Hare Krishna to all Prabhu ji's and Mata ji's.
1) I have a doubt regarding Ekadashi Stories, how far it is true, is is true or false stories, are we supposed to read ekadashi stories also ?
2) I was reading the story of Parama Ekadashi which is falling on 10th of this month. The story says if u fast on this ekadashi then all your previous life sins would be erased, I am fasting on ekadashi's from the last three years but still am facing hardships in my life coz of my Previous life bad karma. Y it is not removed then?
3) Procedure to fallow ekadashi fast mentioned in Ekadashi story is different, like staying awake all night, next day feeding the well qualified bhramans, next day donating pot filled with ghee, sesame seeds etc, which I never do, am I following it incorrectly ? I just eat fruits and milk on fasting day, bathe lord, worship twice, and at night goes to sleep, and next day after worshiping lord I break my fast, thats it.. is it incomplete ?
4) While i was reading the story of Param Ekadshi, it is mentioned that on Dvadasi, the day after Ekadasi, you should vow to observe Pancharatriki fasting according to all the rules and regulations, that means five more days fast after ekadashi fast. Are you guys also following the Pancharatriki fasting also?
Thanks
Regards
Amit Mehra
Replies
Hare Krsna
The benefits of following the ekadashi are all true.
The reason why we may not get all the benefits is that we may not follow all the rules and regulations of the ekadashi.
If u read the story for Pandava Nirjala ekadashi, there Vyasa dev says clearly that all the rules and regulations cannot be followed in Kali yuga. Like for example for Param ekadashi if I remember correctly we are supposed to bathe in cow dung at a river, stay awake all night, follow fasting during day time for next 5 days, do charity to brahmanas etc. All these are practically not possible in Kali yuga for majority of the people.
So What is expected that we perform ekadshi vrata to the extent possible. The minimum being fasting from grains.
There are levels of fasting like 1. Nirjala or 2. Only water 3. Only fluids 4. Only uncooked(fruits ) 5. Simple cooked(boiled, no oil/ghee) 6. Cooked but no grains. Individual devotee need to see their practicality and follow accordingly.
More important is to devote time to engage in devotional service(chanting, reading, hearing srimad bhagavatam, deity worship etc) as much as possible.
Devotees are not after the benefits of ekadashi like removal of sinful reactions, getting wealth, knowledge, fame etc. Devotees are interested in rendering loving devotional service to Krsna.
Hare Krsna
The material nature is such that sin is inevitable. While walking we kill ants. even if you get rid of all sins on ekadasi, next day you will again inevitably sin. Only way is to perform our actions only for Krishna's pleasure. And remember Lord constantly. That will save you.
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
I appreciate your sincerity in following ekadasi vrata. Yes, these stories are true stories. We are so used to the western concept of our scriptures being "mythology" that we doubt what is our history. Suppose these were not actual facts that happened in some kalpa, but were fiction. Then how is it that one part of scriptures is fiction and the other part is fact? How to determine which part is fiction and which part is fact? Therefore, we accept it as fact, because we believe Krsna is God and there are so many evidences of Ramanyan, Mahabharat, Dwarka, Ram Setu in the world even today.
Now coming to the part about why our sins are not reducing even when we are observing the fasts for 2-3 years. Prabhu, do we know how many sins are there? Maybe they are reducing, we are not able to appreciate because we do not know how many truckloads of sins we have accumulated. REgarding suffering now also, this world is dukhalayam ashashwatam - temporary and full of miseries. Everybody who comes here suffers only. The way its not possible to get into water and not get wet, that same way it is not possible to be in this world and not suffer.
Regarding staying up nights and giving in charity pots of ghee and other stuff - staying up nights is mostly done on important ekadasis like pandava nirjal ekadasi, vaikuntha ekadasi, gita jayanti etc. And charity bit, I personally dont know anyone who follows to the T. These are indicative, what is important is to remember Krsna more, pray more on this day. Idea is always to enhance our Krsna Consciousness, not to get rid of sins.
I hope I have been able to explain. Please ask if there are further doubts.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD