More Ekadashi questions

[Guest guest]

Thanks to Sri V. Sadagopan and Sri P.R. Ranga for their input on the subject

of Ekadashi. There remains one question in my mind: for those unable to

observe the full fast, Sri Sadagopan says that fruit and milk may be taken.

In this respect, I wonder whether all other foods are forbidden even for

those who cannot fast.

 

I ask because I have observed varying practices in various sampradayas: some

Vaishnavas hold that only rice is explicitly forbidden on Ekadashi, and that

other grains (bread etc) may be eaten, though of course a full fast is more

meritorious. Others claim that the word "annam" does not refer only to rice,

but to any kind of food grain (as well as beans etc), so that all sorts of

bread, dal, etc are banned on Ekadashi -- whereas foods other than grains

may be eaten by those too weak to fast.

 

Any clarification of the Sri Vaishnava standpoint on this matter would be

most appreciated.

 

(And incidentally: while there is no doubt about the merit in observing

Ekadashi and Dvadashi vratas, is their *non-observance* -- such as eating

rice on Ekadashi -- considered a sin?)

 

Best regards,

Martin Gansten

[Guest guest]

> Thanks to Sri V. Sadagopan and Sri P.R. Ranga for their input on the subject

> of Ekadashi. There remains one question in my mind: for those unable to

> observe the full fast, Sri Sadagopan says that fruit and milk may be taken.

> In this respect, I wonder whether all other foods are forbidden even for

> those who cannot fast.

 

There is a wide amount of flexibility. A strict fast is kept only by a

few. Some allow fruits, water and milk to be taken. Still others relax the

requirements to allow idlis and dosas to be eaten, although these food

items contain rice. It seems to me that the last choice is a clever

attempt to circumvent ritual procedure, but what it means is that there

is a lot of room for individual/family preference.

 

Vidyasankar