Kāmadā Ekādaśī 

Please check the date and time for Ekādaśī in your area using below sites.

https://www.vaisnavacalendar.info/

https://vaishnavacalendar.org/

https://www.drikpanchang.com/iskcon/iskcon-ekadashi-list.html

How to perform Ekādaśī

Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 12

Observe fasting on Ekādaśī day (this occurs on the eleventh day after the full moon and the eleventh day after the new moon). On such days no grains, cereals or beans are eaten; simply vegetables and milk are moderately taken, and the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa and reading of scriptures are increased.

Meditations on this auspicious day

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.28.35-36 purport 

According to the Vaiṣṇava calendar, there are many fasts, such as Ekādaśī and the appearance and disappearance days of God and His devotees. All of these are meant to decrease the fat within the body so that one will not sleep more than desired and will not become inactive and lazy. Overindulgence in food will cause a man to sleep more than required. This human form of life is meant for austerity, and austerity means controlling sex, food intake, etc. In this way time can be saved for spiritual activity, and one can purify himself both externally and internally. Thus, both body and mind can be cleansed. 

Excerpt from a lecture by Guru Maharaj; 2020 04 29 Futile Attempt at Immortality ice (29 April 2020)

There has to be some sense of tapasya because the senses will distract us from performing devotional service. But Rūpa Gosvāmī mentions in the Bhakti-rasāmṛtasindhu that we don't perform all kinds of militant austerities to bash the senses because then the heart becomes hard. The mind has this plasticity, it can be molded. And when we have this idea about how to mold it, according to the Ācārya, i.e. they've already said, “here are the good things to do, here are the good austerities”, then you have a blissful life. Doing these devotional austerities, thinking of Kṛṣṇa, offering things to Kṛṣṇa, going out of our way to make sure that His senses are satisfied, that's our austerity, the trouble we take to do, that is our tapasya. 

Story of Kāmadā Ekādaśī

Padma Purāṇa, Uttara-Khaṇḍa, Chapter 47

Once, the righteous King Yudhiṣṭhira humbly approached Lord Vāsudeva and inquired, “O Vāsudeva, obeisances unto You. Please tell me the name of the Ekādaśī that occurs in the bright half of the month of Caitra.” 

Śrī Kṛṣṇa smiled and replied,“O King, listen carefully to this ancient and auspicious narration. Long ago, Sage Vasiṣṭha explained this very Ekādaśī to the noble King Dilīpa, who had posed the same question.” 

Eager to learn, King Dilīpa had once said to Vasiṣṭha, “O revered sage, I am eager to know—please tell me the name and glories of the Ekādaśī that falls in the bright fortnight of Caitra.” 

Sage Vasiṣṭha replied, “O King, your inquiry is most commendable. I shall narrate the sacred tale. The Ekādaśī that occurs in the bright half of Caitra is called Kāmadā Ekādaśī. It is highly auspicious and burns away sins like fire consumes dry wood. Hear now a story that destroys all sins and grants immense merit.” 

In ancient times, there was a splendid city known as Nāgapura, adorned with gold and precious jewels. It was ruled by the mighty serpent king Puṇḍarīka, and was home to many nāgas, gandharvas, kinnaras, and beautiful celestial nymphs. 

Among them lived a divine couple: the gandharva Lalita and his enchanting wife, Lalitā. Deeply devoted to each other, their love knew no bounds. Their home overflowed with opulence, grains, and joy. 

One day, King Puṇḍarīka held court in his royal assembly. Lalita, separated from his beloved wife, was performing music and dance for the king. But his heart and mind were distracted—he kept thinking of Lalitā. Overcome with longing, his voice faltered and he stumbled over his words during the performance. 

The wise nāga Karkoṭaka noticed the lapse and informed King Puṇḍarīka. The king, enraged by Lalita's lack of focus, thundered, “O wicked-minded one! Overcome by your attachment to your wife, you dare sing before me in such a state? Be cursed! Become a fearsome demon who roams the earth devouring raw flesh and human beings!” 

At that very moment, Lalita was transformed. His form became monstrous and terrifying—his face dreadful, his limbs gigantic, his eyes blazing like the sun and moon, his mouth like a cavern, and his entire body towering eight yojanas high. 

Seeing her beloved husband in such a grotesque state, Lalitā was struck with grief. Heartbroken, she cried, “What shall I do? Where shall I go? My husband is lost in this wretched condition!” 

Leaving their grand home behind, Lalitā accompanied her now-demonic husband into a dense and dangerous forest. There, he roamed wildly, committing horrific deeds and devouring living beings. Tormented by sin, he found no peace, day or night. Lalitā, weeping constantly, wandered with him, searching for a solution. 

One day, amidst the forest, she came upon a serene hermitage where a sage sat peacefully, radiant with compassion. She bowed before him in reverence. The sage, seeing her distress, asked kindly, “O gentle lady, who are you? What brings you here? Speak truthfully.” Lalitā replied with humility, “I am Lalitā, daughter of the gandharva Vīradhanvan. I have come here seeking salvation for my husband. Due to a grievous curse, he has become a ghastly demon. I am shattered seeing him in this state. Please, O wise one, guide me. Is there any meritorious act I can perform to free him from this torment?” 

The sage responded with great compassion. “O beautiful and devoted one, your timing is divine. The bright fortnight of Caitra is upon us, and within it falls the sacred Kāmadā Ekādaśī—the destroyer of all sins. If you observe this fast sincerely and offer the merit to your husband, he shall immediately be freed from his demonic form.” 

Overjoyed, Lalitā bowed gratefully. She observed the fast of Kāmadā Ekādaśī with full devotion and stayed awake through the night in front of a deity of Lord Viṣṇu, assisted by a pure-hearted brāhmaṇa. On the following day, Dvādaśī, she prayed with deep feeling, “O Lord, I have observed the sacred vow of Kāmadā. May the merit earned by this fast be granted to my husband. May his monstrous condition be lifted.” 

At that very moment, by the power of her words and the divine merit of the fast, Lalita was instantly released from the curse. His demonic form vanished, and he regained his original beautiful gandharva body. Radiant and joyful, he embraced Lalitā, and together they rose into the sky in a divine, gem-studded vimāna (celestial plane), their love deeper and purer than ever before. 

Śrī Kṛṣṇa concluded, “O King Yudhiṣṭhira, this is the glory of Kāmadā Ekādaśī. By observing it, one is freed from even the most dreadful sins—such as that of becoming a flesh-eating demon. In all the three worlds, there is no vow more purifying. Simply by hearing or recounting this story, one earns the merit of a Vājapeya sacrifice. Therefore, this vow should be observed with great faith and care.”