Ekadashi Why
Ekadashi Why
Ekadashi Why
This Shloka is
taken from the
Shikshapatri
that was given
to Sir Malcolm
in 1830 by
Lord Shree
Swaminarayan
Shikshapatri Shloka 79
My devotees shall observe fast on
Ekadashi. They shall also fast
devoutly on Janmashtami and
Shivratri, and shall celebrate these
with songs in honour of Lord Shree
Krishna being played on musical
instruments in a spirit of great glory.
Shikshapatri Shloka 79
Shikshapatri Shloka 80
On these days of fasting one must
avoid sleeping during the day as it
nullifies the fast. In similar manner
the fast is nullified by sexual
indulgence.
Shikshapatri Shloka 80
What is Ekadashi?
Ekadashi is a Sanskrit word.
Eka = 1 and dashi = 10 (1+10=11)
Ekadashi comes once every fortnight
Ekadashi is the King of all the fasts
Ekadashi is when one withdraws the
ten Indriyas and eleventh – the mind,
from their worldly ‘foods’ and focus
them on god and devotional activities.
What is Ekadashi?
Ekadashi is not just about eating right type of
food, it is about controlling your senses and mind
as well.
Ekadashi Mur-Danav
Story of Ekadashi
Seeing the charms of the young lady, the demon
Mur Danav was drawn to her and proposed to
her. With a prompt gesture, the young lady said,
`I have taken a vow that whosoever shall defeat
me in straight fight shall marry me.' The demon
– Mur Danav, therefore, accepted the challenge
and entered into a fight with her. The young
lady killed the demon with a dagger.
Story of Ekadashi
2 Sound (ear)
3 Smell (nose)
4 Touch (skin)
5 Taste (tongue)
5 Motor Organs
1 Vocal chords (mouth)
2 Hands
3 Feet
4 Reproductive Organs
5 Excretory Organs
Senses, Mind & Motor Organs
Ekadashi is all about controlling 10 Senses
and the Mind.
Reproductive Organs
Excretory Organs
Ekadashi Vrata
Shreeji Maharaj spoke to Satsangis in the Vachanamrut
Gadhada I. 38.
“Fasting on Ekadashi carries significance. Ten Indriyas
and mind should be withdrawn from their respective
worldly foods, and should be focused on God only. The
significance of the Ekadashi Vrata is in starving the
Indriyas and mind of their food. Therefore this Vrata
should be observed constantly by the devotee of God.
If the mind is not fully detached from worldly desires
then mere denying food to the body does not lead to
spiritual development. “
Ekadashi Vrata
Anyone who fasts on these twenty-nine days
of the year is said to be Vaishnav.
Those who observe self-discipline on these
days of fast suffer no pain in their lives. By
performing the vrata, one can cleanse the
body and soul by giving it a rest. Just as a
car needs time to cool down after a long
journey, so does our body. By allowing the
body to rest on these days, we can make it
work better.
Ekadashi Vrata
Who should observe Ekadashi?
Ekadashi should be observed by all persons aged
between 8 and 80
At the age of 80 years one can stop fasting on the
day of Ekadashi if one’s body is not healthy. If one
is still very healthy then, fasting on Ekadashi should
be carried out. People who do not observe Ekadashi
not only remain very unfortunate, but pick up
mountains of Sins. Shiksapatri Bhashya explains the
consequences and magnitude of Sins one gets by
not observing Ekadashi.
Ekadashi Vrata
Ekadashi Fasting in order of Merit
1 No Food or Water
2 No Food but Water only
3 No Food but Milk only once a day
4 Fruit only once a day
5 Farari Food (e.g. Rajgaro, Moraiyo
(samo) Potatoes, Cassava, Milk products,
Only once a day and HOME COOKED
Ekadashi Benefit
Ekadashi Fruits
All types of Fruits can be eaten on Ekadashi
Food not for Ekadashi
Do not eat or drink anything that is not home
made on Ekadashi.
Food not for Ekadashi
Do not eat following on Ekadashi even if it is
home made.
Rotli, Bread, Rice, any kind of Cornflakes, in
fact anything made from grain or lentils
should not be eaten on Ekadashi, (apart
from moraio, rajgaro)
QUIZ
Which of the following food items can not
be eaten on Ekadashi?
Pizza Pasta
Chips Chewing Gum
Jacket Potato Sweets
Crisps Apple
Baked Beans Cassava Crisps
Bhel Dhokri
Bibliography
Shikhsapatri
Vachanamrut
Satsangijivan
Many thanks to Shree Kutch Satsang
Swaminarayan Temple Harrow Bal Mandal
The End