About Mohini Ekadashi 2024

What is Mohini Ekadashi? | Mohini Ekadashi Meaning

The Hindu Lunar calendar is divided into two different phases of the Moon. One phase is waxing Moon which is known as 'Shukla Paksha' , in which the Moon grows in size (visually) and brightness everyday bit by bit and the other phase is the waning Moon, ‘Krishna Paksha’ , when the brightness of Moon diminishes in size everyday post the Full Moon. Each phase is of 15 days respectively. 'Ekadashi' is the 11th day in each phase of the Moon, meaning there are two Ekadashis in a month. The term Ekadashi means the 11th lunar day in each fortnight of the Shukla Paksha and the Krishna Paksha respectively.

To further explain the term 'Tithi' (as per the Hindu calendar), it means one Lunar day which means the time it takes for the Moon to travel a certain distance. So Ekadashi is the 11th Lunar day or Tithi. In the Shukla Paksha i.e. the brighter phase of the Moon, on Ekadashi, the Moon looks three fourth (3/4th), and on the Krishna Paksha Ekadashi, the Moon appears three-fourth (3/4th) dark. There are 24 Ekadashis in a year, except leap year when there are 26 Ekadashis.

Along with Hinduism, Jainism too considers Ekadashis to be holy, which has spiritual connotations. It is said that merely by hearing the names of the various Ekadashis one will be free of all sins. Lord Vishnu is worshipped on Ekadashi. The day is observed by fasting from sunrise of Ekadashi tithi to the sunrise of the following day. Fasting on the Ekadashi is an important ritual of this day. The best form of fasting for Ekadashi is to go without water or food. People who do not want to keep a full fast are recommended to have a fruit-based diet(Phalahar) or fruit and milk or milk product diet. Consumption of rice, grains and beans are prohibited on this day.

According to the ancient texts both the Ekadashis, whether in Shukla Paksha or Krishna Paksha, are equally holy and auspicious as they have the same tithi.

When Is Mohini Ekadashi? Parana Time, Tithi, & Date

The Mohini Ekadasi is on the 11th day of the bright fortnight or Shukla Paksha of the month Vaisakha (Hindu calendar) which falls in May- June as per the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as Vaisakha Shukla Ekadasi.It is said that Lord Vishnu took the form of an Apsara, the beautiful and enticing Mohini, on this tithi, to get the Amrit Kalash, the elixir of life, away from the Asuras, after the Samudra Manthan.

Mohini Ekadashi 2024 Dates, Tithi

Mohini Ekadashi on Sunday, May 19, 2024

On 20th May, Parana Time - 06:03 AM to 08:33 AM
On Parana Day Dwadashi End Moment - 03:58 PM
Ekadashi Tithi Begins - 11:22 AM on May 18, 2024
Ekadashi Tithi Ends - 01:50 PM on May 19, 2024

Those who observe the fast must break it after sunrise the next day of Ekadashi. It is to be noted that one should break the fast (Parana) within Dwadashi Tithi. Another important consideration is that one must not break the fast during Hari Vasara which is the fourth duration of Dwadashi. The best time to break the fast is pratah Kala (morning).

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Those who observe the fast must break it after sunrise the next day of Ekadashi. It is to be noted that one should break the fast (Parana) within Dwadashi Tithi. Another important consideration is that one must not break the fast during Hari Vasara which is the fourth duration of Dwadashi. The best time to break the fast is pratah Kala (morning).

Significance & Importance Of Mohini Ekadashi

Observing fast on Mohini Ekadasi absolves sins and all sufferings. Legend has it that Lord Shri Ram had observed Mohini Ekadasi when He was told about the merits of this Ekadasi by Sage Vasishtha. This Ekadasi also removes the veil from the illusions which attach us to material existence.

The ancient text has Lord Krishna explaining to Yudhisthira about the importance where the Lord has said it is greater than all sacrifices or charity to the needy or the sacrifice of Horses (Ashvamedha) or even seeing Lord Vishnu Himself. It is said that one who observes fast on this day, adhering to the rules, will be liberated and get a place in Lord Vishnu's abode.

Mohini Ekadashi Story

Bhadravati, on the banks of the Saraswati River, was ruled by the capable Chandravanshi King Dyutiman. He was religious, pious and was wise. There was an extremely wealthy merchant called Dhanapala who lived in Bhadravati. He was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, used to contribute by doing charity of food grains etc. to the citizens of Bhadravati. He had 5 sons- Sumana, Sadbuddhi, Medhavi, Sukriti, and Dhrishthabuddhi.

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Drishthabuddhi was involved in all sinful activities, starting from being with prostitutes, gambling, illicit sex and other nefarious activities and wasted his father's wealth on all the things to please his senses. An angered Dhanapala expelled Dhrishthabuddhi from the house because of his atrocious behaviour.

Within a short time, Drishthabuddhi finished all the money and ornaments inherited by him and was abandoned by the prostitutes. This led him to start stealing money from the citizens and once the King's constables caught him, whipped him and threw him out of the kingdom's boundaries.

He wandered around the forest killing and eating animals and was in a miserable state. Once during the month of Vaisakh, wandering around he reached the Ashram of Kaundinya Muni. The pious sage had just taken his bath in the Ganges river, and his body was still wet when Drishthabuddhi arrived there. Some droplets fell on Drishthabuddhi which miraculously brought the sinner back to awareness and into his good senses. With folded hands, he bowed down to Kaundinya Muni and asked what he should do to relieve him of all the miseries. The Sage asked him to observe fast on Mohini Ekadasi, which was due to come shortly then and told him all the rules and regulations to follow.

Drishthabuddhi observed fast on Mohini Ekadasi as per what Kaundinya Muni had guided and was relieved of all sins. Later he also was rewarded as he got a place in Lord Vishnu's abode.The story ends with Lord Krishna telling Yudhishtira that whoever even listens about the merits of Mohini Ekadasi is blessed with merits.

Rituals: What To Do On Mohini Ekadasi?

The rituals of Utpanna Ekadashi are specified in the ancient Hindu texts and is said to have been specified by Lord Sri Krishna while answering Yudhishthira's(one of the Pandava brothers from Mahabharata) query. The rituals are:

• One day before Mohini Ekadashi, which is the 10th day of the Krishna Paksha, the person should clean his teeth thoroughly in the afternoon and have supper at Sunset hour.
• On the morning of Mohini Ekadashi, the person should intend on keeping the fast meticulously. The person should have a bath in a river (which is said to be most purifying) or a lake and in both not being available, bathe with pond water.
• While bathing the person should smear mud on his/her body with chanting a prayer to Mother Earth.
  The prayer: O Asvakrante! O Rathakrante! O Vishnukrante! O Vasundhare! O Mrttike!
  Translation: O Mother Earth! please remove all my sins accumulated from past lives so that I may enter the abode of the Lord Vishnu the Supreme Lord)
• Worship Lord Govinda with complete dedication and Offer an excellent 'Bhog' (food to Divine) along with flowers and other things of the offering.
• Light a lamp at home in honour of the Lord.
• Chant or sing praises of Lord Vishnu throughout the day and remain in a most blissful state during the fast.
• Stay awake through the night in full consciousness. If possible play musical instrument throughout the night to please the Lord.
• The next morning the person should give charity to Brahmanas and respectfully ask them for forgiveness for any offence.
• For people who keep a complete fast till the next day, one should say the prayer - 'O Pundarikaksha, O lotus-eyed Lord, now I will eat. Please shelter me'.
• After the prayer the devotee should offer flowers and water at the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu and request the Lord to eat by chanting the mantra of eight-syllable, thrice. To garner the full merits of the fast, the devotee should have water which has been offered to the Lord.
• Fire sacrifices can be performed if the devotee chooses to do so

The day of Ekadashi till the next morning the devotee should involve in taking baths, singing and chanting praises of the Lord and worship Him with complete devotion, involve in activities of devotion and doing charity.

Mohini Ekadashi Fasting Rules

As per specifications in the ancient texts, to get the benefits of the fasting on Ekadashi the person should adhere to the rules strictly.

• The devotee observing fast should have a bath on the morning of Mohini Ekadashi.
• Beans and grains are prohibited to eat on Ekadashi.
• The killing of any animal is prohibited on this day for the devotee.
• Sleeping during the day is not allowed on Ekadashi and the next day that is on Dwadashi.
• The devotee keeping fast should not meet or interact with any cheats, frauds or people involved in any nefarious activity. The scriptures even say that if by chance the devotee comes into proximity of such a person then one should purify by standing under the sun and looking directly at it.
• Abstinence from sex on Ekadashi and Dwadashi.
• On Dwadashi (the day after Ekadashi), devotees are not to eat in another person's house, have only one meal, Honey and Urad-dal(black lentil) is not to be consumed, eating on Bell metal plate or cutlery, and should not massage oil on the body.
• As per the ancient text, if the devotee has to speak to a person from the lower cast, then he/she will have to purify the self by eating Tulsi leaves or an Amalaki fruit.
• If due to any reason the devotee is not able to break the fast on the next day, then he/she should have water to signify the completion of the fast and later have food when convenient.