When is Yogini Ekadashi?

The 2022 Yogini Ekadashi falls on Friday, June 24. It is the 11th tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashadha. Like all Ekadashi, Yogini Ekadashi too sees the worship of Lord Vishnu. Devotees observe fast on this day. Yogini Ekadashi comes after Nirjala Ekadashi and before Dev Shayini Ekadashi. Details are given below:

Yogini Ekadashi on Friday, June 24, 2022

  • Ekadashi Tithi Begins – 09:41 PM, June 23, 2022
  • Ekadashi Tithi Ends – 11:12 PM, June 24, 2022
  • Yogini Ekadashi Parana Time – 05:56 AM to 08:38 AM

What is the significance of Yogini Ekadashi?

Worshipping Lord Vishnu on Yogini Ekadashi will bless the devotee with prosperity and joy in life. Those who observe vrat on this day gain virtues equivalent to feeding 88 thousand Brahmins. Meaningful changes will happen in the life of devotees upon observing Yogini Ekadashi rituals. The vrat also ensures good health. Observing it can help the individual avoid health problems. It also helps get rid of ailments. The vrat can be especially effective on those suffering from skin-related diseases. It is said one can transcend to Swargaloka by observing the Yogini Ekadashi vrat.

What are the rituals in Yogini Ekadashi?

The devotees are to wake up early in the morning and are required to take a holy bath before initiating the rituals. Make sure you remain calm and composed throughout the vrat period. Lord Vishnu is worshipped and offered incense sticks, flowers, and tulsi leaves. Carry out aarati and distribute prasad among family. The devotee should strictly avoid meat, alcohol and tobacco and limit oneself to a single sattvic meal during the duration of the vrat.

The rituals of Yogini Ekadashi begin on the eve of the Ekadashi and continues till the time when the Ekadashi ends. The devotees are supposed to spend the entire night reciting mantras to please Lord Vishnu. Reciting ‘Vishnu Sahasranama’ with immense devotion is highly auspicious. A visit to Lord Vishnu temple is recommended. Performing charity deeds will also do good for the devotee. The vrat is complete only with the recital of the story of Yogini Ekadashi.

What is the story behind Yogini Ekadashi?

In the kingdom of Alakapuri, ruled by King Kuvera lived the gardener to the king Hema Mali. It was Hema Mali’s duty to ensure fresh flowers from Mansarovar Lake for the king’s daily worship of Lord Shiva. Hema Mali did his job well. He had a beautiful wife whom he dearly loved – Swarupavati. Hema Mali’s life was perfect. One day King Kuvera, when he reached the temple for the daily worship of Lord Shiva, found to his utter dismay that there were no fresh flowers for the puja.

The king immediately sent a royal official to see what Hema Mali was doing. Hema Mali, at that time, was absorbed in spending time with his wife. The messenger returned and informed the king about this. In anger, King Kuvera ordered Hema Mali to be brought to court. For gross neglect of duty, the king banished him from his kingdom, separated Mali from his wife and cursed him with leprosy.

Hema Mali begged for pardon but was not given any. Outside the kingdom, Hema Mali roamed around the forest as a leper. Animals also avoided coming anywhere near him. Isolated and alone, Hema Mali cut a dejected figure. One day he found himself in the ashram of Sage Markandeya. Hema Mali told Sage Markandeya everything. Hearing it, the sage advised Hema Mali to observe the Yogini Ekadashi vrat and worship Lord Vishnu. Hema Mali did as was told. He got cured of leprosy. Hema Mali returned to Alakapuri. King Kuvera took him in, and Hema was reunited with his dearest wife. All of this happened because Hema Mali sincerely observed the Yogini Ekadashi vrat.

Another aspect of Yogini Ekadashi is it is also related to Kubera, the lord of wealth. So it is good to worship Lord Kubera alongside Lord Vishnu on Yogini Ekadashi.

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What is an Ekadashi?

Eka-dashi means first after 10. It is the eleventh tithi in a lunar fortnight. In a month, there are two Ekadashi, one which arrives during the dark phase (Krishna Paksha) and the other which arrives during the bright phase (Shukla Paksha). It is considered an auspicious day. There are certain rituals that one is expected to observe during Ekadashi day. These rituals are meant to pull back the ten senses and mind from being lost in the material world and to help you be more in touch with your spiritual world. Lord Vishnu is worshipped during this day. This is because it was on an Ekadashi day that Lord Vishnu defeated the demon Murdanav and saved manushyas and devas from his terror.

The story goes that even after fighting for 1000 years, the demon Murdanav was no closer to getting defeated. Tired Lord Vishnu took a break and had a nap at a cave away from Murdanav. The ten senses and the mind of Lord Vishnu were put at rest. Murdanav soon reached the cave. He was about to swing the sword when a beautiful woman bearing a sword emerged from the body of Lord Vishnu. Murdanav was wonderstruck by this gorgeous woman. He expressed the desire to have her in marriage. The woman agreed to marry Murdanav if he could defeat her in battle. Murdanav agreed and started the battle. But pretty soon, it became clear to Murdanav that he would never harm this woman, and so he accepted defeat himself and was slain by the woman.

Lord Vishnu now woke up. Pleased with the woman, Lord Vishnu named her Ekadashi as it was Ekadashi day. Ekadashi was blessed that whoever who observed Ekadashi Vrat would enjoy health and prosperity in life. There are 24 Ekadashi in a year. Each Ekadashi is significant. Lord Vishnu is universally worshipped during all Ekadashi.

What is Ekadashi Vrat?

Vrat during Ekadashi is of three types – Nirjala Vrat, Sajala Vrat and Farali Vrat. The vrat where the devotee spends the whole day without eating or drinking anything is called Nirjala Vrat. If the devotee subsists on just liquid food, then it is the Sajala Vrat. Limiting the diet to milk and fruits is called Farali Vrat.

The devotee should ensure to maintain a calm and composed state of mind during the vrat period. Do not see, think or do bad things during the vrat period. The mind should be kept concentrated on god and godly things.

Consistently observing the Ekadashi Vrat rids the body of toxins. The individual will feel light and energetic in life. Observing the Ekadashi vrat also lessens the possibility of cancer by almost 90%.

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