For all the posts in this Holidays & Observances series, go here.
For prologue on Ekadasi, go to the very first post here.
Prologue: I have been meaning to write a series about Holidays and Observances that we (my family and friends) follow in both India (my birth country) and USA (my adopted country). This series is dedicated to those. On a side note, perhaps I might witness some of the celebrations from other countries as well that may get their way into this series. 🙂
The second Ekadasi that falls in the month of February is Vijaya Ekadasi. Just as the name suggests, Vijaya meaning Victory, anyone fasting on this Ekadasi, they will be benefited with the joy of victory of good over evil, or success in their personal goals. Lord Vishnu is worshipped on this day and the process of the puja is mentioned in Padma Purana and Skanda Purana – two of the Hindu religious texts.
As I mentioned in the very fist Ekadasi post, if you put the religion aside, allowing your body to fast twice a month is an excellent way of cleansing and detoxifying to aid in repair and rejuvenation. Historically many kings performed this Ekadasi to defeat their enemies in battles.
Galavant Reflections 