Sri Annada Ekadashi (Aja Ekadashi)अन्नदा एकादशी

Once Maharaja Yudhishthira asked Lord Sri Krishna: "O Janardana, what is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs in the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada? How may one observe it? And what is its glory?" Lord Krishna replied: "This day is famous as Annada Ekadashi — or Aja Ekadashi. It is the destroyer of all sins. To prove its power let Me tell you the moving story of King Harishchandra."

There was once a king named Harishchandra — the very embodiment of truth. He had vowed never to speak a lie, even at the cost of his life. To test this vow, sage Vishvamitra accepted from him the entire kingdom as a charitable gift in a dream and then demanded its fulfilment. To pay an additional dakshina, the king sold his beloved queen Shaivya and his only son Rohitashva to a brahmana, and sold himself to a chandala who employed him at a cremation ground in Kashi.

For years King Harishchandra served at the burning ghat, collecting the cremation tax from grieving families. He endured every humiliation in silence, never once breaking his vow. One terrible day, his own son Rohitashva died of a snake-bite. Queen Shaivya, who did not know that her husband was now the keeper of the burning ground, carried the child's body to the very same ghat. When she arrived in the dead of night with their dead son in her arms, husband and wife recognised each other in the lamp-light. Tears poured from their eyes. Yet, true to his service, Harishchandra demanded the cremation tax even from his own wife. She had no money to give, and was forced to tear off half of her single torn garment as payment. At that moment the king resolved to perish with his son in the fire.

Just then the sage Gautama Muni appeared and addressed the broken king: "O Harishchandra, why have you not yet observed Annada Ekadashi? In the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada there comes an Ekadashi of incomparable purifying power. Observe it now with full faith — fast, keep vigil through the night, worship Lord Sri Hari — and offer all its merit for the welfare of your family. By the mercy of Lord Vishnu, every loss will be restored."

Harishchandra and Shaivya at once accepted the sage's words. They fasted that Annada Ekadashi together, sang the Lord's glories all night, and at Dvadashi parana offered their full merit at the lotus feet of Sri Hari. The very moment the vow was completed, the demigods showered flowers from the sky. Rohitashva opened his eyes alive and healthy. Shaivya regained her royal garments. And from the sky Indra himself proclaimed that the king's entire kingdom — taken away by Vishvamitra — was restored to him together with every honour. Harishchandra, Shaivya and Rohitashva returned in glory to their throne, and after a long and righteous reign all three attained the spiritual world.

Concluding the katha, Lord Krishna declared: "O Yudhishthira, anyone who simply hears the glories of Annada Ekadashi is freed from the reactions of all his sins. One who fasts with devotion attains everything that was lost — wealth, family, kingdom, and finally Vaikuntha. There is no Ekadashi in Bhadrapada more dear to Me."