Hare krishna to all devotees,Dandvat pranam ,All glories to srila prabhupada .Can somebody help me out with the scripture reference where ekadasi observation is mentioned ?Also want to know the scripture which mentioned special kind of food intake during this observation.Krishna's servant ,Vimal
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Sudipta Roy > Vimal sevakJanuary 4, 2014 at 12:36pm
Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Pamho. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Below are some reference from scriptures on Ekadashi fasting and as you correctly said a devotee should have academic integrity means He or she should always quote from Shastra and Guru also said nothing beyond shastra.
kasmad ekadasi srestha tasyah ko va vidhih smrtah kadaci kriyate kim va phalam tasya vadasva me ka va pujyatamat atra devata sad gunarnava akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum iharhasi
"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 mercy upon me and tell about these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so." (Padma Purana 7.22.4-5)
etac canyac ca viprendra 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.' (Padma Purana 7.22.27)
Caitanya-caritamrita 1.15.8-9: eka dina matara pade kariya pranama prabhu kahe, - mata, more deha eka dana mata bale, - tai diba, ya tumi magibe prabhu kahe, - ekadasite anna na khaibe "One day, Prabhu offered obeisances at His mother's feet and said: "Mother, please give me one thing." Mother said, "I shall give whatever you wish." Prabhu said, "On Ekadasi, do not eat any grains.
"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." (Sri Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami, CC Madhya-lila 24.342)
Purpose of fasting on Ekadasi
Hari-bhakti-vilasa mentions four reasons for the observance of the Ekadasi-vrata (12.4): tac ca krsna-prinanatvad vidhi-praptatvatas tatha bhojanasya nisadhac cakarane pratyavayatah "It should be followed because it pleases Krsna, because doing it is observing the rules, because eating is forbidden at that time, and because its neglect would be a cause of sin." ekadasyam samayantyam prapunantyam jagattrayam sthatavyam annam asritya bhavata papa purusa sansare yani papani tany eva ekadasi dine annam asritya tisthanti sriman narayana ajnaya (Padma Purana, Kriya Yogasara 22.46,50) When Ekadasi arrives, at that time, all of the sins from the three worlds reside in grains in the form of a papapurusa. Whatever sins are available in this world, they all together reside in grains on Ekadasi day by the order of Lord Sri Narayana.
By eating on Ekadasi one eats sin alone (HBV 12.23) and verily he eats the flesh of a cow (HBV 12.25). By indulging the tongue, a terrible result is attained (HBV 12.21 from Skanda Purana): matrha pitrha caiva bhratrha guruha tatha ekadasyam tu yo bhunkte visnu-loka-cyuto bhavet He is a killer of his mother and father, and indeed he is a killer of his brother and his guru. He, who eats on Ekadasi is barred from the abode of Visnu.
Gautamiya-tantra cited in Bhakti-sandarbha, Raga-vartma-candrika and HBV 12.32: vaisnavo yadi bhunjita ekadasyam pramadatah visnv arcanam vrtha tasya narakam ghoram apnuyat If a Vaisnava becomes so insane as to eat on Ekadasi, his worship of Visnu becomes worthless and he attains a terrible hell.
The 9th anga of sadhana is harivasara-sammana, "respecting the days of Hari". In illustration, Rupa Goswami quotes in BRS 1.2.109: hari-vasara-sammano yatha brahma-vaivarte - sarva-papa-prasamanam punyam atyantikam tatha govinda-smaranam nrnam ekadasy amuposanam Respecting the holy days of Hari, from Brahma-vaivarta Purana: "Ekadasi destroys all a person's sin, bestows limitless piety, and causes them to remember Govinda."
Thus, there are three aspects mentioned here to following Ekadasi (1) removal of bad karma, (2) gain of good karma, and (3) remembrance of Govinda.
ekadasi vrata samam vratam nasti jagattraye anicchaya'pi yat krtva gatir evam vidha 'vayoh ekadasi vratam ye tu bhakti bhavena kurvate na jane kim bhavet tesam vasudeva anukampaya (Padma Purana, Kriya Yogasara 23.172-174) In the three worlds, there is no kind of fasting which is even comparable to the Ekadasi fast. Even if one performs this fast without a proper attitude, he achieves the Supreme Abode. Anyone who fasts on Ekadasi day, with full devotion, what happens to him by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, I can not say (how much merit gets cannot be described).
astavarsadhiko martyo apurnasitivatsarah ekadasyam upavaset paksayor ubhayor api From the age of eight to the age of eighty, a person should fast on all of the Ekadasis on both the light and the dark parts of the month. (HBV 12.75, from Katyayana smrti)
eka bhuktena naktena bala vrddhaturah ksipet payomula phalair vapi na nirdvadasiko bhavet A child, an old man or a person unable to fast can take something to eat in the evening or once in the day, whether it be milk, fruit or water, but should properly follow the Ekadasi fast. One should not give up fasting on Ekadasi. (HBV 12.91, from Markandeya Purana)
vyadhibhih paribhutanam pittadhika saririnam trimsad varsadhikanam ca naktadi parikalpanam Any person who is diseased, or who is dominated by bile (pitta) or who has aged more than thirty years (after householder life, i.e. 80 years of age), they are advised to eat in the evening on the Ekadasi day. (HBV 12.93, from Baudhayana smrti)
They are more important than the words of even Srila Rupa Goswami.
If for the sake of preaching one eats grains on Ekadashi then that is better than eating anything and not preaching out of weakness.
In other yugas people had very strong bodies. They could keep the air - prana within the bones. But in this age only source of daily prana we get from food. So bodies in Kali yuga are very weak.
One should know his own condition, health situation and fast accordingly.
If Vata dosa is prevalent in the body then one should eat fruits, milk but not to fast nirjal.
Replies
my humble obeisances Prabhu,
we follow Ekadashi Vrata by fasting from grains on every Ekadashi days.
We do eat grainy foods on Dvadashi and prior day to Ekadashi.
Your servant,
Also here are few quotes
Vishnu puran
Sarvavratanam Dwadashi Vrata Utamam
Ekadashi is King of all the Vratas
Vrah-Nardiya puran
Ekadashi vrata nama Sarvakamaphal pradam
Ekadashi fulfils all the desires
Tattva Sagar
Ekadashi manah kritva Sarva dukhad Vimuchayate
Ekadashi relives us from all the pains and sufferings
Brahma-Vaivart Purana
Dhateyeva samastani Kalushani Harer dinam
Ekadashi destroys all the sins committed by a person
Vrah-Nardiya puran
Mokashadam kurvataam bhaktaya
Ekadashi easily gives liberation (going back of God after this life)
Skandh Puran
Muktam maya shatanand tesham tripurusham kulam
One who fasts on Ekadashi, three generations of that person gets liberated (Mukti)
Skandh Puran
Na Ashvameda Saharasch tirth kotya avgahanah
The fruit of Ekadashi fasting is far more than fruit of 1000 Ashva megha yagays and Crores of pilgrimages to holy tirthas.
Vishnu Rahasya
Vishnu Santoshnaya cha
Ekadashi fasting pleases Krishna(Vishnu) very much
Skandh Puran
Na bhaven manasi pida rogashva Atayanta Dukhdah.Mahatamya pathatah pumso Dwadashi sambhavam kalau
One is saved from mental and bodily diseases, just by listening to the glories of Ekadashi
Katyani Smriti
Ashta Varshadhiko Martyo Apurna Shitivatsara. Ekadashyam Upvaset Pakshayor Ubhyorapi
From the age of 8 to 80, one should fast on Ekadashi.
ys,
Even spiritual master is preaching on the base of our scripture .
Can, anyone refer me some scriptures mentioning the ekadashi 's observation along with diet .
Regards ,
Vimal
Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Pamho. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Below are some reference from scriptures on Ekadashi fasting and as you correctly said a devotee should have academic integrity means He or she should always quote from Shastra and Guru also said nothing beyond shastra.
kasmad ekadasi srestha tasyah ko va vidhih smrtah
kadaci kriyate kim va phalam tasya vadasva me
ka va pujyatamat atra devata sad gunarnava
akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum iharhasi
"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 mercy upon me and tell about these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so." (Padma Purana 7.22.4-5)
etac canyac ca viprendra
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.' (Padma Purana 7.22.27)
Caitanya-caritamrita 1.15.8-9:
eka dina matara pade kariya pranama
prabhu kahe, - mata, more deha eka dana
mata bale, - tai diba, ya tumi magibe
prabhu kahe, - ekadasite anna na khaibe
"One day, Prabhu offered obeisances at His mother's feet and said: "Mother, please give me one thing." Mother said, "I shall give whatever you wish." Prabhu said, "On Ekadasi, do not eat any grains.
"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." (Sri Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami, CC Madhya-lila 24.342)
Purpose of fasting on Ekadasi
Hari-bhakti-vilasa mentions four reasons for the observance of the Ekadasi-vrata (12.4):
tac ca krsna-prinanatvad vidhi-praptatvatas tatha
bhojanasya nisadhac cakarane pratyavayatah
"It should be followed because it pleases Krsna, because doing it is observing the rules, because eating is forbidden at that time, and because its neglect would be a cause of sin."
ekadasyam samayantyam prapunantyam jagattrayam
sthatavyam annam asritya bhavata papa purusa
sansare yani papani tany eva ekadasi dine
annam asritya tisthanti sriman narayana ajnaya
(Padma Purana, Kriya Yogasara 22.46,50)
When Ekadasi arrives, at that time, all of the sins from the three worlds reside in grains in the form of a papapurusa.
Whatever sins are available in this world, they all together reside in grains on Ekadasi day by the order of Lord Sri Narayana.
By eating on Ekadasi one eats sin alone (HBV 12.23) and verily he eats the flesh of a cow (HBV 12.25). By indulging the tongue, a terrible result is attained (HBV 12.21 from Skanda Purana):
matrha pitrha caiva bhratrha guruha tatha
ekadasyam tu yo bhunkte visnu-loka-cyuto bhavet
He is a killer of his mother and father, and indeed he is a killer of his brother and his guru. He, who eats on Ekadasi is barred from the abode of Visnu.
Gautamiya-tantra cited in Bhakti-sandarbha, Raga-vartma-candrika and HBV 12.32:
vaisnavo yadi bhunjita ekadasyam pramadatah
visnv arcanam vrtha tasya narakam ghoram apnuyat
If a Vaisnava becomes so insane as to eat on Ekadasi, his worship of Visnu becomes worthless and he attains a terrible hell.
The 9th anga of sadhana is harivasara-sammana, "respecting the days of Hari". In illustration, Rupa Goswami quotes in BRS 1.2.109:
hari-vasara-sammano yatha brahma-vaivarte -
sarva-papa-prasamanam punyam atyantikam tatha
govinda-smaranam nrnam ekadasy amuposanam
Respecting the holy days of Hari, from Brahma-vaivarta Purana: "Ekadasi destroys all a person's sin, bestows limitless piety, and causes them to remember Govinda."
Thus, there are three aspects mentioned here to following Ekadasi (1) removal of bad karma, (2) gain of good karma, and (3) remembrance of Govinda.
ekadasi vrata samam vratam nasti jagattraye
anicchaya'pi yat krtva gatir evam vidha 'vayoh
ekadasi vratam ye tu bhakti bhavena kurvate
na jane kim bhavet tesam vasudeva anukampaya
(Padma Purana, Kriya Yogasara 23.172-174)
In the three worlds, there is no kind of fasting which is even comparable to the Ekadasi fast. Even if one performs this fast without a proper attitude, he achieves the Supreme Abode. Anyone who fasts on Ekadasi day, with full devotion, what happens to him by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, I can not say (how much merit gets cannot be described).
astavarsadhiko martyo apurnasitivatsarah
ekadasyam upavaset paksayor ubhayor api
From the age of eight to the age of eighty, a person should fast on all of the Ekadasis on both the light and the dark parts of the month. (HBV 12.75, from Katyayana smrti)
eka bhuktena naktena bala vrddhaturah ksipet
payomula phalair vapi na nirdvadasiko bhavet
A child, an old man or a person unable to fast can take something to eat in the evening or once in the day, whether it be milk, fruit or water, but should properly follow the Ekadasi fast. One should not give up fasting on Ekadasi. (HBV 12.91, from Markandeya Purana)
vyadhibhih paribhutanam pittadhika saririnam
trimsad varsadhikanam ca naktadi parikalpanam
Any person who is diseased, or who is dominated by bile (pitta) or who has aged more than thirty years (after householder life, i.e. 80 years of age), they are advised to eat in the evening on the Ekadasi day. (HBV 12.93, from Baudhayana smrti)
ys,
Prabhu, we follow what our Param Guru says.
They are more important than the words of even Srila Rupa Goswami.
If for the sake of preaching one eats grains on Ekadashi then that is better than eating anything and not preaching out of weakness.
In other yugas people had very strong bodies. They could keep the air - prana within the bones. But in this age only source of daily prana we get from food. So bodies in Kali yuga are very weak.
One should know his own condition, health situation and fast accordingly.
If Vata dosa is prevalent in the body then one should eat fruits, milk but not to fast nirjal.
Pitta dosa people can fast on juices, milk...
Kapha dosa people can fast nirjal.
So one should use his intelligence.
Your servant in serving Srila Prabhupada!
Dear Prabhu, please read more here http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/page/ekadashi-1 about Ekadashi.
Within the texts You kind find titles of scripture from where the particular verse was taken.
Your servant,