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May 23rd was Apara ekadashi

 
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Vasant Punjabi
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PostPosted: Thu May 25, 2006 9:27 pm    Post subject: May 23rd was Apara ekadashi Reply with quote

Jai Shri Krishna,

Sorry for little delay on this posting I hope everyone knew there was APARA Ekadashi on May 23rd.
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----
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Vasant Punjabi
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PostPosted: Thu May 25, 2006 9:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jai Shri Krishna,

Thanks Kavitaji, received your emails and a reminder to put the story.

Well here is the story

AparA EkAdasii: from the BrahmANDa PurANa

Sri Yudhishthira MahArAj said, “Oh JanArdana, what is the name of the EkAdasii that occurs during the dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) of the month of Jyeshtha (May-June) ? I wish to hear from You the glories of this sacred day of Hari. Please narrate everything to me”

Lord Shri Krishna said, “Oh king, your inquiry is wonderful because the answer will benefit the whole human society. This EkAdasii is so sublime and meritorious that even the greatest sins can be erased by its purity.

“Oh great saintly king, the name of this unlimitedly meritorious EkAdasii is AparA EkAdasii. Whoever fasts on this holy day becomes famous all over the universe. Even such sins as killing a brAhmana, a cow, or an embryo; blasphemy; or having sex with another man’s wife are completely eradicated by observing AparA EkAdasii.

“Oh king people who bear false witness are most sinful. A person who falsely or sarcastically glorifies another; one who cheats while weighing something on a scale; one who fails to execute the duties of his varna or Ashrama (an unqualified man’s posing as a brahmin, for example, or a person’s reciting the Vedas wrongly); one who invents his own scriptures; one who cheats others; one who is a charlatan astrologer, a cheating accountant, or a false Ayurvedik doctor – all these are surely as bad as persons who bears false witness, and they are all destined for hellish punishments. But simply by observing AparA EkAdasii, all such sinners become completely free of their sinful reactions.

“Warriors who fall from their kshatriya-dharma and flee the battlefield go to a ferocious hell. But, Oh Yudhishthira, even such a fallen kshatriya, if he observes fasting on the AparA EkAdasii, is freed of that great sinful reaction and goes to heaven.

“That disciple is the greatest sinner who, after receiving a proper spiritual education from his spiritual master, turns around and blasphemes him. Such a so-called disciple suffers unlimitedly. But even he, rascal though he be, if he simply observes AparA EkAdasii, can attain to the spiritual world. Listen, Oh king, as I describe to you further glories of this amazing EkAdasii.

“The merit attained by one who performs all of the following acts of piety is equal to the merit achieved by one who observes AparA EkAdasii: bathing three times daily in Pushkara-kshetra during Kartika (October-November); bathing at Prayag in the month of Magh (January-February) when the sun is in the zodiac of Capricorn; rendering service to Lord Shiva at VarANasi (Benares) during Shiva-ratri; offering oblations to one’s forefathers at GayA; bathing in the sacred Gautami River when Jupiter transits Leo (Simha); having darshan of Lord Shiva at KedArnAtha; seeing Lord BadrinAth when the Sun transits the sign of Aquarius (Kumbha); and bathing at the time of a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra and giving cows, elephants, and gold there in charity. All the merit one gets from performing these pious acts is gained by a person who observes the AparA EkAdasii fast. Also, the merit attained by one who donates a pregnant cow, along with gold and fertile land, is attained by one who fasts on this day.

“In other words, AparA EkAdasii is an axe that cuts down the fully matured forest full of trees of sinful deeds, it is a forest fire that burns sins as if they were kindling firewood, it is the sun blazing before one’s dark misdeeds, and it is a lion stalking the meek deer of impiety.

“Therefore, Oh Yudhishthira, whoever truly fears his past and present sins must observe AparA EkAdasii very strictly. One who does not observe this fast must be born again in the material world, like one bubble among millions in a huge body of water, or like a small ant among all other species. NOTE

“Therefore one must faithfully observe the sacred AparA EkAdasii and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Trivikrama. One who does so is freed of all his sins and promoted to the abode of Lord Vishnu.

“Oh BhArata, for the benefit of all humanity I have thus described to you this the importance of the holy AparA EkAdasii.

“Anyone who hears or reads this description is certainly freed from all kinds of sins, oh best of saintly kings, Yudhishthira.
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----
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Vasant Punjabi
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PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2006 11:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jai Shri Krishna,

Some more notes on this Ekadashi

1.Pushkara-kshetra, in western India, is the only place on Earth where a bonafide temple of Lord Brahma is to be found.

2. The Vedas declare, narah budbuda samah: “The human form of life is like a bubble in water”. In water, many bubbles form and then suddenly burst a few seconds later. Thus if a person does not utilize his rare human body to serve the Supreme Personality, Shri Krishna, his life has no more value or permanence than a bubble in water. Therefore, as the Lord herein recommends, we should serve Him by fasting on Ekadashi.

3.Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 2:1:4 purport) “The great ocean of material nature is tossing with the waves of time, and the so-called living conditioned are something like foaming bubbles, which appear before us as bodily self, wife, children, society, countrymen, etc. Due to a lack of knowledge of self, we become victimized by the force of ignorance and thus spoil the valuable energy of human life in a vain search after permanent living conditions, which are impossible in this material world.
Apara Ekadashi is the giver of good deeds, destroyer of sins and one who observes the vratt with a full fast on this day attains great esteem and honor in this world. Any sins which have occurred in their daily life, socially or while running ones business, are cleansed through this vratt of Ekadashi. Many devotees go for tirtha snaan (holy bathing in various great rivers, lakes and oceans), pilgrimages to all holy places, grant various donations and such other great deeds but none of these balance with the vratt of Apara Ekadashi.

The vratt of Apara Ekadashi removes any committed sins just as sunlight eliminates darkness. On the other hand, one who does not perform the vratt of Ekadashi suffers great distress and goes through vast difficulties in this life and the next.

One who follows the vratt with full faith to Almighty God is freed from all attachments in this world and ultimately achieves the heavenly abode.
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----
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kavita
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PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2006 9:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jai sri krishna.

thankyou vasantji for the nice stories. hearty congrats to dear sarikaji for her graduation ceremony. congrats to sunitaji and vasantji. Very Happy

please help me with this question. is it compulsory to fast the whole day or can we take phalar once in the afternoon. thanks very much.
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Sunita Punjabi
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PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2006 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jai Shri Krishna,

Thanks Kavitaji.

Re Ekadashi to be safe phalar is permitted but which oil are you using in cooking?

You cannot use vegetable/corn/soy bean oils reason we have to avoid vegies, corn and beans.

Use Peanut oil instead and the best would be to always eat prasadi fruit and milk.
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Mero to Aadhar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind
Mere gale ko haar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind
Mero to shinghar Shri Vithal ke Charnarvind
Ga-o Varamvar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind Shri Vithal ke Charnarvind --------!!!!!!!
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kavita
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PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jai sri krishna.

thanks sunitaji for helping us. we are using sunflower oil and canola oil for cooking. are both oils sutaible for ekadashi ? Question i havent tried only prasadi fruit and milk, but will try soon provided my health permits . thanks a lot for your help.
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Sunita Punjabi
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PostPosted: Tue May 30, 2006 12:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jai Shri krishna,

Kavitaji if they are 100% sunflower and 100% conola (conola is a flower too I checked) oil then they should be ok. No mixtures.

Things to avoid, vegies, beans, grains, corn etc. but you can also have some dry fruits (badam and cashews etc) for some energy.
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Sunita Punjabi

Mero to Aadhar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind
Mere gale ko haar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind
Mero to shinghar Shri Vithal ke Charnarvind
Ga-o Varamvar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind Shri Vithal ke Charnarvind --------!!!!!!!
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kavita
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jai sri krishna.

thanks a lot sunitaji for your help. got a lot of knowledge with your help. thanks again.
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Sunita Punjabi
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jai Shri Krishna,

No need thanks Kavitaji, you are welcome!.
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Sunita Punjabi

Mero to Aadhar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind
Mere gale ko haar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind
Mero to shinghar Shri Vithal ke Charnarvind
Ga-o Varamvar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind Shri Vithal ke Charnarvind --------!!!!!!!
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