Ekadasi - what to eat, what to avoid

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

I have been asked on many occasions, especially lately, to comment on the

subject of 'what to eat and what to avoid on Ekadasi'. I am by no means an

expert on the subject, but nevertheless, I have decided to offer some

service and to try and compile a substantial listing.

 

It has been suggested that I publish the resultant information on my website

( http://www.kurma.net/ ), but I think, at least for now, it will be an

"in-house" discussion.

 

It will start out as a substantial, alphabetical glossary-style list, with

notes/explanations for each entry when necessary. As far as I can see, 'the

jury is out' on quite a few items. So I invite research, discussion,

constructive criticism or advice on any item listed, or the subject as a

whole.

 

For the purpose of this exercise, all foods listed will fall into three

categories:

 

The first category will be foods that are acceptable on Ekadasi. In this

category are obvious "do's", like fruits, milk, appropriate vegetables,

etc, etc.

 

The second category will be foods to avoid on Ekadasi. These are obvious

'no-no's' like rice, wheat, corn, peas, beans etc, etc.

 

The third category will be contentious items, which will consist of things

that are not conclusively agreed upon amongst devotees as appropriate.

 

Such foods could include things like carob, tamarind, spinach, mustard,

vanilla, fenugreek, peanuts, buckwheat, sago, tapioca, powdered spices like

turmeric, tomatoes, eggplants, and I have even heard arguments about

potatoes! These are either botanically contentious, scripturally or

culturally contentious, not used by some Vaisnavas, under scrutiny,

sometimes contaminated, or recommended to be avoided by Srila Prabhupada.

 

There are a number of perspectives on the subject of eating on Ekadasi. For

instance, there are those say: "Better to just fast on Ekadasi". Those that

do will probably have no need for this list.

 

Others will say: "Ekadasi is meant for little or no eating. Better just some

boiled potatoes or something simple to keep body and soul together."

 

There are those with the philosophy: "Better to just eat what Prabhupada ate

on Ekadasi. If Prabhupada ate so and so, it must be OK." This is a valid

argument of course. But there are those who argue that there are many

healthy, satvic, and appropriate Ekadasi foods that Prabhupada never

actually ate, but are either grown, purchased, cooked, or eaten by devotees,

or are staples, in many parts of our international society these days (like

amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, etc).

 

And there are foods that Prabhupada may have eaten because devotees offered

them to him, but are still nevertheless contentious.

 

There are those who, say, living in India, find themselves having to take

into consideration cultural Vaisnava feelings about perceived 'acceptable'

and 'unacceptable' items, like mustard seeds, and sesame seeds, for example,

even though apparently Prabhupada himself ate them both sometimes on

Ekadasi.

 

There are many who will find the list important and helpful: Those who cook

devotee prasadam in temple kitchens on Ekadasi, those that cook Ekadasi

Sunday feasts, and for other non-grain events, those who preach and travel

and have to buy Ekadasi bhoga, and of course the innumerable householders

who want to follow Ekadasi and have to prepare food for their families.

 

Ultimately, I am hoping that it will shed more light on the subject, even

though there will probably be many grey areas where devotees/temples will

have to make up there own minds due to contentious feelings on some items.

For some of us, the philosophy 'when in doubt, miss it out' may ultimately

be a useful guideline.

 

The reason I have sent this preliminary letter out first before I actually

complete my listing (I have started) is to elicit comments, advice, or any

feedback at all from yourselves.

 

I especially request any definitive information on the subject, either

anecdotal, shastric, or cultural, or information as to where I should go to

find it, especially from the scholarly Maharaja's, prabhus and matajis who

reside in India or who have spent time inbibing Vedic food culture, and who

are recipients of this letter.

 

If there are devotees who have not been included as receivers whom you feel

should receive this letter, and subsequent information, please advise me.

 

This on-going project is offered as a humble service to all the wonderful

followers of our wonderful Srila Prabhupada.

 

Your servant,

Kurma dasa