Significance of Yogini Ekadashi
Yogini Ekadashi has a great
significance. According to the Padma Puran that whoever follows the rituals of
the Yogini Ekadashi achieves good health, prosperity, and leads a happy life. Legends
narrate the story of a gardener, and his beautiful wife, Swarupavati. Gardener
worked under Kuvera, King of Alakapuri, who was a pious devotee of Lord Shiva.
Every day, the gardener would collect flowers from Manasarovar Lake and provide
them to the king for the Shiva puja. The gardener was highly attracted towards
his wife. Hence, one day, he stayed back with wife neglecting his duties. He
could not deliver flowers to the king. King found that Gardener was spending
time with his wife instead of fulfilling his duty of collecting flowers. The
gardener was summoned to the court. He begged for forgiveness. The king cursed
him with suffering from leprosy and be separation from his wife. The gardener
was thrown out of the palace, and he got afflicted with white leprosy. He
wandered through the forests for years. One day he reached the ashram of Sage
Markandeya. He narrated his story to the sage. The sage advised him to observe
Yogini Ekadashi and get rid of the dangerous infection and relieved from the
curse. Gardener observed the fast and returned to his normal appearance.
Therefore, he was able to reunite with his wife and live the rest of his life
happily.
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA