Sri Mokshada Ekadashi (Gita Jayanti)मोक्षदा एकादशी

Mokshada Ekadashi shines among the Ekadashis of the year for two reasons: it is the day Lord Sri Krishna spoke the timeless Bhagavad-gita to His friend and devotee Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, and it is the only Ekadashi whose merit can be transferred to a departed relative to liberate them from hellish conditions. Its glories are recorded in the Brahmanda Purana, in a conversation between Maharaja Yudhishthira and Lord Sri Krishna.

When Yudhishthira inquired how a devotee should spend this Ekadashi to please the Supreme Lord, Krishna replied that worship of the Supreme on this day destroys all sinful reactions. One should offer tulasi leaves and manjaris at the Lord's lotus feet; by such service the Lord is unlimitedly pleased. The merit of observing Mokshada Ekadashi is said to equal that of performing three hundred thousand Sankranta sacrifices.

To impress this point upon Yudhishthira, Lord Krishna narrated the story of King Vaikhanasa, who ruled the city of Champaka-nagara from a beautiful and peaceful kingdom inhabited mostly by brahmanas. The king was just, devoted to the Lord and looked after his subjects as a father looks after his own children. One night, however, the king had a most disturbing dream. He saw his own father suffering in the lowest hellish region, calling out to him in agony: "O my son, please liberate me from this terrible condition!" The king awoke trembling and full of sorrow.

At dawn, he summoned the learned brahmanas of his kingdom and narrated his dream. He begged them: "Of what use is my wealth, my family and my kingdom if my father suffers in hell? Kindly tell me — what austerity, vow or charity can I perform that will deliver him?" The brahmanas advised that in the nearby forest lived the all-knowing sage Parvata Muni, who could surely answer.

The king travelled to Parvata Muni's ashrama, offered his obeisances, narrated his dream and asked for help. Through his yogic vision, Parvata Muni perceived the father's past life and confirmed: "Yes, your father committed a grave error in a previous birth and is therefore suffering in hell. But there is a remedy. In the bright fortnight of the month of Margashirsha falls an Ekadashi named Mokshada. If you observe this fast with full devotion and offer its merit to your father, he will at once be delivered from his hellish condition and ascend to the heavenly planets."

King Vaikhanasa returned home, gathered his family and ministers, and along with his queen observed Mokshada Ekadashi with the utmost devotion. He fasted, kept night-long vigil in worship of Lord Hari, listened to His glories and offered the entire merit of his vrata to his departed father. At that very moment, in the spiritual ether, his father was lifted from his suffering by celestial messengers. From the sky, the father called down in joy: "O my son, may all auspiciousness be yours! By the merit of Mokshada Ekadashi you have today liberated your father from a most terrible condition. I am being taken to the abode of the demigods." Showers of flowers fell upon the king, and the brahmanas glorified his act.

Lord Krishna concluded to Yudhishthira: "O best of the Kurus, anyone who observes Mokshada Ekadashi with sincere devotion easily attains liberation. There is no better fast in any of the three worlds; it is like the chintamani touchstone that fulfils every desire. One who simply hears or reads this glorious katha with faith receives the merit of performing a Vajapeya sacrifice." On this very same day, in another age, the Lord descended into the heart of Arjuna's chariot and spoke the Bhagavad-gita — making Mokshada Ekadashi the appearance day of the Gita and so also known as Gita Jayanti.