Kids Portal For Parents India Kids Network
Rama Ekadashi is observed during the waning phase (Krishna Paksha) of the moon in Kartik month of the Hindu Lunar Calendar in India. On this day, Lord Vishnu is worshiped and reading Bhagwad Gita is considered to be auspicious. A fast is also observed by the Hindus on this day. The importance of this day was narrated by Lord Krishna and is recorded in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana.
Rama Ekadashi Date:
- 2024: 28th October, 2024 (Monday)
- 2025: 17th October, 2025 (Friday)
- 2026: 05th November, 2026 (Thursday)
Significance:
According to the scriptures, there was a king named Muchukunda. He ruled a prosperous kingdom and counted Lord Indra, Lord Varuna and Lord Kuber among his friends. He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and was blessed with a baby girl who was named Chandrabhaga. She was later married to Prince Shobhana who was son of King Chandrasen.
Chandrabhaga used to observe a fast on Ekadashi so she followed the tradition at her parent-in- laws house too. She asked her husband to keep the Ekadashi fast along with her. Shobhana used to feel physically weak so he refused to keep the fast, which made Chandrabhaga upset. He realized her dismay so he kept the fast, but soon started suffering from hunger and thirst. The prince could not survive the fast so he died before the morning.
By the virtue of Rama Ekadashi, Shobhana received a great but invisible kingdom. Once, a Brahmana of his wife’s kingdom went out to travel, when he came across the kingdom on his way. Shobhana told him, that by the grace of Rama Ekadashi, he received the kingdom. He asked the Brahmana to tell his wife abut his kingdom. Brahmana returned and informed Chandrabhaga about the whole event. Chandrabhaga who observed the Ekadashi fast since her childhood, converted his kingdom into reality by the virtue of her karma. The couple then lived happily ever after.
Benefits of Rama Ekadashi Fast:
The Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha in Kartika masa is called Rama Ekadashi. By observing this fast, all sins of a person are removed. A person attains results equivalent to that of Vajpayee Yagya. If a person is suffering from obstacles in his life, he must worship Lord Vishnu.
All the devotees who observe the Rama Ekadashi fast should avoid consuming food made from grains and rice (other rules are the same as those followed for Ekadashi fast). Moreover, offering Tulsi leaves to Lord Vishnu on this day washes all the past sins of a person’s life. Lord Vishnu also gets pleased with pearls, precious stones etc.
