Ekadasi The Day of Hari Gokul Bhajan Vedic

Ekadasi – The Day of Hari Gokul Bhajan & Vedic Studies By: Divya Venkat & Vidya Venkat

What is Ekadasi? • The eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. • There are two fortnights in a lunar month - the bright and the dark. • It occurs twice in a month. • The special feature of Ekadasi is fasting, the abstinence from food. • The moon influences the tides, and also the moods of man. • The mind gets concentrated and collected easily on Ekadasi. • Seekers take advantage of this and try to elevate themselves spiritually.

Why ekadasi comes twice in a month time? Full Moon to No Moon & No Moon to Full Moon

What happens on Ekadasi in our chakra? Our mind also moves from one chakra to another with the phase of the moon. . On Ekadasi, the mind stays in AJNA or ANAHATA chakra

Fasting-What should we eat on Ekadasi? • Fasting is for the whole day (24 hours). • The traditional approach is to abstain from food completely on the day • But nowadays a complete fast is not possible for many people • Avoiding grains, beans are mandatory • The fasting does not need to be extreme • Taking water, fruits, roots, nuts, milk, ghee and medicine are allowed. • Fasting prevents and cures many illnesses and diseases

Methods of Ekadasi fasting. • Complete fasting involves total abstinence from food and water for 24 hours. • Partial fasting involves consumption of fruits and milk and the avoidance of rice and grains. • People with health problems can opt for partial fasting after consulting with their doctors. • Some people take only a single meal on the Dasami day, the day before Ekadasi.

Glories of Ekadasi • One who observes fasting on Ekadasi day is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities. • The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one's faith and love for Govinda, or Krishna. • Those who observe fasting on Ekadasi days are keeping fittest health, cleansing their bowel system and mostly free from frequent ailments. • Those who are Bhakta’s of Lord Krishna, observing fasting on Ekadasi days, have lot more mental peace, by way of self realization and inner soul.

Benefits of Ekadasi • Brings the blessings of Lord Hari. • Liberates one from the cycle of birth & death. • Gives one freedom from the sins of the past. • Fulfills the wishes and gives happiness. • Enhances the physiological functions of the body. • Helps in flushing out the toxins from the body. • Helps to strengthen one’s self-control. • Improves one’s emotional stability.

24 different Ekadasi’s 1. Putrada Ekadasi 2. Shatilla Ekadasi 3. Jaya Ekadasi 4. Vijaya Ekadasi 5. Amalki Ekadasi 6. Papamochini Ekadasi 7. Kamda Ekadasi 8. Varuthini Ekadasi 9. Mohini Ekadasi 10. Apara Ekadasi 11. Nirjala Ekadasi 12. Yogini Ekadasi 13. Devshayani Ekadasi 14. Kamika Ekadasi 15. Aja Ekadasi 16. Parivartan Ekadasi 17. Indira Ekadasi 18. Pasankusa Ekadasi 19. Rama Ekadasi 20. Prabhodini Ekadasi 21. Utpanna Ekadasi 22. Mokshada Ekadasi 23. Saphala Ekadasi 24. Haribobhini Ekadasi

Even to Karmis, Ekadasi has been declared as the best Vrata Karma Kanda - Ekadasi Vrata is Superior Na Gaayathry. A Para Manthra : Na MAthu Para Dhaivatha Na Gang. Asy. A: paramam theertham Na Ek. Adasy. A: samam vratham. There is no mantra superior to the Gayatri mantra, there is no god superior to the Mother, There is no water more purifying or superior than River Ganges. And finally, there is no fast/austerities (vradham) more sacred or superior than the Ekadasi.

Ekadasi for Krishna Bhakta For Krishna Bhaktas, the main reason of observing is to increase the devotion to Lord Krishna so that the jiva can engage in eternal service.

Are you observing Ekadasi?

Hare Krishna References • http: //www. parihara. com/blogs/info/ekadasifasting. html • http: //www. radhakunda. com/ekadasi/index. ht ml • http: //asteptowardsgod. wordpress. com/2009/ 09/29/facts-about-ekadashi/ • http: //www. hindublog. com/2007/02/significance-ofekadashi. html Thank You! • http: //www. parihara. com/blogs/info/ekadasi 2011 -dates. html

Thank you Hare Krishna