Yogini Ekadashi Vrat Katha

Yudhishthira asked Shri Krishna about the Ekadashi of the dark fortnight of Ashadha. Krishna said that it is called Yogini, that it destroys great sins, and told this story.

In Alakapuri, the city of the yakshas, ruled Kubera, the lord of wealth, a devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva. A yaksha named Hemamali served him as gardener. Every day Hemamali brought fresh flowers from the Manasarovar lake for Kubera's worship of Shiva. He had a beautiful wife whom he loved very much.

One day Hemamali brought the flowers but, drawn by love for his wife, stayed at home with her and did not take them to Kubera. Kubera waited for the flowers until midday, and when his worship was delayed he sent servants to find out why. They told him that Hemamali was at home with his wife.

Kubera was furious. He called Hemamali and cursed him: "You have insulted Lord Shiva. You will suffer from leprosy, be separated from your wife, and fall from here to the earth." At once Hemamali fell to the earth, his body covered with leprosy.

He wandered in pain through forests and mountains for a long time. At last, by some good fortune, he reached the ashram of the sage Markandeya in the Himalayas and fell at his feet, telling him the truth about his fault. The sage, pleased with his honesty, said: "Keep the fast of Yogini Ekadashi in the dark fortnight of Ashadha, and you will be free of this curse."

Hemamali kept the Yogini Ekadashi fast with devotion. By its power his disease left him, he regained his divine form, and he returned to Alakapuri and lived happily with his wife.

Shri Krishna said that the merit of this fast equals that of feeding eighty-eight thousand Brahmins, and that it frees one from sin and disease.