Saphla Ekadashi - Saphla Ekadashi 2024 - Saphala Ekadasi Vrat

The fast of Safla Ekadashi is observed on Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha, Paush Masa.  Person observing this fast should wake up early in the morning and complete his routine works. Then, the Aarti is performed and prasad is prepared for God. On this day, worshipping Lord Narayana has a special significance. Brahmans and poor people should be given donations in terms of food, money etc. On Ekadashi, Jagran and Kritan Path performed at night give fruitful results. A person observing this fast gets success in all the activities. This Ekadashi gives virtues to a person, according to its name.

Saphla Ekadashi Fast

Performing Jagran on the night of Ekadashi is considered auspicious.  It is believed that the virtues of this Ekadashi Vrat are equal to the result of meditating for 1000 years. The fast when observed with faith and devotion, gives salvation. Sins of many generations of a person are removed, by observing the fast of Saphla Ekadashi. Ekadashi fast purifies the heart of a person and gives salvation.

Saphla Ekadashi Fast Pujan

Lord Narayana is worshipped on the day of Saphla Ekadashi fast. The person observing the fast should begin following the rules of the fast from Dashmi (a day before Ekadashi). He should follow the general rules of fast. He should only have satvik food on Dashmi and avoid taking salt.

Meal should be taken only once on the night of Dashmi. On the day of Ekadashi, person observing the fast should wake up early in the morning and complete his routine work like bathing etc. Then, the resolution of this fast is taken before the idol of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is worshipped with incense sticks, lamps, fruits etc. And, Lord Narayana is worshipped with Panchamrit.

Person observing this fast should not sleep in the daytime, on Ekadashi. In the night, Jagran should be performed. On Dwadashi (a day after Ekadashi), after bathing, Brahmans are given alms. This way, the fast is concluded.

Significance of Saphla Ekadashi

There was a king named Mahishmaan in a city called Champavati. The king had four sons. His eldest son was Lumpak and he was a great sinner. He always used to do wrong works. He used to waste his father’s money in his evil works.

He always used to say bad about God, Brahman etc. Once, the king got to knew about the activities of his son. He threw his son, out of the Kingdom. When Lumpak was abandoned by everyone, he started thinking what to do and what not to do. At night he decided to steal in the kingdom of his father.

In the daytime in used to stay out, and at night he did stealing and other wrong activities like creating trouble for the people residing in the kingdom etc. Guards used to catch him and leave him considering as king’s son. The forest in which Lumpak lived was very dear to Lord. There was a very old Pipal tree, under which Lumpak used to stay. After few days, on Dashami of Krishna Paksha, Paush Masa, Lumpak fainted because of the cold. That night was very tough for him. He came back to his consciousness, during the afternoon.

Because of the weakness in body, he could not eat anything. He collected the nearby fruits and kept near the roots of Pipal tree. And asked God to have those fruits. Then he again became unconscious. He again woke up at night. This way, Lord was pleased by the fast and Jagran performed by the sinner, Lumpak. All of his sins were removed.

Lumpak got excited by hearing that all his sins were removed. He immediately wore new clothes and reached to his father. His father handed over the kingdom to Lumpak, and went into the woods, leaving everything behind.