Putrada
Ekadasi Fasting is observed during the waxing phase of moon (Shukla Paksha) in
Shravan month
Legend has
it that a king named Suketumana had no children. He and his wife, Saivya,
performed several austerities and religious performances but without any
success.
The king
was worried that he will not have children to perform his last rites and other
rituals for forefathers. A sad king left his kingdom and wandered through many
lands and finally reached the Manasarovar Lake in the Himalayas. Here he was
greeted by saints.
He wanted
to know what the saints were doing at the Manasarovar Lake. They said that they
were here to observe the Putrada Ekadasi. It is one of the most auspicious
Ekadashis and those observing it will get healthy and good children.
The king
was pleased to hear about the Ekadashi fasting and joined the saints in
observing the Putrada Ekadasi. He broke the fast on the next day and took the
blessings of the saints and went back to his kingdom.
In due
course of time, the king was blessed with a child.
The story
associated with Putrada Ekadasi was narrated to Yudhishtira, the eldest of the
Pandavas, by Lord Krishna.