Shatthila Ekadashi on 4-2-2016 Thursday

Shattila Ekadashi - शटतिला एकादशी
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Shattila Ekadashi Vrat Katha

Once Lord Vishnu told God Narad about an incident and elaborated the importance of Shatila Ekadashi fast. The story narrated by Lord Vishnu to Narad ji is as follows.

In ancient time, a Brahmani used to live on earth. She always used to observe fast but never did any donations to any Brahman or monk. Once she observed fast regularly for a month. Due to which her body became very weak. Then Lord Vishnu thought that the Brahmani has purified her body by keeping the fast, so she will get a place in the Vishnu Lok but, she never donated food. So, achieving contentment is difficult for her. So Lord decided to visit her house in disguise of a beggar and ask for alms. If she does the charity, she will achieve satisfaction. So, Lord Vishu reached the Brahmani in disguise of a beggar on earth and asked for alms. She asked Lord “Highness, why have you come to me.” Lord replied “I need alms.” Listening this, immediately the Brahmani picked mud and pured it in the begging bowl of Lord Vishnu. God, went back to heaven with that mud.

After some time, the Brahmani left her body and reached heaven. By donating mud, she got a palace in heaven, but there was no food in the palace as she never donated any food. She got worried and went to Lord Vishnu. She said “Lord I observed fast and worshipped you, then also there is lack of food items in my house. Why is it so?” Then Lord Vishnu asked her to go back to her house and said Goddesses will come to see and meet you. Before opening the door ask from them, the significance of Shatila Ekadashi Vrat and then open the door. Brahmani did the same thing. She asked the importance of Shatila Ekadashi fast before opening the door. One of the Dev Istri(lady God) told Brahmani the importance of this fast. After getting the information, she opened the door. The Goddesses saw that she was neither a Gandharvi(beautiful) nor a demoniac. She was in form of a human like before death. Now the Brahmani got to know about not doing charity. Then she observed the Shatila Ekadashi fast as elaborated by the Goddess. This way all her sins were removed. She became beautiful and now her house was full of different food items.
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Henceforth, every human being should sacrifice his temptation and greed. He should not think of his self-interest. This way, a person’s fortune will grow strong. He will overcome all his misery and poverty and after his death he will get place in heaven.