Mokshda Ekadashi arrives on Maghshar Sud 11. “Moksh” means Salvation and ultimate peace. Moksha can only be given by God Himself. But the supremacy of Mokshda Ekadashi can release one from the severe sufferings of life and deaths. The vrat performed on this day will bestow a place in the heavens. 

In the Brahmaand Puran, the recital of the enormity of following this Ekadashi is explained. It starts in the district of Gokul and its ruler at the time named King Vaikhanas. He was pure, righteous and a very religious king. He ruled his kingdom and looked after his subjects like his own sons and daughters. While sleeping one day, in a dream state, he saw his father been punished in hell. He saw the severe punishments been given. He woke up the next day and was very worried and thought how could be true for my pious father to go in such a place. 

In a concerned state he went to a great sage named Parvat Muni. He informed the sage about his dream the dreadful feeling about his father. Parvat Muni, who knows of the past, present and the future, sat down in meditation and drew himself into a deep meditation and realized that it was true. He told the King that your father had two wives and he did not look after one of them. He favoured one of them and paid no attention to the other. Due to this sin, he is now in hell going through his punishment. 

The king asked, “O Muni, How can I save my father now? Please help me!”. The Rishi replied, O King, Maghshar sud 11 is known as Mokshada Edkadshi. On this day, if you perform vrat and fast for the whole day, you can pass on the fruits of ekadashi to your beloved father which will help your father to be released from the severe sufferings of hell. 

The king followed the instructions and passed on the vrat through a Sankalp by a Brahmin. Instantly, the devtas showered flowers on the king from Swarag (heavenly abode). The kings father got himself released from hell and went on to the path of salvation. 

Following the rules and guidelines to follow the vrat of Ekadashi gives great benediction to oneself and also to help others achieve salvation. Any kind of sins can be cleansed through Ekadashi. We can see from the above that if your loved ones who have passed away from this earth can also benefit in various ways to progress further. So one can see the greatness of keeping vrat on Mokshda Ekadashi in this life and the next.