Yudhishthira Maharaja said, Oh Janardana, what is the name ofthe Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight (shukla paksha) of theextra, leap year month? How does one observe it properly? Please narrate all this to me.
The Supreme Lord, Lord Sri Krishna,replied the meritorious Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the extra month of leap year is called Padmini. It is very auspicious. The fortunate soul who observes it with great determination and faith will return to Vishnu Loka. Thisextra-month Ekadasi is as powerful as I am in nullifying sins. Even four-headed Lord Brahma cannot glorify it sufficiently. Long ago Lord Brahma told Naradaabout this liberating, sin-removing Ekadasi.
Lord Krishna said: Oh king, please listen carefully as I narrate to you the process of fasting on Padmini Ekadasi, which is rarely done even by great sages.
One should begin his fast on the Dashami, the day before Ekadasi, by not eating any Urad dal, pink dal, chickpeas, spinach, honey, or sea salt, and also bynot dining in homes of others or off bell-metal plates. These eight things should be avoided. One should eat only once on the Dashami, sleep on the ground, and remain celibate. On Ekadasi the devotee should rise early in the morning but should brush his teeth. Then he should thoroughly bathe - in a place of pilgrimage, if possible. While chanting sacred hymns from the Vedas, he should smear his body with cow dung mixed with clay, sesame seed paste, kusha grass, and the powder of Amalaki fruits. Then the devotee should take another thorough bath,after which he should chant the following prayers: "Oh sacred clay, you have been created by Lord Brahma, purified by Kashyapa Muni, and lifted by Lord Krishna in His form as Varaha, the boar incarnation.
Oh clay,please purify my head, eyes, and other limbs. Oh clay, I offer my obeisanceunto you. Kindly purify me so I may worship the Supreme Lord, Sri Hari"."Oh cow-dung, you posses medicinal and antiseptic qualities because you have come directly from thestomach of our universal mother, the cow. You can purify the entire planet Earth. Please accept my humble obeisance’s and purify me". "Oh Amalaki fruits, please accept my humble obeisance’s. You have taken your birthfrom the saliva of Lord Brahma, and thus by your very presence the entireplanet is purified. Kindly cleanse and purify my bodily limbs". "Oh Supreme Lord Vishnu, Oh God of the gods, Oh master of the universe, Oh holderof the conch, disc, club, and lotus, please allow me to bathe in all the holy placesof pilgrimage."
Reciting these excellent prayers,chanting mantras to Lord Varuna, and meditating on all the places of pilgrimagelocated on the banks of the Ganges, one should bathe in whatever body of water is at hand. Then, OhYudhishthira, the devotee should rub his body, thus purifying his mouth, back,chest, arms, and waist as a prelude to worshipping the Supreme Lord, who wearsbrilliant yellow garments and gives pleasure to all creatures. By so doing, thedevotee will destroy all his sins. Afterwards, he should chant the sacredGayatri mantra, offer oblations to his forefathers, and then enter a Vishnutemple to worship Lord Narayana, the husband of the Goddess of Fortune,Laxmi-devi.
The Supreme Lord, Lord Sri Krishna,replied the meritorious Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the extra month of leap year is called Padmini. It is very auspicious. The fortunate soul who observes it with great determination and faith will return to Vishnu Loka. Thisextra-month Ekadasi is as powerful as I am in nullifying sins. Even four-headed Lord Brahma cannot glorify it sufficiently. Long ago Lord Brahma told Naradaabout this liberating, sin-removing Ekadasi.
Lord Krishna said: Oh king, please listen carefully as I narrate to you the process of fasting on Padmini Ekadasi, which is rarely done even by great sages.
One should begin his fast on the Dashami, the day before Ekadasi, by not eating any Urad dal, pink dal, chickpeas, spinach, honey, or sea salt, and also bynot dining in homes of others or off bell-metal plates. These eight things should be avoided. One should eat only once on the Dashami, sleep on the ground, and remain celibate. On Ekadasi the devotee should rise early in the morning but should brush his teeth. Then he should thoroughly bathe - in a place of pilgrimage, if possible. While chanting sacred hymns from the Vedas, he should smear his body with cow dung mixed with clay, sesame seed paste, kusha grass, and the powder of Amalaki fruits. Then the devotee should take another thorough bath,after which he should chant the following prayers: "Oh sacred clay, you have been created by Lord Brahma, purified by Kashyapa Muni, and lifted by Lord Krishna in His form as Varaha, the boar incarnation.
Oh clay,please purify my head, eyes, and other limbs. Oh clay, I offer my obeisanceunto you. Kindly purify me so I may worship the Supreme Lord, Sri Hari"."Oh cow-dung, you posses medicinal and antiseptic qualities because you have come directly from thestomach of our universal mother, the cow. You can purify the entire planet Earth. Please accept my humble obeisance’s and purify me". "Oh Amalaki fruits, please accept my humble obeisance’s. You have taken your birthfrom the saliva of Lord Brahma, and thus by your very presence the entireplanet is purified. Kindly cleanse and purify my bodily limbs". "Oh Supreme Lord Vishnu, Oh God of the gods, Oh master of the universe, Oh holderof the conch, disc, club, and lotus, please allow me to bathe in all the holy placesof pilgrimage."
Reciting these excellent prayers,chanting mantras to Lord Varuna, and meditating on all the places of pilgrimagelocated on the banks of the Ganges, one should bathe in whatever body of water is at hand. Then, OhYudhishthira, the devotee should rub his body, thus purifying his mouth, back,chest, arms, and waist as a prelude to worshipping the Supreme Lord, who wearsbrilliant yellow garments and gives pleasure to all creatures. By so doing, thedevotee will destroy all his sins. Afterwards, he should chant the sacredGayatri mantra, offer oblations to his forefathers, and then enter a Vishnutemple to worship Lord Narayana, the husband of the Goddess of Fortune,Laxmi-devi.