Date: 21 Oct 2022
Here is the translation:
"Of all plants, Tulasi is the most dear to Me, Kartika is the dearest of all months, My beloved Dwarka is the most sacred of all pilgrimage places, and Ekadashi is the most dear to Me."
**Padma Purana**
What is Ekadashi? Ekadashi is considered an auspicious day in Hindu and Jain culture. It occurs on the eleventh day of both lunar cycles of the month, Krishna and Shukla Paksha. Spiritually, Ekadashi symbolizes the eleven senses, which consist of five sensory organs, five organs of action, and the mind. People observe fasting on this day to control their eleven senses, consuming only allowed foods and abstaining from others.
In Nepal and India, Ekadashi is regarded as a day for cleansing the body, aiding recovery, and rejuvenation, typically observed through partial or full fasting. In Sanskrit, Ekadashi means "eleven," referring to the eleventh day of both the waxing and waning moon cycles in a lunar month. In the **Bhagavad Gita**, Ekadashi is described as the day when Lord Krishna explained to Arjuna the significance of fasting on this auspicious day. According to ancient scriptures, fasting on Ekadashi spans three days. On the tenth day (Dashami), the day before the fast, devotees consume a single meal in the afternoon to ensure that no food remains in the body on the next day. On Ekadashi, strict fasting is observed and is broken after sunrise.
Some devotees observe a strict Ekadashi fast, consuming no food or water, while others fast by consuming fruits or **Phalhaar** – juices, dairy products, tea, etc., depending on their willpower and body strength. Eating grains and cereals of any kind is prohibited during the Ekadashi fast, according to Vedic guidelines.
Our bodily functions are heavily influenced by the moon and its gravitational pull. Fasting on Ekadashi helps maintain the natural flow of fluids in the body and supports good health and a calm mind.
What are the benefits of observing Ekadashi? Today, science has proven that every atom in the human body interacts with the entire cosmic space at every moment. So, how does the cosmos affect our lives? Human physiology undergoes a cycle called **Mandala**, approximately every 40 to 48 days. In this cycle, three specific days will arise that may differ for each person and do not necessarily come at equal intervals, when the body does not require food. If you identify these days in your life and refrain from giving the body food – because it is not asking for it – many of your health problems will be resolved in a simple way. Fasting helps improve digestion, respiration, and circulation functions. Additionally, it detoxifies the body, purifies the blood, and enhances the functioning of the kidneys and liver.
Ekadashi promotes purification on a physical, mental, and spiritual level, leading to divine grace and liberation from the illusion of material existence. It is said that a devoted soul who observes a complete fast on Ekadashi achieves a hundred times greater benefit than performing the Ashvamedha-yajna (horse sacrifice).
What should be avoided on Ekadashi days?
- Meat and all meat products
- Fish and seafood
- Any type of legumes
- All types of grains, especially rice.
Why is rice not eaten on Ekadashi? According to religious beliefs, a drop of sweat fell from Lord Brahma's head and turned into a demon. When the demon asked for a place to reside, Brahma told him to live in rice grains consumed by people on Ekadashi, turning them into worms in their stomachs. There is also a scientific reason for avoiding rice on Ekadashi. Eating foods that retain too much water on Ekadashi can cause instability since the moon draws water, and lunar rays are said to have more cosmic energy on this day. As rice grains contain a lot of water, consuming it can worsen conditions like water retention, colds, sinusitis, etc.
What is suitable to consume on Ekadashi days?
- Water with a little honey and lemon
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Dried fruits
- Nuts (in moderation)
- Dairy products
However, Ekadashi is not just about diet; if you stray from moral and ethical standards on this day—if you lie, feel anger or irritation, harbor hatred instead of love—you are not fasting but starving! Be kind and compassionate. Abstaining from food on these cleansing days helps clear negative karma. Today is a special day **Rama Ekadashi**. It is believed that followers who fast on this holy day will be blessed with great wealth, happiness, and a life free of sin. Wishing you a successful and healthy Ekadashi!
The fasting dates for 2022 are:
- November 4
- November 20
- December 3
- December 19
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