Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Ram Ji

<div><br></div><div>Pausha Putrada Ekadashi</div><div><br></div><div>Pausha Putrada Ekadashi is an auspicious day according to Hindu religion. What makes this Ekadashi even more special this year (2023) is the fact that this is the first Ekadashi of the year. In the month of Pausha, lord Vishnu grants the desired wishes to the person who observes the fast and worships Lord Vishnu during this period. Religiously, Pausha Putrada Ekadashi is celebrated on the 11th day of shukla paksha. In the following article, we will take a detailed look into this Ekadashi -</div><div><br></div><div>How to fast on Pausha Putrada Ekadashi to receive the grace of lord Vishnu?</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>According to religious Hindu texts, the devotee should sleep early the previous night and wake up before the sunrise on the day of the Ekadashi. Right after waking up, he should remember Lord Vishnu and be grateful for his life. This should be followed by meditation in the name of Lord Vishnu during the early hours of the morning.</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The devotee should take a shower and clean his body with water and wear pure white clothes.</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>Next, the devotee should visit the idol of Lord Vishnu placed in the temple of the house and bow down to it.</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>On this day, the idol of lord Vishnu should be bathed with the pure water and afterward covered with a red cloth or a yellow cloth. People also cover a Kalash during this time with a red cloth and worship it.</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>Then the devotee should light an incense in front of the idol of Lord Vishnu and offer prayers to the idol followed by the Vishnu aarti. It is better if all members of the family join the devotee for the aarti.</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>After worshipping Lord Vishnu, sweets and fruits are offered to the idol and distributed among the members of the family.&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The devotee observes a fast from morning till evening during the entire day. In the evening, the devotee lights a diya in the Tulsi plant.</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>In the evening, the devotee should visit the temple to please Lord Vishnu and listen to the Katha. After the Katha is over, he can consume fruits and satvik food.&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The complete ritual ends when on the second day when the devotee gives food to the Brahmins and makes donations in the name of Lord Vishnu.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Benefits of observing the fast during Pausha Putrada Ekadashi -</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The people who observe the fast during Ekadashi are blessed with grace of Lord Vishnu.&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The women can observe this fast for the good health, success, and well-being of the children in the home.&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The couples can observe this fast for the good health and well-being of the entire family.&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>All the people who observe fast on this day please the lord Vishnu who helps them to attend success in the worldly causes.</div><div><br></div><div>Things to avoid during Pausha Putra Ekadashi -</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>There are a few rules that a person should follow if he is to observe the fast. A devotee should talk politely with his family members, neighbours, and other people. He should not think bad of others at all.&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The devotee should eat only Satvik food during the fasting and refrain from eating any kind of Tamsik food like non-vegetarian food, onion and garlic et cetera.&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>One should not pluck leaves from the holy Tulsi plant on this day. It is said to be a special day to pray to the Tulsi plant on the day of Ekadashi.&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The devotees should chant the Vishnu mantra throughout the day and not argue, fight, be angry, or steal from other people on this day as it is considered a severe sin.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Pausha Putrada Ekadashi's (Vrat Katha) : The story -</div><div>On one fine day, the King Yudhishtar asked Lord Krishna to tell him the story of Putrada Ekadashi. At that time Lord Krishna narrated the story of Suketuman who was the king of Bhadravati. He was one of the greatest Kings ever and served the public with kindness and compassion. Even though he did everything religiously, he was not blessed with the son. According to religious Hindu texts, it is very important to have a son who could take care of the parents in the old age and take over the work of his father after death. This was a very sad thing for the king and his wife to not have a son. The king believed that he will not be happy in this life or afterlife without a son.&nbsp;</div><div>Slowly the King's health started declining and he became depressed. One day, he was walking alone in the forest. He found saints who lived near a small lake. He shared his suffering with the saints and requested them to provide him with some help. The saints were happy with his devotion and his kindness so they told him a way to end his misery. It was at that time that they told the King about Shukla paksha Ekadashi and how to observe the fast on this day. The King came back and told the queen about it. They both religiously followed the rituals and observed the fast. After some time, the queen got pregnant and they were blessed with a son. This was a time of great joy for the king, queen, and the common public.&nbsp;</div><div>Lord Krishna told Yudhishtar that if any person observes the fast of Shukla paksha Ekadashi and prays to Lord Vishnu with great devotion, he will be blessed with all of his desires.</div><div><br></div><div>Mantras to be chanting during Shukla paksha Ekadashi -</div><div>1 <span style="white-space:pre"> </span>Om Narayana Vidmahe. VasudevayDhimayi. Tanno Vishnu Prachodayat.</div><div>Vande VishnumBhavabhayharam Sarva Lokakenatham.</div><div>2 <span style="white-space:pre"> </span>Shanta Karam BhujangShayanam Padma Nabham Suresham.</div><div>VishwadharamGaganasdrsyamMeghavarnamShubhangam.</div><div>Lakshmi Kantam Kamal NayanamYogibhirdhyanaNagmyam.</div><div>Om Namo Narayana. Om Namo Bhagwat Vasudevaya.</div><div>It is said that if the devotee repeats these mantras during the Shukla paksha Ekadashi, he is blessed with the divine grace of Lord Vishnu.</div><div><br></div>