Krsna Kirtana Songs
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Ekadasi Page
Ekādasi is a day found in the Vedic calendar eleven (eka
= 1; dasam = 10) days after the full moon (purnima) and the new moon (amavasya).
As each month contains both a full and a new moon, each Vedic month will
contain two Ekadasis. With twelve months, in a year,
there are twenty-four Ekadasi observance dates.
The
spiritual significance is that one would fast from eating and focus attention
on spiritual activities to improve the relationship with Krsna.
From the historical or the religious standpoint, this day is known as the “Day
of Hari.” After Ekadasi day
is completed, one would break the fast on the next day known as Dvadasi*** (12th day after new or full moon). It
is important to know that the fast must be broken with within a specific time
range. Additionally, it must be broken with the foods that one fasted from.
Usually, one breaks the fast with grains or beans, as all Ekadasi
days require one to fast from this at least).
ADVENT
OF EKADASI
The
advent of Ekadasi takes place when Lord Visnu created a personality that punished sinful people
named Papa-purusa (embodiment of sin). Papa-purusa had a ghastly and ugly form where his various body
parts composed of sinful activities. With such a personality formed, Lord Visnu felt that Papa-purusa must
be controlled. He visited Yamaraja, the demigod of
the afterlife. Upon visiting Yamaraja, He heard
crying and noises of pain and suffering from the Earth. Everyone on Earth went
to the hellish planets due to their bad karma. Upon seeing this sight, Lord Visnu felt pity for the suffering souls.
Lord
Visnu, then, expanded Himself into personifying the
eleventh day of the lunar calendar, Sri Ekadasi. When
the inhabitants of Earth followed Sri Ekadasi’s
observance, their pious nature allowed them to aboard Vaikuntha,
the holy abode of Lord Visnu. This threatened the
existence of Papa-purusa. Therefore, Papa-purusa prayed to Lord Visnu
reminding Him that if Ekadasi’s pious effects win the
earth, then there would be no need to exert pastimes. Therefore, Lord Visnu ordered Papa-purusa to
reside in grains on the day of Ekadasi, where Ekadasi cannot touch him.
EKADASI
DIET
Due
to the presence of Papa-purusa in the grains, Ekadasi forbids one to eat grains or beans. Although there
are very strict guidelines for forbidden foods, acceptable items are milk,
fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Spices, except for asafetida (hing),
are acceptable. Some may chose to do a complete fast from everything, including
water. Those are said to perform a nirjala ekādasi (nir = without; jala = water). This is optional, although there is one Ekadasi* in the summer which requires one to fast from
everything, including water, if one has broken an Ekadasi
throughout the year.
Certain
fasting days like Krsnastami or Gaura
Purnima will require the fast to be broken with Ekadasi prasadam. It is prasada that adheres to the guidelines for the Ekadasi diet.
While
grains cannot be eaten, they be offered to Radha or Krsna or anything of
Their forms, except Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. In addition, grains may not
be offered to the spiritual master. As the spiritual master is a devotee, and
Lord Caitanya and associates are assuming roles of
devotees, they would adhere to the same rules. After completing the grain
offering to the acceptable Deities, one can store the preparation for the next
day.
Lastly,
whether it is Ekadasi or not, one must abstain from
eating meat, fish, and eggs.
EKADASI
CALENDAR (2010): (based on Chicago,
IL)
|
Date |
Ekadasi Name |
Breakfast
Time |
Vedic
Month |
|
10 January 2010 |
Sat-tila
Ekadasi |
11 January 2010 7:17 to
10:24 |
Magha (K) |
|
26 January 2010 |
Bhaimi Ekadasi |
27 January 2010 7:07 to
10:24 |
Magha (G) |
|
9 February 2010 |
Vijaya Ekadasi |
10 February 2010 6:52 to
10:21 |
Phalguna (K) |
|
24 February 2010 |
Amalaki Vrata
Ekadasi |
25 February 2010 6:31 to
10:13 |
Phalguna (G) |
|
11 March 2010 |
Papamocani Ekadasi* |
12 March 2010 6:08 to 8:08 |
Caitra (K) |
|
26 March 2010 |
Kamada Ekadasi |
27 March 2010 5:42 to 6:09 |
Caitra (G) |
|
9 April 2010 |
Varuthini Ekadasi |
10 April 2010 6:59 to
9:41 |
Vaisakha (K) |
|
24 April 2010 |
Padmini Ekadasi**** |
25 April 2010 4:56 to 9:31 |
Adhika (G) |
|
9 May 2010 |
Parama Ekadasi**** |
10 May 2010 4:36 to 9:24 |
Adhika (K) |
|
23 May 2010 |
Mohini Ekadasi |
24 May 2010 4:23 to 9:20 |
Vaisakha (G) |
|
8 June 2010 |
Apara Ekadasi |
9 June 2010 4:16 to 9:09 |
Jyaistha (K) |
|
22 June 2010 |
Pandava Nirjala
Ekadasi** |
23 June 2010 4:16 to 4:39 |
Jyaistha (G) |
|
7 July 2010 |
Yogini Ekadasi |
8 July 2010 4:24 to 9:25 |
Asadha (K) |
|
21 July 2010 |
Sayana Ekadasi |
22 July 2010 4:35 to 9:30 |
Asadha (G) |
|
6 August 2010 |
Kamika Ekadasi |
7 August 2010 4:51 to 6:54 |
Sravana (K) |
|
19 August 2010 |
Pavitraropana Ekadasi |
20 August 2010 8:49 to
9:37 |
Sravana (G) |
|
4 September 2010 |
Annada Ekadasi |
5 September 2010 5:21 to
9:40 |
Bhadra (K) |
|
18 September 2010 |
Parsva Ekadasi |
19 September 2010 5:35
to 9:41 |
Bhadra (G) |
|
3 October 2010 |
Indira Ekadasi |
4 October 2010 5:52 to 9:43 |
Asvina (K) |
|
18 October 2010 |
Pasankusa Ekadasi |
19 October 2010 6:08 to 9:46 |
Asvina (G) |
|
2 November 2010 |
Rama Ekadasi |
3 November 2010 6:26 to 7:31 |
Kartika (K) |
|
17 November 2010 |
Utthana Ekadasi |
18 November 2010 6:44 to
8:58 |
Kartika (G) |
|
1 December 2010 |
Utpanna Ekadasi |
2 December 2010 7:00 to 10:07 |
Magasirsa (K) |
|
16 December 2010 |
Moksada Ekadasi*** |
17 December 2010 9:10 to
10:16 |
Magasirsa (G) |
|
31 December 2010 |
Saphala Ekadasi* |
1 January 2011 7:19 to 10:23 |
Pausa (K) |
* These fasting for the Ekadasi
days fall on Dvadasi days. The breaking of the fast
occurs on the Trayodasi date.
** Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi (also known as Bhima Ekadasi) requires one to
fast from everything including water, if one has broken any Ekadasi throughout the year. If one has not broken an Ekadasi through the year, one may continue to fast like a
normal Ekadasi.
*** Gita Jayanti falls on Moksada Ekadasi.
**** These two Ekadasis
are part of the Vedic leap year, known as Adhika
masa.
UPDATED: December 21, 2009