Kamada Ekadashi Parana Time : 06:05:04 to 08:36:30 on 7th, April
Duration : 2 Hour 31 Minute
Puja rituals for Kamada Ekadashi, which fulfils all your desires, are as follows:
1. On this day, after retiring from bath, take a vow for fasting and worship God.
2. Remember Lord Vishnu from time to time and conduct a jagran nearby the place of worship.
3. Carry out the Parana on the next day of Ekadashi, i.e. on Dwadashi or twelfth day.
4. Doing Brahman Bhoj or feeding Brahmins and giving them dakshina or donations is said to be of high importance, therefore do it. Consume food only then after.
The legend of Kamada Ekadashi was narrated by Lord Shri Krishna to Pandu’s son Dharmraj Yudhisthira. Prior to this, Vashist Muni had narrated the glory of this fast to King Dilip, which is as follows:
In ancient times, a king named Pundrik ruled in the town of Bhogipur. In his city, many apsaras, eunuchs (kinnars), and Gandharvas used to live and their court was filled with these people. Gandharvas and Kinnars used to sing every day. There was a beautiful apsara named Lalita and her husband Lalit, a noble Gandharva lived there. There was immense affection between the two and they were always lost in each others memories.
During one time when Gandharva Lalit was singing in the court of King, suddenly he remembered his wife Lalita. Due to this reason, he couldn’t control his voice pitch. A serpent called Karkat saw this, and told this to King Pundrik. The king became angry when he heard this and cursed Lalit to be a monster. After this, for many years Lalit kept roaming in the Monster yoni. His wife continued to remember him but would become sad after seeing her husband in this condition.
After a few years passed, Lalits wife Lalita went to Sage Rishyamook on the Mount Vindhya, and started asking for the remedy for her husband. The sage took pity on them and asked to perform Kamada Ekadashi fast. After receiving his blessing, Gandharva-wife returned to her place and venerated the Kamada Ekadashi fast. With the effect of this Ekadashi fast, they got rid of their curse and their Gandharva appearance back.