VISIT TOVP GIFT STORE · EXPLORE BOOK MARKETPLACEDONATE CRYPTO

Temple of the Vedic Planetarium

  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • Archives
    • Architecture Dept. Reports
    • PMC Reports
    • TOVP in the Press
  • THE VISION
    • Founder’s Vision
    • Jananivasa Prabhu Speaks About the TOVP
    • A Landmark Spiritual Project of Universal Significance
    • Revealing The Heart of ISKCON
    • Prabhupada TOVP and Mayapur QuotesNew
  • VEDIC SCIENCE
    • Vedic Science
      • Vedic Cosmology
      • Vedic Cosmology Videos
      • Vedic Wisdom Videos
      • Vedic Science Essays
      • Vedic Science Channel
      • Shabda Media
    • TOVP Highlights
      • Cosmic Chandelier
      • Vedic Science Center
      • Planetarium Wing
      • Exhibits
    • Learning Centers
      • The Bhaktivedanta Institute
      • Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies
      • Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center
      • Institute for Science and Spirituality
    • Book MarketplaceNew
  • MEDIA GALLERY
    • Flipbook Collection
    • Photos
    • Visions of the TOVP
    • TOVP Artwork Collection
    • Archival Photos
    • Archival Videos
    • Videos
    • Vedic Science Channel Videos
    • Vedic Cosmology Videos
    • TOVP Talks – Vision of the Parampara
  • ABOUT US
    • Chairman’s Message
    • Meet the Mayapur Team
      • Construction Department
      • Fundraising Department
      • Planetarium Department
    • Meet Our Worldwide Team
    • TOVP Foundation
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • DONATE NOW
    • Fundraising Director’s Message
    • DONATE NOWsee all options
    • Donate in Crypto Currency
    • Donation Details / Pledge Payments / Contacts
    • Russian Donations Details
    • Donation Hotlines
    • Bank Transfer Details
    • Donor Account Dashboard
    • Donor Lists
      • Our Trustees
      • Gratitude Coin Donors
        • Radharani Coin Donors
        • Caitanya Coin Donors
        • Nityananda Coin Donors
        • Advaita Coin Donors
        • Gadadhar Coin Donors
        • Srivas Coin Donors
      • Rooms of Worship Donors
      • Pillars of Devotion Donors
        • Atma-nivedanam Pillar Donors
        • Smaranam Pillar Donors
        • Kirtanam Pillar Donors
        • Sravanam Pillar Donors
      • Medallion Seva Donors
        • Harinam Seva Medallion Donors
        • Bhagavatam Seva Medallion Donors
        • Archa Vigraha Seva Medallion Donors
      • Diamond of the Dome Donors
      • Brick Donors
        • Radha Madhava Brick Donors
        • Mahaprabhu Brick Donors
        • Guruparampara Brick Donors
        • Nrisimha Brick Donors
      • General Donors
    • Financial Reports
      • 2013
      • 2014
      • 2015
      • 2016
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2019
      • 2020
      • 2021
      • 2022
      • 2023
    • FCRA Reports
      • Quarterly Report Apr – Jun 2021
      • Quarterly Report Jul – Sept 2021
PLEDGEPAYMENT
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Festivals
  • Apara Ekadasi and the TOVP, 2023 – May 15 Worldwide
Sunanda Das
Fri, May 12, 2023 / Published in Festivals

Apara Ekadasi and the TOVP, 2023 – May 15 Worldwide

Apara Ekadasi is observed on the 11th day of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight of the moon) in the Vedic month of Jyeshtha. It corresponds to the months of May-June in the Gregorian calendar. It is understood that by observing Apara Ekadasi vrata all the sins of the person will be washed away. This Ekadasi is also popular by the name of ‘Achla Ekadasi’ and gives divine and auspicious results. Like all ekadasis, the Apara Ekadasi is also dedicated to worshipping Lord Vishnu.

We encourage devotees to also take advantage of this auspicious day to contribute according to their means to the TOVP. Particluarly at this time we are focusing on the completion of the Nrsimhadeva Wing of the temple by October, 2023. Please consider giving $25 or more during the Give To Nrsimha 2023 Fundraiser for this purpose.

  NOTE: Apara Ekadasi is observed on May 15 worldwide. Please refer to your local calendar through www.gopal.home.sk/gcal.

  View, download and share the TOVP 2022 Calendar​.

 

The Glories of Apara Ekadasi

from the Brahmanda Purana

Sri Yudhishthira Maharaj said, “Oh Janardana, what is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Jyeshtha (May – June)? I wish to hear from You the glories of this sacred day of Hari. Please narrate everything to me”.

Lord Sri Krishna said, “Oh king, your inquiry is wonderful because the answer will benefit the whole human society. This Ekadasi is so sublime and meritorious that even the greatest sins can be erased by its purity.”

“Oh great saintly king, the name of this unlimitedly meritorious Ekadasi is Apara Ekadasi. Whoever fasts on this holy day becomes famous all over the universe. Even such sins as killing a brahmana, a cow, or an embryo; blasphemy; or having sex with another man’s wife are completely eradicated by observing Apara Ekadasi.

Oh King, people who bear false witness are most sinful. A person who falsely or sarcastically glorifies another; one who cheats while weighing something on a scale; one who fails to execute the duties of his varna or ashrama (an unqualified man’s posing as a brahmin, for example, or a person’s reciting the Vedas wrongly); one who invents his own scriptures; one who cheats others; one who is a charlatan astrologer, a cheating accountant, or a false Ayurvedic doctor.

All these are surely as bad as persons who bears false witness, and they are all destined for hellish punishments. But simply by observing Apara Ekadasi, all such sinners become completely free of their sinful reactions.

Warriors who fall from their kshatriya-dharma and flee the battlefield go to a ferocious hell. But, Oh Yudhishthira, even such a fallen kshatriya, if he observes fasting on the Apara Ekadasi, is freed of that great sinful reaction and goes to heaven. That disciple is the greatest sinner who, after receiving a proper spiritual education from his spiritual master, turns around and blasphemes him. Such a so-called disciple suffers unlimitedly. But even he, rascal though he be, if he simply observes Apara Ekadasi, can attain to the spiritual world.

Listen, Oh king, as I describe to you further glories of this amazing Ekadasi. The merit attained by one who performs all of the following acts of piety is equal to the merit achieved by one who observes Apara Ekadasi:

Bathing three times daily in Pushkara-kshetra during Kartika (October-November); bathing at Prayag in the month of Magh (January-February) when the sun is in the zodiac of Capricorn; rendering service to Lord Shiva at Varanasi (Benares) during Shiva-ratri; offering oblations to one’s forefathers at Gaya; bathing in the sacred Gautami River when Jupiter transits Leo (Simha); having darshan of Lord Shiva at Kedarnatha; seeing Lord Badrinath when the Sun transits the sign of Aquarius (Kumbha); and bathing at the time of a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra and giving cows, elephants, and gold there in charity.

All the merit one gets from performing these pious acts is gained by a person who observes the Apara Ekadasi fast. Also, the merit attained by one who donates a pregnant cow, along with gold and fertile land, is attained by one who fasts on this day. In other words, Apara Ekadasi is an axe that cuts down the fully matured forest full of trees of sinful deeds, it is a forest fire that burns sins as if they were kindling firewood, it is the sun blazing before one’s dark misdeeds, and it is a lion stalking the meek deer of impiety.

Therefore, Oh Yudhishthira, whoever truly fears his past and present sins must observe Apara Ekadasi very strictly. One who does not observe this fast must be born again in the material world, like one bubble among millions in a huge body of water, or like a small ant among all other species. Therefore one must faithfully observe the sacred Apara Ekadasi and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Trivikrama. One who does so is freed of all his sins and promoted to the abode of Lord Vishnu.

Oh Bharata, for the benefit of all humanity I have thus described to you the importance of the holy Apara Ekadasi. Anyone who hears or reads this description is certainly freed from all kinds of sins, oh best of saintly kings, Yudhishthira.

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Jyeshtha-krishna Ekadasi, or Apara Ekadasi, from the Brahmanda Purana.

It is on Apara Ekadashi that Lord Trivikrama (Vamana) took away the whole universe from Bali Maharaja with His gigantic steps and blessed him by placing His lotus foot on Bali’s head.

NOTES:

  1. Pushkara-kshetra, in western India, is the only place on Earth where a bonafide temple of Lord Brahma is to be found.
  2. The Vedas declare, narah budbuda samah: “The human form of life is like a bubble in water”.

In water, many bubbles form and then suddenly burst a few seconds later. Thus if a person does not utilize his rare human body to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, his life has no more value or permanence than a bubble in water. Therefore, as the Lord herein recommends, we should serve Him by fasting on Hari-vasara, or Ekadasi.

In this regard, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes in the Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 2:1:4 purport) :

“The great ocean of material nature is tossing with the waves of time, and the so-called living conditions are something like foaming bubbles, which appear before us as bodily self, wife, children, society, countrymen, etc. Due to a lack of knowledge of self, we become victimized by the force of ignorance and thus spoil the valuable energy of human life in a vain search after permanent living conditions, which are impossible in this material world.”

Credits: This article has been used courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree

 


 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LQqFCRU5H1xJA5PV2hXKrA
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/

Tagged under: Apara Ekadasi, Brahmanda Purana, Ekadasi

Recent Posts

  • TOVP Releases New Flipbook – Lord Nrsimhadeva Arrives in MayapurTOVP Releases New Flipbook – Lord Nrsimhadeva Arrives in Mayapur
    In July 1986, the Deities of Prahlad-Nrsimhadeava were completed in Chennai, India and …
  • Parsva or Vamana Ekadasi and the TOVP 2023Parsva or Vamana Ekadasi and the TOVP 2023
    The Ekadasi Tithi in the month of Bhadrapada, Shukla Paksha (bright phase of the Lunar cycle) …
  • Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and the TOVP, 2023Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and the TOVP, 2023
    This article is being presented in honor of the divine appearance day of the original pioneer …
  • The BBT 2023 Bhadra Purnima Marathon and the TOVPThe BBT 2023 Bhadra Purnima Marathon and the TOVP
    We are approaching the end of this year’s BBT Bhadra Purnima Marathon to distribute 55,000 …
  • Radhastami and the TOVPRadhastami and the TOVP, 2023
    The glories of Sridhama Mayapur are unlimited and inconceivable, as it is the abode of Sri …

Categories

GET IN TOUCH

Ph: +91 908-343-3981
Email: info@tovp.org

ISKCON Mayapur
TOVP Seva Office Sri Dham Mayapur, District Nadia West Bengal India 741313

NEWSLETTER/TEXTS SIGNUP

Sendinblue Subscription Form

DOWNLOAD TOVP PHONE APP

Get it on Google Play

Download on the app store

DOWNLOAD TOVP SMART CARD

Download TOVP Smart Card PDF
  • GET SOCIAL
Temple of the Vedic Planetarium

A project of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The ISKCON Mayapur City and Temple of the Vedic Planetarium welcome visitors of all nationalities, ethnicities, races, creeds, genders and religions.
© 2009 - 2023 Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. All rights reserved.

TOP
en_USEnglish
arالعربية bn_BDবাংলা zh_CN简体中文 hi_INहिन्दी pt_BRPortuguês do Brasil ru_RUРусский es_ESEspañol en_USEnglish