- Yogini Ekadasi is celebrated in Ashada Masam as per the North Indian calendar, whereas in South India it falls in the month of Jyestha.
- It is mentioned in Padma Purana whoever follows the rituals of this vrat will lead a happy life.
- Observing fast on this day removes all past and bad deeds that provide good health.
- If a devotee is unable to fast on this day can have a satvik food
- Lord Vishnu should be worshipped with tulsi leaves on this day, tulsi leaves should be bought on the previous day. We must not pluck Tulsi leaves on Ekadasi day.
- It is considered auspicious to worship the peepal tree on this day.
- Must Vishnu lord Vishnu temple and chant his mantras
- Read holy scriptures like Bhagavat and Bhagavadgita.
Legends narrate the story of a gardener named Hema Mali, a Yaksha, and his extremely beautiful wife, Swarupavati. Hema Mali worked under Kuvera, King of Alakapuri, who was a pious devotee of Lord Shiva. Hema Mali’s job was to collect flowers from Manasarovar Lake and provide them to the king for the daily Shiva puja. Nonetheless, he was highly attracted to his wife, so one day, he stayed back with his wife neglecting his duties. Thus, he could not deliver flowers for the puja to the king. The king sent one of his messengers to find out the reason for Hema Mali’s absence and negligence. The messenger found that Hema Mali was spending time with his wife instead of fulfilling his duty of collecting flowers.
He returned back and informed the king that the reason for his carelessness is his gorgeous wife. Hema Mali was summoned to the court. Though he begged for forgiveness, the king cursed him for suffering from white leprosy and being separated from his wife. He was thrown out of the palace and Hem Mali immediately got afflicted with white leprosy. He wandered through the forests for years and finally reached the ashram of Sage Markandeya. The whole tale was retold to the sage. The sage asked Hema Mali to observe Yogini Ekadashi vrat to get liberated from the dangerous infection and relieved from the curse.
As directed, Hema Mali observed the fast and returned to his divine form as a Yaksha. Therefore, he could reunite with his wife and live the rest of his life happily.
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