Yogini Ekadashi fasting story – 02 July 2024 (Tuesday)

Yudhishthir asked: Vasudev! What is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs in the Krishna Paksha of Ashadha? Please describe it.

Lord Shri Krishna said: Nripashrestha! The name of Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Ashadh (Jyestha according to Gujarat Maharashtra) is ‘Yogini’. It is going to destroy big enemies. It is like an eternal boat for the living beings drowned in the worldly ocean.

King Kuber of Alkapuri is always ready to worship Lord Shiva. He had a Yaksha servant named ‘Hemmali’, who used to bring flowers for worship. Hemmali’s wife’s name was ‘Vishalakshi’. That Yaksha was always enamored with his wife, bound by the bondage of lust. One day Hemmali brought flowers from Mansarovar and stayed in his house and was lost in the love affair of his wife, hence could not go to Kuber’s house.Here Kuber was sitting in the temple and worshiping Shiva. He waited till noon for the flowers to appear. When the time of puja passed, Yaksharaj got angry and said to the servants: ‘Yakshas! Why is the evil spirit Hemmali not coming?

Yakshas said: King! He is engrossed in his wife’s desires and is enjoying himself at home. Hearing this, Kuber was filled with anger and immediately called Hemamali. He came and stood in front of Kuber. Seeing him Kuber said: ‘O sinner! Oh wicked! O evildoer! You have disobeyed God, hence, infected with leprosy and separated from your beloved, get corrupted from this place and go somewhere else.’

When Kuber said this, he fell down from that place. His whole body was suffering from leprosy but due to the influence of Shiva worship his memory did not disappear. Thereafter he went to the peak of Merugiri, the best among the mountains. There he saw Munivar Markandeyaji. Papakarma Yaksha bowed at the feet of the sage. Seeing him trembling with fear, Munivar Markandeya said: ‘How did the disease of leprosy overwhelm you?’

Yaksha said: Mune! I am Hemmali, a follower of Kuber. I used to bring flowers from Manasarovar every day and give them to Kuber during Shiva puja. One day, due to getting entangled in the pleasures of sexual intercourse with my wife, I lost track of time, hence King Kuber got angry and cursed me, due to which I got affected with leprosy and got separated from my beloved. Munishrestha! Knowing that the minds of saints are naturally engaged in charity, preach duty to me, a criminal.

Markandeyaji said: You have spoken the truth here, hence I advise you to observe a beneficial fast. You observe fast on ‘Yogini Ekadashi’ of Krishna Paksha of Ashadha month. With the virtue of this fast, your leprosy will definitely be cured.

Lord Shri Krishna says: King! Following the advice of Markandeyaji, he observed a fast on ‘Yogini Ekadashi’, due to which leprosy was cured from his body. After observing that auspicious fast he became completely happy.

The best! This fast of ‘Yogini’ is so virtuous that the person who observes the fast of ‘Yogini Ekadashi’ gets the same result as he gets by feeding eighty-eight thousand Brahmins. ‘Yogini’ is the one who pacifies great sins and bestows the fruits of great virtue. By reading and listening to this greatness, man becomes free from all sins.