Story of Mahīratha

A King who earned great merit by observing Vrata in the month of Vaiśākha (May). This King gave to those in hell his one day’s puṇya and all of them were released from hell. Mahīratha was a King who became prosperous by accrued puṇya. Kaśyapa was his guru. The King entrusted the affairs of the state to his ministers and led a very immoral life. The country began to decay day by day and one day Kaśyapa gave Dharmopadeśa to Mahīratha. The Guru said: "Oh King, your body which was in a state of sinning has attained a state of virtue by your association with me. Those well-versed in the Vedas say that the body is of three different kinds. Firstly there is the one which is evil-natured without either virtue or knowledge. Secondly, there is the virtuous one with good conduct. Thirdly, there is the agonising body which hides both virtue and evil. The body without virtue and salvation is always a body of sins. Your body has now become virtuous by becoming devotional to your guru and attending to my words. You are now fit to do virtuous deeds and I shall now make you enjoy the benefits of Vaiśākhasnāna (a bath with religious rites in the month of Vaiśākha (May).

After that Kaśyapa made him take the bath and worship with proper Vedic rites in the month of Vaiśākha. The King became old and died. At once the servants of Kāla (King of Death) came to fetch the soul of Mahīratha. But angels from Mahāviṣṇu came and thrusting aside the agents of Kāla took charge of the soul of Mahīratha. Nymphs from above sang in praise of the King whose sin had waned because of Vaiśākhaprātassnāna (early morning bath in the month of Vaiśākha). The angels from Viṣṇu carrying the soul of the King to Svarga took him through hell. The King heard the agonising cries of those suffering from different kinds of torture in hell. The King made enquiries and feeling compassionate requested those in charge of the hell to release those there in hell then by accepting a portion of the puṇya acquired by him. The angels agreed to that and the King gave away the Puṇya he had acquired during one day by observing the Vaiśākhavrata. At once all those in hell were released from the agony and were sent to heaven. (Vaiśākhamāhātmyaprakaraṇa, Padma Purāṇa, Pātālakhaṇḍa).