Rāma and Vijayā Ekādaśī

Vijayā Ekādaśī falls on the eleventh day (ekādaśī) of the dark half of the month of Phālguna. Bhagavān Rāma kept this fast before he crossed the ocean to Laṅkā to fight Rāvaṇa. The ṛshi Bakadālbhya (also called Baka-Dālbhya) told him that keeping it with his whole army would bring him victory. The account is in Chapter 44 of the Uttara Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa.

The setting

Rāvaṇa had carried off Sītā, and the army of vānaras (monkeys) had gathered. Bhagavān Rāma stood with his forces on the shore of the southern ocean. The wide water lay between Bhārata and Laṅkā. Rāma had to cross it, and then defeat Rāvaṇa and all his asura armies in his own fortress.

Bakadālbhya’s counsel

At the edge of the ocean lived the ṛshi Bakadālbhya. He had spent his time in tapas on this holy meeting place of land and sea. Rāma went to him and asked for his guidance.

Bakadālbhya told Rāma that the coming dark half of Phālguna would bring Vijayā Ekādaśī, the eleventh tithi (lunar day), whose name means “victory.” If Rāma and his whole army kept this Ekādaśī with proper fasting, night vigil and devotion to Bhagavān Vishṇu, victory over Rāvaṇa would be sure. The ṛshi gave Rāma the full rules for keeping Vijayā Ekādaśī.

Rāma keeps the vrata

Bhagavān Rāma accepted the ṛshi’s counsel fully. He kept Vijayā Ekādaśī together with his whole army of vānaras. The great warrior king, who is an avatāra of Bhagavān Vishṇu, kept the fast as an act of devotion to Bhagavān Vishṇu.

After the Ekādaśī, Rāma went on to build the Setu, the bridge to Laṅkā, and to cross the ocean. In the end he won the full victory over Rāvaṇa that the vrata had promised.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 44