Mohini Ekadashi 2025: How a Sinner Attained Moksha Through Fasting

Mohini Ekadashi 2025 will be observed on Thursday, 8 May 2025. It is one of the most spiritual and important Ekadashis in the Hindu calendar.

This Ekadashi comes in the Shukla Paksha (bright half of the moon) during the Vaishakha month. It is not only about following rituals. It is about cleaning the soul and connecting with God.

On this day, people keep a fast, offer prayers, and listen to the vrat katha (holy story). The story shows that even a sinner can get moksha (freedom from rebirth) if they follow this fast with true faith and a clean heart.

The Legend of Mohini Ekadashi: Story of Redemption

The story of Mohini Ekadashi comes from the Padma Purana. It was first told by Sage Vasishta to Lord Rama. Later, Lord Krishna told it to Yudhishthira.

The story is about a man named Dhṛṣṭabuddhi. He was the fifth son of a rich and kind merchant named Dhanapala. They lived in the city of Bhadravati. This city was near the Saraswati River.

Dhṛṣṭabuddhi was not like his father and brothers. He lived a sinful life. He was addicted to gambling and other bad habits. He did not respect God or follow any religious duties. He wasted all his money on wrong things. In the end, his family left him, and he became lonely and sad.

One day, by God’s grace, he reached the ashram of Sage Kaudinya. He was full of sorrow and guilt. He asked the sage how he could change his life. The kind sage, seeing his true regret, told him to keep the Mohini Ekadashi fast. He said this fast can wash away even the worst sins from past lives.

With deep sincerity, Dhṛṣṭabuddhi observed the fast as instructed. As a result, his sins were washed away, he attained a divine form, and he was taken to Vaikuntha, the heavenly abode of Lord Vishnu, riding on the divine bird Garuda.

Spiritual Benefits of Mohini Ekadashi 2025

Observing Mohini Ekadashi 2025 is believed to:

Cleanse the soul of sins from both this life and past lifetimes.

Free one from attachments to material things and the illusions of worldly pleasures.

This Ekadashi helps people find the path to moksha, or freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

It increases faith and peace within, bringing us closer to God.

It also helps people leave bad habits, just like Dhṛṣṭabuddhi did.

This Ekadashi is special because it is linked to the Mohini form of Lord Vishnu. In this form, he became a divine woman to give amrit (nectar of immortality) during the churning of the ocean. The Mohini form shows how divine illusion can protect dharma (righteousness) and help the good.

How to Observe Mohini Ekadashi Vrat

To fully receive the blessings of Mohini Ekadashi 2025, devotees should:

Take a holy bath in the morning and make a resolve to fast.

Keep a fast without water or eat only fruits.

Pray to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.

Offer yellow flowers, yellow sweets, and tulsi leaves.

Read or listen to the Mohini Ekadashi story.

Break your fast the next day, on Friday, 9 May 2025, between 5:35 AM and 8:17 AM.

Offer food and donations to a Brahmin or a needy person.

Conclusion: A Day to Transform Your Life

Mohini Ekadashi 2025 is more than just a ritual—it is a path to spiritual freedom. In the spirit of Sanatangyan, which teaches timeless truths and self-realization, this Ekadashi reminds us that no soul is too lost to return to the divine. Like Dhṛṣṭabuddhi, we can also let go of our past mistakes, embrace the truth, and follow the path to moksha.