Kamada Ekadasi 2024

Sri Krishna told Yudhishthira the story that the sage Vasishtha once told King Dilipa. In the court of the Naga king Pundarika lived the gandharva singer Lalita and his devoted wife Lalitaa.

One day, while singing before the king, Lalita's mind wandered to his wife and his song faltered. The angry king cursed him to become a fierce, man eating demon. Heartbroken, Lalitaa followed her husband through the forests until she reached the hermitage of a sage, who told her to observe the Kamada Ekadashi of Chaitra Shukla.

Lalitaa fasted with devotion, worshipped Vishnu, and on Dvadashi offered the merit of the vow to her husband. At once the curse fell away and Lalita regained his radiant gandharva form. The two returned to the heavens together. Kamada means the giver of desires: the vow is said to fulfil righteous wishes and to remove even grave sins.