Mohini Ekadashi

Mohini Ekadashi is regarded as one of the most important fasting days for Hindus. The day of Mohini Ekadashi is celebrated to worship Lord Vishnu and his incarnated form of Mohini. Devotees observe a Mohini Ekadashi fast to get relieved from their past sins and live a life filled with luxuries.
As per the Hindu calendar, Mohini Ekadashi is celebrated in the month of Vaisakh during the Shukla Paksha on the 11th day (Ekadashi tithi). According to the Gregorian calendar, the day falls in the month of April or May.
Significance
According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that the importance and significance of Mohini Ekadashi have been first explained by Lord Krishna to King Yudhishthira and by Saint Vasishtha to Lord Rama.
If a person observes a Mohini Ekadashi Vrat with utmost dedication and devotion then he receives many ‘punya’ or ‘good karmas” as its fruitful result.
The Punya received are equivalent to the one attained by donating a thousand cows, visiting pilgrimages, and performing yajnas.
It is also believed that devotees get free from the cycle of birth and rebirth and attain salvation by observing the fast of Mohini Ekadashi.
To know the detailed importance of Mohini Ekadashi, devotees can read the Surya Purana.
Mohini Ekadashi Vrat Katha
As per the Hindu scriptures, Mohini was the incarnated form of Lord Vishnu. At the time of Samudra Manthan, when nectar was churned out, there was a dispute that took place between demons and deities about who will consume the Amrit. Deities sought help from Lord Vishnu and thus appeared in the form of a beautiful woman named Mohini to distract the attention of the devils from the pot of nectar. Thus, all the deities consumed nectar with the help of Lord Vishnu. That is why the day is celebrated as Mohini Ekadashi. It is the same fast which was observed by King Yudhishthira and Lord Rama.
Legend
As per the legend, once there was a place named Bhadravati which was situated near the river Saraswati. King Dhrutimaan who was a firm devotee of Lord Vishnu used to rule the place. He was blessed with five sons, out of which the fifth one whose name was Dhrishtabuddhi was actually a sinner being involved in too many bad deeds and immoral activities.
Seeing all this, King Dhrutimaan abandoned Dhrishtabuddhi. To survive, he got involved in acts of robbery. As a result, he was thrown out of the kingdom. Dhrishtabuddhi started living in a forest. Once when he was wandering in the forest, he arrived at Sage Kaundinya’s hermitage.
It was the time of Vaisakh month and sage Kaundinya was taking a bath. Some droplets just splashed out and sprinkled on Dhrishtabuddhi. Because of this, he attained self-realization and good sense and thus regretted all his immoral deeds. He pleaded the saint to guide him to the path of salvation from his past sins and bad karma.
To this, the sage asked him to observe an Ekadashi fast which falls in the Vaisakh month during Shukla Paksha to get relieved from the sins. On the day of Ekadashi, Dhrishtabuddhi observed the Ekadashi Vrat with complete devotion. Ultimately all his sins were washed out and reached to Vishnu Lok.
Since that time, it is believed that devotees can attain salvation by observing a fast of Mohini Ekadashi.
Rituals
– The devotees observe a silent vow or a strict Mohini Ekadashi fast on this particular day.
– The observers are required to wake up early in the morning and get dressed up in clean attire after taking a shower.
– All the rituals of Mohini Ekadashi Fast initiate on the eve of Dashami (tenth day).
– On this particular day, observers are required to consume a single satvik meal and that too before the period of sunset.
– The Vrat continues till the time when Ekadashi tithi ends.
– During the observance of Mohini Ekadashi Vrat, the observers are restricted to perform any kind of sinful or evil deed and are also restricted to speak lies.
– The fast concludes on the eve of Dwadashi which is the twelfth day. All the observers are required to make some donations and offer food to the Brahmins before concluding their fast.
– The observers are not allowed to sleep during the night. They must spend their entire time reciting Mantras in order to please Lord Vishnu.
– Reciting of ‘Vishnu Sahasranama’ is considered as highly auspicious.
– On this particular day, devotees worship Lord Vishnu with great zeal and immense devotion.
– Once all the rituals are finished, devotees perform aarti.
– Performing charity on the eve of Mohini Ekadashi is regarded as highly rewarding. The observer should donate food, clothes, and money to the Brahmins.
– Devotees also organize a ‘Brahman Bhoj’ as a part of the donation as it is believed the individuals who perform charity and donations on the eve of this festival never go to hell after their death.
Apart from Mohini Ekadashi, there are 23 Ekadashi Vrat in a year that fall on Krishna and Shukla Paksha of Hindu Calendar. All these Ekadashi tithi are very significant in Hindu traditions and are popular with various Ekadashi names.