Importance of Ekadashi-Dwadashi

[Guest guest]

Dear Prapatti Group Members:

 

It is very interesting to note that many members of our group appreciate the

importance of Ekadashi. There was an incident in Swami Desikan's life that I

would like to share.

 

Swami Desikan, who we all know lived a full veda prayam, in his old age was

observing the Ekadashi Vratam (complete fasting). The head priest of the Sri

Ranganathar temple seeing swami in a very weak condition offered him the koil

prasadam and also told Swami that Lord Ranganatha himself ordered him to do

so. To this Swami replied that Lord Ranganatha would not have said that and he

politely refused to partake the prasadam. Such was the steadfastness of our

acharya in observing sastraic codes.

 

It may also interest you to know that it is the Dwadashi day that is special

for Lord Vishnu(just like Pradosha evenings are for Lord Siva - Vaishnavas

observe silence during pradosham). The Ekadahsi vratam with fasting, chanting

etc. is really in preparation for the bhaghvat aradhanam on dwadashi. Through

the process of fasting, one disciplines the will and the intellect, quitens the

mind, and thus prepares for upasana. You might have also noticed that sravana

vratam is observed one day prior to the sravana nakshatram day.

 

Sastras also tell us that the dwadashi paranai should be completed before the

dwadashi thithi ends. One should avoid using anything related to plaintains

(vazhai kaay, ilai etc.), also avoid chillies and tamarind (substitute pepper

for chillies and lemon or dry mango powder for tamarind). Sastras also tell us

to include sundaikaay and nellikaay (goose berry). All this might sound

difficult to practice but after observing them for 3 or 4 times they become a

routine.

 

The wisdom of our sastras can be appreciated only through experience. I think

patience will be required. It seems one German visitor to India (visiting

India in the good old days) commented that our kitchen is really a pharmacy.

He was amazed at the variety of spices and the sense of proportion in the way

they were used. In spite of the empiricism involved, our sastraic way of

living has helped earnest people (for several generations) in their spiritual

progress.

 

Dharmo Vigrahavan Adharma Virathim Dhanveesa Dhanveethinaha. (Let Lord Rama,

who is the embodiment of Dharma create in us an inclination to follow our

dharma).

 

 

Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan