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Kamada Ekadashi

Ekadashi, which dates to the Chaitra Shukla Ekadashi (11th day of the waxing moon), is called Kamada Ekadashi.

On this day, it is a religious belief to get fruits according to the wishes of people who are purely devout.

Kamada means something that grants all desires, Kamada ekadashi is believed to grant desires and wishes of them who observe this auspicious Ekadashi.

The brief study of this Ekadashi mahatma depicts that the significance of this Ekadashi is derived from an ancient incident which happened in a village named “Ratnapura”.

One day Yudhisthira asks with Krishna to narrate the story behind Kamada Ekadashi, Krishna tells the ancient incident of Ratnapura where King Pundarik ruled from a golden palace.

Ratnapura was also a village where king descendants of serpent kingdom lived, these serpents and several other beautiful Apsaras danced in King Pundarik’s palace.

Once when a dancer named “Lalit” couldn’t perform up to the expectation because of his distraction due to his love affair with another dancer “Lalita”, King cursed him to be a demon.

Lalit’s beloved was Lalita, she later observed this Kamada Ekadashi and freed her beloved from the curse, after that Kamada Ekadashi was widely observed and will always be observed till the eternity.

Precisely, this was it about the Kamada Ekadashi, this year and its months on the final edge, a series of Ekadashis for this year is concluded.

See you again on a new year’s commencing Ekadashi.

Significance Of Kamada Ekadashi:

The word ‘Kamada’ signifies ‘fulfillment of desires’ and thus, Kamada Ekadashi is believed to be a spiritual observance that fulfills all the worldly desires.

The significance of Kamada Ekadashi is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures and Puranas like the ’ Varaha Purana’.

In addition, during Mahabharata, Shri Krishna had explained the importance and benefits of Kamada Ekadashi to King Yudhishthira.

It is believed that the vrat of Kamada Ekadashi helps one to regain and improve their virtues. Moreover, it protects devotees and their families from all the curses.

All the sins including even the killing of a Brahmin, can be pardoned, if the devotee keeps a fast on this day. It is also believed that if married couples keep the Kamada Ekadashi vrat, they can be blessed with a child.

This vrat helps the devotee to attain salvation and reach Vaikunth Dham, the abode of Lord Krishna.

Rituals For Kamada Ekadashi

• Devotees wake up early in the morning, i.e. before sunrise, take an early bath and start the preparations for worshipping Lord Krishna. They worship the idol of Lord Krishna with sandalwood, flowers, fruits, and dhoop to invoke his blessings.
• Devotees observe a fast of Kamada Ekadashi where they can eat only one simple meal which includes milk products, fruits, vegetables, and dry fruits. Besides, the food prepared should be Saatvik and purely vegetarian. On this day, they also avoid eating rice, moong dal, wheat, and barley.
• The fast of Kamada Ekadashi begins from the ‘Dashami’ of the Chaitra Shukla Paksha. On this tithi, the person should consume only one meal before sunset. The fasting continues for a period of 24 hours from the sunrise of Ekadashi to the sunrise of the following day, that is, Dwadashi. The fast is broken on the next day, after offering food and some ‘Dakshina’ to a Brahmin.
• Devotees chant Vedic mantras and bhajans of Lord Krishna as well. Reading religious books like ‘Vishnu Sahastranaam’ is considered to be very auspicious.
• Also, special yagnas, discourses, and speeches are held in Lord Vishnu temples all over India.
• Devotees must listen to the Kamada Ekadashi vrat Katha. This Katha was formerly narrated by Saint Vasistha to Maharaja Dilip, who was the great grandfather of Sri Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Importance of Kamada Ekadashi Vrat Katha

In the great epic of Mahabharata, there is mention of Kamada Ekadashi Vrat Katha. People believe that Lord Krishna shared the importance and benefits of Kamada Ekadashi Katha to the eldest Pandava and King of Indraprastha, Yudhisthir.

The Varaha Purana also mentions the Kamada Ekadashi story. Kamada means the accomplishment of all the wishes.

Therefore, people say that Kamada Ekadashi Vrat is observed to fulfil all the wishes in life.

Many other Hindu scriptures talk about Kamada Ekadashi Vrat.

This Vrat can help to regain the lost virtues of life.

Many people keep fasting on this day to seek forgiveness for their past wrongdoings.

Married Couples observe fast on Kamada Ekadashi to get the blessing of a child.

It is nothing less than a pathway that leads people to the Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu.

Dos and Don’ts of Kamada Ekadashi Vrat

People should consider following the Dos and Don’ts of Kamada Ekadashi Vrat. It will help them complete the Vrat in its authentic way and receive the benefits in life.

Rituals to be Followed on Kamada Ekadashi Vrat

• Wake up before sunrise and take a bath.
• Begin the puja by worshipping Lord Krishna.
• The ideal way to honour him is by offering sandalwood, fruits, and flowers to receive the Kamada Ekadashi Vrat puja’s benefits.
• Whosoever performs the Kamada Ekadashi Vrat is not allowed to eat things like rice, moong dal, wheat and barley.
• However, they may consume food like milk, fruits and veggies and dry fruits.
• Non- vegetarian food is strictly prohibited from eaten on this day.
• The devotees should note that the fasting for Kamada Ekadashi Vrat starts from the night before on the day of Dashami in the month of Chaitra during Shukla Paksha.
• A single meal is allowed to eat before the sunset.
• It is a 24-hour fasting Vrat, starting from the sunrise, and it ends on the following day, the dawn of Dwadashi.
• People also donate grains and money to Brahmins before concluding the fasting.
• On this day, devotees recite a thousand names of Lord Vishnu while doing Vishnu Puja also known as Vishnu Sahasranama.
• Many people recite Krishna Bhajans and other Vedic mantras to receive the blessings of Lord Krishna.
• In our country, people organise Yagnas in the temples of Lord Vishnu on this day.
• It is advised to listen to the interesting Kamada Ekadashi story.
• People also believe that Great Sage Vashishtha narrated this story to King Dilip, the father of Raghu, the mighty ruler of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
• Lord Rama, the avatar of Lord Vishnu, belonged to the lineage of Raghu.

Kamada Ekadashi

Yudhishthira Maharaja said, “O Lord Krishna, O Vasudeva, please accept my humble obeisances.

I desired to know from you of the Ekadasi that occurs in the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra [March-April]. What is it named, and what are its glories?”

Lord Sri Krishna replied, “O Yudhishthira, listen attentively as I relate the ancient history of this sacred Ekadashi which Vasishtha Muni once narrated to King Dilipa, the great-grandfather of Lord Ramachandra.

“King Dilipa asked the great sage Vasishtha, ‘O wise brahmana, please educate me about the Ekadashi that comes during the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra.’

“Pleased with the query Vasishtha Muni replied, ‘O king, your inquiry is glorious. I am happy to narrate that which you wish to know.

The Ekadashi that occurs in the bright fortnight of Chaitra is named Kamada Ekadasi.

It destroys all sins, as a forest fire consumes a supply of dry firewood. Extremely purifying, it bestows the highest merit upon one who faithfully observes it.

O king, I will now relate to you an incident from ancient history so admirable that it removes all sins merely on being heard.

A Historical Incident

“‘Long ago, there once existed a city-state named Ratnapura.

Steeped in opulence, it was bedecked with gold and jewels.

Here, sharp-fanged snakes would enjoy getting intoxicated. King Pundarika was the ruler of this beautiful kingdom, which had numerous Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and Apsaras among its citizens.

Lalit and his wife Lalita were Gandharvas. Lalita was a celebrated danseuse.

The two were intensely attracted to each other and their home was abundant with wealth and fine food.

Lalita loved her husband dearly, and Lalit likewise always held her within his heart.

Gandharva Lalit Cursed

“‘Once, at the court of King Pundarika, some Gandharvas danced while Lalit sang. On this occasion, Lalita was not present.

 Due to his strong affection, he was lost in thoughts of her. Distracted, he lost track of meter and melody.

He even spoilt the ending of the song, and one of the envious snakes in attendance complained to the king that Lalit was absorbed in thinking of his wife instead of his sovereign.

The king became furious upon hearing this, and his eyes turned crimson with rage.

“‘Suddenly he shouted, “Foolish knave, lustfully thinking of a woman instead of reverentially thinking of your king you have grossly neglected your court duties, I curse you to at once become a cannibal!” O king, Lalit immediately became a fearsome cannibal with a terrifying appearance.

His arms were eight miles long, his mouth big as a huge cave, his eyes were tremendous as the sun and the moon, his nostrils resembled enormous pits in the earth, his neck was a veritable mountain, his hips were four miles wide, and his gigantic body stood sixty-four miles high.

Poor Lalit, the loving Gandharva singer, thus suffered the terrible results of his offense to King Pundarika.

Lalita Laments Her Husband’s Fate

“‘Seeing her husband so grotesquely transformed, Lalita was grief-stricken. She wailed miserably, “Now that my dear husband is in such suffering, woe is my lot. What am I to do? Where am I go?’

“‘Lalita grieved day and night wandering in the thick jungle with her monstrous husband instead of enjoying the lavish life of a Gandharva wife.

Her husband Lalit, under the spell of the king’s curse, engaged in horribly sinful acts.

He roamed fitfully in the forbidden regions, a once-beautiful Gandharva now reduced to a ghastly man-eater. Utterly distraught to see her dear husband suffer in his dreadful condition, Lalita piteously cried as she followed him in his manic wanderings.

Good Fortune Arrives

“‘However, good fortune struck one day when they came upon the great sage Shringi who was sitting on the peak of the famous Vindhyachala Hill.

Approaching him, Lalita immediately offered the ascetic her respectful obeisances.

The sage noticing her bowing down before him said, “O beautiful one, who are you? Whose daughter are you? Why have you come here? Tell me in truth.”

“‘Lalita replied, “O great age, I am the daughter of the great Gandharva Viradhanva, and my name is Lalita. I roam the forests and plains with my unfortunate husband, whom King Pundarika has cursed to become a man-eating demon.

O Brahmana, I am deeply aggrieved to see his ferocious form and intolerably sinful activities.

O master, please guide me on what the atonement for my husband is. O best of Brahmanas, what pious acts can I perform to free him from his demonic form?”

“‘The sage replied, “Heavenly maiden, there is an Ekadashi named Kamada that occurs in the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra.

It is coming soon. Whoever fasts on this day has all his desires fulfilled. If you observe the fasting for this Ekadashi, strictly following its rules and regulations and then transfer the merit you earn to your husband, he will be freed from the curse at once.”

“‘Overjoyed to hear these words from the sage, Lalita faithfully observed the fast of Kamada Ekadashi strictly following the instructions of the sage Shringi. On the following day, Dvadasi, she appeared before the sage and the Deity of Lord Vasudeva and said, “I have faithfully observed Kamada Ekadashi.

By the merit I earned by observing this fast, may my husband be free from the curse that has turned him into a demonic cannibal.

May the merit I have gained free him from his misery.”

Lalita Frees Her Husband From His Curse

“‘No sooner had Lalita finished speaking, her husband, standing nearby, was at once freed from the king’s curse.

He regained his original form as the Gandharva Lalit, a handsome heavenly singer adorned with beautiful ornaments.

“‘Thereafter with his wife Lalita, he enjoyed an opulence even greater than before.

“‘All this was accomplished by the power and glory of Kamada Ekadashi.

In the end, the Gandharva couple boarded a celestial airplane and ascended to heaven.’

Lord Krishna Concludes

Lord Sri Krishna concluded, “O Yudhishthira, best of kings, anyone who hears this wonderful narration should certainly observe the holy Kamada Ekadashi to the best of his ability for the great merit it bestows upon the faithful devotee.

I have thus described its glories to you for the benefit of all humanity.

There is no better Ekadashi than Kamada Ekadashi.

It can eradicate even the sin of killing a Brahmana, and also nullify demonic curses.

It purifies the consciousness.

In all the three worlds, for movable and immovable living entities, there is no better day.”

Kamada Ekadashi

The untold glories of Kamada Ekadasi are described in the Varaha Purana in a delightful conversation between Maharaj Yudhistira and Sri Krsna.

The king asked: “My dear Lord, crowning jewel of the yadu dynasty.

Please enlighten me about the nature of this most auspicious day.

Kamada Ekadasi. Please accept my humble obeisances and advise me how one should observe this Ekadasi that falls during the month of Chaitra while the moon is waxing.

Please also describe what the benefits of such observance are and advise me how to reap the result.”

“Sri Krsna replied: “My dear maharaja Yudhisthira, please hear attentively the description of this Ekadasi day which has been recorded in the ancient Purana.

One time Maharaja Dilip, the great grandfather of Sri Ramacandra, asked his dearly beloved and most magnanimous spiritual master Vasistha, about the name and procedure for observing this Ekadasi, ‘Kamada’ which occurs during the month of Chaitra (March/April.)

“The saintly & sagacious Vasistha replied, ‘O my dear King, naturally i will fulfill your desire to hear the glories of this Ekadasi day.

The name of this inscrutably alligned, constellatory opportunity is Kamada.

The essence of such a day is the realisation of the delineation of lust and love; and knowing the difference between the two.

This sacred Ekadasi burns all one’s sinful reactions to ashes and awards the observer the privelege of having an intelligent and confident son. Now, please hear the glories of this Ekadasi.”

“Once, in the city of Ratnapura (Bhogipura) there was a great and venerable king known by the name of Pundarika.

He was accompanied by his joyful and kindly munificent subjects which included the Gandharvas, Kinnaras and the Apsaras. In that sweetly opulent city there lived a fantastically beautiful Apsara named Lalita and a handsome, regal Gandharva known as Lalit.

They lived happily as husband and wife and were consistently overwhelmed by each other’s love; to the point of madhness.

They were constantly engaged in sporting activities and relished each others company until their association burned at the heartstrings and knarled their brains to the point of exhaustion.”

“One time in the court of King Pundarika many Gandharva’s were engaged in blissful frivolities,  they were singing and dancing and covorting in great bliss.

Lalit sang with the Gandharvas although his wife did not, rather she danced in great ecstacy with the many joyous Apsaras.

Due to the pangs of separation that Lalit was experiencing in separation from his devoted wife, he felt intense hankering and dove into an ocean of tears.

His innunciation during his singing grew weaker and he forgot the words to many songs that he knew off by heart.”

“Oh king, in that assembly there was one serpent from the Patala Region, he went by the name of Karkotaka and knew well the mystery of this situation.

He complained in a greatly thunderous voice, “O lalit you have spoiled the perfomance here by your attachment to your wife, you have upset the taal (rhythm) of the piece and distracted the singers.

Therefore i curse you to be a man-eater cannibal.’

“Being thus cursed by such a serpentine character, Lalit immediately transformed into a great demon and all could see there was fearsome fire in his eyes.

When lalita saw her husband’s terrifying form she was extremely hurt and distressed.

In intense pain and distress she spent her days and nights simply thinking of where to go, what to do and who to see.

However, her fears allayed she felt no understanding of where she was, what she was doing and who she was seeing.

She was simply lost on an ocean of delinquent separation.

Surrendering all embarrassment she lived with her husband in the forest.”

“Once, while wandering within the dense forest with her husband, Lalita saw the most sacred ashrama of the sage and Sringi situated at the peak of the Vindhiya Mountain. Lalita immediately went there and offered her respectful obeisances to the sage. Upon seeing this lady, the sage inquired, ‘O beautiful one, who are you and where do you come from?

Why have you come here and what duty will you perform here?’

“Lalita replied: “O great soul, I am the daughter of the great and kind hearted Gandharva named Viradhanva.

My name is Lalita and I live in this forest with my husband.

He has been cursed by a ferocious serpent and is now in the form of a demon.

O brahmana! I am greatly indebted to you for your kind darshan and have no means of rescuing my husband myself.

Please, as a great brahmana you must surely have the ability to help.

If there is at all some way of atonement that will remove this horrendous afflication, then please; tell me!”

“After hearing Lalita’s pathetic request, the sage Sringi said, ‘O daughter of the Gandharva, in a few days time during the waxing Moon of the Chaitra month.

There is a munificent Ekadasi day, known as Kamada.

By observance of this day all one’s sinful reactions can be completely annhiliated.

By following this (vow) and giving the entire merit to your husband, all one’s desire’s will be fulfilled.

Then, by the influence of this merit your husband will immediately become freed from the curse.”

“O King! Being instructed in this way by the sage, Lalita gladly observed the vow of this Ekadasi.

On the day of Dvadasi, Lalita gladly sat in front of the brahmanas and the Supreme Lord Vasudeva and announced: “I have observed the Ekadasi vrata as you reccomended, I have abstained from food and water for the duration and am now gladly offering my results unto my dearest husband.

I pray that my piety will remove his demoniac condition and alleviate our suffering.”

“As soon as Lalita had finished her prayer, her husband-turned-demon, ‘Lalit’ became freed from the reactions of his sins and regained his divine Gandharva form.

From that time on Lalit and Lalita lived happily together.”

“Lord Krsna concluded, “O Maharaja Yudhisthira! O best of kings! Anyone who hears the narration of this most charmingly blissful day should certainly observe it to the best of his ability.

There is no better vow as it can eradicate even the sin of killing a brahmana and easily counteracts demoniac curses.” 

Significance of Kamada Ekadashi

Occurring at the start of the Hindu New Year, Kamada Ekadashi is the very first Ekadashi of the year.

Various Puranas, Vedas and Hindu scriptures describe the significance of this Ekadashi.

Observing a fast on Kamada Ekadashi safeguards devotees from all kinds of curses.

Fasting on this day rids devotees of their sins and helps attain salvation by freeing them of the cycle of birth and death.

It is believed that if a childless couple observes this fast, they are blessed with a male child.

Rituals Of Kamada Ekadashi

• On Kamada Ekadashi, devotees wake up early and take a holy bath. Thereafter, they offer prayers to Lord Vishnu.
• Devotees apply sandalwood paste, offer dhoop, fruits, flowers and burn incense sticks in front of the idol of the deity.
• One must refrain from consuming meals on ekadashi. If at all, they should consume a meal comprising only Satvik food — milk-based products, fruits and dry fruits, etc.
• Kamada Ekadashi fast begins a day earlier, on Dashami. Devotees should take only a single meal before sunset on the Chaitra Shukla dashami day.
• The Vrat lasts for a period of 24 hours, beginning from sunrise on Ekadashi and ending after sunrise on Dwadashi.
• One should end the fast with donation of food, clothes and other essentials to a Brahmin.
• Devotees chant sacred mantras and recite songs in honor of the deity. In addition, they should listen to the Kamada Ekadashi Vrat story.
• People also read ‘Vishnu Sahastranaam’ to seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Kamada Ekadashi Vrat Katha (Story)

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna narrated the legend of Kamada Ekadashi to King Yudhishthira. It is the tale of a couple — an apsara named Lalita, and a Gandharva named Lalit — who served in the court of King Pundarika, the ruler of Bhagipur.

Once, as Lalit sang in the king’s court with all the Gandharvas, his thoughts wandered to his beloved, who was not present in court.

The absence of his beloved affected his singing as well.

A serpent informed the King about Lalit’s actions, which infuriated Pundarika.

He set a curse upon Lalit to transform him into an ugly demon. T

he gandharva immediately took a ghastly form, which saddened Lalita as she got to know of his disposition.

As the now-fiendish Lalit wandered amidst the forests, a distraught Lalita kept following him.

At Vindhayachal mountain, Lalita chanced upon the ashram of Sage Shringi and narrated her plight. Sage Shringi then advised her to observe a fast for Kamada Ekadashi in Chaitra month to rid Lalit of the king’s curse.

Going by the sage’s advice, Lalita observed the fast in keeping with rituals and sought the deity’s blessings to free her husband of the curse.

After Lalita religiously completed the fast, Lalit regained his true form.

Ever since, devotees have been observing a fast on Kamada Ekadashi in order for fulfillment of their desires.

Kamada Ekadashi

Kamada Ekadashi celebrates the glory and grandiosity of Lord Vasudev, as he is worshipped on this auspicious day.

This ekadashi vrat is said to be the best one for worshipping Lord Vishnu.

With the effect of this fast, all desires are fulfilled and sins are destroyed.

One day before this Ekadashi fast, i.e. on tenth day or Dashmi, barley, wheat and moong etc.

should be consumed as a meal once a day and Lord Vishnu mst be remembered.

Kamada Ekadashi Vrat & Puja Rituals

Puja rituals for Kamada Ekadashi, which fulfils all your desires, are as follows:

1.  On this day, after retiring from bath, take a vow for fasting and worship God.
2.  Remember Lord Vishnu from time to time and conduct a jagran nearby the place of worship.
3.  Carry out the Parana on the next day of Ekadashi, i.e. on Dwadashi or twelfth day.
4.  Doing Brahman Bhoj or feeding Brahmins and giving them dakshina or donations is said to be of high importance, therefore do it. Consume food only then after.

 

Historical Legend

The legend of Kamada Ekadashi was narrated by Lord Shri Krishna to Pandu’s son Dharmraj Yudhisthira.

Prior to this, Vashist Muni had narrated the glory of this fast to King Dilip, which is as follows:

In ancient times, a king named Pundrik ruled in the town of Bhogipur.

In his city, many apsaras, eunuchs (kinnars), and Gandharvas used to live and their court was filled with these people.

Gandharvas and Kinnars used to sing every day.

There was a beautiful apsara named Lalita and her husband Lalit, a noble Gandharva lived there.

There was immense affection between the two and they were always lost in each others memories.

During one time when Gandharva Lalit was singing in the court of King, suddenly he remembered his wife Lalita.

Due to this reason, he couldn’t control his voice pitch.

A serpent called Karkat saw this, and told this to King Pundrik.

The king became angry when he heard this and cursed Lalit to be a monster.

After this, for many years Lalit kept roaming in the Monster yoni.

His wife continued to remember him but would become sad after seeing her husband in this condition.

After a few years passed, Lalits wife Lalita went to Sage Rishyamook on the Mount Vindhya, and started asking for the remedy for her husband.

The sage took pity on them and asked to perform Kamada Ekadashi fast.

After receiving his blessing, Gandharva-wife returned to her place and venerated the Kamada Ekadashi fast.

With the effect of this Ekadashi fast, they got rid of their curse and their Gandharva appearance back.