Mohini Ekadashi is an auspicious Ekadashi Vrata which falls in Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh Month (May) as per all Hindu lunar calendars (Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi and other North Indian Hindi calendars). Generally, it falls in Chithirai Masam – Vaigasi Masam in Tamil calendar, Meda Masam – Edava Masam in Malayalam calendar and Baisakh – Jaishtho Month in Bengali Panjika.
Here is the story of Mohini Ekadashi – Mohini Ekadashi Vrat Katha….
The Story of Mohini Ekadashi is found in Kurma Purana, as a dialogue between Yudhistra and Lord Krishna, later citing the story of Ekadashi as told by Sage Vasishta to Sree Rama in reply to his enquiry about it.
Sage Vaisishta explained that the good day for fasting in the year is the day of Mohini Ekadashi and the one who observes fasting on this day, will be relieved of all one’s sins.
In that context, the Sage narrated the story of one Dhrithabuddhi who was a person of evil habits like womanizing, gambling etc. At a point of time, all were much annoyed upon the atrocious activity of Dhristhabuddi having association with a prostitute; his father Danabala drove him out from home.
Dhritabuddhi then on stealing for a living, killing animals and birds for his food, when he was fortunate to come across Sage Kaundinya, the drops of water falling from the wet cloths of the Sage made Dhristabuddhi realize his sinful way of living, who bowed before the Sage then and asked with reverence as to how he could get rid of his sins, for which the Sage clarified that it was possible by observing fast on Mohini Ekadashi day which occurs in the month of Vaishaka, which the sinful son of the merchant observed and got absolved of all his past sins.
Citing this narration of Sage Vasistha, Lord Krishna clarified Yudhistra that observing fast on Mohini Ekadashi is such a ritual removing one’s past sins which any other sacrificial deed cannot do.