Mohini Ekadashi 2024: Clean Your Sins & Purify Your Soul

Nobody is pure; everyone has sinned a little in their life. But how do we do to get rid of these sins? Well, Mohini Ekadashi is a festival that can help you in the same. From the small sins of lying to the big ones, one of the Mohini Ekadashi benefits is that it tends to purify the soul of a person and helps them get rid of their sins. However, this fast is not like any other; there are a lot of rules and rituals that you need to follow. So, if you want to know more about the Mohini Ekadashi 2024, continue reading below.

Mohini Ekadashi: Date, Muhurat & Puja Timings

Ekadashi is known to be the 11th tithi or the 11th lunar day. Mohini Ekadashi is celebrated in the month of Vaisakh during the Shukla Paksha. Before we dig into the age-old tales, mythologies and rituals practised on Mohini Ekadashi, let us have a look at the date, tithi and muhurat timings for this festival this 2024. These are as follows:

Mohini Ekadashi 2024 date: Sunday, May 19, 2024
Mohini Ekadashi Parana Time: 06:03 AM to 08:33 AM On 20th May
On Parana Day Dwadashi End Moment: 03:58 PM
Ekadashi Tithi Starts: 11:22 AM on May 18, 2024
Ekadashi Tithi Ends: 01:50 PM on May 19, 2024

Also Read: Somvati Amavasya 2024: Significance, Vrat Katha and Rituals

Mohini Ekadashi: Mythology & Vrat Katha

Let us now have a look at the mythology associated with Mohini Ekadashi and the Vrat Katha for the same. These are as follows

1. Mohini Ekadashi Mythology Associated

There lived a bussinessman named Dhanpal in the Bhadravati Kingdom. This beautiful kingdom was situated on the banks of river Maa Saraswati. He was a pure soul who feared God and engaged in almost all sorts of charity works. He lived well and was happily married. In his marriage, he had five sons – Suman, Sadbuddhi, Medhavi, Sukriti and Drishthabuddhi.

Quite different from Dhanpal’s nature, his eldest son, Drishthabuddhi, was reckless, moody, and self-absorbed. Seeing this nature of his son, Dhanpal was very concerned for his son’s future. He tried everything in his power to bring his son on the right track. However, even after numerous attempts, Dhanpal failed and thought of finally disowning his son.

However, even this news didn’t seem to raise a concern for his son. On the other hand, after being disowned, he started to engage in theft and looting. His actions troubled the entire village, and the villagers decided to expel him from the village in the forest.

While in the forest, Drishthabuddhi met a spiritual Guru named Kaundinya. He was very influenced by him and confessed all of his sins in front of the Guru. The Guru advised him that he must observe a fast on Mohini Ekadashi if he wants to get rid of his sins. In order to remove his sins and purify his soul, Dhanpal’s son kept the fast successfully and got rid of his sins.

2. Mohini Ekadashi Vrat Katha

As per the Hindu scriptures, Mohini is known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. During the time of Samundra months, there was a fight between Devas and Asuras over who would consume the Amrit.

Seeing the bad conditions of the fight, all the Devas went to Lord Vishnu and asked for his help. Upon hearing the Devas’ concern, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini. He lured all the Asuras towards him, diverting their minds from the Amrit.

While the Asuras were lusting over Mohini, Devas went and took the Amrit. This is the significance of Mohini Ekadashi and the reason why it is celebrated. King Yudhishthira and Lord Rama also observed this fast.

Mohini Ekadashi: Ritual Practices

As we have already discussed about the Vrat katha and the mythology associated with Mohini Ekadashi let us now have a look at the ritual practices for the same. It is believed that these ritual practices were laid down by Lord Sri krishna himself while he was answering Yudhishthira’s questions. These ritual practices are as follows:

A day before this Ekadashi, the person should make up his mind to fast tomorrow.
A day before the individual should have their last meal of the day before sunset.
They must have a bath in the morning after waking up early.
While bathing, they must put some mud on their bodies and chant the following mantra:

O Asvakrante! O Rathakrante! O Vishnukrante! O Vasundhare! O Mrittike!

It is considered auspicious if they take a bath in a river or a pond.
Worship Lord Govinds by offering him flowers and preparing a bhog. It is ideal if the individual prepares the Bhog himself.
Light diyas in your house during the evening.
One needs to stay awake the entire night of this ekadashi.
Moreover, playing an instrument during night time is considered highly auspicious.
One should chant mantras or sing hymns during the entire day.
After the morning prayer, the individual should offer flowers and water to Lord Krishna.
The next morning before breaking the fast, the individual should offer food and donations to Brahmins.
People who keep the fast till the next day should say the prayer mentioned below before eating:

O Pundarikaksha, O Lotus-Eyes Lord, Now I Will Eat, Please Shelter Me

Also Read: Jyeshtha Purnima 2024: Know the Time, Date, and Significance

Mohini Ekadashi: Things Not To Do

The Mohini Ekadashi Vrat is known to be one of the most powerful vrats. Keeping this fact frees an individual from all their sins. However, the fast rituals are quite difficult to perform. Let us have a look at somethings that the individuals should not do. These are as follows:

Do not consume anything apart from fruits.
Do not eat rice or Barley while fasting, as they are considered bad deeds.
Do not eat any food offered by others.
Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages.
Do not smoke.
Do not eat Tamsic food like onion, garlic, meat etc.
Do not lose your temperament

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is celebrating Mohini Ekadashi auspicious?

Yes, celebrating Mohini Ekadashi is considered tobe quite auspicious. The ekadashi was also celebrated by Lord Rama and King Yudhishthir.

2. How to fast on Mohini Ekadashi?

The fast of Mohini ekadashi starts a day before the ekadashi, after the individual’s last meal. After this, the person should not eat anything until the next day of ekadashi after worshipping Lord Krishna.

3. Can we eat salt during fasting?

No, eating salt during fasting for Ekadashi is not considered good. However, one can consume rock salt, also known as Sandha namak, while observing a fast.