One has to perform devotional service in full tapasya, austerity. One should fast on the two Ekadasi days, which fall on the eleventh day of the waxing and waning moon, and on the birthdays of Lord Krishna and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. There are many such fasting days. SB 3/27/22

Papamochani Ekadasi Vrata assures the devotees to enjoy the Lord blessing to detach from sense

gratification during the spiritual practices.

Papamochani Ekadasi• Whole life is full of negotiation, Without knowing the

negotiation with Natural laws 1. if We decide to become a celibate it is useless 2. if we decide to get married it is dangerous, 3. if we decide to live neither this nor that may get

bored. • Be Authentic and Integrated Based on the Acharyas

Guidelines .• Hiding anger is guilt. Hiding lust is fear.

Papamochani Ekadasi• Srila Prabhupada :• However powerful one may be in controlling the senses by artificial

repression, is sure ultimately to fall, for the slightest thought of sense pleasure will drive him to gratify his desires .

• From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool."Our position is, we are constituted of this body. Body means the senses and the controller of the senses or the, what is called, driver, driver of the senses, is the mind. And mind is conducted, thinking, feeling, and willing, the psychology, the science of psychology, that is being conducted under intelligence. And above the intelligence, I am sitting. I am a spirit soul. So how we become victim of this Maya, that is described here, that from anger, delusion arises, and from delusion, bewilderment of memory. Bewilderment memory. I have forgotten completely that I am not this body, I am spirit soul, Aham Brahmasmi.

Srila Prabhupada explains the power of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy upon His devotees

• Indriyas have been compared with kala-sarpa, kala-sarpa, means a venomous snake.

• If snake touches in any part of your body, because the venomous teeth, death is possible immediately.

• Kala means Time. Kala-sarpa means binding the souls with birth and death cycle.

•  we are so much afraid of a snake because of its impact.• if the sarpa's poison teeth is taken away, then no more fear.•  Therefore Prabodhananda Sarasvati says that "By the mercy of

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, our indriyas, the senses can be purified by Nama Sankirtana, which are compared to the poison less kala-sarpa.

•

EkadasiHow to observe the Ekadasi • Fasting on Ekadasi (comes twice a month). One should not consume

any grains or meat on this day. • Lord Krishna says that if a person fasts on Ekadasi, I will burn up all his

sins. • Indeed this day is the most meritorious day for destroying all kinds of

sins.” In the three worlds, there is no kind of fasting, which is even comparable to the Ekadasi fast.

• Even if one performs this fast without a proper attitude, he achieves the Lords Supreme Abode. Anyone who fasts on Ekadasi, with full devotion, the merit one receives cannot be compared to anything else in the three worlds.

• The benefits of fasting on this day are endless. Ekadasi bestows upon that devotee eradication of the greatest sins that he has committed and is awarded passage to the spiritual abode. One is granted freedom from obstacles in his spiritual progress and grants the perfection of life. This day of fasting removes all sins eternally. This is the most meritorious day for destroying all kinds of sins.

Sachi MataCaitanya mother replied, My dear son, I will give You whatever You ask. Then the Lord said, “My dear mother, please do not eat grains on the Ekadasi day.”Adi 4/40

From the very beginning of His childhood life Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the system of fasting on the Ekadasi day. In the Bhakti sandarbha, by Srila Jiva Gosvami, there is an admonishment that a person who eats grains on Ekadasi gets sin equal to murdering his mother, father, brother or spiritual master.

In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana it is said that one who observes fasting on Ekadasi day is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and advances in pious life. The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one's faith and love for Govinda, or Krishna. The real reason for observing fasting on Ekadasi is to minimize the demands of the body and to engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar service.

Story for the Papamochani Ekadasi : Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, “Oh Supreme Lord, I have heard from You the explanation of Amalaki Ekadasi which occured during the light fortnight of the month of Phalguna (February-March), and now I wish to hear about the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra (March-April). What is its name, Oh Lord, and what results can one attain by observing it?” The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, replied, “O best of kings, for the benefit of everyone I shall gladly describe to you the glories of this Ekadasi, which is known as Papamochani. The history of this Ekadasi was once narrated to the Emperor Mandhata by Lomasa Rishi. King Mandhata addressed the Rishi, ‘Oh great sage, for the benefit of all people, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Pulguna -Chaitra, and please explain the process for observing it. Also, please describe the benefits one gains by observing this Ekadasi.’ “Lomasa Rishi replied, “The Ekdasi that occurs during the dark part of the month of Pulguna -Chaitra is named Papamochanii Ekadasi. For the faithful devotee it removes the influences of ghosts and demons. Oh lion among men, this Ekadasi also awards the eight perfections of life, fulfils all kinds of desires, purifies one’s life of all sinful reactions, and makes a person perfectly virtuous. “‘Now please listen to a historical account concerning this Ekadasi and Chitraratha, the chief of the Gandharvas (heavenly musicians).

During the spring season, in the company of heavenly dancing girls, Chitraratha once came upon a beautiful forest bursting forth with a great variety of flowers. There he and the girls joined the Gandharvas and many Kinnaras, along with Lord Indra himself, the king of heaven, who was enjoying a visit there. Everyone felt that there was no better garden than this forest. Many sages were also present, performing their austerities and penances. The demigods particularly enjoyed visiting this celestial garden during the months of Chaitra and Vaisakha (April-May). A great sage named Medhavi resided in that forest, and the very attractive dancing girls would always attempt to seduce him. One famous girl in particular, Manjughosha, contrived many ways to allure the exalted Muni, but out of great respect for the sage and feat of his power, which he had attained after years and years of ascetics, she would not come very close to him. At a spot two miles from the sage, she pitched a tent and began singing very sweetly as she played a tamboura. Cupid(Manmatha) himself became excited when he saw and heard her perform so nicely and smelled the fragrance of her sandal-paste unguent. He remembered his own unfortunate experience with Lord Shiva and decided to take revenge by seducing Medhavi. ‘Using the eyebrows of Manjughosha as a bow, her glances as a bowstring, her eyes as arrows, and her breasts as a target, Cupid approached Medhavi in order to tempt him to break his trance and his vows. In other words, Cupid engaged Manjughosha as his assistant, and when she looked at that powerful and attractive young sage, she also became agitated by lust. Seeing that he was highly intelligent and learned, wearing a clean white brahmana’s thread draped across his shoulder, holding a sannyasi’s staff, and sitting handsomely in the asrama of Chyavana Rishi, Manjughosha came before him.

She began to sing seductively, and the small bells of her belt and around her ankles, together with the bangles on her wrists, produced a delightful musical symphony. The sage Medhavi was enchanted. He understood that this beautiful young woman desired union with him, and at that instant Cupid increased his attraction for Manjughosha by releasing his powerful weapons of taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. Slowly Manjughosha approached Medhavi, her bodily movements and sweet glances attracting him. She gracefully put her tamboura down and embraced the sage with her two arms, just as a creeper winds itself around a strong tree. Captivated, Medhavi gave up his meditation and decided to sport with her and instantly his purity of heart and mind abandoned him. Forgetting even the difference between night and day, he went away with her to sport for a long, long time. Seeing that the young yogi’s sanctity had become seriously eroded, Manjughosha decided to abandon him and return home. She said. “O great one, please permit me to return home.” ‘Medhavi replied, “But you have only just arrived, O beautiful one. Please stay with me at least until tomorrow.” ‘Fearful of the sage’s yogic power, Manjughosha stayed with Medhavi for precisely fifty-seven years, nine months, and three days, but to Medhavi all this time seemed like a moment. Again she asked him, “Please permit me to leave.” ‘Medhavi replied, “O dear one, listen to me. Stay with me for one more night, and then you may leave tomorrow morning. Just stay with me until I have performed my morning duties and chanted the sacred Gayatri mantra. Please wait until then.” Manjughosha was still fearful of the sage’s great yogic power, but she forced a smile and said, “How long will it take you to finish your morning hymns and rituals? Please be merciful and think of all the time you have already spent with me. The sage reflected on the years he had been with Manjughosha and then said with great astonishment. Why, I have spent more than fifty-seven years with you! His eyes turned red and began to emanate sparks. He now regarded Manjughosha as death personified and the destroyer of his spiritual life. You rascal woman! You have turned all the hard-earned results of my austerities to ashes! Trembling with anger, he cursed Manjughosha,

“Oh sinful one, Oh hard-hearted, degraded one! You know only sin! May all terrible fortune be yours! Oh rascal woman, I curse you to become an evil hobgoblin – pishacha!” ‘Cursed by the sage Medhavi, the beautiful Manjughosha humbly beseeched him, “Oh best of the brahmanas, please be merciful to me and revoke your curse! Oh great one, it is said that association with pure devotees gives immediate results but their curses take effect only after seven days. I have been with you for fifty-seven years, Oh master, so please be kind to me!” Medhavi Muni replied, “Oh gentle lady what can I possibly do? You have destroyed all my austerities. But even though you have done this sinful deed, I shall tell you a way you can be released from my wrath. In the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra there is an all-auspicious Ekadasi that removes all one’s sins. Its name is Papamochani, Oh beautiful one, and whoever fasts on this sacred day becomes completely freed from having to take birth in any kind of devilish form.” ‘With these words, the sage left at once for his father’s Ashram. Seeing him enter the hermitage, Chyavana Muni said, “Oh son, by acting unlawfully you have squandered the wealth of your penances and austerities.” Medhavi replied, “Oh Father, kindly reveal what atonement I must perform to remove the obnoxious sin I have incurred by privately associating with the dancing girl Manjughosha. Chyavana Muni answered, “Dear son, you must fast on Papamochani Ekadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of palguna - Chaitra. It eradicates all sins, no matter how grievous they may be. Medhavi followed his father’s advice and fasted on Papamochani Ekadasi. Thus all his sins were destroyed and he again became filled with excellent merit. Manjughosha observed the same fast and became free of the hobgoblin curse. Ascending once again to the heavenly spheres, she too returned to her former position. Lomasha Rishi continued, ‘Thus, Oh king, the great benefit of fasting on Papamochani Ekadasi is that whoever does so with faith and devotion will have all his sins completely destroyed. Sri Krishna concluded, “Oh King Yudhishthira, whoever reads or hears about Papamochani Ekadasi obtains the very same merit he would get if he donated a thousand cows in charity, and he also nullifies the sinful reactions he may have incurred by killing a brahmana, killing an embryo through abortion, drinking liquor, or having sex with his guru’s wife. Such is the incalculable benefit of properly observing this holy day of Papamochani Ekadasi, which is so dear to me and so meritorious.

“Oh sinful one, Oh hard-hearted, degraded one! You know only sin! May all terrible fortune be yours! Oh rascal woman, I curse you to become an evil hobgoblin – pishacha!” ‘Cursed by the sage Medhavi, the beautiful Manjughosha humbly beseeched him, “Oh best of the brahmanas, please be merciful to me and revoke your curse! Oh great one, it is said that association with pure devotees gives immediate results but their curses take effect only after seven days. I have been with you for fifty-seven years, Oh master, so please be kind to me!” Medhavi Muni replied, “Oh gentle lady what can I possibly do? You have destroyed all my austerities. But even though you have done this sinful deed, I shall tell you a way you can be released from my wrath. In the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra there is an all-auspicious Ekadasi that removes all one’s sins. Its name is Papamochani, Oh beautiful one, and whoever fasts on this sacred day becomes completely freed from having to take birth in any kind of devilish form.” ‘With these words, the sage left at once for his father’s Ashram. Seeing him enter the hermitage, Chyavana Muni said, “Oh son, by acting unlawfully you have squandered the wealth of your penances and austerities.” Medhavi replied, “Oh Father, kindly reveal what atonement I must perform to remove the obnoxious sin I have incurred by privately associating with the dancing girl Manjughosha. Chyavana Muni answered, “Dear son, you must fast on Papamochani Ekadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of palguna - Chaitra. It eradicates all sins, no matter how grievous they may be. Medhavi followed his father’s advice and fasted on Papamochani Ekadasi. Thus all his sins were destroyed and he again became filled with excellent merit. Manjughosha observed the same fast and became free of the hobgoblin curse. Ascending once again to the heavenly spheres, she too returned to her former position. Lomasha Rishi continued, ‘Thus, Oh king, the great benefit of fasting on Papamochani Ekadasi is that whoever does so with faith and devotion will have all his sins completely destroyed.

Sri Krishna concluded, “Oh King Yudhishthira, whoever reads or hears about Papamochani Ekadasi obtains the very same merit he would get if he donated a thousand cows in charity, and he also nullifies the sinful reactions he may have incurred by killing a brahmana, killing an embryo through abortion, drinking liquor, or having sex with his guru’s wife. Such is the incalculable benefit of properly observing this holy day of Papamochani Ekadasi, which is so dear to me and so meritorious.Thus ends the narration of the glories of Chaitra-Krishna Ekadasi, or Papamochani Ekadasi, from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana. Hare Krishna ,Hare Krishna ,Krishna ,Krishna Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama,Rama, Hare ,HareOm Hreem Kleem Shreem Sivaya Brammanay Namaha

One who hears Bhagavatam on the Ekadasi day is assured of long life, and one who recites it with careful attention while fasting is purified of all sinful reactions. SB 12/12/60

According to Srila Sreedhara Swami, Ekadasi is an appropriate day for performing special Deity worship. SB 11/27/25

On Ekadasi, everything is cooked for Vishnu, including regular grains and dhal, but it is enjoined that a Vaishnava should not even take Vishnu prasadam on Ekadasi. It is said that a Vaishnava does not accept anything eatable that is not offered to Lord Vishnu, but on Ekadasi a Vaishnava should not touch even maha-prasadam offered to Vishnu, although such prasadaam may be kept for being eaten the next day.

VishnuPrasadam

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took the food of Lord Vishnu in His ecstasy as Vishnutattva.

Adi 10/71

Jagadish & Hiranya Pandit

Benefits of Fasting• It gives one a taste for renunciation, and thus helps one

to give up sense gratification.• Fasting gives the system a rest: The physiological

system may become overworked due to a overeating or indiscrimination in diet.

• Fasting helps us practice self-discipline in eating and concentrate more on pleasing God.

• Fasting helps keep the body light and the stomach free so that one can meditate better. The digestive system draws the blood circulation towards the digestive organs. Therefore blood circulation to the head is decreased once food is taken: so we feel sleepy.

1. Completely fasting from food and water (although acamana water and caranamrita are still allowed).2. Taking water while fasting from all food.3. Taking water and a little fruit.4. Taking water and one meal in the afternoon.5. Drinking and eating as usual but without any grains or pulses.

Other Points• Completely fasting from food and drink on Bhima-

nirjala Ekadasi atones for any mistakes one has made on all the other Ekadasis for the previous year.

• One should not overdo fasting. It is supposed to cause buoyancy of feeling and not fatigue. One should only practice as much fasting as one's capacity allows and not try to artificially impress others.

• If one cannot do service because of fasting, he is better off eating.

Slayer of Mura demon in Hamavati cave at Badarikashram in Satya Yuga.A Form of the Lord

Give me the power to deliver from the greatest sins that person who fasts on this day. One who strictly observes a complete fast on my appearance day, with controlled senses, goes to the abode of Lord Visnu after he has enjoyed all kinds of pleasures in this world. This is the boon I desire to attain by Your mercy, my Lord. O Lord, whether a person observes complete fasting, eats only in the evening, or eats only at midday, please grant him a religious attitude, wealth, and at last liberation."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: "O most pious lady, what you have requested is granted. All My devotees in this world will surely fast on your day, and thus they will become famous throughout the three worlds and finally come and stay with Me in My abode. Because you, My transcendental potency, have appeared on the eleventh day of the waning moon, let your name be Ekadasi. If a person fasts on Ekadasi, I will burn up all his sins and bestow upon him My transcendental abode."

For the purpose of punishing the humans beings, He created a personality whose form was the embodiment of sin. The different limbs of this personality were constructed of the various sinful activities. His 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 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 feet of the sin of killing one's father, and his hair the form of lesser, less severe sinful activities. Padma Purana

'Oh Papapurusa! 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.’ Every kind of sinful activity takes its residence in grain. Whoever follows Ekadasi is freed from all sins and never enters into hellish regions.’

Breaking FastTechnically speaking a day begins at sunrise. That means that before sunrise is a part of the previous day. So the Ekadasi vrata starts at sunrise and lasts until the next sunrise. If one eats grains during this period, one breaks the fast and the vrata and the results, and gets bad results as well. This also does not allow one to get up and eat grains before the sunrise of the day on which the Ekadasi vrata begins, for those early hours are meant for japa and prayer, not for eating.

What Foods to AvoidSrila 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 asafetida (hing), since it (generally) contains grains. Sesame seeds are also to be avoided. 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 capati flour.

Ekadasi mahaprasada should be stored until the next day; if that is not possible it can be distributed to persons not strictly following Vaisnava regulations or to animals. In fact, mahaprasada maintains its purity on Ekadasi despite the presence of the papa-purusa, and therefore it will purify anyone who eats it. Nevertheless, the followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being strict followers of Vaisnava regulations, avoid mahaprasada on that day because their strict sadhana will be hampered by the presence of the papa-purusa.

One day, Lord Gaurahari went from Gundica mandira to the Jagannatha-vallabha gardens and sat amongst the flowers. The day was ekadasi. He celebrated this auspicious occasion by chanting the holy name incessantly, day and night. Present with Him were Svarupa Damodara, Ramananda Raya, Vakresvara Pandita and the other resident Vaisnavas of Sri Purusottama-ksetra, Puri.

The Lord said, "Today, all of you should refrain from eating and sleeping, and constantly chant Krsna's name. Some of you should chant japa, some of you should circumambulate the temple with prostrated obeisances and others should discuss the pastimes of Lord Balarama and Lord Krsna." Everyone became spiritually surcharged by the Lord' instructions and busied themselves with different activities, chanting, "Govinda, Govinda!" They felt intoxicated with prema.

Suddenly, Sri Gopinatha arrived from Gundica, accompanied by Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. They were laden with Lord Jagannatha's maha-prasadam! They placed the prasadam of cooked rice, a variety of vegetables, pitha, pana, sweet rice, curd and yoghurt before the Lord. At the Lord's bidding, devotees offered respectful obeisances to the prasadam and then continued chanting the Lord's name deep into the night in an ecstatic mood of devotion, free from all material desires.

Early next morning, the devotees, begged permission from Sri Gaurahari and, went to take bath. On returning, they sat down and respectfully honoured maha-prasadam, breaking their ekadasi fast. They experienced ineffable bliss.

Names of EkadasisSince there are 12 months in a year, with two Ekadasis in each month, there are 24 Ekadasis in each year. Each Ekadasi has a name, that are Utpanna, Mokshada, Saphala, Putrada, Shat-tila, Jaya, Vijaya, Amalaki, Papamocani, Kamada, Varuthini, Mohini, Apara, Nirjala, Yogini, Padma (Devashayani), Kamika, Putrada, Aja, Parivartini, Indira, Papankusha, Rama, and Haribodhini (Devotthani). Occasionally there are two extra Ekadasis that happen in a lunar leap year, which are Padmini and Parama.

Each Ekadasi day has particular benefits and blessings that one can attain by the performance of specific activities done on that day. By engaging in the extra study to learn what these are, one can derive even more benefit from each particular Ekadasi.

It is said that even if one mistakenly misses the observance of an Ekadasi, he or she may make up for it by observing it the very next

day on Dvadasi, and then break one’s fast from grain on the next day, Trayodasi. One may also observe the special fast on Nirjala Ekadasi. This is also called Bhima Ekadasi

Devotees who miss an Ekadasi day often observe a complete fast from all food and liquids on the Nirjala Ekadasi, and thus make up for whatever was missed. However, this is a very potent Ekadasi, so a complete fast on this day gives one who observes this many pious credits.

Rukmangada & son

DharmangadaSandhyavali

Mohini Brahma

Yamaraja

The End