This is an important Ekadasii during the Pitr Paksh ( month of the forefathers )

Who:

 

All Hindus between age of 8 to 80.

 

When:

Sunday for most, Saturday for some. Please check your local calendars.
Mypanchang.com says Ekadashi on Saturday..However for many in India its
on Sunday..Some panchangs in India also say its on Saturday. Either way
doing it is better than not doing it :)

Significance:

This ekadashi is also known as indiRA Ekadasii. "This Holy day is
called IndirA EkAdasii. 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 EkAdasii
achieves the great merit earned by performing a horse sacrifice.

Puran Story:

Note: Interesting story from Brahma-vaivarta PurANa. Please note
Narada's version of how to perform Ekadasii

"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 braAhmaNas, 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 EkAdasii 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 EkAdasii and give much in charity so I can go upward
to heaven.' "
Philosophically we can understand that very 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 EkAdasii 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
EkAdasii. 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 EkAdasii, 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 EkAdasii. This EkAdasii occurs
during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwina. On the Dashami
tithi, the day before EkAdasii, rise early in the morning, take bath,
and then do some service for God with full faith. At noon, bathe again
in running water and then offer oblations to your forefathers with
faith and devotion. Be sure not to eat more than once on this day and
at night sleep on the floor.
"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." 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. Next, feed qualified Brahmins (obviously non-grain
prasadams) and offer them some charity according to your means. 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.
"Early in the morning of the next day, DvAdasi tithi, worship
Sri Hari with great devotion and invite Brahmin devotees to a sumptuous
feast. Then feed you relatives, and finally take your meal in silence.
Oh king, if you strictly observe a fast on IndirA EkAdasii 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.

Good luck with your Ekadasii

Krishnarpanam. ..