more on Ekadasi Prasadam

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> Foods that are restricted during Ekadasi:

>

> -- Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, bellpepper

>

> -- Indian vegetable: karela (bitter lemon), loki, parmal, toroi, kunli,

> drumsticks, okra (lady fingers), banana flower

>

> -- All leafy vegetables: spinach, salads, cabbages and leafy herbs like

> parsley, curry leaves, neem leaves, etc.

 

I would say that if we take this in the positive sense, it means that it is

best (if it is not possible to observe a full fast) to take fruits and milk

once a day (preferable in the evening according to the Puranas) on Ekadasi.

Ofcourse it is for those who can do it otherwise they can take cooked

Ekadasi prasadam which Srila Prabhupada allowed.

 

>From Bhakti Vikasa Swami's notes on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Prabhupada:

 

On Ekadasi day, he would observe it by taking fruit at 4.00pm and a

glass of milk at night, and nothing else all day.

 

SRILA PRABHUPADA ALSO SAID THE SAME THING, BETTER TO TAKE FRUITS & MILK:

 

Pandal Lecture, Bombay, April 7, 1971

 

This is called tapasya. Just like Ekadasi day-there is no eating

sumptuously. Simply you take little fruits and flowers. Try to avoid that

also. You don't take even water. That is really ekadasi…. But because we

cannot do it-in the Kali-yuga the time is different-therefore we are allowed

to take little #### fruit and milk ####, which is called anukalpa.

 

Prabhupada's Lectures Srimad-Bhagavatam 1969:

 

So, paravare brahmani dharmato vrataih. So one should execute Krsna

consciousness, dharmatah, in right path, and vrataih. Bhajante mam

drdha-vratah. Just like today, ekadasi-vrata. Vrataih. This ekadasi-vrata is

required. Just see. Here it is that "You have performed all the vratas." The

purpose of ekadasi-vrata is that today we should not eat much usual food,

grains. The actual prescription is fasting. Nirjala-ekadasi. Nirjala means

there are many devotees who does not take even water. Water, drinking water,

according to sastra, it is taking food... It is drinking of food or no food.

We can take both ways. So sometimes drinking of water is excused as upavasa

also. But there are many devotees who even..., drink even a drop of water.

Whole day and night they fast and observe ekadasi-vrata. And the night is

called harivasara. Harivasara means the whole night they would chant Hare

Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama... This is

called vrata. Drdha-vrata. Drdha-vrata.

 

Drdha means very firm, steady. Krsna is so kind that He has given us so many

concession. But we should be... Because there are some concession, better we

should not take advantage of the concession, but we should be very steady

and strong in our conviction and perform devotional service strictly. That

is nice.

 

Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter Four, Text 29, PURPORT

 

To observe Ekadasi-vrata and Dvadasi-vrata means to please the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. Those interested in advancing in Krsna consciousness

must observe Ekadasi-vrata regularly.

 

Pandal Lecture, Bombay, April 7, 1971

 

This is called tapasya. Just like Ekadasi day-there is no eating

sumptuously. Simply you take little fruits and flowers. Try to avoid that

also. You don't take even water. That is really ekadasi…. But because we

cannot do it-in the Kali-yuga the time is different-therefore we are allowed

to take little fruit and milk, which is called anukalpa.

 

Also nowadays grains or grain powder is mixed with so many things so it is

very difficult to really avoid grains if one eats a variety of cooked food

on Ekadasi. Plus all these restrictions given in the scriptures.

 

>From the Puranas:

 

The maiden said: "O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to

give me a boon, then give me the power to deliver from the greatest sins

that person who fasts on this day. I wish that half the pious credit

obtained by one who fasts will acrue to one who eats only in the evening

[abstaining from grains and beans], and that half of *this* pious credit

will be earned by one who eats only at midday. Also, one who strictly

observes a complete fast on my appearance day, with controlled senses, goes

to the abode of Lord Visnu for one billion kalpas after he has enjoyed all

kinds of pleasures in this world. This is the boon I desire to attain by

Your mercy, my Lord. O Lord, whether a person observes complete fasting,

eats only in the evening, or eats only at midday, please grant him a

religious attitude, wealth, and at last liberation."

 

Your aspiring servant, BR Sadhu Swami