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Shrii EkAdasii

 

The Holy Day of Shrii Hari

.....updated 22nd September 2003

 

 

 

 

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EkAdasii Meditation - sadhana

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati's Navadwip Panjika Intro':

Vaishnava Calendar Page - with links to current years' Events and EkAdasiis:

Ekadasi Vratas according to Hari Bhakti Vilas smriti:

Sadachara Vinodha book by Sri Vyasanakare Prabhanjanacharya

Each and Every EkAdasii in detail - their observances, benefits, and

individual origin:

Basic Rules for understanding the Vaishnava Calendar - Panjika:

Srila Prabhupada speaking about Ekadasi - many quotes:

The Story of Ekadasi - how the day came to be:

The significance of Mahadwadasii:

All Ekadasiis:

How to break an ekadasi fast:

Ayurvedic understanding of breaking the fast on the dwadasi morning:

Vaishnava Calendar Software 4 FREE

EkAdasii Recipies - Now Available

Ekadasi humour......

 

Join the HKNet newsletter mailing list to get a few days warning prior to

each ekadasi plus many other Krishna conscious related subjects; Click on the

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Ekadasi Meditation, Vows and Story:

Regarding Ekadasis for New Zealand - check locally for details or download

your own personal edition of the Vaishnava Calendar making program which is

authorised from the G.B.C. stand point for astrological and astronomical

correctness, DOWNLOAD it NOW from HERE for FREE or HERE for FREE too or from

http://welcome.to/vcal and if you still can download it try this last address

http://www.iskcon.org/calendar/vcal401.zip

If you still can't get it contact me

Ekadasi Morning Meditation on the Lord:

Lotus Feet: Om Damodaraya Namah

Thighs: Om Madhavaya Namah

Private Parts: Om Kamapataye Namah

Hips: Om Vamanaya Namah

Navel: Om Padmanabhaya Namah

Stomach: Om Vishvamutaye Namah

Heart: Om Jnanagamyaya Namah

Throat: Om Srikanthaya Namah

Arms: Om Sahasrabahave Namah

Lotus Eyes: Om Paramayogine Namah

Forehead: Om Urugayai Namah

Nose: Om Narakeshvaraya Namah

Hair: Om Sarvakamadaya Namah

Head: Om Sahasrashirshaya Namah

Midday: Bathe in river, lake or pond. Chant, while smearing mud

upon body: "O Asvakrante! O Rathakranthe! O Visnukranthe! O Mrttike! O

Mother Earth! Kindly remove all the sins I have accumulated throughout many

past

lives so that I may enter the sacred abode of the Supreme Lord."

Light fortnight Ekadasi: meditate upon the 12 holy names

of Lord Vishnu while applying tilaka.

Dark fortnight: meditate upon 16 holy names:

om vasudevaya namah, om keshavaya namah, om narayanah namah, om madhavaya

namah, om sankarshanaya namah, om govindaya namah, om vaishnave namah, om

madhusudanaya namah, om pradyumnaya namah, om trivikramaya namah, om vamanaya

namah,

om sridharaya namah, om aniruddhaya namah, om hrishikeshaya namah, om

padmanabhaya namah, om damodarayah namah.

One should read about the particular Ekadasi (The Ekadasi book).

Do not sleep in day, take massage, engage in sex life,

take intoxication, touch impure people, shave.

On Dvadasi, one should not sleep in the day, eat in another's home,

eat more than once, eat urad dahl, rub oil on the body. One may break the

fast at the right time by drinking water if eating is difficult to arrange.

"O sages, one who hears about these Ekadasis will learn how to observe them

properly.Each Ekadasi bestows particular benefits on the faithful observer.

"One who is physically unable to fast on Ekadasi may read the glories of each

Ekadasi when it occurs and recite all the names of the Ekadasis; thus he will

achieve the same goal as the person who observes the full Ekadasi vow." (or

fast

to the best of their ability while still observing ekadasi)

A small on-line booklet on EkAdasii vichAra and AchAra, line of Madhwacharya.

More from the Madhwa line of Vaishnavas here:

Srila Prabhupada speaking about Ekadasi - many quotes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of Ekadasi

(This article was originally written in 1956 by Sri Navincandra Cakravarti, a

disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and in 1979 translated

into English by Vyenkata dasa brahmacari.)

Many devotees are very inquisitive about the appearance of Sri Ekadasi and

about her special characteristics. Therefore I am presenting this description

from the fourteenth chapter of the Padma Purana, from the section entitled

"Kriya-sagara-sara."

Once the great sage Jaimini Rsi said to his spiritual master Srila

Vyasadeva, "Oh Gurudeva! Previously, by your mercy, you described to me

thehistory of

the glories of the Ganga river, the benefits of worshipping Vishnu, the giving

of grains in charity, the giving of water in charity, and the magnanimity of

drinking the water that has washed the feet of the brahmanas. O best of the

sages, Sri Gurudeva, now, with great enthusiasm, I desire to hear the benefits

of

fasting on Ekadasi and the appearance of Ekadasi.

kasmad ekadasi jata tasyah ko va vidhir dvija

kada va kriyate kim va phalam kim va vadasva me

ka va pujyatama tatra devata sad-gunarnava

akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum arhasi

"Oh Gurudeva! When did Ekadasi take birth and from whom did she appear? What

are the rules of fasting on the Ekadasi? Please describe the benefits of

following this vow and when it should be followed. Who is the utmost

worshippable

presiding deity of Sri Ekadasi? What are the faults in not following Ekadasi

properly? Please bestow your mercyupon me and tell about these subjects, as you

 

are the only personality able to do so."

Srila Vyasadeva, upon hearing this enquiry of Jaimini Rsi, became situated

in transcendental bliss. "Oh brahmana sage Jaimini! The results of following

Ekadasi can only be perfectly described by the Supreme Lord, Narayana, because

Sri Narayana is the only personality capable of describing them in full. But I

will give a very brief description in answer to your question."

"At the beginning of the material creation, the Supreme Lord created the

moving and nonmoving living entities within this world made of five gross

material elements. Simultaneously, for the purpose of punishing the humans

beings, He

created a personality whose form was the embodiment of sin (Papapurusha). The

different limbs of this personality were constructed of the various sinful

activities. His head head was made of the sin of murdering a brahmana, his two

eyes were the form of the sin of drinking intoxicants, his mouth was made of

the sin of stealing gold, his ears were the form of the sin of having illicit

connection with the spiritual master's wife, his nose of the sin of killing

one's wife, his arms the form of the sin of killing a cow, his neck made of the

 

sin of stealing accumulated wealth, his chest of the sin of abortion, his lower

 

chest of the sin of having sex with another's wife, his stomach of the sin of

killing one's relatives, his navel of the sin of killing those who are

dependent on him, his waist of the sin of self appraisal, his thighs of the sin

of

offending the guru, his genital of the sin of selling one's daughter, his

buttocks of the sin of telling confidential matters, his feet of the sin of

killing

one's father, and his hair the form of lesser, less severe sinful activities.

In this way, a horrible personality embodying all the sinful activities and

vices was created. His bodily colour is black, and his eyes are yellow. He

inflicts extreme misery upon sinful persons."

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, upon seeing this

personality of sin, began to think to Himself as follows: 'I am the creator of

the

miseries and happiness for the living entities. I am their master because I

have

created this personality of sin, who gives distress to all dishonest,

deceitful, and sinful persons. Now I must create someone who will control this

personality.' At this time Sri Bhagavan created the personality known as

Yamaraj and

the different hellishj planetary systems. Those living entities who are very

sinful will be sent after death to Yamaraj, who will in turn, according to

their

sins, send them tom a hellish region to suffer.

"After these adjustments had been made, the Supreme Lord, who is the giver

of distress and happiness to the living entities, went to the house of Yamaraj,

 

with the help of Garuda, theking of birds. When Yamaraj saw that Lord Vishnu

had arrived, he immediately washed His feet and made an offering unto Him. He

then had Him sit upon a golden throne. The Supreme Lord, Vishnu, became

seated on the throne, whereupon He heard very loud crying sounds coming from

the

southern direction. He became surprised by this and thus enquired from Yamaraj,

 

'From where is this loud crying coming?'

"Yamaraj in reply said, 'Oh Deva! The different living entities of the

earthly planetary systems have fallen into the hellish regions. They are

suffering

extremely for their misdeeds. The horrible crying is because of suffering from

the inflictions of their past bad karma (actions).'

"After hearing this the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, went to the hellish region to

the south. When the inhabitants saw who had come they began to cry even

louder. The heart of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, became filled with compassion.

Lord

Vishnu thought to Himself, 'I have created all this progeny, and it is because

of Me thatthey are suffering.'"

Srila Vyasadeva continued: "Oh Jaimini, just listen to what the Supreme Lord

did next.

etac canyac ca viprarse

vicintya karunamayah

babhuva sahasa tatra

svayam ekadasi tithih

'After the merciful Supreme Lord thought over what He had previously

considered, He suddenly manifested from His own form the deity of the lunar day

 

Ekadasi.' Afterwards the different sinful living entities began to follow the

vow of

Ekadasi and were then elevated quickly to the abode of Vaikuntha. Oh my child

Jaimini, therefore the lunar day of Ekadasi is the selfsame form of the

Supreme Lord, Vishnu, and the Supersoul within the heart of the living

entities.

Sri Ekadasi is the utmost pios activity and is situated as the haed among all

vows.

"Following the ascension of Sri Ekadasi, that personality who is the form of

the sinful activity gradually saw the influence she had. He approached Lord

Vishnu with doubts in his heart and began offering many prayers, whereupon Lord

 

Vishnu became very pleased and said, ' I have become very pleased by your

nice offerings. What boon is it that you want?'

"The Papapurusha replied, 'I am your created progeny, and it is through me

that you wanted distress given to the living entities who are very sinful. But

now, by the influence of Sri Ekadasi, I have become all but destroyed. Oh

Prabhu! After I die all of Your parts andparcels who have accepted material

bodies will become liberated and therefore return to the abode of Vaikuntha. If

 

this liberation of all living entities takes place, then who will carry on Your

 

activities? There will be no one to enact the pastimes in the earthly planetary

 

systems! Oh Keshava! If You want these eternal pastimes to carry on, then You

please save me from the fear of Ekadasi. No type of pious activity can bind

me. But Ekadasi only, being Yourown manifested form, can impede me. Out of fear

 

of Sri Ekadasi I have fled and taken shelter of men; animals; insects; hills;

trees; moving and nonmoving living entities; rivers; oceans; forests;

heavenly, earthly, and hellish planetary systems; demigods; and the Gandarvas.

I

cannot find a place where I can be free from fear of Sri Ekadasi. Oh my Master!

I

am a product of Your creation, so therefore very mercifully direct me to a

place where I can reside fearlessly.'"

Srila Vyasadeva then said to Jaimini, "After saying this, the embodiment of

all sinful activities (Papapurusha) fell down at the feet of the Supreme

Lord, Vishnu, who is the destroyer of all miseries and began to cry.

"After this, Lord Vishnu, observing the condition of the Papapurusha with

laughter, began to speak thus: 'Oh Papapurusha! Rise up! Don't lament any

longer. Just listen, and I'll tell you where you can stay on the auspicious

lunar

day of Ekadasi. On the day of Ekadasi, which is the benefactor of the three

worlds, you can take shelter of foodstuff in the form of grains. There is no

reason to worry about this any more, because My form as Sri Ekadasi Devi will

no

longer impede you.' After giving direction to the Papapurusha, the Supreme

Lord,

Vishnu, disappeared and the Papapurusha returned to the performance of his

own activities.

"Therefore those persons who are serious about the ultimate benefit for the

soul will never eat grains on the Ekadasi tithi. According to the instructions

of Lord Vishnu, every kind of sinful activity that can be found in the

material world takes its residence in this place of foodstuff (grain). Whoever

follows Ekadasi is freed from all sins and never enters into hellish regions.

If

one doesn't follow Ekadasi because of illusion, he is still considered the

utmost sinner. For every mouthful of grain that is eaten by a resident of the

earthly region, one receives the effect of kiling millions of brahmanas. It is

definately necessary that one give up eating grains on Ekadasi. I very strongly

 

say again and again, 'On Ekadasi, don't eat grains, don't eat grains, don't eat

 

grains!' Whether one be a ksatriya, vaisya, shudra, or of any family, he

should follow the lunar day of Ekadasi. From this the perfection of varna and

ashram will be attained. Especially since even if one by trickery follows

Ekadasi,

all of his sin become destroyed and he very easily attains the supreme goal,

the abode of Vaikuntha."

Read each story in connection with each individual ekadasi:

 

 

Basic Rules for understanding the Vaishnava Calendar.

1/. The Tithi at sunrise rules the day.

2/. If the Tithi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise of the next

day (Lost) it is combined with the next Tithi.

3/. If the same Tithi falls on sunrise two days in a row, observances are

scheduled on the first day; exept Ekadasi, Amavasya, or Purnima Tithis which

are scheduled for the second day.

4/. Sometimes it may be seen that on the calendar - panjika it is writen

Ekadasi tithi but the next day it is writen Suddha Ekadasi fasting for

.......ekadasi, this is the practical application of observing Suddha or pure

ekadasi,

that is free, according to Vaishnava viddhi of an blemish.

Rules for Ekadasi.

Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada makes an interesting comment in

his purport to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya lila. 9-24-342:

"You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekadasi and the performance of

pure Ekadasi. You should also describe the fault in not observing this. One

should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not

careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service."

General Rules for observance are:-

1/. Ekadasi must come in prior to the Arunodaya Viddhi (1hour, 12 mins,

before sunrise). When it does so it is called Suddha Ekadasi - pure ekadasi. If

 

it begins after that, it is considered impure and is therefore to be observed

on the Dwadasi ( making Mahadwadasi or Compounded) on the next day.

2/. If Ekadasi falls on Sunrise two days in a row, fasting is observed on

the second day.

Mahadwadasi.

(If Mahadvadasi is in force, fasting is prohibited on the Ekadasi, but the

observance is done on the Dwadasi. Compound Dwadasi-Mahadwadasi.)

1/. If Ekadasi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise the next day

it is considered Lost, too short, thus not full, and impure. Therefore the

next day is called Unmillani Mahadwadasi.

2/. If Dwadasi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise on the next

day (Trayodasi), it is also Lost, and is to be observed as

Tri-Sprsa-Mahadwadasi.

3/. If Dwadasi falls on the Sunrise two days in a row the first Dwadasi

becomes Vyanjuli Mahadwadasi.

4/. When the following Amavasya or Purnima falls on sunrise two days in a

row the preceeding Dwadasi becomes Paksa-Vardhini-Mahadwadasi, Paksa based.

Parama Ekadasi in the month of Purushottam.

Breaking an Ekadasi Fast

If you have observed a complete fast (without even water), you do not need to

break it with grains. You can break it with caranamrita or fruit. Those

devotees who fasted all day and took nothing other than air, it is advised to

drink

a mixture of 50 - 50 hot milk and water, sweatened with rock candy sugar

after the sun has risen at the appropriate time. The effects of this loosen the

 

mala (stools) in the intestine where all the toxins from the fast have been

absorbed, and expell it all within about half an hour. Then take a light lunch,

 

eating only once on the dwadasi.

If you have observed Ekadasi by eating fruit and vegetables etc., then it

should be broken the following day by taking grains at the time specified in

the

Vaisnava Calendar.

Mahadvadasi is observed like Ekadasi.

For more details see Navadvip Panjika intro of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Saraswati Thakura (NP-intro.doc)

 

 

Vratas - what to do / auterities:

>From Pancharatra Pradipa - Appendix 3

Notes on Ekadasi…

The Hari-bhakti-vilasa gives many rules for observing Ekadasi…, and these are

discussed at length in Volume II of Pancharata-Pradipa. Here, however, we

will mention only a few points concerning Ekadasi in relation to general

standards of Deity worship in ISKCON:

Offering Grains to the Spiritual Master and Lord Caitanya

In a conversation, Srila Prabhupada said that grains should not be offered to

either the spiritual master or Lord Caitanya and His associates on Ekadasi

Devotee: On Ekadasi, we can offer the Deity grains?

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

Vishnu. 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 the next day. [srila Prabhupada Room

Conversation, Tokyo, April 22, 1972]

If there is only one plate for all Deities and the main Deity is Krsna or

Jagannatha, grains should be offered as on normal days. If the main Deities are

 

Gaura-Nitai, offer only non-grain preparations.* It is best to replace the

normally offered grain preparations with non-grain preparations so that there

are

the same number of preparations as on normal days. If, however, grain

preparations are being cooked for Krsna or Jagannatha, it may be difficult to

cook

additional non-grain preparations for the spiritual master and Gaura-Nitai. In

that case serve larger quantities of the non-grain preparations to the

spiritual

master and Gaura-Nitai, and prepare the offering plate for Krsna or

Jagannatha as on normal days.

* If you are cooking for a restaurant where grains will be served on Ekadasi,

you may offer the grains to Gaura-Nitai with the understanding that They will

offer the bhoga to Krsna.

What Constitutes "Grains" on Ekadasi?

Srila Prabhupada specified foodgrains and beans (pulses) as foods that must

be avoided on Ekadasi. One may use spices for cooking, although mustard seeds

should be avoided.* You should not use powdered asafatoeda (hing), since it

(generally) contains grains. Sesame seeds are also to be avoided, except on

Satila Ekadasi, when they may be offered and eaten.

Do not use any cooking ingredients that might be mixed with grains, such as

ghee that has been used to fry puris, or spices touched by hands dusted with

chapati flour.

There is absolutely NO doubt about what is NOT permissable to eat on Ekadasi.

ANNA. However it is how you translate this word that makes the difference. I

once again submit what Pradyumna Prabhu told me Srila Prabhupada told him

many

years ago. When asked by Pradyumna what we could eat Srila Prabhupada said

"Fruits, Roots, Nuts, Milk". If you stick to these types of foods you should

be fine. Of course the sure way is to fast completely. Water of course can be

taken. Except if you wish to do Nirjala. (Gaura Keshava dasa. 3rd Oct 1998.

[Text 1740554 from COM])

* Someone who is very strictly observing Ekadasi should avoid all spices

except pepper, rock salt and cumin. He should also eschew certain vegetables,

such

as tomatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, and leafy vegetables. Temple kitchens

need not follow these strictures, since Srila Prabhupada did not establish

them.

Individual devotees may observe these rules if they choose, either making

their own arrangements for cooking on Ekadasi, eating uncooked foods such as

fruit, or observing full fasting. These arrangements should not interfere with

the

temple cooking schedule.

Mahaprasadam on Ekadasi:

On Ekadasi, strict followers of Vaishnava regulations avoid eating any

mahaprasada from an offering that includes grains.. The shastra explains that

the

papa-purusha (sin personified) takes shelter in grains on Ekadasi, and

therefore

we avoid grains at all cost on that day, not even risking taking non-grain

preparations of mahaprasada from an offering plate containing grains. Ekadasi

mahaprasada should be stored until the next day; if that is not possible it

can

be distributed to persons not strictly following Vaishnava regulations or to

animals. In fact, mahaprasada maintains its purity on Ekadasi despite the

presence of the papa-purusha, and therefore it will purify anyone who eats it.

Nevertheless, the followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being strict followers of

Vaishnava regulations, avoid mahaprasada on that day because their strict

sadhana

will be hampered by the presence of the papa-purusha.

Srila Prabhupad took peanuts and raisins, and mustard seeds, and sesame seeds

on Ekadasi. The recipes he used for some preps are to be found in Yamuna's

cookbook. Jagdish prabhu was personally shown how to make peanuts and raisins

prep' for Prabhupad on Ekadasi by Prabhupad (Jagdish maharaj then, told me,

JTCd

that in Auckland 1992.)

Srila Prabhupada speaking about Ekadasi - many quotes

 

 

Sadachara Vinodha book by Sri Vyasanakare Prabhanjanacharya

aruNodayakAle tu dashamI yadi dR^ishyate

na tatraikadashI kAryAh dharmakAmArthanAshinI

(padmapurANam.h (brahma khanda a 15 shloka 32)

Even if there is a trace of Dashami at the time of arunodaya, that ekadashi

is considered as viddha ekadashi . The destruction of dharma & all purushArthas

 

is incurred by a fast on such a day.

kshaye vA.apyathavA vR^iddhau sampRapte vA dinakshaye

upoShyA dvAdashI puNyA pUrvaviddhAM parityajeth

(KrishnAmruthamaharnava Sloka 121)

When there is thithi kshaya, thithi vriddhi & dinakshaya (when Dasami,

Ekadashi & Dwadashi fall on the same day) in all these three situations, a fast

 

should not be undertaken on Ekadashi which is Dashami viddha. A fast should be

observed on Dwadashi.

Characteristics of Arunodaya (Daybreak)

chatartro gaTikAH prAtararuNodaya uchyate

yatInAM snAnakAlo.ayaM gaMgAMbhaH sadR^ishaH smR^itiH

(KrishnAmruthamaharnava sloka 131)

Four ghatikas before sunrise is considered as arunodaya. The shastras say

that this time is as holy as the waters of the Ganga for ascetics to have their

 

bath. (It means that a bath during arundodaya gives as merit as a bath in the

Ganga).

What is Gatika?

>From HarikathAmruthasaara,

paramasUkShmavukShaNavayidhu thRuti karesuvadhu aivaththu

thruti lava veradu lavavu nimiSha nimiShagaLemtu mAthrayuga

gurudhashaprANArupaLa hanneradu bhANavu ghaLige

thrimshathi iruluhagaLaruvaththughatigaLahOrAthrigaLu || 23-56 ||

The smallest time unit is a moment;

5 kshana = Truti; 50 Truti = 1 lava; 2 lava = 1 minute; 8 minutes = a matra;

2 matra = a guru; 10 guru = prana; 6 prana = 1 pala; 60 pala = 1 Ghaika;

30 Gathikas = 1 day or night; 60 Ghathikas = a full day.

When Ekadashi is Dashami Viddha, a fast should be undertaken in Dwadashi.

putrarAjyavivR^id.hdhyarthaM dvAdasyAmupavAsanaM

tatra kratushataM puNyaM trayodashyAm tu pAraNam.h

(krishnAmruthamaharnava, Shloka 134)

When Ekadashi is Dashami viddha, a fast should be observed in Dwadashi & the

fast broken parana on Thrayodashi. This brings prosperity for the country &

progeny. One gets merit equal to the merit of performing hundreds of yajnas.

jn~AtvA viprA (prai) stithiM samyag.h daivajn~yaiH samudIritAM

kartavya upavAsastu anyathA narakaM vrajet.h

(KrishnAmruthamaharnava, sloka 120)

People should fast only on the day decided by persons well versed in

Astrology (Suddha ekadasi). Otherwise the fast will lead to hell.

bahvAgamavirodhe tu brAhmaNeShu vivAdiShu

upoShyA dvAdashI puNyA pakshayorubhayorapi

(KrishnAmruthamaharnava Sloka 138)

If there are conflicting statements in the shastras regarding veda, when

scholars express different opinions, it is meritorious to observe a fast on

Dwadashi no matter which Ekadashi it is (either sukla or krishna paksha).

HARIVAASARA DURING DASHAMI & DWADASHI

ekAdashyAH prAMtabhAgo dvAdasyAH pUrva eva cha

harivAsaranAmA.asau sarvakAlottamaH smR^itaH

brahmAhatvA surApAnaM steyaM gurvaganAgamaH

tasminstu bhunjataH pApAnyekasthAni bhavaMtyutaH

(vishnuthIrtha sanyAptapaddati)

The last part of (dasami viddha) Ekadashi & the first part of Dwadashi thithi

is also known as Harivasara (Haridina). This period is also auspicious &

merits for fasting. If any food is taken during this period, it amounts to

killing

of brahmin (brahma hathya) & others such sins (so if there is HArivasara on

Dashami, food should be taken before Harivaasara begins & if there is

Harivaasara on Dwadashi, the fast should be broken only after Harivasara is

over.

This is similarly explained in Navadwip panjika of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad.

Breaking an Ekadasi Fast (parana - breaking fast time)

Pramanik logic from Ayurved & Sripad MadhwaAcharya say in conjunction with

Puranik stories, that we should fast during Ekadashi because the moon is the

presiding deity for "Anna" (food). As the lustre of the moon is dim due to the

reasons given on the 2 days of Ekadashi the food that is eaten becomes harmful.

 

The food that is eaten on Ekadashi remains undigested & turns toxic, giving

rise to various diseases.

If you have observed a complete fast (without even water), you do not

need to break it with grains. You can break it with charanamrita (Tirtha water)

 

or fruit. Those devotees who fasted all day and took nothing other than air, it

 

is advised to drink a mixture of 50 - 50 hot milk and water, sweatened with

rock candy sugar after the sun has risen at the appropriate time. The effects

of this loosen the mala (stools) in the intestine where all the toxins from the

 

fast have been absorbed, and expell it all within about half an hour. Then

take a light lunch, eating only once on the dwadasi.

If you have observed Ekadasi by eating fruit and vegetables etc., then it

should be broken the following day by taking grains at the time specified in

the Vaisnava Calendar.

Either way, this is also a good reason to expell the toxic waste malas

(stools) collected in the intestine, this is done on the dwadasi morning with

the aide of the sweet nectar mixture of hot milk and water of a ratio 50/50 and

 

very sweet with rock candy (yellow lump - available Chinese stores) after

sun-rise. If one has fasted completely there's no point in trying to pass when

one

first rises, as we normally do as there will be no issue due to no intake of

food or water on the previous day. However, half an hour after taking the

drink the mallas will be expelled from the body

Moon's position in the earth is the same for everyone at every given moment &

we look into sunrise for determining & to follow Ekadashi vrata or Dwadashi

thithi which is different from place to place. Mahadvadasi is observed like

Ekadasi.

bhAgavata roDagUdi upavAsa jAgara ondhina mAdalillA rAgadhi shukamuni peLdha

harikathe samyoga vembidulla, nIguvantha bhavabhayava bhakuti vairagya

vembodilla, yogivandyea gopAla vittala tele bAgi ninnane bedikombe, hyAnge

mAdalayya

krishna poguthide Ayushya

For the Actual Parana time check with the VCAL program for your local area:

"The King said: "To transgress the laws of respectful behavior toward the

brahmanas is certainly a great offense. On the other hand, if one does not

observe the breaking of the fast within the time of Dvadasi, there is a flaw in

 

one's observance of the vow. Therefore, O brahmanas, if you think that it will

be

auspicious and not irreligious, I shall break the fast by drinking water." In

this way, after consulting with the brahmanas, the King reached this decision,

for according to brahminical opinion, drinking water may be accepted as

eating and also as not eating." Srimad Bhagavatam 9:4:39-40

........by not breaking the fast in time it creates a blemish on the fast; a

blemish so serious that Maharaja Ambarish was put into a dilemma as to how to

solve it. If it were something minor then why this whole drama which resulted

in Durvasa wanting to kill him and so on? So it would seem that the blemish

incurred was serious enough that Ambarisha asked his ministers what to do and

risked the curse of Durvasa in order to break the fast on time.

Just eating even one grain of rice is a blemish sufficient to ruin the whole

Ekadasi vrata. Similarly not breaking the fast within the appointed time is a

serious enough blemish that Ambarish risked death (brahma-sapa) in order to do

so. Hence, it would be incumbent on us all to take this into consideration

and breakfast at the appropriate time.

For any Ekadasis that have not been properly followed there is Pandava

Nirjala Ekadasi which we should all observed rigidly to make up for any errors.

 

(Shyamasundara dasa ACBSP. Wed, 4 Jun 2003. X-Com-Textno: PAMHO6883044

http://www.ShyamasundaraDasa.com )

 

 

All Ekadasiis listed (view the story behind each one)

Choose The Month (Vaishnava or Western), Paksha or Ekadasi

No.Name of EkadasisVedik - Hindu Months Fortnights

K=Krishna paksha

S=Sukla pakshaVaishnava MonthWestern Months

19Utpanna EkadasiMargashira - KKeshava MaseNov-Dec

20Mokshada Ekadasi (Vaikuntha ekadasi Sri Rangam)Margashira - SKeshava

MaseNov-Dec

21Saphala EkadasiPausha - KNaaraayana MaseDec-Jan

22Putrada EkadasiPausha - SNaaraayana MaseDec-Jan

23Trisprisha EkadasiMaagha - KMaadhava MaseJan-Feb

24Bhaimi EkadasiMaagha - SMaadhava MaseJan-Feb

25Vijaya - JayaPhaalguna - KGovinda MaseFeb-Mar

26Amalaki EkadasiPhaalguna - SGovinda MaseFeb-Mar

1Paapavimochani EkadasiChaitra - KVishnu MaseMar-Apr

2Kamaada - Damanakaaropani EkadasiChaitra - SVishnu MaseMar-Apr

3Varuthini EkadasiVaisaakha - KMadhusudana MaseApr-May

4Mohini Ekadasi Vaisaakha - SMadhusudana MaseApr-May

5Aparaa EkadasiJyeshtha - KTrivikrama MaseMay-June

6Pandava Nirjal EkadasiJyeshtha - STrivikrama MaseMay-June

7Yogini EkadasiAashaadha - KVaamana MaseJune-July

8Padma - Devasayani EkadasiAashaadha - SVaamana MaseJune-July

9Kaamaika EkadasiShravana - KSridhar MaseJuly-Aug

10Putrada - Pavitraropani EkadasiShravana - SSridhar MaseJuly-Aug

11Ajaa - Annadaa EkadasiBhaadrapada - KHrisikesha MaseAug-Sept

12 Parivartini - Parshva EkadasiBhaadrapada - SHrisikesha MaseAug-Sept

13Indiraa EkadasiAaswina - KPadmanabha MaseSept-Oct

14Paashaankusha EkadasiAaswina - SPadmanabha MaseSept-Oct

15Ramaa EkadasiKaarttika - KDamodara MaseOct-Nov

16Haribodhini (Probodhini) Devotthaani (Uttana) EkadasiKaarttika - SDamodara

MaseOct-Nov

17Padmini - Vishuddha EkadasiAdikamaseAdikamase

18Paramaa - Shuddha EkadasiAdikamaseAdikamase