Yogini Ekadasi – A New Perspective with Astrological Depth

Ekadashi that occurs after Nirjala Ekadashi and before Devshayani Ekadashi is known as Yogini Ekadashi. It falls during the Krishna Paksha of Ashadha month in the North Indian calendar and during the Krishna Paksha of Jyeshta month in the South Indian calendar, corresponding to June or July in the Gregorian calendar.

Significance of Ekadashi is deeply rooted in our culture, since ages we have been celebrating the wisdom of our sages and importance of being in rhythm with the universe by inculcating certain rituals as part of our culture with an aim of balancing our soul, mind and body. Each Ekadashi holds its own importance considering the order of Sun and Moon in the sky but it is important to understand what makes the Yogini Ekadashi, the best Ekadashi.

Ekadashi is the tithi of healing; Fasting on Ekadashi provides exceptional benefits from gaining back the balance of mind & soul to healing physical ailments. Where Yogini Ekadashi holds the potency of healing us from the past life karma as It is famous in all three Loks, Fasting on Yogini Ekadashi can purge all sins and provide all luxuries in current life. It is believed that Fasting on Yogini Ekadashi is equivalent to feeding 88 thousand Brahmins.

Best time to start Ekadashi Fast :

Ekadashi fast starts from sunrise on Ekadashi tithi and Ekadashi Parana is done after sunrise on the next day of Ekadashi fast. Parana means breaking the 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. Parana should not be done during Hari Vasara. One should wait for Hari Vasara to get over before breaking the fast as Hari Vasara is the first one fourth duration of Dwadashi Tithi.

The most preferred time to break the fast is Pratahkal. One should avoid breaking the fast during Madhyahna and if due to some reasons one is not able to break the fast during Pratahkal then one should do it after Madhyahna.

If you are looking to mediate for your court case, marriage, or business deals and want a way out of it, please start a conversation on Ekadasi; you will definitely find a way out of this.  Ekadasi – The healing Tithi –

Ekadasi is the tithi to resolve internal conflicts and get healed, but why fast on this day, and how does it help us grow in life? You must have read many Ekadasi stories where a saint tells another person to fast on Ekadasi. You will get free from a certain problem – every story’s meanings are much deeper than what we read. Even before we read any story, we should have the context of why Ekadasi vrat is mentioned to a particular person in a particular condition and why Ekadasi of the particular month only is mentioned.

When soul and mind reach a mutual agreement and find a path which is compromising for both and getting the best of both worlds, healing is done, and a person finds a way out of the problem. The danas (donations) done specifically on Ekadasi are superior to all other forms of donation, and bring countless punya. If danas are given in a temple the punya pala is 100 folds. If it is performed at holy places like Kasi, Gaya, Badrinath etc, the pala accrued will be 1000-fold. Similar benefits occur if it is given on Amavasya, Pournima, Ekadasi, Janmasthami, Rama Navami, Grahana Kalas.

Yogini Ekadashi Importance from Brahma – VaivartaPurana –

Long ago in the city of Alakapuri, the King of the Yakshas, Lord Kubera, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, used to worship the Shivlinga daily with great devotion. He employed a servant named Hemamali, a Yaksha, whose job was to collect Manjari flowers from Manasarovar lake and bring them for Lord Shiva’s puja.

Hemamali was handsome and devoted but one day, due to his attachment to his beautiful wife, he ignored his duty. Forgetting to collect the flowers, he remained in his home, indulging in sensual pleasures.

As a result, Kubera waited for a long time, but the flowers never came. Angered, Kubera summoned Hemamali, who appeared before him trembling with fear. Upon discovering his neglect, Kubera cursed him:’

“You have dishonored Lord Shiva. Therefore, you shall suffer from white leprosy (Kushta roga) and fall to the world of mortals, suffering great miseries.”

Immediately, Hemamali was cast down to Earth, diseased and disfigured, wandering alone in the forests and mountains, filled with pain and regret.

🌿 The Redemption through Yogini Ekadashi :

One day, wandering in the Himalayas, Hemamali came across Markandeya Rishi, the eternal sage. Seeing the Yaksha’s suffering, the sage asked what caused such affliction.

After hearing the tale, Sage Markandeya kindly said;

“O Yaksha, by fate and your own karma, this has happened. But listen – a powerful Ekadashi known as Yogini Ekadashi is approaching in the month of Ashadha. If you observe this fast with sincerity—abstaining from food, wrong thoughts, and sins—you shall be freed from your disease and curse.”

Hemamali observed the fast with complete devotion, bathing early, meditating on Lord Vishnu, and avoiding all worldly pleasures. By the merit of this Ekadashi vrat, he was cured of his leprosy, regained his divine form, and eventually returned to Alakapuri.

Astrological Importance :

If you read through the story, you will realise that whenever Sun is in Gemini and Moon in Aries, Yogini Ekadasi is falling on that particular month being the sign of Mercury and there are mainly there nakshatras falling – Mrigashira (falling partly), Ardra (complete), Punarvasu (partly).

And, in the story from Brahma Vaivartha Purana, Hemamali was cursed with White leprosy – it is often used to refer to Vitiligo, a skin condition where patches of skin lose their pigment and turn white due to the loss of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells).

Even Brihat Jatak too says that Moon in Ascendant or Aries, person suffers from White Leprosy of course when Sun is afflicted too –

Sun in Mercurian signs creating issue of leprosy and since majorly Ardra nakshatra occupies the sign of Gemini whose ruler is Rahu –

In case you are wondering what BPHS has to say in this – it clearly say that sign of Mars or Mercury when involved with Moon, and in following shlokas also talk about affliction to Sun –

So, when you realise that the correlation is quite clearly seen in Yogini Ekadasi fast and how astrologically it can solve the major issues or curses then definitely, you shall take up the fast on this auspicious day to cleanse the negativities and accumulate more Punya.

Everything around you is manifestation of your punya only, when you have punya in your life, the problem disappears just as darkness vanishes when the Sun shines. Even to have consciousness to reach such articles requires punya.

During our Consultation process the focus is more to help the client gain consciousness rather than quick fix temporary remedies unfortunately most people visit astrologers with little punya and in hope to change their life, Bigger changes are part of lifestyle just like the bigger sail of the ship is for major manoeuvres, this is what lifestyle changes does to anyone.

Let us focus on why only Ekadasi fasting is most important among other tithis –

Moon possesses maximum strength from Shukla Paksh Ekadasi to Krishna Paksh Panchami (11th day of bright half to 5th day of dark half).

Every Ekadasi comes with a different energy as Sun and Moon are in a special position, and the King and Queen have a habit of solving problems wherever they go.

The problem with this couple is that they rarely agree on a task as King looks for practicality and Queen looks for an emotional outcome but when both of them are in sync that is the day of Ekadasi when both try to solve the problem with mutual understanding. Both Sun and Moon are in a harmony which creates a balance that makes it the day of healing and introspection.

This is a tithi of being absent-minded and focusing on one task rather than multitasking as the focus shifts inward – a tussle between mind and soul that is why connection from the outside world is disconnected. You are engrossed in your thoughts without thinking about what is happening anywhere else in this world, that’s the energy of this tithi. The day for internal reflection and being guided towards internal alignment with the universe.