Jaya Ekadashi / Bhishma Ekadashi 2023

This year Jaya Ekadashi falls on 1st Feb 2023 Wednesday. This marks the special day of Bhishma Pitamaha from Mahabharata leaving his body for eternal abode. He is considered to be one among the supreme mainstays of Mahabharata where he had the boon of choosing the time of his own demise. Lord Krishna himself narrated the story of Jaya Ekadashi to Yudhishtra. Once there was a celestial event happening in the court of Indra. Almost all of the apsaras and other dancers accompanied with singers were entertaining the Devas. Indra was very pleased and was selectively ordering the musicians to play certain music and accordingly the apsaras will be dancing.

In the process, an apsara named Pushpadanta got attracted to the handsomeness of a musician named Malyavan. After a moment both of them got mutually attracted to each other and for a minute they forgot that they are in the court of Indra and lost in love. Indra noticed both of them and yelled at both of them among all present in the court. Indra out of anger cursed both Pushpadanta and Malyavan for being engaged in certain act of mutual attraction even after knowing that they are present in the court to entertain Indra and other Devas. Indra cursed both of them that they turn into ugly goblins and descend down to Earth down from the Indra Loka.

Both Malyavan and Pushpadanta were very sorrowful and were not presented any opportunity to repent for their mistake which happened all of a sudden and was not a planned act. Both went through many difficulties as they were experiencing severe strain as they were pushed down to earth near the Himalayas amidst full of snow. It was very horrible that both went walking embracing each other for heat. There was no food to consume. Nobody to share pain and no place to sit or sleep. It was such a situation where they cant stop for rest since they would go down freezing.

It was luckily an Ekadashi day (waxing phase) of Magha month (Jan – Feb). For the complete duration of Ekadashi both went without food or sleep in the thoughts of Sri Hari to set their situation right after they sought forgiveness for their sin. Lord Vishnu blessed both of them to receive back their celestial body and in a moment, both were present in the dais of Indra. Both were pleased and sought thanks for the kind blessings of Lord Vishnu. Indra was surprised to see both of them back in the court and later came to know that it was all due to the staunch Ekadashi fast practiced by both of them without even knowing about it.

So, we in Kali Yuga are experiencing many problems. Rather than problems, this Kali Yuga seems to provide Maya in front of our eyes for which we get deceived in many situations. To get rid of these situations and to live in reality with the blessings of Lord Vishnu it is important that we are ready with both our mind and body. To find ourselves physically and as well as mentally strong, it is important that we take up Ekadashi fasting which enables us to be closer to the holy feet of Lord Vishnu and in his service.

• Wake up before Sunrise
• Take head bath
• Wear neat and clean clothes
• Think of Lord Vishnu and spend the whole day in the thoughts of Lord Vishnu
• Read Srimad Bhagawad Gita
• Read Srimad Bhagawatam
• Chant or listen to the names or devotional hymns of Lord Vishnu
• Chanting atleast Rama Rama or Govinda Govinda or Narayana Narayana

• Om Namo Bhagawate Vaasudevaaya
• Om Namo Narayanaya
• Can also chant the Hare Krishna maha mantra

• Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra
• Sri Paduka Sahasra Stotra
• Sri Naama Ramayanam

• Spending quality time inside a Ghoshala or nearby a Ghoshala and chanting/ listening to the above mantras offer 100x additional results as staying in a ghoshala or coming around a holy cow is considered very auspicious on an Ekadashi day

• Since you are under medication, you can consume food for consuming medicines
• You can abide by the regulations of your medical practitioner
• You can chant or listen to the devotional tunes of Lord Vishnu which offers you no lesser results
• Pregnant mothers or those who have recently delivered a child can accordingly manage your food based on the advice of your elders