heart of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, became filled with compassion.

Lord Vishnu thought to Himself, 'I have created all this progeny, and it is

because of Me thatthey are suffering.'"

Srila Vyasadeva continued: "Oh Jaimini, just listen to what the Supreme Lord

did next.

etac canyac ca viprarse

vicintya karunamayah

babhuva sahasa tatra

svayam ekadasi tithih

'After the merciful Supreme Lord thought over what He had previously

considered, He suddenly manifested from His own form the deity of the lunar

day Ekadasi.' Afterwards the different sinful living entities began to follow

the vow of Ekadasi and were then elevated quickly to the abode of Vaikuntha.

Oh my child Jaimini, therefore the lunar day of Ekadasi is the selfsame form

of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, and the Supersoul within the heart of the living

entities. Sri Ekadasi is the utmost pios activity and is situated as the haed

among all vows.

"Following the ascension of Sri Ekadasi, that personality who is the form of

the sinful activity gradually saw the influence she had. He approached Lord

Vishnu with doubts in his heart and began offering many prayers, whereupon

Lord Vishnu became very pleased and said, ' I have become very pleased by your

nice offerings. What boon is it that you want?'

"The Papapurusha replied, 'I am your created progeny, and it is through me

that you wanted distress given to the living entities who are very sinful. But

now, by the influence of Sri Ekadasi, I have become all but destroyed. Oh

Prabhu! After I die all of Your parts andparcels who have accepted material

bodies will become liberated and therefore return to the abode of Vaikuntha.

If this liberation of all living entities takes place, then who will carry on

Your activities? There will be no one to enact the pastimes in the earthly

planetary systems! Oh Keshava! If You want these eternal pastimes to carry on,

then You please save me from the fear of Ekadasi. No type of pious activity

can bind me. But Ekadasi only, being Yourown manifested form, can impede me.

Out of fear of Sri Ekadasi I have fled and taken shelter of men; animals;

insects; hills; trees; moving and nonmoving living entities; rivers; oceans;

forests; heavenly, earthly, and hellish planetary systems; demigods; and the

Gandarvas. I cannot find a place where I can be free from fear of Sri Ekadasi.

Oh my Master! I am a product of Your creation, so therefore very mercifully

direct me to a place where I can reside fearlessly.'"

Srila Vyasadeva then said to Jaimini, "After saying this, the embodiment of

all sinful activities (Papapurusha) fell down at the feet of the Supreme

Lord, Vishnu, who is the destroyer of all miseries and began to cry.

"After this, Lord Vishnu, observing the condition of the Papapurusha with

laughter, began to speak thus: 'Oh Papapurusha! Rise up! Don't lament any

longer. Just listen, and I'll tell you where you can stay on the auspicious

lunar day of Ekadasi. On the day of Ekadasi, which is the benefactor of the

three worlds, you can take shelter of foodstuff in the form of grains. There

is no reason to worry about this any more, because My form as Sri Ekadasi Devi

will no longer impede you.' After giving direction to the Papapurusha, the

Supreme Lord, Vishnu, disappeared and the Papapurusha returned to the

performance of his own activities.

"Therefore those persons who are serious about the ultimate benefit for the

soul will never eat grains on the Ekadasi tithi. According to the instructions

of Lord Vishnu, every kind of sinful activity that can be found in the

material world takes its residence in this place of foodstuff (grain). Whoever

follows Ekadasi is freed from all sins and never enters into hellish regions.

If one doesn't follow Ekadasi because of illusion, he is still considered the

utmost sinner. For every mouthful of grain that is eaten by a resident of the

earthly region, one receives the effect of kiling millions of brahmanas. It is

definately necessary that one give up eating grains on Ekadasi. I very

strongly say again and again, 'On Ekadasi, don't eat grains, don't eat grains,

don't eat grains!' Whether one be a ksatriya, vaisya, shudra, or of any

family, he should follow the lunar day of Ekadasi. From this the perfection of

varna and ashram will be attained. Especially since even if one by trickery

follows Ekadasi, all of his sin become destroyed and he very easily attains

the supreme goal, the abode of Vaikuntha."

Basic Rules for understanding Vaisnava Calendar.

1/. The Tithi at sunrise rules the day.

2/. If the Tithi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise of the next

day (Lost) it is combined with the next Tithi.

3/. If the same Tithi falls on sunrise two days in a row, observances are

scheduled on the first day; exept Ekadasi, Amavasya, or Purnima Tithis which

are scheduled for the second day.

Rules for Ekadasi.

Srila A. C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada makes an interesting comment in his

purport to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya lila. 9-24-342:

"You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekadasi and the performance of

pure Ekadasi. You should also describe the fault in not observing this. One

should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not

careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service."

General Rules for observance are:-

1/. Ekadasi must come in prior to the Arunodaya Viddhi (1hour, 12 mins,

before sunrise). When it does so it is called Suddha Ekadasi - pure ekadasi.

If it begins after that, it is considered impure and is therefore to be

observed on the Dwadasi ( making Mahadwadasi or Compounded) on the next day.

2/. If Ekadasi falls on Sunrise two days in a row, fasting is observed on

the second day.

Mahadwadasi.

(If Mahadvadasi is in force, fasting is prohibited on the Ekadasi, but the

observance is done on the Dwadasi. Compound Dwadasi-Mahadwadasi.)

1/. If Ekadasi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise the next day it

is considered Lost, too short, thus not full, and impure. Therefore the next

day is called Unmillani Mahadwadasi.

2/. If Dwadasi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise on the next day

(Trayodasi), it is also Lost, and is to be observed as Tri-Sprsa-Mahadwadasi.

3/. If Dwadasi falls on the Sunrise two days in a row the first Dwadasi

becomes Vyanjuli Mahadwadasi.

4/. When the following Amavasya or Purnima falls on sunrise two days in a

row the preceeding Dwadasi becomes Paksa-Vardhini-Mahadwadasi, Paksa based.

Parama Ekadasi in the month of Purushottam.

For more details see Navadvip Panjika intro of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati

Thakura (NP-intro.doc)

Vratas - what to do / auterities:

From Pancharatra Pradipa - Appendix 3

Notes on Ekadasi…

The Hari-bhakti-vilasa gives many rules for observing Ekadasi…, and these are

discussed at length in Volume II of Pancharata-Pradipa. Here, however, we will

mention only a few points concerning Ekadasi in relation to general standards

of Deity worship in ISKCON:

Offering Grains to the Spiritual Master and Lord Caitanya

In a conversation, Srila Prabhupada said that grains should not be offered to

either the spiritual master or Lord Caitanya and His associates on Ekadasi

Devotee: On Ekadasi, we can offer the Deity grains?

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. But not guru. Ekadasi observed by jiva-tattva, not by

Vishnu. We are fasting for clearing our material disease, but Radha-Krsna,

Caitanya Mahaprabhu . . . Caitanya Mahaprabhu also may not be offered grains

because He is playing the part of a devotee. Only Radha-Krsna, Jagannatha can

be offered grains. Otherwise, Guru-Gauranga, no. And the prasadam should not

be taken by anyone. It should be kept for the next day. [Srila Prabhupada Room

Conversation, Tokyo, April 22, 1972]

If there is only one plate for all Deities and the main Deity is Krsna or

Jagannatha, grains should be offered as on normal days. If the main Deities

are Gaura-Nitai, offer only non-grain preparations.* It is best to replace the

normally offered grain preparations with non-grain preparations so that there

are the same number of preparations as on normal days. If, however, grain

preparations are being cooked for Krsna or Jagannatha, it may be difficult to

cook additional non-grain preparations for the spiritual master and

Gaura-Nitai. In that case serve larger quantities of the non-grain

preparations to the spiritual master and Gaura-Nitai, and prepare the offering

plate for Krsna or Jagannatha as on normal days.

* If you are cooking for a restaurant where grains will be served on Ekadasi,

you may offer the grains to Gaura-Nitai with the understanding that They will

offer the bhoga to Krsna.

What Constitutes "Grains" on Ekadasi?

Srila Prabhupada specified foodgrains and beans (pulses) as foods that must be

avoided on Ekadasi. One may use spices for cooking, although mustard seeds

should be avoided.* You should not use powdered asafatoeda (hing), since it

(generally) contains grains. Sesame seeds are also to be avoided, except on

Satila Ekadasi, when they may be offered and eaten.

Do not use any cooking ingredients that might be mixed with grains, such as

ghee that has been used to fry puris, or spices touched by hands dusted with

chapati flour.

* Someone who is very strictly observing Ekadasi should avoid all spices

except pepper, rock salt and cumin. He should also eschew certain vegetables,

such as tomatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, and leafy vegetables. Temple kitchens

need not follow these strictures, since Srila Prabhupada did not establish

them. Individual devotees may observe these rules if they choose, either

making their own arrangements for cooking on Ekadasi, eating uncooked foods

such as fruit, or observing full fasting. These arrangements should not

interfere with the temple cooking schedule.

Mahaprasadam on Ekadasi:

On Ekadasi, strict followers of Vaishnava regulations avoid eating any

mahaprasada from an offering that includes grains.. The shastra explains that

the papa-purusha (sin personified) takes shelter in grains on Ekadasi, and

therefore we avoid grains at all cost on that day, not even risking taking

non-grain preparations of mahaprasada from an offering plate containing

grains. Ekadasi mahaprasada should be stored until the next day; if that is

not possible it can be distributed to persons not strictly following Vaishnava

regulations or to animals. In fact, mahaprasada maintains its purity on

Ekadasi despite the presence of the papa-purusha, and therefore it will purify

anyone who eats it. Nevertheless, the followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being

strict followers of Vaishnava regulations, avoid mahaprasada on that day

because their strict sadhana will be hampered by the presence of the

papa-purusha.

Utpanna Ekadasi

Suta Goswami said, "O learned brahmanas, long ago Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, explained the auspicious glories of Sri Ekadasi and the

rules and regulations governing each observance of fasting on that holy day. O

best of the brahmins, whosoever hears about the origins and glories of these

sacred fasts on the Ekadasi days goes directly to the abode of Lord Vishnu after

enjoying many different kinds of happiness in this material world.

"Arjuna, the son of Prithaa, asked the Lord, 'O Janardana, what are the

pious benefits of complete fasting, eating only supper, or eating but once at

midday on Ekadasi, and what are the regulations for observing the various

Ekadasi days? Kindly narrate all this to me'.

"The Supreme Lord Krishna replied, 'O Arjuna, in the beginning of winter

(northern hemisphere), on the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of

the month of Margasirsha (November-December), a novice should begin his practice

of observing a fast on Ekadasi. On Dasami, the day before Ekadasi, he should

clean his teeth nicely. Then during the eight portion of Dasami, just as the Sun

is about to set, he should eat supper.

" 'The next morning the devotee should make a vow, according to the rules

and regulations, to observe fasting. At midday he should bathe properly in a

river, lake or small pond. A bath in a river is most purifying, thsat taken in a

lake is less so, and a bath in a small pond is the least purifying. If neither a

river, lake nor pond is accessible, he may bathe with well-water.

"'The devotee should chant this prayer containing the names of Mother

Earth: "O Asvakrante! O Rathakrante! O Vishnukrante! O Vasundhare! O Mrttike! O

Mother Earth! Kindly remove all the sins I have accumulated throughout my many

past lives so that I may enter the sacred abode of the Supreme Lord." As the

devotee chants, he should smear mud over his body.

"'During the day of fasting the devotee should not speak to those who are

fallen from their religious duties, to dog-eaters, to thieves, or to hypocrites.

He should also avoid speaking with slanderers; with those who abuse the

demigods, the Vedic literatures, or brahmanas; or with any other wicked

personalities, such as those who have sex with forbidden women, those who are

known plunderers, or those who rob temples. If any such person is spoken to or

even seen during Ekadasi, one must purify oneself by looking directly at the

sun.

"'Then the devotee should respectfully worship Lord Govinda with first-class

food, flowers, and so forth. In his home he should offer the Lord a lamp in

pure devotional consciousness. he should also avoid sleeping during the daytime

and should completely abstain from sex. Fasting from all food and water, he

should joyfully sing the Lord's glories and play musical instruments for His

pleasure throughout the night. After remaining awake all night in pure

consciousness, the worshipper should give charity to qualified brahmanas and

offer his humble obeisances unto them, begging their forgiveness for his

offences.

"'Those who are serious about devotional service should consider the Ekadasis

that occur during dark fortnights to be as good as those that occur during

bright fortnights. O king, one should never discriminate between these two

kinds of Ekadasi.

Please listen as I now describe the results obtained by one who observes

Ekadasi in this way. Neither the merit one receives by taking a bath in the

sacred place of pilgrimage known as Sankhoddhara, where the Lord killed the

Sankhasura demon, nor the merit one receives upon seeing Lord Gadadhara directly

is equal to one sixteenth of the merit one obtains by fasting on Ekadasi. It is

said that by giving charity on a Monday when the moon is full, one obtains a

hundred thousand times the results of ordinary charity. O winner of wealth, one

who gives charity on the day of the sankranti (equinox) attains four hundred

thousand times the ordinary result. Yet simply by fasting on Ekadasi one

obtains all these pious results, as well as whatever pious results one gets at

Kurukshetra during an eclipse of the sun or moon. Furthermore, the faithful

soul who observes complete fasting on Ekadasi achieves a hundred times more

merit than one who performs an Asvamedha-yajna (horse sacrifice). One who

observes Ekadasi just once earns ten times more merit than a person who gives a

thousand cows in charity to a brahmana learned in the Vedas.

"'A person who feeds just one brahmacari earns ten times more merit than one

who feeds ten good brahmanas in his own house. But a thousand times more merit

than is earned by feeding a brahmacari is achieved by donating land to the needy

and respectable brahmana, and a thousand time more than that is earned by giving

away a virgin girl in marriage to a young, well-educated, responsible man. Ten

times more beneficial than this is educating children properly on the spiritual

path, without expecting any reward in return. Ten times better than this,

however, is giving food grains to the hungry. Indeed, giving charity to those

in need is the best of all, and there never has been or ever will be a better

charity than this. O son of Kunti, all the forefathers and demigods in heaven

become very satisfied when one gives food grains in charity. But the merit one

obtains by observing a complete fast on Ekadasi cannot be measured. O Arjuna,

best of all Kurus, the powerful effect of this merit is inconceivable even to

the demigods, and half this merit is attained by one who eats only supper on

Ekadasi.

"'One should therefore observe fasting on Lord Hari's day either by eating

only once at midday, abstaining from grains and beans; or by fasting completely.

The processes of staying in places of pilgrimage, giving charity, and

performing fire sacrifices may boast only as long as Ekadasi has not arrived.

Therefore anyone afraid of the miseries of material existence should observe

Ekadasi. On Ekadasi one should not drink water from a conch-shell, kill living

entities such as fish or pigs, or eat any grains or beans. Thus I have

described to you, O Arjuna, the best of all methods of fasting, as you have

inquired from Me.'

"Arjuna then asked, 'O Lord, according to You, a thousand Vedic sacrifices do

not equal even one Ekadasi fast. How can this be? How has Ekadasi become the

most meritorious of all days?'

"Lord Sri Krishan replied, 'I will tell you why Ekadasi is the most purifying

of all days. In the Satya-Yuga there once lived an amazingly fearsome demon

called Mura. Always very angry, he terrified all the demigods, defeating even

Indra, the king of heaven; Vivasvan, the sun-god; the eight Vasus; Lord Brahma;

Vayu. the wind-god; and Agni, the fire-god. With his terrible power he brought

them all under his control.

"'Lord Indra then approached Lord Shiva and said, "We have all fallen from our

planets and are now wandering helplessly on the earth. O lord, how can we find

relief from this affliction? What will be the fate of us demigods?'

"'Lord Shiva replied, "O best of the demigods, go to that place where Lord

Vishnu, the rider of Garuda, resides. He is Jagannatha, the master of all the

universes and their shelter as well. He is devoted to protecting all souls

surrendered to Him.'"

"Lord Krishna continued, 'O Arjuna, winner of wealth, after Lord Indra heard

these words of Lord Shiva's, he proceeded with all the demigods to the place

where Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe, the protector of all souls, was

resting. Seeing the Lord sleeping upon the water, the demigods joined their

palms and, led by Indra, recite the following prayers:

"'"O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all obeisances to You. O Lord of lords,

O You who are praised by the foremost demigods, O enemy of all demons, O

lotus-eyed Lord, O Madhusudana (killer of the Madhu demon), please protect us.

Afraid of the demon Mura, we demigods have come to take shelter of You. O

Jagannatha, You are the doer of everything and the creator of everything. You

are the mother and the father of all universes. You are the creator, the

maintainer, and the destroyer of all. You are the supreme helper of all the

demigods, and You alone can bring peace to them. you alone are the earth, the

sky, and the universal benefactor.

"'"You are Shiva, Brahma, and also Vishnu, the maintainer of the three worlds.

You are the gods of the sun, moon, and fire. You are the clarified butter, the

oblation, the sacred fire, the mantras, the rituals, the priests, and the silent

chanting of japa. You are the sacrifice itself, its sponsor, and the enjoyer of

its results, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nothing within these three

worlds, whether moveable or immovable, can exist independent of You. O Supreme

Lord, Lord of lords, You are the protector of those who take shelter of You. O

supreme mystic, O shelter of the fearful, please rescue and protect us. We

demigods have been defeated by the demons and have thus fallen from the heavenly

realm. Deprived of our positions, O Lord of the universe, we are now wandering

about this earthly planet."'

"Lord Krsna continued, 'Having heard Indra and the other demigods speak these

words, Sri Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, replied, "What demon

possesses such great powers of delusion that he has been able to defeat all the

demigods? What is his name, and where does he live? Where does he get his

strength and shelter? Tell Me everything, O Indra, and do not fear."

"'Lord Indra replied, "O Supreme Godhead, O Lord of lords, O You who vanquish

the fear in Your pure devotees' hearts, O You who are so kind to your faithful

servants, there was once a powerful demon of the Brahma dynasty whose name was

Nadijangha. he was extraordinarily fearsome and wholly dedicated to destroying

the demigods, and he begot an infamous son named Mura.

"'"Mura's great capital city is Chandravati. From that base the terribly evil

and powerful Mura demon has conquered the whole world and brought all the

demigods under his control, driving them out of their heavenly kingdom. He has

assumed the roles of Indra, the king of heaven; Agni, the fire-god; Yama, the

lord of death; Vayu, the wind-god; Isha, or Lord Shiva; Soma, the moon-god;

Nairrti, the lord of the directions; and Pasi, or Varuna, the water-god. He has

also begun emanating light in the role of the sun-god and has turned himself

into the clouds as well. It is impossible for the demigods to defeat him. O

Lord Vishnu, please kill tis demon and make the demigods victorious."

"'Hearing these words from Indra, Lord Janardana became very angry and said,

"O powerful demigods, all together you may now advance on Mura's capital city of

Chandravati." Encouraged thus, the assembled demigods proceeded to Chandravati

with Lord Hari leading the way.

"'When Mura saw the demigods, that foremost of demons started roaring very

loudly in the company of countless thousands of other demons, who were all

holding brilliantly shining weapons. The mighty-armed demons struck the

demigods, who began abandoning the battlefield and fleeing in the ten

directions. Seeing the Supreme Lord Hrsikesha, the master of the senses,

present on the battlefield, the furious demons rushed toward Him with various

weapons in their hands. As they charged the Lord, who holds a sword, disk, and

club, He immediately pierced all their limbs with His sharp, poisonous arrows.

thus many hundred of demons died by the Lord's hand.

"'At last the chief demon, Mura, began fighting with the Lord. Mura used his

mystic power to render useless whatever weapons the Supreme Lord Hrsikesa

unleashed. Indeed, to the demon the weapons felt just like flowers striking

him. When the Lord could not defeat the demon even with various kinds of

weapons - whether those that are thrown or those that are held - He began

fighting with His bare hands, which were as strong as iron-studded clubs. the

Lord wrestled with Mura for one thousand celestial years and then, apparently

fatigued, left for Badarikashrama. There Lord Yogeshvara, the greatest of all

yogis, the Lord of the universe, entered a very beautiful cave named Himavati to

rest. O Dhananjaya, winner of wealth, that cave was ninety-six miles in

diameter and had only on entrance. I went there out of fear, and also to sleep.

There is no doubt about this, O son of Pandu, for the great fight made me very

tired. the demon followed Me into that cave and, seeing Me asleep, started

thinking within his heart, "Today I will kill this slayer of all demons, Hari."

"'While the wicked-minded Mura was making plans in this way, from My body

there manifested a young girl who had a very bright complexion. O son of Pandu,

Mura saw that she was equipped with various brilliant weapons and was ready to

fight. Challenged by that female to do battle, Mura prepared himself and then

fought with her, but he became very astonished when he saw that she fought him

without cessation. The king of the demons then said, "Who has created this

angry, fearsome girl who is fighting me so powerfully, just like a thunderbolt

falling upon me?' After saying this, the demon continued to fight with the

girl.

"'Suddenly that effulgent goddess shattered all of Mura's weapons and in a

moment deprived him of his chariot. He ran toward her to attacker with his bare

hands, but when she saw him coming she angrily cut off his head. Thus the demon

at once fell to the ground and went to the abode of Yamaraja. the rest of the

Lord's enemies, out of fear and helplessness, entered the subterranean Patala

region.

"'Then the Supreme Lord woke up and saw the dead demo before Him, as well as

the maiden bowing down to him with joined palms. his face expressing His

astonishment, the Lord of the universe said, "Who has killed this vicious demon?

He easily defeated all the demigods, Gandharvas, and even Indra himself, along

with Indra's companions, the Maruts, and he also defeated the Nagas (snakes),

the rulers of the lower planets. He even defeated Me, making Me hide in this

cave out of fear. Who is it that has so mercifully protected Me after I ran

from the battlefield and went to sleep in this cave?"

"'The maiden said, "It is I who have killed this demon after appearing from

You transcendental body. Indeed, O Lord Hari, when he saw You sleeping he

wanted to kill You. Understanding the intention of this thorn in the side of

the three worlds, I killed the evil rascal and this freed all the demigods from

fear. I am Your great maha-sakti, Your internal potency, who strikes fear into

the hearts of all Your enemies. I have killed this universally terrifying demon

to protect the three worlds. Please tell me why You are surprised to see that

this demon has been killed, O Lord."

"'The Supreme Personality of Godhead said, "O sinless one, I am very satisfied

to see that it is you who have killed this king of the demons. In this way you

have made the demigods happy, prosperous, and full of bliss. Because you have

given pleasure to all the demigods in the three worlds, I am very pleased with

you. Ask any boon you may desire, O auspicious one. I will give it to you

without a doubt, though it be very rare among the demigods."

""The maiden said, "O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me a

boon, then give me the power to deliver from the greatest sins that person who

fasts of this day. I wish that half the pious credit obtained by one who fasts

will accrue to one who eats only in the evening (abstaining from grains and

beans), and that half of this pious credit will be earned by one who eats only

at midday. Also, may one who strictly observes a complete fast on