Apara Ekadashi 2022

Parana means breaking the fast. Ekadashi Parana is done after sunrise on next day of Ekadashi fast. It is necessary to do Parana within Dwadashi Tithi unless Dwadashi is over before sunrise. Not doing Parana within Dwadashi is similar to an offence.

Apara Ekadashi Legend

The Tale of Lord Trivikrama (त्रिवीक्रमा की कथा)

Lord Trivikrama was an avatar of Lord Vishnu who taught a fitting lesson to King Bali. According to the puranas, it was in Treta Yuga that King MahaBali started acting arrogant after being conferred with the title Chakravarty Samrat. Such was his pride that he made Lord Indra to leave from Heaven after conquering his territory.

Indra sought refuge from Maha Vishnu who took the avatar of Vamana (dwarf) and showed King Bali that he is Trivikrama, the Lord of Three Worlds. King Bali realized his mistake and obliged to Lord Vishnu. This auspicious day is celebrated as Apara Ekadashi. Owing to its prominence, it is also known as Jyeshtha Krishna Ekadashi, Vaishakh Vadi Ekadashi, and Achala Ekadashi.

The Story of Yudhishthira (युधिष्ठिर की कथा)

King Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas in Mahabharata, asked about the importance of Apara Ekadashi during one of his resting periods. Lord Krishna explained that the festival is chiefly celebrated in the dominant Hindu communities to seek perfect solution to wash away their past sins successfully. This is the exact reason why people in large numbers maintain fast on the auspicious day of Apara Ekadashi.