Ekadasi fast info- Nirjala

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follows, “Oh greatly intelligent and learnedgrandfather, my brother

Yudhisthira, my dear mother Kunti, and mybeloved wife Draupadi, as well as

Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, fastcompletely on each EkAdasii and strictly

follow all the rules,guidelines and regulative injunctions of that sacred day.

Bring veryreligious, they always tell me that I should also fast on that

daytoo. But, Oh learned grandfather, I tell them that I cannot livewithout

eating, because as the son of VAyudeva …quot; Samanaprana, (thedigestive air)

hunger is unbearable to me. I can give widely incharity and worship Lord Keshava

properly with all manner ofwonderful upacharas (items), but I cannot be asked to

fast onEkAdasii. Please tell me how I can obtain the same merits resultwithout

fasting.â€Hearing these words, the grandsire of Bhima, Srila VyAsadevasaid,

“If you want to go to the heavenly planets and avoid thehellish planets, you

should

indeed observe a fast on both the lightand dark EkAdasiis.â€Bhima replied,

“Oh great saintly intelligent grandfather, pleaselisten to my plea. Oh

greatest of munis, since I cannot live if I eatonly once in a day, how can I

possibly live if I fast completely?Within my stomach burns a special fire named

Vrika, the fire ofdigestion. Agni the fire-god, descends from Lord Vishnu

throughBrahmA, from BrahmA to Angirasa, from Angirasa to Brihaspathi, andfrom

Brihaspathi to Samyu, who was Agni'’ father. He is thegatekeeper in charge of

Nairritti, the south-eastern direction. He isone of the eight material elements,

and Parikshit MahArAja, he isvery expert at examining things. He examined

MahArAja Shibi once byturning into a dove (for further information on this

incident seeSrila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s Srimad

Bhagavatamcommentary to 1:12:20. Purport.)Agni is divided into three

categories; DavAgni, the

fire in wood,JatharAgni, the fire in the digestion in the stomach, and

VadavAgni,the fire that creates fog when hot and cold streams mix in forexample

the ocean. Another name for the fire of digestion is Vrika.It is this powerful

fire that resided in Bhima’s stomach.Only when I eat to my full satisfaction

does the fire in my stomachbecome satisfied. Oh great sage, I might possibly be

able to fastonly once, so I beg that you tell me of an EkAdasii that is worthy

ofmy fasting and that includes all other EkAdasiis. I shall faithfullyobserve

that fast and hopefully still become eligible forliberation’s

release.â€Shrila VyAsadeva replied, Oh king, you have heard from me about

thevarious kinds of occupational duties, such as elaborate Vedikceremonies and

pujas. In the Kali-yuga, however, no one will be ableto observe all these

occupational, functional duties properly. Ishall therefore tell you how, at

practically no

expense, one canendure some small austerity and achieve the greatest benefit

andresultant happiness. The essence of what is written in the Vedicliteratures

known as the PurANas is that one should not eat on eitherthe dark or light

fortnight EkAdasiis.†As stated in SrimadBhagavatam (Mahabhagavat PurANam)

12:13:12 and 15.) the BhagavatPurANam is itself the essence or cream of all

VedAnta philosophy(sara-vedAnta-sAram), and the Srimad Bhagavatam’s

unequivocal messageis that of full surrender to Lord Sri Krishna and the

rendering ofloving devotional service to Him. Observing EkAdasii strictly is

agreat aid in that process, and here Shrila VyAsadeva is simplystressing to

Bhima the importance of the EkAdasii vratam. “…One whofasts on EkAdasiis

saved from going to the hellish planets.â€Hearing Shrila VyAsadeva’s words,

the son of VAyu, Bhimasena, thestrongest of all warriors, became frightened and

began to shake

likea leaf on a banyan tree in a strong wind. The frightened Bhimasenathen said,

“Oh grandfather, what should I do? I am completely unableand ill equipped to

fast twice in a month throughout the year! Pleasetell me of the one fasting day

that will bestow the greatest benefitupon me!â€VyAsadeva replied, “Without

drinking even water, you should fast onthe EkAdasii that occurs during the

light fortnight of the month ofJyeshtha (May-June) when the sun travels in the

sign of Taurus(Vrishabh) and Gemini (Mithun), According to learned

personalities,on this day one may bathe and perform Achamana for

pratiprokshanapurification. But while performing Achamana one may drink only

thatamount of water equal to a drop of gold, or that amount it takes toimmerse

a single mustard seed. Only this amount of water should beplaced in the right

palm for sipping, which one should form toresemble a cow’s ear. If one drinks

more water than

this, he might aswell have drunk wine …quot; despite the soaring heat of

summer (in thenorthern hemisphere and cold in the southern hemisphere).“One

must certainly not eat anything, for if he does so he breaks hisfast. This

rigid fast is in effect from sunrise on the EkAdasii dayto sunrise on the

DwAdashii day. If a person endeavours to observethis great fast very strictly,

he easily achieves the result ofobserving all twenty-four other EkAdasii fasts

throughout the entireyear.“On DwAdashii the devotee should bathe early in the

morning. Then,according to the prescribed rules, guidelines and

regulativeinjunctions, and of course depending on his ability, he should

givesome gold and water to worthy brAhmaNas. Finally, he shouldcheerfully

honour prasAdam with a brAhmaNa.“Oh Bhimasena, one who can fast on this

special EkAdasii in thismanner reaps the benefit of having fasted on every

EkAdasii duringthe

year. There is no doubt of this, nor should there be. Oh Bhima,now hear the

specific merit one gets by fasting on this EkAdasii. TheSupreme Lord Keshava,

who holds a conch, discus, club and lotus,personally told me, ‘Everyone

should take shelter of Me and follow Myinstructions.’ Then He told me that

one who fasts on this EkAdasii,without taking even drinking water or eating,

becomes free of allsinful reactions, and that one who observes the difficult

nirjalAfast on Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii truly reaps the benefit of all

otherEkAdasii fasts.“Oh Bhimasena, in the Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and

hypocrisy,when all the principles of the Vedas will have been destroyed

orgreatly minimised, and when there will be no proper charity orobservance of

the ancient Vedik principles and ceremonies, how willthere be any means of

purifying the self? But there is theopportunity to fast on EkAdasii and become

free of all one’s

pastsins.“Oh son of VAyu, what more can I say to you? You should not eatduring

the EkAdasiis that occur during the dark and light fortnights,and you should

even give up drinking water (nir = no jalaa= water) onthe particularly

auspicious EkAdasii day of Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii.Oh Vrikodara (veracious

eater), whoever fasts on this EkAdasiireceives the merits of bathing in all the

places of pilgrimage,giving all kinds of charities to worthy persons, and

fasting on allthe dark and light EkAdasiis throughout the year, in one go. Of

thisthere is no doubt.Oh tiger among men, whoever fasts on this EkAdasii truly

becomes agreat person and achieves all manner of opulence and wealth,

grains,strength, and health. And at the fearful moment of death, theterrible

YamadUtas, whose complexions are yellow and black and whobrandish huge maces

and twirl mystic pAsha ropes in the air forbinding their victims, will refuse

to

approach him. Rather, such afaithful soul will at once be taken to the supreme

abode of LordVishnu by the Vishnu-dUtas, whose transcendentally beautiful

formsare clothed in gorgeous yellowish garments and who each hold a disk,club,

conch and lotus in their four hands, resembling Lord Vishnu. Itis to gain all

these benefits that one should certainly fast on thisvery auspicious and

important EkAdasii, even from water.â€When the other PANDavas heard about the

benefits to be gained byfollowing Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii, they resolved to

observe itexactly as their grandfather Srila VyAsadeva had explained it totheir

brother, Bhimasena. All the PANDavas observed it by refrainingfrom eating or

drinking anything, and thus this day is also known asPANDava NirjalA DvAdashii

(technically it is a Maha-DvAdashii).Shrila VyAsadeva continued, Oh Bhimasen,

therefore you should observethis important fast to remove all your past sinful

reactions. Youshould pray to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri

Krishnain this way making your sankalpa declaration, ‘Oh Lord of all thedevas

(demigods), Oh Supreme Personality of Godhead, today I shallobserve EkAdasii

without taking any water. Oh unlimited Anantadev, Ishall break fast on the next

day, DwAdashii.’ Thereafter, to removeall his sins, the devotee should honour

this EkAdasii fast with fullfaith in the Lord and with full control over his

senses. Whether hissins are equal in volume to Mount Sumeru or to MandarAchala

Hill, ifhe or she observes this EkAdasii, the sins that have been

accumulatedall become nullified and are burned to ashes. Such is the great

powerof this EkAdasii.“Oh best of human beings, although a person should also

give waterand cows in charity during this EkAdasii, if for some reason or

otherhe cannot, then he should give a qualified brAhmaNa some cloth or apot

filled with

water. Indeed, the merit achieved by giving wateralone equals that gained by

giving gold ten million times a day.“Oh Bhima, Lord Sri Krishna has said that

whoever observes thisEkAdasii should take a Holy bath, give charity to a worthy

person,chant the Lord’s Holy names on a japa-mAla, and perform some kind

ofrecommended sacrifice, for by doing these things on this day onereceives

imperishable benefits. There is no need to perform any otherkind of religious

duty. Observance of this EkAdasii fast alonepromotes one to the supreme abode

of Sri Vishnu. Oh best of theKurus, if one donates gold, cloth, or anything

else on this day, themerit one obtains is imperishable.“Remember, whosoever

eats any grains on EkAdasii becomes contaminatedby sin and verily eats only

sin. In effect, he has already become adog-eater, and after death he suffers a

hellish existence. But he whoobserves this sacred Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii and

gives something incharity certainly achieves liberation from the cycle of

repeatedbirth and death and attains to the supreme abode. Observing

thisEkAdasii, which is merged with DwAdashii, frees one from the horriblesin of

killing a brAhmaNa, drinking liquor and wine, becoming enviousof one’s

spiritual master and ignoring his instructions, andcontinually telling

lies.“Furthermore, Oh best of beings (Jivottama), any man or woman

whoobserves this fast properly and worships the Supreme Lord JalshAyi(He who

sleeps on the water), and who on the next day satisfies aqualified brAhmaNa

with nice sweets and a donation of cows and money …quot;such a person

certainly pleases the Supreme Lord Vasudeva, so muchso that one hundred

previous generations in his family undoubtedly goto the Supreme Lord’s abode,

even though they may have been verysinful, of bad character, and guilty of

suicide, etc. Indeed, one whoobserves this

amazing EkAdasii rides on a glorious celestial airplane(vimAna) to the Lord’s

abode.“One who on this day gives a brAhmaNa a waterpot, an umbrella, orshoes

surely goes to the heavenly planets. Indeed, he who simplyhears these glories

also attains to the transcendental abode of theSupreme Lord, Shri Vishnu.

Whoever performs the Shraddha ceremony tothe forefathers on the dark-moon day

called amAvasya, particularly ifit occurs at the time of a solar eclipse

undoubtedly achieves greatmerit, but this same merit is achieved by him who

simply hears thissacred narration …quot; so powerful and so dear to the Lord

is thisEkAdasii.“One should clean his teeth properly and, without eating or

drinking,observe this EkAdasii to please the Supreme Lord, Keshava. On the

dayafter EkAdasii one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godheadin His

form as Trivikrama by offering Him water, flowers, incense,and a brightly

burning

lamp. Then the devotee should pray from theheart, ‘Oh God of gods, Oh

deliverer of everyone, Oh Hrishikesha,master of the senses, kindly bestow upon

me the gift of liberation,though I can offer you nothing greater than this

humble pot filledwith water.’ Then the devotee should donate the waterpot to

abrAhmaNa.“Oh Bhimasena, after this EkAdasii fast and donating the

recommendeditems according to his ability, the devotee should feed brAhmaNas

andthereafter honour prasAdam silently.â€Shrila VyAsadeva concluded, “I

strongly urge you to fast on thisauspicious, purifying, sin-devouring DwAdashii

in just the way I haveoutlined. Thus you will be completely freed of all sins

and reach thesupreme abode.â€Thus ends the narration of the glories of

Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii,or Bhimaseni-nirjalA EkAdasii,from the Brahma-vaivarta

PurANa.These stories have been summarised and slightly changed orabbreviated

from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi:The Day of Lord Hari"

1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. BhaktivedantaInstitute Press. pages 87-91.-- In

varahamihira, "Sanjay Rath" <guruji@s...> wrote:>>> |om |> Dear

Raghunatha> Nir (No) Jala (Water) Ekadasi (11 tithi)> With best wishes and warm

regards,> Sanjay Rath> * * *> Sri Jagannath CenterR> 15B Gangaram Hospital Road>

New Delhi 110060, India> http://srath.com, +91-11-25717162> * * *>

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varahamihira> > [varahamihira] On Behalf

Of Raghunatha> > RaoNemani> > Friday, June 17, 2005 5:02 PM> > To:

varahamihira> > Re: |Sri Varaha| Nirjala Ekadashi> >>

> Om Krishna Guru> >> > Namaste Samjay Ji and Kanu,> >> > When is this Nirjala

Ekadasi is coming (Date) and what is the> > significance of this and how to

follow this. Please educate me.> >> > Regards> > Raghunatha Rao> >> > --- In

varahamihira, "Sanjay Rath" <guruji@s...>> > wrote:> >

>> > >> > > |om |> > > Dear Kanu> > > The Kali yuga santaarana mantra> > >> > >

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna HareKrishna> > > Krishna

Krishna Hare Hare> > >> > > Foreigners and those belonging to other faiths

should reversethis> > mantra (I> > > think Chaitanya upadesa).> > > Hare

Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare RamaHare> > > Rama Rama

Rama Hare Hare> > >> > > With best wishes and warm regards,> > > Sanjay Rath> >

> * * *> > > Sri Jagannath CenterR> > > 15B Gangaram Hospital Road> > > New

Delhi 110060, India> > > http://srath.com <http://srath.com/> ,

+91-11-25717162> > > * * *> > >

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