Yudhishthira Maharaj said, "Oh MadhusUdana, Oh killer of the Madhu demon, what is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Ashwin (September-October)? Please describe its glories to me."
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna then replied, "This Holy day is called Indira Ekadasi. If a person fasts on this day, all his sins are eradicated and his forefathers who have fallen into hell are liberated. Oh best of kings, one who simply hears about this sacred Ekadasi achieves the great merit earned by performing a horse sacrifice.
In the Satya-yuga there lived a king named Indrasena, who was so powerful that he destroyed all his enemies. His kingdom was called Mahishmati-puri. The glorious and highly religious King Indrasena took good care of his subjects, and therefore he was rich in gold, grains, sons, and grandsons. He was greatly devoted to Lord Sri Vishnu as well. He especially enjoyed chanting My name, calling out 'Govinda! Govinda!'. In this way King Indrasena systematically dedicated himself to pure spiritual life and spent much time meditating on the Absolute Truth.
One day, as King Indrasena happily and peacefully presided over his assembly, the perfect orator, Sri Narada Muni, was seen descending. White as a conch, shining like the moon, like a jasmine flower, like a lightening bolt, Narada Muni descending from the sky. He is decorated with matted locks of reddish hair. The king offered Devarishi Narada, the saint among the devas (demigods), great respect by greeting him with joined palms, inviting him into the palace, offering him a comfortable seat, washing his feet, and speaking sweat words of welcome. Then Narada Muni said to Maharaj Indrasena, 'Oh king, are the seven limbs of your kingdom prospering?'
The seven limbs of a king's domain being; the king's well being himself, his ministers, his treasury, his military forces, his allies, the brahmanas, the sacrifices performed in his kingdom, and the needs of the king's subjects. 'Is your mind absorbed in thinking of how you can properly perform your occupational duty? Are you becoming more and more devoted and dedicated to the service of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu?'
"The king replied, 'By your kind grace, Oh greatest of sages, everything is quite well. Today, just by your presence all the sacrifices in my kingdom are successful ! Please show me mercy and explain the reason for your kind visit here.'
"Sri Narada, the sage among the devas, then said, 'Oh lion among kings, listen to my astonishing words. When I descended from Brahmaloka to Yamaloka, Lord Yamaraja praised me very graciously and offered me an excellent seat. As I glorified his truthfulness and wonderful service to the Supreme Lord, I noticed your father in Yamaraja's assembly. Though he had been very religious, because he broke an Ekadasi fast prematurely, he had to go to the Yamaloka. Your father gave me a message for you. He said, "In Mahishmati lives a king named Indrasena. Please tell him about my situation here - that because of my past sinful deeds I have somehow been forced to reside in Yamaraja's kingdom. Please give him this message from me: 'Oh son, kindly observe the coming Indira Ekadasi and give much in charity so I can go upward to heaven.' "
Philosophically we can understand that every living entity is an individual, and individually everyone has to practice Krishna consciousness to traverse back to home, back to Godhead. As stated in Garuda Purana, someone who is suffering in hell cannot practice Krishna consciousness, because this requires some mental peace, which the reactionary tortures of hell make impossible. If a relative of a sinner suffering in hell gives some charity in the name of the sinner, he can leave hell and enter the heavenly planets. But if the sinner's relative observes this Ekadasi fast for his suffering kinsman, the kinsman goes directly to the spiritual world, as stated in this narration based on Brahma-vaivarta Puranam.
"Narada continued, 'Just to deliver this message, Oh king, have I come to you. You should help your father by observing the fast of Indira Ekadasi. By the merit you gain, your father will go to heaven.' "King Indrasena asked, 'Oh great Naradji, please be merciful and tell me specifically how to observe a fast on Indira Ekadasi, and also tell me during what month and on what day it occurs.'
"Narada Muni replied, 'Oh king, please listen as I describe to you the full process of observing the Indira Ekadasi.
1. This Ekadasi occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin.
2. On the Dashami tithi, the day before Ekadasi, rise early in the morning, take bath, and then do some service for God with full faith.
3. At noon, bathe again in running water and then offer oblations to your forefathers with faith and devotion.
4. Be sure not to eat more than once on this day and at night sleep on the floor.
5. "When you awaken on Ekadasii morning, cleanse your mouth and teeth thoroughly and then with deep devotion for the Lord take this sacred vow: 'Today I shall fast completely and give up all kinds of sense enjoyment. Oh lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead, Oh infallible one, please give me shelter at Your lotus feet."
6. At noon, stand before the sacred form of the Sri Shaligram Shila and worship Him faithfully, following all the rules and regulations; then offer oblations of ghee into the sacred fire, and tarpana directed to help your forefathers.
7. Next, feed qualified Brahmins (obviously non-grain prasadams) and offer them some charity according to your means.
8. Now take the food pindas you offered to your forefathers, smell it, and then offer it to a cow. Next, worship Lord Hrishikesha with incense and flowers, and finally, remain awake all night near the Deity of Lord Sri Keshava.
9. "Early in the morning of the next day, Dvadasi tithi, worship Sri Hari with great devotion and invite Brahmin devotees to a sumptuous feast.
10. Then feed you relatives, and finally take your meal in silence.
Oh king, if you strictly observe a fast on Indira Ekadasi in this way, with controlled senses, your father will surely be elevated to the abode of lord Vishnu.' After saying this, Devarishi Narada immediately disappeared from the scene to bless someone else with his presence.
"King Indrasena followed the great saint's instructions perfectly, observing the fast in the association of his relatives and servants. As he broke his fast on the Dvadasi tithi, flowers fell from the sky. The merit that Indrasena maharaj earned by observing this fast released his father from the kingdom of Yamaraja and caused him to attain a completely spiritual body. Indeed, Indrasena saw him rising to the abode of Lord Hari on the back of Garuda Vahan. Indrasena himself was able to rule his kingdom without any obstacles, and in time when he handed over the kingdom to his son, he also went to the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha.
"Oh Yudhishthira, these are the glories of the Indira Ekadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin.
Whoever hears or reads this narration certainly enjoys life in this world, is freed of all reactions to his past sins, and at the time of death returns home, back to Godhead, where he lives eternally."
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Ashwin-krishna Ekadasii, or Indira Ekadasi, taken from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
Reference: ISKCON Desire Tree
Sri Chitra Sakhi Devi is one of the eight principal sakhis, the intimate companions of Srimati Radharani. She is known for her wonderfully variegated moods, gentle nature and compassionate heart, and for her many forms of expert service to the Divine Couple.
In Sri Mayapur, Chitra Sakhi Devi stands third on Madhava’s right. She was one of the final four Asta-sakhis to be installed in Mayapur in 1992.
Chitra Sakhi’s father is Chatura, her mother is Charchika, and her husband is Pithara. Her complexion is compared to the beautiful golden hue of saffron, and she wears garments that shine like radiant crystals.
Chitra Sakhi and Sri Krishna are very affectionate toward each other. She is deeply devoted to her seva, especially the preparation of lavanga-malas, garlands made with cloves and flowers, which she lovingly offers in the service of the Divine Couple.
Her kunja, or grove, is situated on the eastern side of Sri Radha Kunda. It is known as Padma-kinjalka, meaning lotus whorl, and is also called Chitranandada. The grove is decorated with wonderfully variegated colours, reflecting Chitra Sakhi’s own nature. She is especially expert in gardening and in gathering medicinal and useful herbs from the forest.
Chitra Sakhi is highly learned and possesses many remarkable skills. She can understand the hidden intentions of an author by reading between the lines of books and letters written in many different languages. She is also an expert in astrology, botany and animal husbandry.
She is a skilled gourmet who can recognize the tastes and ingredients of various preparations simply by looking at them. She can distinguish foods prepared with honey, milk and other ingredients and is especially expert at preparing various kinds of nectarean beverages.
Her favourite instrument is a vina, and her favourite tune is raga-samkata. Her nature is described as adhika-mrdvi, exceedingly soft and gentle. Her heart is filled with wonderfully variegated moods and overflowing with compassion.
Her maidservant is Rasa-manjari.
In Gaura-lila, Chitra Sakhi appears as Sri Govindananda.
As we come to the final Asta-sakhi appearance we are celebrating this year, we are reminded of the extraordinary variety of loving services offered to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna by Their eternal companions. Chitra Sakhi’s gentle nature, intelligence, affection and dedication to seva reveal another beautiful aspect of the loving service surrounding the Divine Couple.
kasmira-kanti-kamaniya-kalevarabham
su-snigdha-kaca-nicaya-prabha-caru-celam
sri-radhike! Tava manoratha-vastra-dane
citram vicitra-hrdayam sadayam prapadye
“Whose body glows with the attractive effulgence of saffron, whose lovely cloth is glossy like a host of radiant crystals; O Sri Radhike! Who offers You clothes according to Your desires, whose heart is filled with wonderfully variegated moods and overflowing with compassion — I bow to Chitra!”
September 26th - October 10th
The period from the full moon of Shukla Paksha Bhadrapada month (26th Sept) to the new moon day (10 Oct) of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month is called Pitru Paksha. It is recommended in the sastras that in this period, one should offer Srardha (oblations) to the forefathers. One should also pray to the Lord to bestow a higher destination to his forefathers. One should also donate as per his capacity. If one cannot do yearly shraddha karma for all the ancestors it could be done once and for all in this auspicious month, on Mahalaya Amavasya day.
During this time, it is also considered to be very beneficial to read the eighth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita and hear Srimad Bhagavad Katha. Also, in Srimad Bhagavatam Krishna clearly mentions:
kuru tvaṁ preta-kṛtyāni
pituḥ pūtasya sarvaśaḥ
mad-aṅga-sparśanenāṅga
lokān yāsyati suprajāḥ
My dear child, your father has already been purified just by the touch of My body at the time of his death. Nonetheless, the duty of a son is to perform the śrāddha ritualistic ceremony after his father’s death so that his father may be promoted to a planetary system where he may become a good citizen and devotee. (SB 7.10.22)
Although the lord Himself states that by His touch, Hiranyakasipu is liberated. Still, the lord advises Prahlad to perform the Sraadha ceremony. This highlights the importance of performing Sraadha.
During this Pitru Paksha, a unique program of offering prayers on your behalf is organized by ISKCON Mayapur Online Puja Services.
We invite you to fill out the form and send us the names of your forefathers. We shall offer every day Narasmha Tulasi Puja with prayers for your forefathers.
If you wish, you can also donate for Annadana / Goseva / Gita dhana / Vastra dhana / Dham Seva. https://www.mayapur.com/donations/donationform/general
Any service offered in the holy dham earns 1000 times more benefit than performed elsewhere. Sri Mayapur dhama being situated on the banks of Ganga, makes it more suitable for offering Pitru Paksha Seva.
Remember, this year Pitru Paksha is from 26th September 2026 to 10th October 2026!
Register for Free for Pitruseva: Please watch out for donation page/link
For more details contact now:
+91 9593400192 only whatsapp message
In Māyāpur, Bhadra Purnima is not simply a single day of celebration or a festival that begins on the day itself. The preparations create an opportunity to gradually enter the mood of the occasion—to hear, become inspired, and prepare our hearts to carry the mercy and message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam into many homes.
This period of preparation also brings together several significant occasions connected with great devotees and the spreading of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Viśvarūpa Mahotsava commemorates the day when Viśvarūpa, the elder brother of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, accepted the renounced order of life.
We hear from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta:
After this, Jagannātha Miśra got a son of the name Viśvarūpa, who was most powerful and highly qualified because He was an incarnation of Baladeva.
Viśvarūpa was the elder brother of Gaurahari, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When arrangements were being made for the marriage of Viśvarūpa, He took sannyāsa and left home. He took the sannyāsa name of Śaṅkarāraṇya. In 1431 Śakābda Era (A.D. 1509), He disappeared in Pāṇḍarapura, in the district of Sholapur. As an incarnation of Saṅkarṣaṇa, He is both the ingredient and immediate cause of the creation of this material world. He is nondifferent from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for the aṁśa and the aṁśī, or the part and the whole, are not different. As an incarnation of Saṅkarṣaṇa, Viśvarūpa belongs to the quadruple manifestation of catur-vyūha. In the Gaura-candrodaya it is said that Viśvarūpa, after His so-called demise, remained mixed within Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.
— Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 13.74
The remembrance of Viśvarūpa's renunciation naturally brings our attention toward the importance of carrying forward the spiritual message received through our disciplic succession.
Bhadra Purnima is a particularly auspicious occasion for serving Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The Bhāgavatam itself declares:
“If on the full moon day of the month of Bhādra one places Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme transcendental destination.”
— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.13.13
The Varāha Purāṇa similarly describes the special nature of celebrating the appearance of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:
Sri Narayana said to Brahma, O saintly brahmana! among all of my festivals, the celebration of the appearance of Srimad Bhagavatam is the best. I am subdued by persons who with devotion and love hear, decorate and worship Srimad Bhagavatam, with clothes, ornaments, flowers, incense and lamp during festivals, just as a chaste wife subdues her husband.
For this reason, Bhadra Purnima gives us a beautiful opportunity to consider how we can serve Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
We can gift a copy of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to someone close to us. We can bring Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam into our own home. We can begin reading it, or make a simple commitment to read at least one verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam every day.
There are many ways to serve the lotus feet of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and to participate in the benediction Kṛṣṇa has kindly made available to us.
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī offers this beautiful prayer to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:
O Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, I offer respectful obeisances unto You. By reading you one attains transcendental bliss, for Your syllables rain pure love of God upon the reader. You are always to be served by everyone, for you are an incarnation of Krishna.
O Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, O my only friend, O my companion, O my teacher, O my great wealth, O my deliverer, O my good fortune, O my bliss, I offer respectful obeisances unto you.
O Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, O giver of saintliness to the unsaintly, O uplifter of the very fallen, please do not ever leave me. Please become manifested upon my heart and my throat, accompanied by pure love of Krishna.
— Kṛṣṇa-līlā-stava, verses 414–416
As we prepare for Bhadra Purnima, we also remember Śrīla Prabhupāda's acceptance of the renounced order of life.
Śrīla Prabhupāda accepted sannyāsa from Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktiprajñāna Keśava Mahārāja on September 17, 1959, at Keśavajī Maṭha in Mathura.
Looking back on the circumstances surrounding his acceptance of sannyāsa, Śrīla Prabhupāda said:
“I was sitting alone in Vṛndāvana, writing. My Godbrother insisted to me, ‘Bhaktivedanta Prabhu, you must do it. Without accepting the renounced order of life, nobody can become a preacher.’ So he insisted. Not he insisted; practically my spiritual master insisted. He wanted me to become a preacher, so he forced me through this Godbrother: ‘You accept.’ So, unwillingly I accepted.”
— Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, Vol. 1, Chapter 9
At the sannyāsa ceremony, Abhay sat beside the elderly Sanātana and received the traditional sannyāsa-danda, saffron garments, tulasī neck beads and the sannyāsa-mantra. Keśava Mahārāja announced that Abhay would now be known as Bhaktivedanta Swami Mahārāja.
Although he had already given up family, home comforts and business years earlier, accepting sannyāsa carried a deeper significance. It represented the mandate he had required and the irrevocable commitment to preach.
It was now only a matter of time before Bhaktivedanta Swami would travel to the West, carrying out the desire of his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.
When asked, “Are you going to America?”, Śrīla Prabhupāda replied:
“No, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is going to America—I am going with it.”
This statement beautifully captures the mood of the days leading up to Bhadra Purnima. Śrīla Prabhupāda did not simply travel to the West; he carried Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with him. Through his dedication, its message reached homes and hearts around the world.
And we do not all have to become sannyāsīs to participate in this mission. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained:
“The Krishna consciousness movement is not that we are asking everyone to become a sannyāsī like me, and give up everything. No. That is not our program. You act as a brāhmaṇa, as a kṣatriya or a vaiśya or a śūdra. It doesn’t matter. But you try to satisfy Krishna. That is the program.”
— Śrīla Prabhupāda Lecture, Bombay, December 30, 1972
As the preparations for Bhadra Purnima continue in Māyāpur, we too can begin preparing—not simply for a festival, but for a mood of service.
The pandal has been set up. The yajña has been performed. The atmosphere is beginning to awaken.
Now we can prepare our own hearts.
We can hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
We can become inspired by its message.
We can bring it into our homes.
And we can help bring its mercy to someone else's home.
Bhadra Purnima is coming. Let us prepare not only to celebrate Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but to become instruments for sharing its message.
All glories to Viśvarūpa Mahotsava.
All glories to Bhadra Purnima.
All glories to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
