Kamada Ekadashi (Photo Credit: Instagram)
New Delhi:
Shukla Paksha (waxing moon period) Ekadashi of the month of Chaitra is observed as Kamada Ekadashi. The 11th lunar day of the Shukla Paksha is considered favorable to growth or expansion on every plane of existence i.e. mental, physical and spiritual plane and the one that falls in Chaitra month according to Hindu calendar (March-April) has special significance. Kamada Ekadashi is observed on this day and it is believed every wish is granted by devotees who fast and offer puja to Lord Vishnu. It is also the first ekadashi after the Hindu New Year.
Kamada Ekadashi Date: April 4, 2020
Ekadashi Tithi begings at 12.58 pm
Ekadashi Tithi ends at 10.30 pm
Folklore/Katha behind observing Kamada Ekadashi
A young gandharva couple, Lalit and lalita were subjects at the court of King Pundarika of Ratnapura. They used to ear their living by singing and dancing for the kind. Lalit was a singer while his partner Lalita was a dancer. One day duing performance Lalit skipped few beats of his song and an evil jealous subject, a serpent complained to the king about his mistake and convinced him that Lalit's attention got diverted because of his wife. He even cajoled him to believe that Lalit considers his wife more important than the king. This infuriated the monarch who cursed Lalit and turmed him to a monster preying on humans. A distressed Llaita started wandering at forests to find a remedy for her husband. She ended up meeting a sage Shringi who adviced her to keep vrat of kamada Ekadashi to pay for the sins commited by Lalit. Lalita obeyed him an impressed Lord Vishnu granting her wish transformed Lalit to his usual human form. Thereafter, they were taken to heaven on a celestial flying chariot and it becama a common practice to observe Kamada vrat to cleanse one of sins and get their wishes granted by the lord.
Kamada Ekadashi Puja Vidhi
On the day of Kamada Ekadashi, devotees wake up early and take a bath in river with soil taken from some pure place. They offer puja to Lord Vishnu with tulsi plant fruits, flowers, milk, sesame, panchamrit. Devotees listen to Satya Narayan Katha. On the next day, i.e., Dwadash, after fasting food to the Brahmin, the fast should be passed.
