Rama Ekadashi is of great importance in Hindu faith, as it was named after Goddess Lakshmi. On this day, Keshav Swaroop of Lord Vishnu is worshipped along with Rama swaroop of Goddess Lakshmi. This is the last Ekadashi of Chaturmas. Person who fasts on this day achieves wealth and affluence in life.
Rama Ekadashi Vrat pooja Vidhi
The rituals for this Ekadashi fast start from the previous day, i.e. Dashami. Therefore, one should not eat anything after sunset on the day of Dashami.
Following is the Vrat Pooja Vidhi for Rama Ekadashi:
- On this day of Ekadashi, take vows for the fast and worship Lord Vishnu after bathing in the early morning.
- Offer incense, Basil leaves, lamp (Diya), Naivedya (Prasad), flowers and fruits to Lord Vishnu.
- Perform devotional singing (Bhajan-Kirtan and Jagrans) in the night.
- Next day on Dwadashi, feed and contribute things to Brahmins and the needed. After that, open your fast.
Importance of Rama Ekadashi
According to the statement mentioned in Padma Purana, this Ekadashi fulfills all needs of people. By fasting on this day, all the sins of a person get damaged and she/he attains good results. It also overcomes their money and food problems and brings affluence in their lives.
Rama Ekadashi Vrat Katha
In pristine times, there was a king named Muchukunda. He was very generous, kind and a sacred person. He had great reverence in the fast of Ekadashi. He used to fast for each and every Ekadashi and had applied the same rule on the people of his kingdom.
He had a daughter named Chandrabhaga who also had great belief in Rama Ekadashi Vrat. She got married to Shobhan, son of King Chandrasena. When Ekadashi came, Shobhan performing the fast like everyone else. But due to weakness and hunger, he died a premature death. This disheartened Chandrabhaga, King and Queen. On the other hand, Shobhan went to Deva-nagari on Mandarachal Mountain from the influence of the fast, where he was served by nymphs (Apsaraye).
One day, King Muchukunda arrived Mandarachal Mountain where he saw his son-in-law. He came home and told everything to his daughter. Hearing this, she went to her husband and there both lived happily ever after.