Varuthini Ekadashi: Long, long ago, when the entire world was filled with righteousness and the kings were noble, ruled with wisdom, and were guided by divinity, everything seemed good and prosperous. At the same time, a ruler, King Mandhata, lived. He was a man of justice, unwavering devotion to God and dharma, and a protector of justice. The people of his kingdom were thriving and gorgeous, filled with greenery, flowers, rivers, and an abundance of nature.
King was doing his royal duties and was still deeply involved in spirituality. He was aware of the truth that no power is greater than divinity, not even the throne.
Every day, King Mandhata used to pray and meditate upon Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe.
Spiritual Awakening and Desire to Meet God
He was living a great life, handling both the royal and the spiritual. However, one day he decided to retreat into the jungle for deep meditation.
The king left all the comforts of royal life and the palace and walked barefoot into the jungle, seeking divine connection and solitude.
The forest was dense. Birds were singing. Flowers were spreading fragrance. A cool breeze was whispering melodious stories of tall trees.
Serenity was everywhere.
In between, King Mandhata found a quiet spot to sit under a large banyan tree. He sat quietly in meditation and began to chant Lord Vishnu’s name in his mind.
Hours passed by, and he remained still in the position, but his mind drifted deeper, chanting Lord Vishnu, and he lost himself in spiritual consciousness.
Devoted King Mandhata Faced the Greatest Horrifying Event of His Life
But fate had something surprising for him, which he was unaware of.
Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere of the jungle turned into a horrifying one when a wild bear roared and emerged from the bushes. It was hungry and filled with rage. King Mandhata had no chance to react before he found his leg in the ferocious bear’s mouth, tearing the king’s leg apart.
Blood spread like water. And collapsed in pain.
But the king hadn’t cried out in anger and hadn’t cursed his fate. Instead, he switched his thoughts towards Lord Vishnu and began meditating.
With tears in his eyes and faith in his heart, the king whispered, “O Lord Vishnu, I surrender to you. If this is the will you have for me, I accept it wholeheartedly and with humility.”
However, on the other hand, the bear disappeared into the jungle, leaving the King Mandhata helpless and severely wounded.
Days passed, but the king remained on the ground, wounded. His body began to turn weak, but his spirit remained strong and unwavering. King Mandhata continued his prayer in a soft voice, which was filled with devotion.
God from heaven saw everything and moved by his faith and responded.
One twinkling night, as the king lay under the sky, without moving, a divine voice echoed. It was gentle but powerful, spreading peace around the jungle.
The Sacred Divine Message for King Mandhata and the Varuthini Ekadashi Story
“O King Mandhata,” the divine voice said, “your unwavering devotion touched our hearts. To free yourself from this unexplainable pain and suffering, observe the sacred Varuthini Ekadash fast and restore your body like before.
Varuthini Ekadash has the power to remove sins and protect you from misfortune. It showers the devotees with divine blessings.”
King Mandhata opened his eyes, feeling hope and gratitude in his heart. He was weak and injured, but he was determined to follow divine instruction.
He dragged himself, using great effort, to the nearby hermitage. Sages there recognized the king, helped, and cared for him.
The king told them about the divine message, and then the sages guided him on how to perform the fast for Varuthini Ekadashi.
The Day of Varuthini Ekadashi
On the day of Varuthini Ekadashi, the king prepared himself with sincerity.
Despite his injury, he maintained strict discipline and observed a hard fast. He hadn’t eaten any food and refrained from worldly pleasures.
Mandhata spent his entire day praying and changing the name of Vishnu.
He purified his mind from all ego and attachments and prayed for forgiveness for all his sins, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
The night of Varuthini Ekadashi was spent with great devotion. With the first ray of dawn, something miraculous happened.
Warm, shiny gold light surrounded the king. Sages watched the divine event in awe as the king’s wounds began to heal before their eyes. The flesh and bone of the king’s lost leg were restored.
King Mandhata stood up with great awe and gratitude and felt stronger and healthier than before. His eyes started to rain, and he folded his hands in gratitude and bowed to Lord Vishnu.
“My Lord,” the king said, “I am a mere human; bless me with your grace, which is boundless. You not only healed my body and injuries but also strengthened my soul to follow the dharma even more sincerely.”
Witnessing the divine event, sages praise the glory of Varuthini Ekadashi and the power of true devotion.
Thereafter, King Mandhata returned to his kingdom with great enthusiasm. He was welcomed with awe, joy, and celebration. Then, he shared his experience with his people and made them understand how important it is to remain faithful, humble, and devoted to divinity.
From that day, King Mandhata encouraged all his people to have faith in God and encouraged them to observe Varuthini Ekadashi with sincerity.
He ruled the kingdom, always remembering the lesson he learned—no matter how great the suffering you are having and going through, God is here to lead you to follow dharma to attain redemption and renewal of life.
Benefit of Observing Varuthini Ekadashi
King Mandhata’s story began to spread like a jungle fire and encouraged generations to observe Varuthini Ekadashi to grow spiritually and attain the protection and forgiveness of Lord Vishnu.
It is believed that if any devotee observes this fast with a pure heart, he is bestowed with peace, prosperity, and protection.
They also free themselves from all the past sins and misfortunes.
And so, the Vedic story of Varuthini Ekadashi reminds people that after every dark night, there is a day full of light, faith, and hope.
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