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2001 www.kksongs.org
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 (offered
food to the Lord) 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 (2012): (based on
Chicago, IL)
|
Date |
Ekadasi
Name |
Breakfast Time |
Vedic Month |
|
4 January 2012 |
Putrada Ekadasi |
5 January 2012 7:18 – 10:23 |
Pausa (G) |
|
19 January 2012 |
Sat-tila Ekadasi1 |
20 January 2012 7:13 – 10:25 |
Magha (K) |
|
3 February 2012 |
Bhaimi Ekadasi2 |
4 February 2012 7:00 – 10:23 |
Magha (G) |
|
17 February 2012 |
Vijaya Ekadasi |
18 February 2012 6:42 – 10:17 |
Phalguna (K) |
|
4 March 2012 |
Amalaki Vrata
Ekadasi |
5 March 2012 6:18 – 10:07 |
Phalguna (G) |
|
18 March 20123 |
Papamocani Ekadasi3 |
19 March 2012 6:54 – 10:57 |
Caitra (K) |
|
2 April 2012 |
Kamada Ekadasi |
3 April 2012 7:23 – 10:45 |
Caitra (G) |
|
16 April 2012 |
Varuthini Ekadasi |
17 April 2012 6:06 – 10:35 |
Vaisakha (K) |
|
2 May 2012 |
Mohini Ekadasi |
3 May 2012 5:43 – 9:25 |
Vaisakha (G) |
|
16 May 2012 |
Apara Ekadasi |
17 May 2012 5:28 – 10:20 |
Jyaistha (K) |
|
31 May 2012 |
Pandava Nirjala
Ekadasi4 |
1 June 2012 5:17 – 10:18 |
Jyaistha (G) |
|
14 June 2012 |
Yogini Ekadasi |
15 June 2012 7:17 – 10:19 |
Asadha (K) |
|
30 June 20125 |
Sayana Ekadasi5 |
1 July 2012 5:19 – 10:22 |
Asadha (G) |
|
14 July 2012 |
Kamika Ekadasi |
15 July 2012 5:29 – 10:27 |
Sravana (K) |
|
29 July 2012 |
Pavitraropana Ekadasi |
30 July 2012 5:42 – 10:32 |
Sravana (G) |
|
13 August 2012 |
Annada Ekadasi |
14 August 2012 5:58 – 10:35 |
Bhadra (K) |
|
27 August 2012 |
Padmini Ekadasi |
28 August 2012 6:12 – 10:38 |
Purusottama (G) |
|
11 September 2012 |
Parama Ekadasi |
12 September 2012 7:34 – 10:40 |
Purusottama (K) |
|
25 September 2012 |
Parsva Ekadasi6 |
26 September 2012 6:42 – 10:41 |
Bhadra (G) |
|
11 October 2012 |
Indira Ekadasi |
12 October 2012 7:00 – 10:44 |
Asvina (K) |
|
25 October 2012 |
Pasankusa Ekadasi |
26 October 2012 7:16 – 9:55 |
Asvina (G) |
|
9 November 2012 |
Rama Ekadasi |
10 November 2012 6:35 – 9:54 |
Kartika (K) |
|
24 November 2012 |
Utthana Ekadasi7 |
25 November 2012 6:52 – 10:02 |
Kartika (G) |
|
9 December 2012 |
Utpanna Ekadasi |
10 December 2012 7:07 – 10:11 |
Magasirsa (K) |
|
23 December 2012 |
Moksada Ekadasi8 |
24 December 2012 7:16 – 10:19 |
Magasirsa (G) |
|
7 January 2013 |
Saphala Ekadasi |
8 January 2013 8:07 – 10:24 |
Pausa (K) |
1 Since dvadasi and ekadasi
fall on the same date, trayodasi (20 January) is the
day to brea the fast.
2 Varaha dvadasi falls
on 4 February, but fasting for Varaha dvadasi is done on ekadasi (3
February)
3 Ekadasi falls on 17 March, however, it is not
suitable to fast on that day. Therefore, fasting for ekadasi
falls on dvadasi (18 March), and the breaking of that
fast occurs on trayodasi (19 March).
4 Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi requires one to fast from everything, including
water, if they have broken an ekadasi during the
entire year.
5 Ekadasi falls on 29 June, however, it is not
suitable to fast on that day. Therefore, fasting for ekadasi
falls on dvadasi (30 June), and the breaking of that
fast occurs on trayodasi (1 July).
6 The fasting for Vamana dvadasi
is done on ekadasi.
7 Ekadasi falls on 24 November, however, it is
not suitable to fast on that day. Therefore, fasting for ekadasi
falls on dvadasi (25 November), and the breaking of
that fast occurs on trayodasi (26 November).
8 Moksada ekadasi and Gita Jayanti occur on the same
day.
UPDATED: December 30, 2011