അജ ഏകാദശി വ്രതം അവസാനിപ്പിക്കേണ്ട സമയം: 05:57:47 to 08:31:19 on 30, ഓഗസ്റ്റ്
സമയ ദൈര്ഘ്യം : 2 മണിക്കൂർ 33 മിനിറ്റ്
● On this day, take a bath before sunrise and ruminate the name of God.
● Light a ghee lamp (Deepak), offer fruits and flower, and worship Lord Vishnu.
● Recite Vishnu Sahasranama.
● Fast without consuming food and water.
● Perform prayers (Jagrans) at night.
● On the day of Dwadashi, offer food and donation to Brahmin.
● After that, eat your own meal.
According to Vedic Scriptures, it is believed that devotees who fast on this day and perform jagrans at night, all their sins get destroyed and they go to heaven. Additionally, just by listening to the story of Aja Ekadashi, devotees receive the fruits of Ashwamedha Yagya.
It is said that King Harishchandra was known for his honesty and truthfulness. One day, Gods decided to test him. The King saw in his dream that he has donated his kingdom to Rishi Vishwamitra. When the next day, King Harishchandra hand over all his kingdom to Vishwamitra, he asked the King to gave him 500 gold coins as donation. He told Rishi that he could ask him for more than just 500 gold coins. On this Vishwamitra laughed and reminded him that he has already donated his treasury along with his kingdom, so donation once made cannot be donated again. Then, the King sold his wife and son to obtain gold coins, but it wasn’t enough, so he sold himself as well and donated all gold coins to Vishwamitra. The person to whom he sold himself was the Chandala of a Crematorium. He assigned his task of collecting taxes for cremation to King Harishchandra.
One day, King Harishchandra fasted for Ekadashi. It was midnight and he was guarding the entrance of Crematorium. The night was completely dark when a crying helpless woman carrying dead body of her son came there. She was King’s wife. Following his duty, King Harishchandra demanded tax from his wife for cremating their son. As she did not have money to pay tax, so she tore down a piece of her saree and give it to the King. At the same time the God appeared and said, “ O Harishchandra! You have establish the finest example of following truth and honesty in life. Your commitment is noble and you will always be remembered.” At that time, the King’s son Rohitash came back to life. With God’s permission, Vishwamitra also returned Harishchandra’s kingdom to him.