June Fasts

Pradosh Vrata

It is observed on the Trayodashi of both the fortnight (Shukla and Krishna Paksha).

The Pradosha worship is to he done in the evening twilight on the 13th day of each lunar fortnight. It is the worship of Lord Shiva of Parvati for victory and success in all undertakings and the fulfillment of all your heart's cherished desires.

One who undertakes this Vrata has to keep vigil at night after the fast is over. One has to take bath an hour before sunset and has to perform the worship of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Ganesha, Skanda and Nandi. After the Ganesha worship, Lord Shiva is invoked in the special kalasha placed on a square mandala with drawn lotus spread over with darbha grass. After the formal worship has been completed, the Pradosh story is read out. This is followed by the recitation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra 108 times.

In the end the sacred Kalasha water is taken, the sacred ash is applied to the forehead and the sacred water which was used to bathe the Lord is drunk. A gift of a pot, a cloth and an image of God is given to a brahmin to conclude the worship.

Myth I
Repeatedly defeated by demons, the Gods approached Lord Shiva to bless them with a leader who could not be defeated. Gods approached Lord Shiva on trayodashi of both the fortnight (Shukla and Krishna Paksha). Lord Shiva immediately granted them their prayerful request and the demons were stopped from causing havoc.

Myth II
Sandilya Muni prescribed this Vrata to a certain brahmin lady. She came to the sage with two boys, her son Suchivrata and an orphan prince named Dharmagupta whose father was slain in battle and the kingdom was conquered by enemies.

Acting upon the sage's advice, the woman and the boys performed the Vrata with great devotion. After four months, i.e. during the eighth Pradosh, Suchivrata obtained the nectar pot and drank the ambrosia. Prince Dharmagupta won the hand of a celestial princess and with the help of the celestial king Lord Shiva his enemies were slayed and his kingdom was restored to him. Dharmagupta then attained the Lord's supreme abode.

Nirjala Ekadashi

This is one of the most popular fast observed by the Hindu community. On the eleventh day of every fortnight of every month this fast is observed. In this way in a year this fast is observed for 24 days. Severe austerities have to be practised to accomplish this vow properly. Devotees practice the custom of donating gold and a water pot on this day.

Amongst these 24 days the fast observed on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi is considered to be the most beneficial. If one properly observes a fast on this day it is said to give fruits of 24 Ekadashi observed throughout the year.

Myth I
It is believed that all the Pandava brothers kept Ekadashi fast sans Bhim to wash away their sins. Bhim was a big foodie and was unable to keep the Ekadashi fasts. One day Bhim asked his mentor Vyas Muni to direct him in such a way so that he could observe the fast that would give him the benefit of all the 24 Ekadashi fasts.

On his request Vyas Muni told Bhim to observe fast on Jyestha Shukla Ekadashi so that he could rid himself of all the sins and benefit from all the Ekadashi which had passed in the year. On this day, Bhim sincerely observed the fast. He abstained from consuming even a drop of water from sunrise of Ekadashi to sunrise of Dwadash. Thus this fast got the name Nirjala Ekadashi and is also referred as Bhimsen Ekadashi.

Yogini Ekadashi

It falls during the new moon (Krishna Paksha) of Ashad. According to ancient scriptures, Kuber, the Lord of Wealth, cursed Hemmali, a gardener, who suffered from leprosy.

Later, the gardener observed fast on this day on the advice of Rishi Markandeya and got rid of leprosy.

Thus, this fast is observed to cure leprosy.