Aja Ekadashi

All About According to Hindu Scriptures

Aja Ekadashi is celebrated in the Hindu religion to honour Lord Vishnu. Aja Ekadashi is also known as Ananda Ekadashi, and it lies in the month of August-September. This Ekadashi is seen in the month of Bhadrapada in northern India.

But, in southern India, it lies in the month of Shravana. This day is especially devoted to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The devotees show full dedication and follow all the rituals on Aja Ekadashi.

It is believed in Hindu tradition and said by God devotees who keep fast of Aja Ekadashi get blessings from Lord Vishnu.

What is Aja Ekadashi?

Aja Ekadashi is the Hindu festival celebrated on the 11th lunar day (Ekadashi) of the Krishna Paksha. According to Hindu tradition, all devotees keep strict fast on this day and follow all rituals.

This fast is observed on Ekadashi Tithi, and Lord Vishnu showers his blessings on the devotees. People who keep fast of Aja Ekadashi get the opportunity to seek forgiveness for their unintentional sins.

Raja Harishchandra kept this fast with full purity and integrity. He lost his kingdom and struggled a lot. But, after keeping Aja Ekadashi vrat and worshipping Lord Vishnu, his life changed. His sins were washed away; he got his kingdom and happy family back after keeping fast on Aja Ekadashi.

Importance of Aja Ekadashi

• If you keep fast on Aja Ekadashi, you will get free from all your past and present sins.
• The devotee who will celebrate this Ekadashi will free from the struggle of birth and death.
• Your body and mind will become calm and positive by keeping fast on this day and worshipping Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
• Devotees who keep vrat on this day get happiness and peace in their life.
• Aja Ekadashi helps people to get freedom from the cycle of death and birth. After death, devotees are taken to Lord Vishnu's place named 'Vaikuntha'.
• This is a very promising day, and you will get many benefits if you perform 'Ashwamegh Yagya' on Aja Ekadashi day.

Know About Aja Ekadashi Vrat

• On this day, devotees keep vrat to respect Lord Vishnu and worship him.
• During Aja Ekadashi vrat, starts keeping fast one day before the fast day on Dashami after sunrise.
• On this day, devotees spend their whole time worshipping Lord Vishnu and chanting mantras, reading Ekadashi Katha and doing kirtan.
• After an early morning bath on 11th (Aja Ekadashi) day, the believers worship Lord Vishnu idol with flowers, prasad and dhoop. They also lit up diya filled with ghee during the aarti of Lord Vishnu.
• On this day, Aja Ekadashi believers do not eat non-veg food, rice, or grains. They keep fast by only eating fruits on this day.
• Devotees read holy books on this day, such as Bhagwad Geeta, Ekadashi Katha and Vishnu Sahastranam.
• On Aja Ekadashi, the devotee does not sleep at night and spends his time worshipping and remembering Lord Vishnu.
• The believers do not say or think anything negative about Aja Ekadashi. They remain calm and positive the whole day.
• On the next day (Dwadashi), devotees break their fast after worshipping God and giving food to Brahmin. On the 12th (Dwadashi) day, devotees offer rice as prasad to Lord Vishnu and then Brahmin. Then, they eat themselves and break their fast.