Mohini Ekadashi

Once, Maharaja Yudhishthira asked Lord Sri Krishna about the Ekadashi that occurs during the bright fortnight of Vaisakha and the benefits of observing it. In response, Lord Krishna narrated an ancient history that had previously been spoken by the great sage Vasistha Muni to Lord Ramachandra.

Long ago, on the banks of the sacred Saraswati River, stood the prosperous city of Bhadravati. There lived a wealthy and highly respected merchant named Dhanapala, a devoted worshipper of Lord Vishnu who spent his wealth in charitable works, building wells, rest houses, and serving society. Dhanapala had five sons. Four of them were virtuous and obedient, but his youngest son, Dhrishtabuddhi, chose a very different path. Despite being born into a noble family, Dhrishtabuddhi became addicted to gambling, intoxication, bad association, and immoral activities. He squandered his father’s wealth, disrespected saintly persons, and ignored all principles of religion and virtue.

After repeatedly trying to reform him, Dhanapala was left with no choice but to expel his son from the family home. Soon, Dhrishtabuddhi’s wealth disappeared. The companions who once surrounded him abandoned him, and he was left completely alone. Driven by desperation, he turned to theft and criminal activities. Eventually he was caught, punished, and banished from the kingdom. Forced to live in the forest, Dhrishtabuddhi survived by hunting and killing innocent animals. His life became filled with misery, fear, anxiety, and loneliness. Although he had once lived in luxury, he now wandered helplessly through the wilderness burdened by countless sinful reactions.

One day, during the month of Vaisakha, the exhausted and distressed Dhrishtabuddhi happened to wander near the ashram of the great sage Kaundinya Muni, situated beside the holy Ganges. By divine arrangement, Kaundinya Muni had just completed his sacred bath. As the sage walked back to his hermitage, a few drops of water from his wet garments accidentally fell upon Dhrishtabuddhi. That simple contact with the saint’s purified water produced an extraordinary transformation. For the first time in many years, Dhrishtabuddhi felt genuine remorse for his sinful life. His heart softened, and he became deeply repentant.

Falling at the feet of Kaundinya Muni, he cried:
“O great sage, I have wasted my life in sinful activities and have become the most fallen of men. Kindly show me a path by which I may become free from these reactions and attain peace.”

Filled with compassion, Kaundinya Muni instructed him to observe the upcoming Mohini Ekadashi. The sage explained:
“This Ekadashi has the power to destroy sins as great as Mount Sumeru. By faithfully observing this sacred fast and worshipping Lord Vishnu, one can become freed from the reactions of countless sinful deeds.”

Filled with hope, Dhrishtabuddhi followed the sage’s instructions with sincerity. He observed Mohini Ekadashi by fasting, remembering the Lord, chanting His holy names, and praying for forgiveness. By the immense power of that single Ekadashi observance, all his accumulated sinful reactions were destroyed. His heart became purified, and upon leaving this world he attained a divine spiritual destination, freed forever from material bondage.

Thus Mohini Ekadashi became renowned as the Ekadashi that removes illusion and grants spiritual awakening.