First Saphala Ekadashi fast of English New Year Importance and story 7 January 2024

First Saphala Ekadashi fast of English New Year - Importance and story 7 January 2024:

English New Year Saphala Ekadashi importance and story:

The fast of "Saphala Ekadashi", the first Ekadashi of the English New Year, will be observed on 7 January 2024. "Saphala Ekadashi", falling in the Krishna Paksha of the month of Paush, makes all the work of the seeker successful as per its name.

By observing this fast one gets success in the job, business, education-related fields, etc. The fast of Saphala Ekadashi is considered incomplete without a story and donation. Donations must be made on Ekadashi. Only donation brings welfare to the living beings and the best donation is cow donation. Or donation for cow service.

Saphala Ekadashi importance and story:

Maharaj Yudhishthir asked – O Janardan! What is the name of Paush Krishna Ekadashi? Which deity is worshiped on that day and what is its method? Please let me know.

Bhaktavatsal Lord Shri Krishna started saying, Dharamraj, because of your affection, I tell you that apart from the Ekadashi fast, I am not happy even with the Yagya that gets maximum Dakshina. Therefore, do it with utmost devotion and faith. Hey king! Listen to the greatness of Paush Krishna Ekadashi with Dwadashi with concentration.

The name of this Ekadashi is Saphala Ekadashi. The deity of this Ekadashi is Shri Narayan. This fast should be observed systematically. Just as Sheshnag is the best among snakes, Garuda among birds, Moon among all the planets, Ashwamedha among Yagyas, and Lord Vishnu among the gods, in the same way, the fast of Ekadashi is the best among all the fasts. Those people who always fast on Ekadashi and serve cows are very dear to me. Now let me tell you the method of this fast.

For my worship, collect sixteen items as per season like fruits, coconut, lemon, naivedya, etc. After worshiping me with this material, keep vigil at night. There is no Yagya, pilgrimage, charity, penance, or any other fast like the fast of this Ekadashi. The result of fasting on Saphala Ekadashi is even greater than the result obtained by doing penance for five thousand years.

O king! Now listen to the story of this Ekadashi:

A king named Mahishman ruled in Champavati city. He had four sons. Among them all, the eldest son of the king Lumpak was the greatest sinner. That sinner always used to waste his father's money on adultery, prostitution, and other bad deeds. He always used to criticize Gods, Brahmins, and Vaishnavas. When the king came to know about such misdeeds of his elder son, he expelled him from his kingdom. Then he started thinking about where to go. What to do?

At last, he decided to steal. During the day he would live in the forest and at night he would steal in his father's city and commit misdeeds of harassing and killing the people. After some time the whole city became frightened. He lived in the forest and started killing animals etc. and eating them. Citizens and state employees would have caught him but released him due to fear of the king.

There was a very ancient huge Peepal tree in the forest. People worshiped him like a god. That great sinner Lumpak used to live under the same tree. People considered this forest as the playground of the gods. After some time, on the Dashami day of Paush Krishna Paksha, he could not sleep the whole night due to cold because he was without clothes. His hands and legs became stiff.

By sunrise he became unconscious. On the next day, on Ekadashi, at midday, his unconsciousness went away due to the warmth of the sun. As he fell, he went out in search of food. He was not able to kill the animals, so he picked up the fruits that had fallen under the trees and came back under the same Peepal tree. By that time Lord Surya had set. After placing the fruit under the tree, he said – Oh God! Now this fruit is your offering. Be satisfied with yourself. That night I couldn't sleep because of grief.

God became extremely pleased with his fasting and vigilance and all his sins were destroyed. The next day in the morning, a very beautiful horse adorned with many beautiful things came and stood in front of him.

At the same time, a voice from the sky said, O king! By the grace of Shri Narayan, your sins have been destroyed. Now you go to your father and get the kingdom. Hearing such words, he became very happy and wearing divine clothes went to his father saying 'Victory to you Lord'. His father was pleased and handed over the responsibility of the entire kingdom to him and took the path to the forest.

Now Lumpak started ruling according to the scriptures. His wife, son, etc., and his entire family became staunch devotees of Lord Narayana. When he grew old, he handed over the responsibility of the kingdom to his son and went to the forest to do penance and ultimately attained Vaikuntha.