Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi ~ 5th June 2017

Nirjala Ekadasi occurs during the Jyestha (May/June) month and a description of this fantastically gracious day is found in the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.Once Bhimasena, the younger brother of Yudhisthira, asked the best of sages Srila Vyasadeva, "O great sage, yogi and knower of the Vedas, please hear my humble request. My elder brother Yudhisthira, mother Kunti devi, brothers Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, and Draupadi fast completely on the Ekadasi day.

Yudhisthira is often encouraging me to fast and while I know it is  the injunction of the scriptures, and I have tried; I simply am unable to fast. My hunger is too great too bear fasting on every Ekadasi. I can give in charity, I can worship Lord Kesava but I cannot fast. Please instruct me how I can obtain the mercy of Sri Ekadasi.



"On hearing Bhima's pathetic entreaty, Sri Vyasadeva said, "O Bhima, if you want to go to the heavenly planets, avoiding the hellish condition, then you must refrain from eating on both Ekadasi days each month.

"Bhima interjected: 'O Vyasa Muni! It is impossible for me to fast on twenty-four Ekadasi's per year. What to speak of fasting day and night, I cannot tolerate my hunger for even a blink of an eye. The 'brika' fire of hunger is always present in my stomach, only voracious eating will quell this formidable foe in the form of craving. With great endeavor I may be able to fast one day a year…

"Sri Vyasadeva said: 'O my dear King, You have already heard from me about the Vedic religious principles and the duties of the human being. But in this age of Kali not everyone can follow these regulations, I know. Therefore I will tell of a sublime method by which all your desires will be fulfilled. This method is the concentrated essence of all the Puranas. Anybody who observes Ekadasi

Rukmini Dvadasi & Why It's Celebrated.

Rukmini Dvadasi & Why It's Celebrated. 

Today marks the appearance anniversary of Rukmini Devi, one of Krishna's primary queens in Dwaraka. Rukmini Devi is the eternal consort of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She is the internal pleasure potency of the Lord. Whereas Srimati Radharani is Krishna’s consort in His childhood home of Vrindavana, Rukmini Devi is His chief queen in Dwaraka, His opulent capital. She was betrothed to the envious-minded Shishupala, but Krishna kidnapped her after she wrote Him a letter asking Him to do so. She is considered an expansion of the gopi (cowherd girl) Chandravali.

Dvadasi is the twelfth day of the waning or waxing moon (dva, "two," dasi, "tenth"). In the Vedic, lunar calendar, dvadasi follows Ekadasi, a day customarily set aside for exclusive focus on spiritual activity and fasting—at least from grains and beans. Fasting for Ekadasi is considered incomplete unless one breaks fast at the proper time the following day, dvadasi.

Krishna's pastimes with Rukmini Devi mentioned in Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Chapters 52-54.

KB 52: Kṛṣṇa, the Raṇacora

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

When Mucukunda, the celebrated descendant of the Ikṣvāku dynasty, was favored by Lord Kṛṣṇa, he circumambulated the Lord within the cave and then came out. On coming out of the cave, Mucukunda saw that the human species had surprisingly been reduced in stature to pygmy size. Similarly, the trees had also been far reduced in size, and Mucukunda could immediately understand that the current age was Kali-yuga. Therefore, without diverting his attention, he began to travel