Vijaya Ekadashi occurs during the Krishna Paksha of the month of Govinda (Phalguna). As the name implies, 'Vijaya' means victory. It has the divine potency to grant success in any righteous and difficult undertaking, removing all obstacles from the path of the devotee.
In Treta Yuga, when Lord Ramachandra was exiled to the forest with His consort Sita and brother Lakshmana, the demon king Ravana kidnapped mother Sita. Lord Rama traveled south with the army of monkeys led by Sugriva to rescue Her. Upon reaching the edge of the vast, roaring southern ocean, the monkeys were deeply discouraged, as crossing the bottomless waters seemed absolutely impossible.
Lord Ramachandra consulted the great Sage Bakadalabhya, who lived in a nearby hermitage. The wise sage instructed the Lord that to accomplish this impossible feat, He and His entire army should observe the upcoming Vijaya Ekadashi. He explained the precise rituals of placing a gold-plated copper pot filled with sacred water, barley, and offering worship to Lord Narada or Lord Vishnu.
Following the sage's instructions, Lord Rama and His monkey warriors observed Vijaya Ekadashi with pure devotion. By the spiritual merit of this fast, the ocean god provided a path, enabling the construction of the legendary bridge (Rama Setu). Lord Rama crossed over, defeated Ravana, and rescued mother Sita. Thus, Vijaya Ekadashi remains the ultimate source of victory in times of deep distress.
