Hare Krishna to all the devotees
All glories to srila Prabhupada
I have never kept any ekadashi vrat. So can anyone please in details describe what is to be done , how , and when (like at what time of the day).
Also if possible, can also tell about the importance of this vrat along with reason.
I have heard that every ekadashi vrat is different (atleast named different), can you tell why is that so?
Replies
Hare Krishna,
https://iskcondesiretree.com/page/ekadashi-1
https://iskcondesiretree.com/page/rules-of-ekadashi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y29XcEjCiV8
https://iskcondesiretree.com/page/ekadasi-observance
go thru there a lot of information is available type in the search bar.
There are many 24 ekadashi' among them only Bhima Ekadashi is one where one can attempt Nirjala vrat.
Actually all ekadashi's should be done as Nirjala but if it is impossible we can opt for going for not eating grains
-fast from all types of grains and can have milk, milk products, nuts , fruits and buttermilk ( AVOID GRAINS) if possible try nirjala upvas (only if it is possible).
-Read the Katha concerned Ekadashi katha and do jagaran and do chanting 25 mala on this day to keep your mouth busy.
-avoid haircuts and nail cutting on this day.
-Avoid plucking tulasi leaves on this day and dwadashi day
-Pls. pluck and keep Tulasi leaves before day itself for offering to Krishna.
- Ekadashi is followed by Dwadashi ( the 11th and 12th day of the moon cycles).
- before the day of ekadashi that Dasami ( 10th day) night go light on meals.
- check the Iskcon calander for the days.
- Parana ( breaking of the fasting) should be done the next day morning there is a specific time slot in which you need to break the fast. It is usually provided by the Isckon calander. Check it.
- One should never break the fasting before the Parana time nor after the Parana time. It makes the Vrata invalid.
-This is done to Please Lord Sri Hari as it removes all types of Sins even the sins committed against a Brahmina like killing the Brahamina and illicit relationship with Guru's wife as well.
- This is to be done with the strict intention of repentence for the sins known and unknown.
- One time there was this demon called Mura he attacked Lord Vishnu and Lord Vishnu ji defended fought agianst the demon for continously many days. After a time Lord became gave a pause to take some rest in the cave. Where this demon Mura tried to kill the sleeping Lord. When he tried to do so, out from the heart of Lord the yogmaya Durga form of Lord the internal potency of Lord sprang out and attacked the demon and killed him. It occured on the 11th day so when the Lord woke up saw the dead demon and blessed the Yoga Maya who protected the Lord and said - from today you are named as Ekadashi as you were born on this day out of MY heart. And saying so Lord gave her a boon as well, the boon is those who fast on this perticular day. Lord will not consider there past sins and they get the chance to get a place in Vaikuntha. Monthly 2 ekadashi days come up. Check the dates and carefully do atleast few ..
- Initially you may face failures you may not be able to control hunger and sleep or you may miss Parana time. It takes practice.
- don't feel dejected if you lose a few Ekadashi's.
- If you can successfully do one ekadashi fully and perfectly for a life time is a great acheivement.
- keep trying.
- doing 25 rounds is must for initiated devtoees.
- You can start doing at least min. of 16 rounds on this day.
- keeping jagaran ( waking up whole night) may not be so possible if you are working the next day or you have school college etc. So, try to do atleast partially. If you can do one successful whole Ekadashi.( that is Nirjala Upavas ( no water, no food .. absolutely nothing for 24 hours+ Jagaran +25 rounds) even Lord Brahama ji will bow down to you. Which is not so easy :-)
But we can try for a start- with Avoiding all types of grains and sustaining on milk. butter milk, banana milk shake or some fruits and nuts. JUST AVOID AVOID AVOID GRAINS for the start. As one time-
Lord Brahma was creating life forms during the process of creation and first this demon came out as his creation which had uncontrollable hunger. the demon was chomping on every food available. he was eating animals, humans everytthing that Brahama was creating and spoiling the Lord Brahama's creation so Brahma ji took pity on the demon and gave him a single day for chomping off all the food available on earth that day is EKADASHI day. so the demon is allowed to eat all the grains available on this day because all human beings usually fast from gains on Ekadashi day. So, demon is residing and eating his food on that day. If you eat grains on that day that means you are invairably eating his portion and you get a sin.
Let me know if you have more doubts. Pls. check more about Ekadashi on the website. So many people have asked many many questions on this topic you will get plenty of resources to check on.
WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY.
Hare Krishna.
Check out Ambarish Maharaj's Story how he did Ekadashi vrats for the whole year and how Durvasa muni got angered and how Lord protected Ambarish Maharaja as well.
Good Luck.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna mataji
I will try doing with only water initially. Although I don't think walking up whole night would be possible since my mother already thinks I can't do this vrat and doesn't wants me to do.
But I will try the rest . Thank you