Ekadasi

[Guest guest]

I have seen a few comments regarding the principle that it is OK to offer

karmis grains on ekadasi. I am a little doubtful due to the fact that I have

never heard or read about this from an authoritative vedic source. If

someone could find one then it would become a bit more of a concrete

principle otherwise I think it is just one of those "oh we have allways done

that" ones.

 

Regarding grains on Ekadasi it is stated that the Jiva does not eat grains.

According to the scripture all the sinful activities (taking the form or the

personification of sin) enter into grains on Ekadasi. Those sinful reactions

affect Karmis, devotees or whoever. Recently I was in a festival in St Louis

and it was Ekadasi. The prasadam was complete nectar and completely free

from grains. I personally have cooked Sunday feasts and for festivals for

years and have never served grains on Ekadasi to Guests. I do not see the

need to as there are so many preparations that can be made.

 

So... as I said, unless an authoritative statement from Prabhupada or

Scripture can be found then although the idea may seem nice it remains a

nice idea that we can serve karmis grains on ekadasi.

 

As far as the preaching example that was quoted as said by Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta "for preaching the devotees can take grains on ekadasi" That

refers to preaching devotees not karmis.

 

Anyway here are a few quotes regarding ekadasi from Prabhupadas books:

 

 

TEXT

mata bale, -- -- tai diba, ya tumi magibe

prabhu kahe, -- -- ekadasite anna na khaibe

SYNONYMS

mata bale -- His mother said; tai diba -- I shall give that; ya -- whatever;

tumi -- You; magibe -- should ask me; prabhu kahe -- the Lord said;

ekadasite -- on the Ekadasi day; anna -- grains; na -- don't; khaibe -- eat.

TRANSLATION

His mother replied, "My dear son, I will give You whatever You ask." Then

the Lord said, "My dear mother, please do not eat grains on the Ekadasi

day."

PURPORT

>From the very beginning of His childhood life Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

introduced the system of observing a fast on the Ekadasi day. In the

Bhakti-sandarbha, by Srila Jiva Gosvami, there is a quotation from the

Skanda Purana admonishing that a person who eats grains on Ekadasi becomes a

murderer of his mother, father, brother and spiritual master, and even if he

is elevated to a Vaikuntha planet, he falls down. On Ekadasi, everything is

cooked for Visnu, including regular grains and dhal, but it is enjoined that

a Vaisnava should not even take visnu-prasadam on Ekadasi. It is said that a

Vaisnava does not accept anything eatable that is not offered to Lord Visnu,

but on Ekadasi a Vaisnava should not touch even maha-prasadam offered to

Visnu, although such prasadam may be kept for being eaten the next day. It

is strictly forbidden for one to accept any kind of grain on Ekadasi, even

if it is offered to Lord Visnu.

Adi 15.10

TEXT 10

TEXT

saci kahe, -- -- na khaiba, bhala-i kahila

sei haite ekadasi karite lagila

SYNONYMS

saci kahe -- mother Saci said; na khaiba -- I shall not take; bhala-i kahila

-- You have said very nicely; sei haite -- from that day; ekadasi -- Ekadasi

day; karite lagila -- began to observe.

TRANSLATION

Mother Saci said, "You have spoken very nicely. I shall not eat grains on

Ekadasi." From that day, she began to observe fasting on Ekadasi.

PURPORT

It is a prejudice among smarta-brahmanas that a widow must observe fasting

on Ekadasi but a woman who is sa-dhava -- who has her husband -- should not.

It appears that before Lord Caitanya's request, Sacimata, being sa-dhava,

was not observing Ekadasi. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, however, introduced the

system that a woman, even if not a widow, must observe the Ekadasi day and

must not touch any kind of grains, even those offered to the Deity of Visnu.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Adi 15.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prabhupada: Oh yes. But not guru. Ekadasi observed by jiva-tattva, not by

Visnu-tattva. We are fasting for clearing our material disease, but

Radha-Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Caitanya Mahaprabhu also may not be

offered grains because He is playing the part of a devotee. Only

Radha-Krsna, Jagannatha can be offered grains. Otherwise, Guru-Gauranga, no.

And the prasadam should not be taken by anyone. It should be kept for next

day. What is that?

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversations -- April 22, 1972, Japan

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana it is said that one who observes fasting on

Ekadasi day is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and

advances in pious life. The basic principle is not just to fast, but to

increase one's faith and love for Govinda, or Krsna. The real reason for

observing fasting on Ekadasi is to minimize the demands of the body and to

engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar

service. The best thing to do on fasting days is to remember the pastimes of

Govinda and to hear His holy name constantly.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Observing Fasting on Ekadasi