Apara Ekadashi is observed in the honour of Lord Trivikrama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In Treta Yug, King Bali, after becoming the Chakraborty Samrat, became very arrogant. Filled with vanity and pride, he attacked the heaven too and made Indra flee. Indra sought the help of Vishnu who incarnated as a Vamana and showed Bali his Trivikrama form (the lord of three worlds) to teach him a lesson and to restore the balance of the nature.

To show our gratitude and to seek Lord Trivikrama’s blessings, we observe fast and pray to the Lord on Apara Ekadashi day. In different regions of India, Apara Ekadashi is known by different names, such as Jyeshtha Krishna Ekadashi, Vaishakh Vadi Ekadashi, and Achala Ekadashi

Observing fast helps us in many ways. On spiritual level, it helps to please the God by controlling and curbing our desires. As we have noticed that the uncontrollable desires of King Bali forced the Lord to punish him. In the same way, if we let loose our desires the Lord or the Nature is bound to punish us. Fasting helps us to destroy a great amount sins.

On physical level, fasting helps us cleanse our body-system. Fasting once in fortnight helps our body pass out its toxins and wastes. As a result, our mental system gets cleansed which enhances our mental clarity and meditation-power. Body’s energy gets distributed equally to the whole system. However, one should not overdo it. Fasting is supposed to create a feeling of buoyancy, and not a feeling of fatigue or sorrow.

Fasting controls our passion, disciplines the senses, and purifies the mind and the heart. It overhauls whole bodily system, destroys all sorts of poisons and encourages the rapid expulsion of uric acid deposits. When our body-system is clogged, we feel mood swings, depression, laziness, and unhealthful.

Ekadashi also coincides with the perigee (when the moon is nearest to the earth) and the apogee (when the moon is farthest from the earth). High tide and low tide respectively occur at this time only. On the day of Ekadashi in Krishna paksha, the moon is at the closest position from the earth, whereas on the day of Ekadashi in shukla paksha it is at the farthest position from the earth.

Apara Ekadashi is considered the most meritorious Ekadashi. It helps in washing away all the committed sins and becoming spiritual.

If you are suffering from remorse due to some committed sins which you realized later or for not performing an appropriate action due at any time, you should observe Apara Ekadashi to wash away your sins or guilt. Continuous fasting on Apara Ekadashi will help you to attain Moksha. It is observed on the eleventh day of the dark fortnight of May-June; Krishna paksha of Jyeshtha Mas according to lunar calendar.

The legend behind Ekadashi has it that, once, a demon named Murdanav came to Narayana and challenged him to a duel. Suddenly, a damsel appeared evolving out from the Ekadash indriyas of Narayana. [The ten indriyas (sense organs) refers to the five karma indriyas (mouth, hands, feet, anus, and genital organs) and five gyan indriyas (eyes, ears, nose, skin, and tongue). The ten indriyas along with the mind are collectively called Ekadash indriyas].

As Murdanav saw the damsel he got crazed by her looks. He immediately proposed her. The damsel became ready to marry him, but she said that she had one condition; whoever can defeat her can marry her. Since, Murdanav was infatuated by her; he agreed and fought with her. In the battle, the damsel killed Murdanav.

Narayana became extremely pleased with the damsel and asked her that what she wants; he is ready to grant any wish of her, Narayana said. The damsel said that since she originated from the Ekadash indriyas of the God, she should be named Ekadashi and should be married to Tapa (austerity), and she should be worshipped by the people by observing fast on the day of her birth to control their Ekadash indriyas.

The God agreed and granted her wish. Since the day, people fast on the eleventh day of shukla paksha and Krishna paksha.

Another legend has it that once, the demon Mura hid himself in rice and the God took the form of Ekadashi to kill him. Since then, people fasting on Ekadashi day avoid food made of grains.

To get more benefit from you Ekadashi vrat, you should do more maun-pooja during the Ekadasi period by chanting the following mantra:

Fasting is observed to please the God; hence, you should observe self-control during the fasting period. You should observe for 24 hours preferably or you can keep it for 12 hours too and eat after sun set. Strong devotees break the fast on dwadashi day. Old and sick people are advised not to fast.

Fasting helps in becoming close to Brahman. So, don’t bother much about rules and regulations, just spend the day in purifying your mind and body by chanting Lord Vishnu mantra.

If you have any health problem or are taking medicines, please consult your doctor before deciding on fasting. You can also opt for a partial fast by avoiding food made of rice.

In some regions of India, during fasting period farari foods are recommended to eat. Farari foods include tubers (potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, carrots, turnips, suran - (a type of yam), dairy products, fruits, nuts, some vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes) and special type of grains (moraio, rajgaro). One can use all spices to prepare the farari foods i.e. salt, chili powder, black pepper, turmeric, etc.

Wash the place of pooja with water and gangajal. Place some grains of wheat on a beetle leaf, put on the ground and place water-filled on kalash on it. Insert five joined mango leaves in the kalash and, then, place a coconut on it. Tie moli in the kalash-neck. Light up a Deepak there and keep it lit till the pooja lasts. Light up some dhoop too there.

Vishnu puja is done in sixteen steps (shodashopachar puja) Place Lord Trivikram on a beetle leaf in front of you, concentrate your mind on Lord Trivikram and offer Him all the items with the following mantras:

Tilak is considered auspicious mark and Aachman is considered helping washing off sins committed by action, thought, and speech. Apply Tilak on your forehead and do ‘Aachman’ (drinking of holy water after accepting it in your palm) with the following mantra:

To achieve the purpose of the pooja, do sankalpa (resolve) by taking a little water in hand and saying your wish in mind to Lord Vinshu