Aja Ekadashi in the Year 2022 will be Celebrated on Tuesday, 23rd August, 2022
Aja Ekadashi falls in waning phase of the moon in the month of Bhadrapada (August – September) according to Hindi Hindu Calendar. The importance of this Ekadasi was mentioned by Lord Krishna to Yudhisthira and is found in the Brahmavaivarta Purana. It is believed that a person who observes Aja Ekadashi Vrat becomes free from the reactions of his/her sinful activities.
Legend of Aja Ekadashi says that the great King Harishchandra got back his kingdom, wife and dead son after performing the Ananda or Aja Ekadashi. It was Gautama Muni who asked Harishchandra to observe the Annada Ekadasi so that he will be able to overcome all the difficulties in life. The king got back all that he had lost and was able to rule his kingdom without any difficulties.
It is said that whoever fasts on this Ekadasi is surely freed from all the sins. There are no separate rules for fasting on the day. Rice and grains are avoided on the day.
Aja Ekadashi Fast Story : In ancient time, there ruled a Chakravarti Raja. His name was Harishchandra. He was a very brave, majestic and glorious ruler. To complete his promise he had sold his wife and son. He himself had become a servant of a cruel person.
There he used to give shroud. But, in this difficult work also he did not leave the path of truth. After many years, he started feeling bad about his work and became upset. Then he started reaching some way to get free from this work and always used to stay tensed with this thought.
Once, while he was wondering about what to do, he was Gautam Rishi coming. King bowed to him and narrated his sad story infront of Rishi. Rishi felt upset on listening and seeing the condition of king and said him “Hey king, in the Krishna Paksha of Bhado, Aja Ekadashi occurs. You should observe the fast of this Ekadasi in a systematic manner and perform the Jagran at night. You will get rid of all your sins.” Saying this Gautam Rishi went from there.
On the day of Aja Ekadashi, king observed the fast and performed Jagran, as told by Rishi. By the effect of this fast, all sins of the king were destroyed. At that time, flowers started showering from the sky. King saw Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and Shiva, standing before him. He was his dead son alive and his wife in good clothes and jewellery.
By the effect of fasting he got back his kingdom. After death, he reached heaven with his family. All this was the result of observing the fast of Aja Ekadashi. Person who observes this fast in a systematic manner and perform the Jagran at night , gets rid of his sins. And, he gets place in heaven after death. Just hearing the story of fast gives the result as of Ashvamedha Yagya.
