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October 17th is Rama Ekadashi

 
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Vasant Punjabi
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Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 987
Location: USA

PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:03 am    Post subject: October 17th is Rama Ekadashi Reply with quote

Jai Shri Krishna,

Just a reminder,

October 17th Tuesday is RAMA EKADASHI
_________________
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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Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 987
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jai Shri Krishna,

Well here is the story are you reading Kavitaji? As we do not see you in the tibari.

Rama Ekadasi - Tue 17th Oct, 2006

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "O Janardana, O protector of all beings, what
is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the
month of Kartika [October-November] ? Please impart this sacred knowledge
to me."

The Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, replied, "O lion among kings, please
listen: The Ekadasi that occurs during the dark part of the month of
Kartika is called Rama Ekadasi. It is most auspicious, for it at once
eradicates the greatest sins and awards passage to the spiritual abode.
I shall narrate its history and glories to you.

"There once lived a famous king named Mucukunda, who was friendly with
Lord Indra, the king of heaven, as well as with Yamaraja, Varuna, and
Vibhisana, the demon Ravana's pious brother. Mucukunda always spoke the
truth and constantly rendered devotional service to Me. Because he ruled
according to religious principles, there were no disturbances in his
kingdom.

"Mucukunda's daughter was named Candrabhaga, after a sacred river, and
the king' gave her in marriage to Sobhana, the son of Candrasena. One
day, Sobhana visited his father-in-law' s palace on the auspicious
Ekadasi day. This visit made Sobhana's wife, Candrabhaga, quite anxious,
for she knew that her husband was physically very weak and unable to
bear the austerity of a day-long fast. She said to him, 'My father is
very strict about following Ekadasi On Dasami, the day before Ekadasi he
strikes a large kettledrum and announces, "Nobody should eat on Ekadasi, the day of Lord Hari!"'

"When Sobhana heard the sound of the kettledrum, he said to his wife, 'O
beautiful one, what am I to do now? Please tell me how I can save my
life and obey your father's strictures at the same time!'

"Candrabhaga replied, 'My dear husband, in my father's house nobody, not
even the elephants and horses, what to speak of human beings eat on
Ekadasi. Indeed, none of the animals are given their ration of grains,
leaves, or straw-or even water on Ekadasi, the day of Lord Hari. So how
can you escape fasting? My beloved, if you must eat something, then you
should leave here at once. Now, with firm conviction decide what to do.'

Prince Sobhana replied, 'I have decided to fast on the sacred Ekadasi.
day. Whatever my fate is, it will surely come to pass.'

Deciding thus, Sobhana attempted to fast on that Ekadasi, but he became
unbearably disturbed with excessive hunger and thirst. Eventually the
sun set in the west, and the arrival of the auspicious night made all
the Vaisnavas very happy. O Yudhisthira, all the devotees enjoyed
worshiping Lord Hari and remaining awake through the night, but to
Prince Sobhana that night became absolutely unbearable. Indeed, when the
sun rose on Dvadasi, Sobhana was dead.

King Mucukunda observed his son-in-law's funeral, ordering a large stack
of wood assembled for the fire, but he instructed his daughter
Candrabhaga not to join her husband on the funeral pyre. Thus
Candrabhaga, after performing all the purificatory processes honoring
her deceased husband, continued to live in her father's house.

Lord Krishna continued, "O best of the kings, even though Sobhana died
because of observing Rama Ekadasi, the merit he accrued enabled him,
after death, to become the ruler of a kingdom high on the peak of
Mandaracala Mountain. This kingdom was like a city of the demigods: very
lustrous, with unlimited jewels set in the walls of its buildings. The
pillars were made of rubies, and gold inlaid with diamonds shone
everywhere. As King Sobhana sat upon a throne beneath a pure white
canopy, servants fanned him with yak-tail whisks. A stunning crown
rested upon his head, beautiful earrings adorned his ears, a necklace
graced his throat, and bejeweled armlets and bracelets encircled his
arms. He was served by Gandharvas [heaven's best singers] and Apsaras
[celestial dancers]. Verily, he resembled a second Indra.

One day, a brahmana named Somasarma, who lived in Mucukunda's kingdom,
happened upon Sobhana's kingdom while traveling to various places of
pilgrimage. The brahmana saw Sobhana in all his resplendent glory and
thought he might be the son-in-law of his own king, Mucukunda. When
Sobhana saw the brahmana approaching, he immediately rose from his
throne and welcomed him. After Sobhana had paid his respectful
obeisances, he asked the brahmana about his well-being and about the
health and welfare of his (Sobhana's) father-in-law, his wife, and all
the residents of the city.

Somasarma replied, 'O king, all the subjects are well in your
father-in-law' s kingdom, and Candrabhaga and your other family members
are also quite well. Peace and prosperity reign throughout the land.
But, O king, I am astonished to find you here! Please tell me about
yourself. Nobody has ever seen such a beautiful city as this! Kindly
tell me how you obtained it.'

King Sobhana said, 'Because I observed Rama Ekadasi, I was given this
splendid city to rule. But for all its grandeur, it is only temporary. I
beg you to do something to correct this deficiency. You see, this is
only an ephemeral city. How may I make its beauties and glories
permanent? Kindly instruct me.'

The brahmana asked, 'Why is this kingdom unstable, and how will it
become stable? Please fully explain this to me, and I shall try to help
you.'

Sobhana answered, 'Because I fasted on Ekadasi without any faith, this
kingdom is impermanent. Now hear how it can become permanent. Please
return to Candrabhaga, the beautiful daughter of King Mucukunda, and
tell her what you have seen and understood about this place and about
me. Surely, if you tell her this, my city will soon become permanent.'

Thus the brahmana returned to his city and related the entire episode to
Candrabhaga, who was both surprised and overjoyed to hear this news. She
said, 'O brahmana, is this a dream you have seen, or is it actually a
fact?'

Somasarma replied, 'O princess, I have indeed seen your late husband
face to face in that wonderful kingdom, which resembles one of the
demigods' realms. But he says that his entire kingdom is unstable and
could vanish into thin air at any moment. Therefore he hopes you can
find a way to make it permanent.'

Candrabhaga said, 'O sage among the brahmanas, please take me to my
husband at once, for I greatly desire to see him again! Surely I shall
make his kingdom permanent with the merit I have acquired by fasting on
every Ekadasi throughout my life. Please reunite us once again. It is
said that one who reunites separated people obtains very great merit.'

The brahmana Somasarma then led Candrabhaga to Sobhana's effulgent
kingdom. Before reaching it, however, they stopped at the foot of Mount
Mandaracala, at the sacred asrama of Vamadeva. Upon hearing their story,
Vamadeva chanted hymns from the Vedas and sprinkled holy water on
Candrabhaga. By the influence of that great risi's rites, the merit she
had accrued by fasting for so many Ekadasis made her body
transcendental. Ecstatic, her eyes beaming in wonder, Candrabhaga
continued her journey.

When Sobhana saw his wife approaching him high on Mandaracala Mountain,
he was overwhelmed with joy and called out to her in great happiness.
After she arrived, he seated her on his left, and she said to him, '0
dearest one, please listen as I tell you something that will benefit you
greatly. Since I was eight years old I have fasted regularly and
faithfully on every Ekadasi. If I transfer to you all the merit I have
thus accumulated, your kingdom will surely become permanent, and its
prosperity will grow and grow until the coming of the great inundation!'

Lord Krishna continued, "O Yudhisthira, in this way Candrabhaga, who was
beautifully decorated with the finest ornaments and had an exquisite
transcendental body, at last enjoyed peace and happiness with her
husband. By the potency of Rama Ekadasi, Sobhana found his kingdom on
the peaks of Mandaracala Hill able to fulfill all his desires and bestow
upon him everlasting happiness, like that achieved from the Kama-dhenu cow.

O greatest of kings, I have thus narrated to you the glories of Rama
Ekadasi. Anyone who observes sacred Ekadasi during both the light and
the dark fortnight of each month is undoubtedly freed from the reactions
to the sin of killing a brahmana. One should not differentiate between
the Ekadasis of the light and the dark part of the month. As we have
seen, both can award pleasure in this world and liberate even the most
sinful and fallen souls. Just as black cows and white cows give milk of
equal quality, the Ekadasis of the dark fortnight and the light
fortnight award the same high degree of merit and eventually liberate
one from the cycle of birth and death. Anyone who simply hears the
glories of this sacred day, Rama Ekadasi, is freed from all kinds of sin
and attains the supreme abode of Lord Visnu.
_________________
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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