Vrat KathaVishnuTraditionalHindi (retold from Sanskrit)
The katha of how Ekadashi herself was born — the radiant shakti who emerged from Vishnu's body to slay the demon Mura, and the boon that made the eleventh tithi the most beloved of all fasts.
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The Demon Mura
सत्ययुग में मुर नामक एक महापराक्रमी दैत्य हुआ। उसने अपने बल से इन्द्र सहित समस्त देवताओं को जीतकर स्वर्ग से निकाल दिया। त्रस्त देवता महादेव के पास गए, और महादेव ने उन्हें क्षीरसागर में शयन करने वाले भगवान विष्णु की शरण भेजा। देवताओं की पुकार सुनकर भगवान विष्णु ने मुर की सेना का संहार किया और स्वयं मुर से घोर युद्ध किया। यह युद्ध दीर्घकाल तक चलता रहा।
युद्ध करते-करते भगवान विष्णु विश्राम के लिए बदरिकाश्रम की हेमवती नामक गुफा में जाकर योगनिद्रा में लीन हो गए। मुर ने पीछा किया और सोते हुए भगवान को मारने के लिए ज्यों ही शस्त्र उठाया —
In the Satya Yuga there arose a mighty demon named Mura. By his strength he defeated Indra and all the gods and drove them from heaven. The terrified devas went to Mahadev, who directed them to Lord Vishnu, resting on the ocean of milk. Hearing their plea, Vishnu destroyed Mura's armies and fought a tremendous battle with the demon himself — a battle that raged on and on.
At length, pausing from the fight, Lord Vishnu withdrew to a cave called Hemavati in Badrikashrama and sank into yogic sleep. Mura pursued him — and just as he raised his weapon to slay the sleeping Lord —
The Birth of Ekadashi Devi
— उसी क्षण भगवान के शरीर से एक परम तेजस्विनी दिव्य कन्या प्रकट हुई। उस देवी ने अपने हुंकार और शस्त्रों से मुर दैत्य का वध कर दिया। योगनिद्रा से जागकर भगवान विष्णु ने सब वृत्तान्त जाना और प्रसन्न होकर कहा — "हे देवी! तुम मेरी ही शक्ति से मार्गशीर्ष कृष्ण एकादशी के दिन उत्पन्न हुई हो, अतः तुम्हारा नाम 'एकादशी' होगा। तुम मुझे प्राणों से भी प्रिय हो। वर माँगो।"
एकादशी देवी ने वर माँगा — "हे प्रभु! जो मनुष्य मेरे दिन (एकादशी तिथि को) व्रत रखे, वह सब पापों से मुक्त होकर आपके परम धाम को प्राप्त हो।" भगवान ने 'तथास्तु' कहकर वर दिया — "जो एकादशी का व्रत करेगा, वह मुझे अत्यन्त प्रिय होगा; उसके सब कार्य सिद्ध होंगे और अन्त में वह मोक्ष पाएगा।" तभी से प्रत्येक मास के दोनों पक्षों की एकादशी को व्रत की परम्परा चली, और मार्गशीर्ष कृष्ण एकादशी 'उत्पन्ना एकादशी' कहलाई।
जो श्रद्धा से उत्पन्ना एकादशी का व्रत करता और यह कथा सुनता है, उसे सब एकादशियों के व्रत का आरम्भ-फल प्राप्त होता है। ॥ श्री हरि की जय ॥
— in that instant a supremely radiant divine maiden sprang forth from the Lord's own body. With her war-cry and her weapons she slew the demon Mura. Waking from yogic sleep, Vishnu learned all that had passed and said in delight: "O Devi, you have arisen from my own shakti on the Krishna Ekadashi of Margashirsha — therefore your name shall be Ekadashi. You are dear to me as life itself. Ask a boon."
Ekadashi Devi asked: "Lord, may whoever fasts on my day be freed of all sins and attain your supreme abode." The Lord granted it: "Whoever keeps the Ekadashi vrat shall be exceedingly dear to me; their undertakings shall prosper, and at the end they shall attain liberation." From that day the fast of the eleventh tithi of both fortnights was established, and the Margashirsha Krishna Ekadashi became known as Utpanna — "the arising."
Whoever keeps Utpanna Ekadashi with faith and hears this katha receives the merit of beginning all the year's Ekadashis. — Jai Shri Hari!
Each link opens our computed festival calendar with exact dates and timings for your city.
When it is recited: Read on Utpanna Ekadashi (Margashirsha Krishna Ekadashi), which marks Ekadashi's birth — traditionally the day from which new observers begin keeping the Ekadashi fast.
Traditional significance: Every Ekadashi fast looks back to this story: Ekadashi is not merely a date but a devi — Vishnu's own power of victory over the inner demons of tamas. Her boon explains the vrat's rules: those who fast on the eleventh tithi, keeping vigil and remembering Hari, are freed of sins and dear to the Lord.
Questions
Why do new observers begin with Utpanna Ekadashi?
Because it is Ekadashi's own birthday — the day the devi arose. Tradition holds it the fitting day to take up the vrat for the first time, then continue with each Ekadashi of the year. See our Ekadashi calendar for this year's dates.
What are the basic rules of an Ekadashi fast?
Grains and beans are given up (many fast fully or take only fruit and milk), the day is spent in remembrance of Vishnu, and the fast is broken (parana) the next morning in the prescribed window — our Ekadashi calendar lists the parana times.
Source: Puranic tradition (Bhavishyottara Purana, Krishna–Yudhishthira dialogue) — retold in plain Hindi and English. Regional versions may vary — this text follows the version most widely used in community worship.