Ekadashi ki Katha

The eleventh day of Kartik (October-November) is called Prabodhini Ekadashi. It is considered especially meritorious to fast on this day because Lord Vishnu who had gone to sleep on the 10th of Ashaadh (June-July) awoke on this day at the request of his wife. Lord Vishnu's wife Lakshmi was very unhappy about his long sleep. He promised to reduce his sleep to four months. Lakshmi was happy about it and announced that she would visit those houses where religious assemblies would be held on this day. Since that time people observe fast on this day with great devotion.

Baths in the morning, visits to temples, gifts to poor people, and prayers to Lord Vishnu are all advised. In Kartik Mahatmya it is mentioned that a Brahman named Dev Sharma married his daughter Gunavati to one of his pupils called Chandra. One day a demon killed Chandra and Gunavati became a widow, but she kept on keeping Ekadashi fast. She used to go to the Ganges for her bath. Lord Vishnu was very much impressed by her devotion. The Lord came down in his celestial car and took her to heaven

Later she became Lord Krishna's (eighth incarnation of Vishnu) wife as Satyabhama, and her father was reborn as Satrajit and her husband as Akrur. Akrur was an uncle of Lord Krishna and Satrajit was the son of Nigha who got Syamantaka gem for his devotion to the Sun god. The eleventh day (Ekadashi) is therefore regarded as a very efficacious fast day for securing happiness in the future.

There is another story, which says that people will get rid of all their sins if they keep this, fast in full faith, and those who keep this fast half-heartedly will not get the full benefit. Once there was a king who was a very religious man. His entire subject kept the Ekaadshui fast regularly. He married his daughter to a prince who kept the fast half-heartedly, and therefore during the night the prince got sick and died. As he had kept the fast, he had earned the blessings of gods for securing happiness in the future. In his next birth, the prince became a very powerful king. One day a Brahman from the princess's kingdom visited the new king and recognized him as the prince who died. The Brahman told the story to the princess and led her to the king. She was surprised to find him with the blessings of God. He welcomed his wife and made her sit next to her on the throne. The husband and wife were united again due to the fast and lived a very happy life with their children.