Rama Ekadasi is observed during the waning phase of moon in Ashwin month (October – November). The importance of this Ekadasi was narrated to Yudhishtira by Lord Krishna and is recorded in the Brahmavaivarta Purana.In 2009, the date of Rama Ekadashi is October 14. People observing the fast read or listen to the Rama Ekadasi Vrat Katha. It is said that this Ekadasi is a wish fulfilling one.

"There once lived a famous king named Mucukunda, who was friendly with Lord Indra, the king of heaven, as well as with Yamaraja, Varuna, and Vibhisana, the demon Ravana's pious brother. Mucukunda always spoke the truth and constantly rendered devotional service to Me. Because he ruled according to religious principles, there were no disturbances in his kingdom.

"Mucukunda's daughter was named Candrabhaga, after a sacred river, and the king' gave her in marriage to Sobhana, the son of Candrasena. One day, Sobhana visited his father-in-law's palace on the auspicious Ekadasi day. This visit made Sobhana's wife, Candrabhaga, quite anxious, for she knew that her husband was physically very weak and unable to bear the austerity of a day-long fast. She said to him, 'My father is very strict about following Ekadasi On Dasami, the day before Ekadasi he strikes a large kettledrum and announces, "Nobody should eat on Ekadasi, the day of Lord Hari!"'

"When Sobhana heard the sound of the kettledrum, he said to his wife, '0 beautiful one, what am I to do now? Please tell me how I can save my life and obey your father's strictures at the same time!'.

"Candrabhaga replied, 'My dear husband, in my father's house nobody not even the elephants and horses, what to speak of human beings-eats on Ekadasi. Indeed, none of the animals are given their ration of grains, leaves, or straw-or even water!-on Ekadasi, the day of Lord Hari. So how can you escape fasting? My beloved, if you must eat something, then you should leave here at once. Now, with firm conviction decide what to do.'

"Prince Sobhana replied, 'I have decided to fast on the sacred Ekadasi. day. Whatever my fate is, it will surely come to pass.' "Deciding thus, Sobhana attempted to fast on that Ekadasi, but he became unbearably disturbed with excessive hunger and thirst. Eventually the sun set in the west, and the arrival of the auspicious night made all the Vaisnavas very happy. O Yudhisthira, all the devotees enjoyed worshiping Lord Hari and remaining awake through the night, but to Prince Sobhana that night became absolutely unbearable. Indeed, when the sun rose on Dvadasi, Sobhana was dead.

Due to the influence of observing Rama Ekadasi, Prince Shobhana became the king of Devapura – kingdom of celestial beings – and the city was located atop the Mandara Mountain. But the kingdom was a temporary one as the Prince had only observed the Ekadasi fasting once.

Once a learned saint from the land of King Muchukunda visited Shobhana. The Prince was happy to receive the saint and to hear about his wife. Then Shobhana told the saint that he needed the help of his wife to make his temporary kingdom permanent as she was always observing Ekadasi fasting and she has the power to do it.

The saint went to the Princess and told about her husband, Shobhana, and his new Kingdom. Princess Chandrabhaga wanted to meet her husband and for this she took the help of Sage Vamadeva who was residing in the Mandara Mountain. Soon she was transported to the temporary celestial kingdom of her husband. Due to the power of observing Rama Ekadasi the kingdom became permanent and royal couple became celestial beings.

"Anyone who observes sacred Ekadasi during both the light and the dark fortnight of each month is undoubtedly freed from the reactions to the sin of killing a brahmanas One should not differentiate between the Ekadasis of the light and the dark part of the month. Just as black cows and white cows give milk of equal quality, the Ekadasis of the dark fortnight and the light fortnight award the same high degree of merit and eventually liberate one from the cycle of birth and death. Anyone who simply hears the glories of this sacred day, Rama Ekadasi, is freed from all kinds of sin and attains the supreme abode of Lord Visnu."