Shattila Ekadashi, as the name suggests, is an Ekadashi that reflects the importance of sesame seeds. This is Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Magh month, in which sesame has special significance. On this day, there is a tradition of bathing in sesame seeds, boiling sesame seeds, havan of sesame seeds, offering tarpan of sesame seeds, eating sesame seeds and donating sesame seeds. This year Shattila Ekadashi will be celebrated on 25 January 2025. Many types of sins are destroyed through this fast. Let us take a look at the story of this fast.
story of fasting
Once, sage Dalabhya questioned sage Pulastya, “O Maharaja, on earth men commit great sins, such as murder of a brahma, theft of someone else’s wealth and jealousy, yet they do not go to hell, what is the reason for this?”
Narad ji narrated a story on this. He told that there was a Brahmin, who used to observe Chandrayaan and other fasts. Due to the effect of his fasts, all his sins were destroyed. One day, Narad ji thought that he would ask for some donation from this Brahmin. He arrived at her door disguised as a beggar, but all he found was a heap of mud.
After some time Brahmani died and went to heaven. In heaven, he got only a heap of soil as donation, while there was nothing else. She reached Narad ji for help. Narad ji said, “Because of your fasts you got heaven, but you donated only soil, so you have nothing else.”
The Brahmin said, “How can I get rid of this poverty?” Narad ji said, “Tomorrow the god girls will come to you. You listen to the greatness of Shattila Ekadashi without opening the door.”
When the god girls came, the Brahmini did the same. Dev girls said that this fast of Shattila Ekadashi is going to improve the fortune and will destroy the great sins like cow slaughter, brahma slaughter. Hearing this, the Brahmin observed a fast and all the dignitaries came to her palace. It is said that the one who observes this fast and donates sesame seeds on this day attains heaven.
