📖 Mokshada Ekadashi (Gita Jayanti) Vrat Katha
The story
King Vaikhanasa of the city of Gokul was righteous. One night he dreamt of his father suffering torment in hell. The anxious king asked the Brahmins; they sent him to the ashram of sage Parvata. The sage saw in meditation — the king's father had wronged his wife in a previous birth and was bearing its fruit.
The sage said — 'Keep the fast of Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi (Mokshada) with full vidhi and offer its merit to your father.' The king fasted with his family, kept the night vigil and gave the merit to his father; the father was freed from hell, went to heaven and blessed him from the sky. Since then this Ekadashi is called 'Mokshada' — the one that frees the vrati's ancestors.
Gita Jayanti — on this tithi at Kurukshetra, just before the war, Shri Krishna gave to Arjuna, sunk in delusion, that teaching of karma, bhakti and jnana in 700 verses which is the Gita — 'Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana'.
Why this katha — the significance
The Padma Purana calls it the 'moksha-giving' Ekadashi among all — liberation for the vrati's ancestors as well. Those who feel their ancestors are restless, or who missed a shraddha, keep this fast with special care.
Gita Jayanti — a grand festival at Kurukshetra, Gita recitation, 'Shrimad Bhagavad Gita ki jai'; at home reading one of the 18 chapters (usually the 12th, Bhakti Yoga, or the 15th, Purushottama Yoga) is considered enough.
Krishna said of Margashirsha 'masanam Margashirsho'ham' — it is his own month; its Shukla Ekadashi is specially fruitful. The paran of the Ekadashi fast is on the next day, Dwadashi — the date is above.
How the katha is heard
- Hear or read the katha after the puja, before the aarti — the whole family sits together.
- The one keeping the vrat should listen with a calm mind; keep a lamp lit and a little akshat-flowers in hand.
- At the end, offer the flowers at the deity's feet and bow; share the prasad with everyone.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Mokshada Ekadashi in {Y}?
The date at the top is this year's Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi — from panchang calculations; the Dwadashi for paran is shown too.
Are Mokshada Ekadashi and Vaikuntha Ekadashi the same?
South India's Vaikuntha Ekadashi is the Shukla Ekadashi of Dhanurmasa (solar Margashirsha) — in many years it is this very tithi, in some years the one in Pausha. North India uses the name Mokshada.
How to offer the merit of the fast to the ancestors?
At the end of the puja take water and sesame in your hand and say — 'May the merit of this fast reach my ancestors (names), may they attain moksha' — and release the water towards the south; along with it donate grain and clothes in their name.
Which chapter of the Gita to read?
If not the whole, the 12th (Bhakti Yoga, 20 verses) or the 15th (Purushottama Yoga, 20 verses) — short and essential; or the 2nd (Sankhya Yoga). Having children memorise verse 2.47 (Karmanye vadhikaraste) is a good custom.
When to do the Ekadashi paran?
On Dwadashi after sunrise, once the Hari Vasar (first quarter of Dwadashi) has passed and before the Dwadashi ends; usually between 7 and 9 am.
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