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Shat-Tila Ekadashi

Significance of Shat-Tila Ekadashi

The greatness of Shat-Tila Ekadashi is explained in the ‘Bhavishyottara Purana’ as a conversation between Pulastya Muni and Sage Dalbhya. It is believed that a person observing Shat-Tila Ekadashi will be bestowed with infinite wealth and good health. It is believed that a person observing Shat-Tila Ekadashi will be bestowed with infinite wealth and good health. As per the Hindu legends they will attain salvation and get freedom from the continuous cycle of rebirth. By donating sesame seeds or ‘til’ on Shat-Tila Ekadashi, devotees will be liberated from all their sins done knowingly or unknowingly in their present or past life.

Story

There was a rich lady who used to do a lot of charity work for the needy and poor. She distributed clothes, money, valuables and many other useful things except for the food. It was believed that distributing food is the higher form of charities. Therefore, Lord Krishna decided to make her realize this fact. He appeared in the form of a beggar and approached the rich lady begging her for food. The lady was unwilling to give food in alms to the beggar and drive him away.

When the beggar asked for food, she insulted him by dropping a ball of clay in his begging bowl. The beggar thanked her and left the scene. As the rich lady entered back into the house, she was astonished and shocked to see that all the food in the home had turned into clay. Despite her wealth, she was not able to eat anything as whatever she tries to eat turned into clay.

The health of the lady started deteriorating each day due to hunger. She prayed that day to Lord Krishna to save her. Krishna appeared in her dream made her realized that since she insulted the beggar with the ball of clay, she was the one inviting this misfortune. The Lord enjoined the lady to donate food to the poor and observe this vrata which gave her back what she lost.  The lady was happy thereafter and started spending more on donating food to the needy and poor.