Padmini Ekadashi

Padmini Ekadashi Vrat Story

Padmini Ekadashi is one of the rarest and most powerful Ekadashis mentioned in the scriptures. This sacred Ekadashi comes only during Purushottam Maas, also known as Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month that appears approximately every 32 months. It is considered extremely dear to Lord Vishnu and grants immense spiritual merit to devotees who observe it with devotion and purity.

The story of Padmini Ekadashi begins when King Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna about the special Ekadashi that falls during the Shukla Paksha of Purushottam Maas. He wanted to know its significance, the method of observing the vrat, and the spiritual benefits received from it.

Lord Krishna then narrated an ancient conversation between Sage Pulastya and Narada Muni.

Narada Muni once became astonished after hearing that the mighty demon king Ravana had been captured and imprisoned by a human king named Kartavirya Arjuna. Ravana had already defeated many powerful celestial beings including Indra, so Narada wondered how an ordinary human king could possess such unimaginable strength.

To answer this question, Sage Pulastya narrated the sacred history behind Kartavirya Arjuna’s birth.

During the Treta Yuga, there lived a great emperor named Kartavirya who ruled the Haihaya dynasty from his capital city of Mahishmati. He possessed immense wealth, power, and glory and had one thousand queens, yet he remained childless. Despite performing many yajnas and sacred rituals, he could not receive the blessing of a son due to karmic obstacles from previous births.

The king became deeply sorrowful. Finally, he handed over the kingdom to his ministers and went to Mount Gandhamardan to perform severe penance in devotion to Lord Vishnu.

Among all his queens, one queen named Padmini stood apart because of her devotion and purity. She was the daughter of the truthful King Harishchandra from the Ikshvaku dynasty. Queen Padmini abandoned all royal comforts, ornaments, and luxurious clothing and followed her husband into the forest. She considered serving her husband to be her highest dharma.

For ten thousand years, King Kartavirya performed intense austerities dedicated to Lord Vishnu. His body became weak and frail, but still the Lord did not appear before him.

Seeing her husband suffering in this condition, Queen Padmini became deeply distressed. She eventually approached the great and virtuous Sati Anasuya, the daughter of Sage Kardama, seeking guidance.

Sati Anasuya understood the situation through her divine wisdom and instructed Queen Padmini to observe the sacred Padmini Ekadashi vrat during the upcoming Purushottam Maas. She explained that this Ekadashi possessed extraordinary spiritual power capable of removing even the strongest karmic obstacles.

Queen Padmini followed every instruction with complete sincerity and devotion. She observed a strict Nirjala fast without even drinking water and spent the entire night awake chanting the holy names of Lord Vishnu.

Her devotion pleased Lord Narayan immensely.

Lord Vishnu personally appeared before Queen Padmini in his divine form and declared that no month was more dear to him than Purushottam Maas and no Ekadashi was more beloved than Padmini Ekadashi.

Lord Narayan then offered her a boon.

Instead of asking for personal comfort or wealth, Queen Padmini requested that her husband receive the blessing of a son.

Lord Vishnu then appeared before King Kartavirya and asked him to choose a boon.

The king requested a son so powerful that no god, human, demon, or celestial being would ever be able to defeat him in battle and that only Lord Narayan himself could conquer him.

Lord Vishnu granted the blessing.

Soon afterward, Queen Padmini gave birth to the mighty Kartavirya Arjuna. The immense spiritual merit accumulated from Queen Padmini’s observance of Padmini Ekadashi became the source of his extraordinary strength and divine power.

Because of this spiritual power, Kartavirya Arjuna later became strong enough to defeat and imprison the ten-headed Ravana himself.

Padmini Ekadashi Puja Vidhi

On the day before Ekadashi, known as Dashami, the devotee should eat only one simple meal during the daytime. Foods like urad dal, spinach, chickpeas, honey, and sea salt should be avoided completely. One should sleep on the floor and maintain purity and celibacy.

On Ekadashi morning, wake up during Brahma Muhurta before sunrise and take a bath in clean water. After purification, begin chanting the holy names of Lord Vishnu.

The deity of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna should be bathed and decorated beautifully. Offer incense, lamps, sandalwood paste, flowers, camphor, and devotional prayers with sincerity.

Throughout the day, avoid anger, lies, gossip, and materialistic activities. All grains, rice, beans, and lentils must be avoided completely.



Benefits Of Padmini Ekadashi Fast

Padmini Ekadashi destroys accumulated sins and purifies the heart.

It grants the blessings of Lord Vishnu and increases devotion toward God.

The vrat removes karmic obstacles and fulfills sincere desires.

Observing this Ekadashi with devotion grants the spiritual merit of great Vedic yajnas like Agnishtoma, Vajpeya, and Ashvamedha.

The fast helps devotees attain peace, prosperity, protection, and spiritual progress.

Scriptures state that one who observes Padmini Ekadashi with sincerity ultimately attains the divine abode of Lord Vishnu after death.

Even in modern times, if a person sincerely avoids grains and spends the day chanting the holy names of the Lord with devotion, they receive immense spiritual benefit from this sacred vrat.

Ms. Swaati Mehrotra

Celebrated Vedic Astrologer, Tarot Master, Vastu Consultant & Spiritual Life Coach with over 15+ years of experience guiding thousands across the globe.