Ekadashi is an auspicious day in Hinduism. It is the eleventh lunar day (ekadashi tithi) of each of the two lunar phases: the time when the moon is getting brighter (Shukla Paksha) and the time when the moon is getting darker (Krushna Paksa).
Why is Ekadashi celebrated?
In Hindu mythology, Ekadashi means turning the ten senses and the mind away from worldly wants and toward God and eating only allowed foods.
A Padma Purana story explains where the Ekadasi fasting came from. Mura was a cruel monster who lived many, many years ago. He scared Earth’s gods, good people, and followers (such as monks and sages). The demigods left heaven and told Lord Vishnu what was bothering them.
Lord Vishnu went straight to Mura to start a fight, which lasted for 1000 years. This was because Lord Vishnu had endless compassion for his followers. But when Lord Vishnu saw the strong evil demon, he decided to change his plan and hide in a cave near the Himalayas. He lied to make the demon think he was weaker than he was.
Mura wanted to kill God when he saw God sleeping in the cave. As he raised his sword to kill the Lord, a beautiful and bright young girl came out of the Lord and roared at Mura, killing him.
Lord woke up when he heard this terrible voice. He saw that stunningly beautiful girl and asked who she was and who had killed Mura. With a smile, the young girl said that she was Maha Shakti Ekadashi, who had come from the power of the Lord. She said she was born from Lord Vishnu’s eleven senses and had killed the bad guy Mura. When the Lord heard that, he was pleased and gave her the following gifts:
- She will be called Ekadashi because she was born from Lord Vishnu’s eleven senses, or Indriyas.
- On the 11th day of the lunar cycle, devotees should follow Ekadashi upvas and control their eleven Indriyas (senses).
- no question that going without food on Ekadashi can wash away all sins and make people healthier and happier.
- If a person fasts on Ekadashi or marks this Vrat without eating grains like rice, wheat, beans, etc., the doors of His transcendental home will be open to that soul.
Since Ekadashi came from Lord Vishnu, she is an incarnation of the Lord. Because Hindus have a lot of faith in Lord Vishnu, they celebrate all 24 Ekadashi annually, twice monthly.
What Is Ekadashi Puja Vidhi?
On this day, people who believe in God should get up early and promise for fasting and prayers. It is important to use Holy Ganga water, Holy Basil, flowers, and Panchamrit when honouring Lord Vishnu.
There are two different ways to fast: Nirahar and Falahar. People who fast on this day can eat again after Lord Vishnu’s evening prayers. Ekadashi Parana Vidhi, on the other hand, is done on the next day of the fast, which is Dwadashi.
Importance of Ekadashi Fast
Fasting on Ekadashi is among the most popular and important Upvasa for Hindus. It helps them keep their minds from wandering and shows them how to live a peaceful, happy, and spiritual life instead of chasing the material world for a false sense of happiness.
In the Shiva Purana, Lord Shiva says that the eleventh day of the moon cycle, called Shukla Ekadashi, is a good time to fast and worship the Supreme Lord Vishnu.
- Ekadashi is considered the practice of Tapasya (discipline) and vairagya (detachment) and to calm your mind enough to think about the deity, who is everywhere.
- According to modern science, the planet is in a certain state on the eleventh day of the lunar cycle, which makes it a good day to fast for health and mental growth.
- Langurnadiya Purana says that if you want happiness from the Supreme Lord, you shouldn’t eat rice or cereal, spend time with your partner, or sleep during the day.
- Because the stars and zodiacs are aligned in a certain way, going without water on Ekadashi will clean the body of toxins and clear the mind, body, and soul.
Benefits of Ekadashi Uvpas
In Hinduism, fasting is a way to include the body in practices needed to worship God. Ekadashi is one of these fasts. Depending on the king and the God being worshipped, many practices are done when people pray to God. Part of it is also too fast.
Well, the idea of cleansing your mind, body, and soul isn’t just something that happens in the supernatural world of the soul. It also has a place in the science of metabolism and other biological processes. This way of worshipping and pleasing a god has existed since early times and is still common today. You can go on a spiritual trip and clean up your soul by vrat.
When you fast, you don’t eat as much as usual and have to take care of your cleanliness. During a fast, a person can eat fruits and drink milk. Many short stories in Hinduism’s holy and sacred texts have to do with fasting.
There are many scientific ways to measure how something is fastened. Researchers have found out what happens to a person’s body when they fast. A lot of people don’t realise it, but the reason they fast is because of their faith.
Benefits for the worshippers of Vishnu
Observing a fast on the day of Ekadashi is the same as going on a journey to any place. This vrat is as good as the well-known offering of Aswamedha.
The Ekadashi day of the month is only for people who want peace and security in their minds. If you want to eliminate all your sins and clean your body, mind, and soul, then these Ekadashi upvas benefits are made for you.
The Ekadashi upvas not only cleans your soul but also cleans your body and helps your body’s metabolism. People who worship Vishnu know about the Ekadashi upvas. Some of the perks of the Ekadashi upvas are salvation, wealth, and religious faith.
Names of the 24 Ekadashis and What They Mean
As it says in the Upanishad, most Hindus enjoy 24 different types of Ekadashi throughout the year. Each is connected to a different Supreme Brahman (Vishnu) form. Each has rules about what you can and can’t eat during the fast. These rules must be followed to have a good mind and get closer to the Lord. Here is a list of the different Ekadashis, the month they happen, the God they honour, and the foods that can be eaten during a full fast.
- Chaitra (March-April) – Rama – Papavimchini Ekadashi – Kamada Ekadashi. On this day, you can have milk, fruit, and juice, but you can’t eat any kind of veggie, raw or cooked.
- Vaisakha (April-May) – Madhusudana – Varuthini Ekadashi – Mohini Ekadashi. One can eat one meal in the afternoon that doesn’t include tamasic foods like garlic or onion. The only way to break the vrat is to eat veggies or drink milk the next morning.
- Jyeshta (May-June) – Trivikrama – Apara Ekadashi (Kishna Paksha) – Nirjala Ekadashi. On this happy day, it is best not to drink any water. Before sunset, the followers can drink a few drops of water.
- Ashaad (June-July) – Vaamana – Yogini Ekadashi – Shayani Ekadashi. On this day of Ekadashi, sattvic foods that don’t have salt can be eaten.
- Shraavana (July-August) – Sridhar – Kamika Ekadashi (Kishna Paksha) – Shravana Putrada Ekadashi. One meal in the afternoon can be eaten without rice, grains, or beans.
- Bhadrapada (August-September) – Hrisikesha – Annada Ekadashi – Parsva Ekadashi. After the evening prayer, people can eat vegetables, dairy, and dried fruits.
- Ashvin (September-October) – Padmanabha – Indira Ekadashi – Paashunkushaa Ekadashi. On this Ekadashi day, you can drink water.
- Kartik (October-November) – Damodara – Rama Ekadashi (Kishna Paksha) – Prabodhini Ekadashi. On this day, people can eat veggies and dairy.
- Margashirsha (November – December) – Keshava – Utpanna Ekadashi ) – Mokshada Ekadashi / Vaikunta Ekadashi. One can eat Sabudana, milk, water, veggies, and sweets.
- Pausha (December- January) – Vishnu – Saphala Ekadashi (Kishna Paksha) – Pausha Putrada Ekadashi / Vaikunta Ekadashi. On this day, you can have milk and veggies.
- Maagha (January-February) – Madhava – Shat Tila Ekadashi (Krishna Paksha) – Jaya Ekadashi. On this day, you can eat different kinds of food.
- Phalguna (February-March) – Govinda – Vijaya Ekadashi (Krishna Paksha) – Amalaki Ekadashi. Today, you can eat potatoes, nuts, milk, veggies, black pepper, and rock salt.
- Once every three years, Adhika month. – Purushottama – Padmini Visuddha Ekadashi – Paramaa Shuddha Ekadashi. On this day, you can eat things like fruits and cheese.
What to Eat on Ekadashi?
- You are only allowed to eat one meal a day. Don’t put salt in the food.
- people like to eat fresh fruits, dried fruits, veggies, nuts, and milk products.
- Sabudana Khichdi is an alternative to grains. It is made from sabudana, groundnuts, and potatoes and is topped with potatoes or mixed with potatoes.
- There’s no food you can eat. On the day of Dashami, you should also avoid dal (pulses) and honey. On this day, it is especially forbidden to eat rice.
- Alcohol and food that isn’t veggie should be avoided at all costs.
- On Ekadashi, you should fast for the whole day. Some people who believe in God don’t even drink water. Nirjala Ekadashi is the name for this fast.
Fast on this day is the best way to show your love and faith in God and bring peace and calm into your life. Ekadashi Vrat Katha, says that this day is the same as taking a thousand baths in the holy river Ganga to wash away all the sins from this life and past lives. On this day, you can only eat sattvic foods like veggies, sweets, and a small amount of dairy.
If a follower can’t keep a day of fasting because of health problems, they can eat allowed foods but must avoid rice, lentils, beans, peas, garlic, onions, and other tamasic foods. On this happy day, it is considered a sin to talk about food that isn’t vegetarian.