Sri Pashankusha Ekadashi (Papankusha Ekadashi)पाशाङ्कुशा एकादशी

When Maharaja Yudhishthira asked Lord Sri Krishna about the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of Ashwin, the Lord said: "This day is famous as Pashankusha Ekadashi, or Papankusha — for it is the very goad that drives the elephant of sin away from the devotee's heart. Let Me tell you its glories."

On the Vindhya Mountains there once lived a hunter — fierce, merciless and utterly addicted to a sinful life. He had killed countless animals, robbed travellers, lied, drunk intoxicants and committed every act forbidden by dharma. Yet, by some past pious credit, this hunter happened to fall asleep on a Pashankusha Ekadashi day in the very ashrama of the sage Angira. He had no idea what day it was. He had not eaten, simply because no animal had crossed his path; he had not slept, simply because the sage and his disciples were keeping vigil in kirtan; and unintentionally he had spent the night listening to the holy names of Sri Hari being sung.

When morning came, the hunter went on his way. Soon thereafter he died. The Yamadutas — the messengers of Yamaraja — came to drag his soul to hell. But before they could touch him, the radiant Vishnudutas — messengers of Lord Vishnu — appeared with a celestial vimana and stopped them. "This soul," declared the Vishnudutas, "has unknowingly observed the entire Pashankusha Ekadashi vrata. He fasted, he kept jagaran, and he heard the names of Sri Hari throughout the night. By the power of this Ekadashi every one of his sins has been burnt to ashes. He belongs to Lord Vishnu." The Yamadutas bowed and withdrew, and the hunter — purified by a single unintentional Ekadashi — was carried to Vaikuntha.

Lord Krishna then declared: "O Yudhishthira, if a single Pashankusha Ekadashi, observed even unknowingly, can lift the most fallen hunter to Vaikuntha, what to speak of one observed by a devotee with full faith and devotion? Such a person receives the merit of a thousand Ashvamedha and one hundred Rajasuya yajnas. Lord Padmanabha — Lord Vishnu reclining on Sesha with the lotus rising from His navel — is the worshipable Deity of this day. Offer Him tulasi, light lamps in His name, and keep vigil through the night in kirtan. All your sins, accumulated over many lifetimes, will be destroyed as instantly as a lion scatters a herd of deer."