Ekadashi of Shuklapaksha (waxing phase of moon) of Shravan month (July-August) is known as Pavitropan Ekadashi. It occurs after Kamika Ekadashi and followed by Annada Ekadashi. It is also called Shravana Putrada Ekadashi. Let’s know about Pavitropan Ekadashi Story and Significance.

Once, Pandava King Yudhishthira requested Lord Sri Krishna to explain the importance of observing the Ekadashi of Shuklapaksha in the month of Shravan. Then Lord Krishna narrated the about Pavitropan Ekadashi to King Yudhishthira.

A famous king named Mahijit ruled in Mahimmati Nagar in ancient time. But he was very unhappy as he was childless. The king thought himself very unfortunate. He said to his subjects, “I have done no wrongdoing, I have not unjustly increased my treasury, I have never taken the wealth of Brahmins or gods. Moreover, I have treated the subjects like sons and I have governed my state according to religion. Please inquire as to why I am childless. The Brahmin priests, who were distressed by hearing the king’s sad words, decided to go to the sages in the deep forest for the king’s well-being.

They found a sage in the forest while visiting the hermitage of sages. He was engrossed in severe austerities with long-term fasting. The great sage was known as Lomesh. When one kalpa of Brahma passed away, a hair on the sage’s body would be abandoned. For this reason, the name of the sage was Lomesh. Everyone was blessed to see him. They started saying to each other that that day they got to meet that sage as a result of the good fortune of their many births. Then the sage addressed them and asked clearly why they had come there and why they admired him so much. Brahmins said, “O sage, please listen to the purpose for which we have come here. Our king named Mahijit is living in misery as he is childless. We are his subjects and he treats us like sons. But we are all sad because he is childless. We’ve entered this forest to remove his sorrow. O sage, please tell us the way so that the king can see his son’s face.” Then the sage became meditative after hearing their words. After some time he started telling the birth history of the king, Mahijit. The king was a poor Vaishya in his previous birth. Once he committed a wrongdoing. He used to travel from one village to another to do business. Once he was going somewhere on the tenth day of Shuklapaksha and he became very thirsty. He saw a reservoir at the edge of the village. He went there for a drink. At that time a cow was drinking water. He chased her away and started drinking water. This sin of the king resulted in childlessness, while his good deeds resulted in his being born as the king of a peaceful kingdom.

Lomesh Muni said that the Ekadashi Vrat of Shuklapaksha in the month of Shravan gives auspicious results. He advised all of them to observe the vrat. Hearing the advice of the sage, they returned home with joy and told the king all those things. As advised, the royal couple as well as their subjects observed Shravan Shuklapaksha Ekadashi fast and prayed to Lord Vishnu and kept vigilantly reciting His divine name throughout the night. The king also gifted gold, jewels, clothes and money to the Brahmins. His wish was fulfilled when a beautiful son was born to succeed him in his state.

The greatness of this Ekadashi vrat (Pavitropan Ekadashi or Shravan Putrada Ekadashi) is described in Bhavishottarpurana. One who recites or listens to this Vrata Mahatma will be freed from all sins and will finally attain Moksha after enjoying the happiness of sons.

By Krishna Das