Conversation on Aparaa Ekaadashi
Fast on the 11th day of Jyeshtha Krishna Paksha (the waning phase of the moon heading towards new moon) is Aparaa Ekaadas hi. The name Aparaa comes from the word Apar meaning immense or boundless. This day confers immense benefits on those who undertake the fast. Story in Short More than a story or a parable, this chapter is told as a conversation between Lord Krishna and King Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas. Lord Krishna lists out the advantages of this fast to Yudhishthira. There is no specific story. Lord Krishna highlights that observing a fast on this day can bring about immense benefits. One does come across reference to a Mahabharata time story of King Mandhata, who ruled over the kingdom of Ayodhya and a poor farmer named Kuber when researching about Aparaa Ekaadashi. However, this story is not in the Ekaadashi Mahoutsav Varat Katha (published by Babu Madav Prasad Sharma, Varanasi). This is a good place to note that the reasons and inspirations for different peopl...