EKADASI OBSERVANCE

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EKADASI OBSERVANCE

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 Vishnu, including regular
grains and dhal, but it is enjoined that a Vaishnava should not even
take vishnu-prasadam on Ekadasi. It is said that a Vaishnava does not
accept anything eatable that is not offered to Lord Vishnu, but on
Ekadasi a Vaishnava should not touch even maha-prasadam offered to
Vishnu, 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 Vishnu.
============ REF. Adi 15.10

Ekadasi literally means “the eleventh day.” There are two Ekadasis in
a month: on the eleventh day after the new moon, and on the eleventh
day after the full moon. Of all vratas (vows of austerity), Visnu is
most pleased with those who observe the Ekadasi vrata. Therefore
anyone who does not observe the vrata and eats grains on Ekadasi is
said to eat sin, for he disobeys the Lord's order and thus displeases
Him. Thus, although Ekadasi fasting is good for health, it should be
undertaken principally for the sake of pleasing Krsna.
To observe Ekadasi vrata and Dvadasi vrata means to please the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Those interested in advancing in Krsna
consciousness must observe Ekadasi regularly. SB 9.4.29

Hari Bhakti Vilasa quotes from many scriptures to establish the
necessity of observing the Ekadasi vrata, to glorify the vrata, to
establish the proper day on which to observe the vrata, and to give
the proper mode of observance.

Observing the Ekadasi vrata (vow of austerity) is one of the principal
duties of Vaisnavas. To fail to do so is a serious offence.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung, madhava-tithi bhakti-janani jatane
palana kari (Suddha-bhakata, from Saranagati): “I observe with great
care the holy days like Ekadasi and Janmashtami, for they are the
mother of devotion.”

All people, male and female, of all castes and ages, from eight to
eighty, should observe the Ekadasi vrata in all circumstances. This
applies to the Ekadasis of both the waxing (gaura or sukla) and waning
(krsna paksa) phases of the moon.

Fasting

All devotees must avoid the following foods on Ekadasi: grains (wheat,
rice, etc.), dahl, peas, bean type vegetables, mustard seeds, sesame
seeds (except on Shat-tila Ekadasi, when sesame [tila] seeds may be
offered and eaten), derivatives of these foods (wheat flour, mustard
oil, soya bean oil etc.), and food items containing these products.
For instance, care should be taken in using powdered spices, which, if
mixed with flour, should not be used on Ekadasi. Particularly,
commercially prepared powdered asafatoeda (hing) is always mixed with
flour and is not to be used on Ekadasi. If even a slight piece of
grain is ingested, even accidentally, the Ekadasi fast is broken.
Devotees should not even think of neglecting the Ekadasi fast, unless
its observance would severely strain their health. Only in rare cases,
those who are physically unable to fast may take grains on Ekadasi,
but then only with the explicit permission of their guru. Those who,
in the course of the year, break the Ekadasi fast even once, should
observe the yearly Bhima Nirjala Ekadasi (see below).

Pancaratra Pradipa states: “One 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.” Simpler than this and even more
strict is to fast completely.
Srila Prabhupada usually observed the Ekadasi fast in the simplest
manner prescribed in scripture, by refraining from eating grains,
beans, peas and dahl. Sometimes he observed a half-day fast. Some
devotees eat only fruit on Ekadasi, some take only water, and some
fully fast, even from water (this latter is called nirjala vrata). Non-
grain high carbohydrate foods are often prepared on Ekadasi. Sago
(tapioca) is a common example. But sago is sometimes mixed with rice
flour, and apparently sometimes even with crushed insects. So unless
one is sure about the source, sago should be avoided. In India,
preparations resembling capatis and rice are made on Ekadasi from non-
grain ingredients.
Srila Prabhupada was pleased if his disciples strictly observed
ekadasi, but he did not emphasize it.

(Tamal Krsna Goswami): I told Srila Prabhupada we were strictly
observing Ekadasi, no eating or drinking. He said, “Very good.” (TKG’S
Diary, page 70)

Actually on the Ekadasi days we should not take any food, or even
drink water. But in our society we are not doing so strictly. We say,
"On Ekadasi, you don't take food grains. Take a little fruit, milk."
750303SB.DAL

Ekadasi day. There is no eating sumptuously. Simply you take a little
fruit and flower. Try to avoid that also. You don't take even water.
That is really Ekadasi. But because we cannot do it--in the Kali-yuga
the time is different--therefore we are allowed to take a little fruit
and milk, which is called anukalpa. 710407LE.BOM

For those who are accustomed to full fasting from a young age and have
the physical strength for it, refraining from food and water on
Ekadasi is an excellent practice. Not only food, but also sleep is
supposed to be given up or minimized on Ekadasi. Those who are so
practised may also stay awake all night on Ekadasi, chanting the
glories of the Lord. Yet, due to so many discrepancies of modern life,
the physical strength of the average person is much less than when
this type of fasting was commonly practiced. Therefore many devotees
who try to follow this vow become physically devastated. Even if they
force themselves to stay awake throughout the night, they cannot
properly chant because of hunger, weakness and tiredness. In such
cases, is better to follow the process of devotional service according
to one’s physical ability, rather than attempt something one cannot
properly do.

Fasting means if you don't feel weak, then you fast--not that you
imitate Ragunatha dasa Gosvami. That is not possible in the beginning.
But it is possible if you practice. 750706SB.CHI
It is not unusual to feel a little weak when fasting, although with
practice one can fast without being disturbed by weakness. However, if
a devotee feels too weak to properly perform his standard services, it
is better that he take a little non-grain prasada on Ekadasi and
continue with his regular activities.
If there is service and on my fasting, service will be stopped, then I
can take. First consideration: service. Now if somebody feels weak, he
can take maha-prasada, render service. Morning Walk Los Angeles, June
7, 1976 760607MW.LA

Full fasting on Ekadasi is good for health and good practice in
restraining the senses, yet the main purpose of observing Ekadasi-
vrata is to increase remembrance of Krsna. One who thinks of food
instead of Krsna gets little benefit from fasting. It is therefore
better, both for health considerations and to help the mind from being
diverted, to break fast with a simple rather than elaborate meal.
One of the limbs of a vrata is to diminish the devotee's propensity
for enjoyment. If one thinks, "Today somehow or other I will renounce,
but tomorrow I will enjoy profusely," then the purpose of the vow will
not be successful.
If a devotee who is fasting sleeps more due to weakness (real or
imagined), cannot rise the next morning, or makes elaborate
arrangements to enjoy breaking the fast the next morning, he will
derive little benefit. When Tamal Krsna Gosvami asked Srila Prabhupada
if devotees could fast fully on Ekadasi, Prabhupada replied “Yes, but
don’t lie down and sleep.” 760607mw.la Artificial observance is merely
a superficial austerity. Indeed, the disturbance to a devotee’s
regular routine and service may even be a hindrance to his spiritual
advancement.
Nor should devotees do strict fasting to impress others, or think
themselves superior for doing so, or put pressure on others to also do
so. Full Ekadasi fasting is optional, and should not be forced onto
anyone.
Timing of the Fast

Observance of Ekadasi vrata is calculated to begin at sunrise. The
period before sunrise is considered to be part of the previous day. So
the Ekadasi vrata starts at sunrise and lasts until the next sunrise.

We observe Ekadasi from sunrise to sunrise. Twelve midnight is the
western astronomical calculation, but the Vedic astronomical
calculation begins either from the sunrise or the moonrise. Generally
it is sunrise. Our calculation is like this: when the sunrise is
there, Ekadasi tithi (date) must be there...If the tithi begins a few
minutes after the sunrise, then we accept that day as prior to
Ekadasi. Letter to: Madhudvisa, 30 September, 1969

If one eats grains during the period from sunrise to sunrise, one
breaks the vrata. He will not get the results of the fasting, and he
will get impious reactions as well.
In Vedic culture the day begins at sunrise no matter when the lunar
tithi begins (The Vedic system differs from the Gregorian calendar
inasmuch as the days are named are deemed to begin at sunrise, rather
than midnight). Therefore, technically speaking, since ekadasi or any
other day does not begin until sunrise, one could eat grains before
sunrise. However, one should generally not eat in the pre-dawn hours,
and especially not on ekadasi. Hence, ekadasi fasting and other
observances should be followed from the time of waking up on the
ekadasi vrata day. Some Vaishnavas are particular not to eat anything
after sunset the night before, to make sure there is no undigested
food left in the stomach on ekadasi day.

Breaking the Fast

Ekadasi fasting ends with parana, i.e., breaking the fast the next day
(Dvadasi) by taking grain prasada. Parana must be performed within a
specific time, calculated separately for each Dvadasi. For the dates
of Ekadasis and the times for breaking fast, one can consult the
Vaisnava calendar (available from ISKCON centers). The specific
calendar used by ISKCON should be used, as the prescribed dates for
Ekadasi and important festivals may vary according to the system of
calculation used by the panditas in each sampradaya.
If devotees accidentally break the fast on Ekadasi, they should
observe fasting on the following day. Hari Sauri Prabhu recalls an
occasion when:

The devotees inadvertently broke the Ekadasi vow because the cook
accidentally put peas in the vegetable preparations. Srila Prabhupada
told us we were all nonsense. He angrily rebuked us, "Now you have to
fast for three days!" This shocked everyone. "Yes, that is the
procedure," he confirmed. Seeing the stunned look on our faces he
relented, but said that we should observe Ekadasi for the rest of the
day and then again tomorrow on Dvadasi. Trans. Diary, 1.258

Similarly, if the morning fast to be observed on an appearance or
disappearance day of an acarya or avatara is inadvertently broken, it
should be followed the next day. (c.f. TD4 p.42)

Bhima Ekadasi
It is said that the Pandava Bhima could not observe fasting on ekadasi
and so Krsna told him to fully fast, even from water, only once a
year. This comes annually in the month of Trivikrama, at the hottest
time of the year in India, which makes it a great austerity to
observe. This day is also known as Pandava nirjala ekadasi or simply
nirjala ekadasi.
Srila Prabhupada did not emphasize strict following of nirjala ekadasi
without taking water.
Hari Sauri Prabhu recounts that “When I was with Srila Prabhupada in
1976 nirjala ekadasi was observed while we were in America. Prabhupada
never mentioned that we should strictly observe it by fasting from
water.”
Remembering Krsna

For many devotees, Ekadasi simply means a change of diet. Many hardly
even notice Ekadasi coming and going. But Ekadasi observance means
more than refraining from eating grains. The traditional system of
following the Ekadasi vrata is to fast and stay awake all night
chanting the Lord's glories. It is a three day austerity that entails
taking only one simple meal before nightfall on Dasami (the day before
Ekadasi), and a similar simple meal on Dvadasi (the day after
Ekadasi). Although this strict observance may not be practicable for
most devotees, everyone should try to take advantage of the auspicious
time of Ekadasi to advance in Krsna consciousness.

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 Krishna.
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. NOD Ch. 7

Srila Prabhupada recommended that devotees with sufficient time chant
twenty five or more rounds of japa on Ekadasi.

Why just twenty-five rounds? You should chant as many as possible.
Real Ekadasi means fasting and chanting and no other business. When
one observes fasting, the chanting becomes easier. So on Ekadasi other
business can be suspended as far as possible, unless there is some
urgent business. Letter to: Jadurani, 9 July, 1971

However, although Srila Prabhupada told a few devotees to chant twenty-
five rounds on Ekadsi, he did not make it compulsory for all.He
particularly exempted devotees busy in preaching from the necessity to
chant extra rounds.

Tamala Krishna: We should always chant twenty-five rounds on ekadasi
if initiated.

Prabhupada: Initiated? Everyone. Why initiated?

Tamala Krishna: So that should be standard for our movement on ekadasi
day?

Prabhupada: Standard is sixteen, but if one can chant more, then he is
welcome.

Tamala Krishna: It’s not mandatory for ekadasi.

Jayapataka: Recommended.

Prabhupada: No. Ekadasi means that, fasting and chanting.

Tamala Krishna: Sometimes I’m wondering, because our men have to go
out on book distribution.

Prabhupada: No, no. That is also preaching work. For that purpose you
can stop this, but generally, one who has no preaching work, he can
chant extra. 760211mw.may

And even preachers sometimes need to wind down and get recharged with
an extra dose of hearing and chanting, for which enhanced Ekadasi
performance provides the ideal opportunity.
Distribution of Grain Prasada on Ekadasi
Whether or not grain prasada should be given to non-devotees on
Ekadasi is likely to be eternally debated. Some argue that karmis will
eat grains anyway, and at least they can be benefited if they take
prasada. But when Srila Prabhupada was asked by Mahamsa Swami if grain
prasada could be distributed to the public on Ekadasi, he retorted,
"Do you want them to go to hell?" However, other devotees have
reported Srila Prabhupada having told devotees to distribute grain
prasada to the public on Ekadasi. As in any case of doubt, there is no
harm to take the more cautious approach. In this matter, that would
entail serving only grainless prasadam on Ekadasis to both devotees
and nondevotees. There is no difficulty in doing so, as there are
thousands of delicious preparations that can be made without grains.
It could even become a topic of preaching in our restaraunts, where
recipients of Krishna's prasada who are curious enough to inquire can
be told about the reasons for observing ekadasi restrictions.
Pancaratra Pradipa (4.5: Notes on Ekadasi) states:
On Ekadasi, strict followers of Vaishnava regulations avoid eating any
mahaprasada from an offering that includes grains. Sastra 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.

Other Points
Shaving, cutting of nails, and rubbing oil on the body are also
forbidden on Ekadasi.
Because ekadasi is a day for austerity, appearance days of the Lord’s
incarnations or great devotees that fall on ekadasi are celebrated
with festivals and feasting on dvadasi, the day after Ekadasi.
Srila Prabhupada laughed when he heard a devotee reciting sarira
avidya-jala on ekadasi, because this refers to taking anna (grains).

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