Kamada Ekadashi is observed during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Chaitra month (March – April). The story of Kamda Ekadasi is mentioned in Varaha Purana during a conversation between Yudhishtira and Lord Krishna. The Ekadashi Vrat Katha was originally narrated by Sage Vasishta to Maharaja Dilip, the great grandfather of Lord Rama. Lord Krishna retells it to Yudhishtira.
There once lived a beautiful couple named Lalit and Lalitha. Lalit was a Gandharva and Lalitha was an apsara. They were good singers and dancers and they performed at the court of King Pundarika in Ratnapur. Once, Lalit had to perform at the palace without his wife. The love of the couple was so intense that they could not tolerate a moment’s separation.
On the day, Lalit could not perform in his usual self and a courtier informed the king that Lalit was making mistakes in his dance performance as he was not with his wife.
The king became extremely angry and cursed Lalit to become a demon for being overpowered by the lust for his wife. While cursing Lalit, the king thought Lalitha would abandon and an ugly looking demon.
Lalitha who came to know about the curse immediately arrived at the palace and said to the king that she will never forsake her husband.
The couple then undertook a journey to find a solution to the curse and once came across the ashram of sage Sringi. The sage who came to know about the sad story of the couple advised them to observe the Kamada Ekadasi Vrat which falls during the waxing phase of moon in Chaitra month. It fulfills all the desires and washes away sins.
The couple observed the Kamada Ekadasi vrat and Lalit regained his formal self.