Indra Ekadashi

Q1           Can you tell about Indra Ekadashi?

A1           Ekadashi is considered to be an auspicious day in Hindu and Jain culture. It takes place on the eleventh day of the two lunar cycles of the month, Krishna & Shukla Paksha. Spiritually, Ekadashi symbolises eleven senses constituting five sense organs, five action organs and one mind. People observe a fast to mark the day by controlling the eleven senses and consuming only permitted foods and refraining from others. This month, Ekadashi is celebrated on  September 13.

On Indira Ekadashi, fast is observed to provide salvation to forefathers. It is also referred to as Ekadashi Shradh because, on this day, people perform the Ekadashi Shradh of the Pitru Paksha period to pay obeisance to their dead ancestors.                 

Pandava King Yudhishthira once asked Shri Krishna to explain the significance of Indira Ekadashi. And to answer all his questions regarding the Vrat, Lord Krishna started narrating an age-old story. Here's how the tale unfolded.                                   

In Satyuga, there lived a king named Indrasena. He ruled a kingdom called Mahishmati.

Mahishmati  was an ancient kingdom in present-day central India. It was located in present-day Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh, on the banks of Narmada River.                 

"Indrasena was a benevolent king, and citizens  were happy and content under his leadership. Once, Devarishi Narada Muni paid a visit to Indrasena's court to convey his father's message. The Devarishi said that Indrasena's father is in the Yama Loka and hasn't been able to attain Moksha owing to a few sins committed by him during his lifetime. 

Therefore, Narada Muni suggested Indrasena must observe a vrat on this  Ekadashi Tithi and pray to Lord Vishnu for liberating his father's soul.

 Narada Muni said that the King must pray to Lord Vishnu on the Dashami Tithi and pay obeisance to his dead ancestors in the afternoon (Madhyana). These prayers must be followed by a vrat on Ekadashi. Then, Narada Muni said that on this day, the King must appeal to Lord Vishnu to relieve his dead father from the Yama Loka."           

After performing puja,  must read the sacred texts that hail the glory of Lord Vishnu. And then on Dwadashi, after taking a bath and worshipping Lord Vishnu, one must break the fast. Thus, by performing the Indira Ekadashi Vrat, one can help their dead ancestors attain Moksha.

My humble note- Performing Indra Eakadashi vrata  one can pray to  Lord Vishnu for Moksha to dead ancestors many ways similar to Gaya srardha where we pray to Lord Vishnu. My point is about Moksha to ancestors. After Moksha, they are no longer pithrus. So no more srardha is required again calling his three generation ancestors and again calling him pithru. 

Srardha can be performed on the ancestors thithi day for JNATHA AJNATHA PITHRUS. No pithru varanam should be done.