Thursday 16 June 2016

HAPPY NIRJALA EKADASHI 2016

Introduction of this festival

Nirjala Ekadashi is the most important and significant Ekadashis out of all twenty four Ekadashis in a year. Nirjala means without water and Nirjala Ekadashi fasting is observed without water and any type of food. Nirjala Ekadashi Vratam is the toughest among all Ekadashi fasting due to strict fasting rules. Devotees abstain not only from food but also from water while observing Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat.

Benefits of this ekadashi

Devotees who are unable to observe all twenty fours Ekadashi fasting in a year should observe single Nirjala Ekadashi fasting as fasting on Nirjala Ekadashi brings all benefits of twenty four Ekadashi fasting in a year.

Legend associated with Nirjala Ekadashi

Nirjala Ekadashi is also known as Pandava Ekadashi and Bhimseni or Bhima Ekadashi due to one legend associated with Nirjala Ekadashi. Bhimsen, the second Pandava brother and voracious eater, was not able to control his desire of having food and was not able observe Ekadashi fasting. Except Bhima, all Pandava brothers and Draupadi used to observe all Ekadashi fasting. Bhima, being upset due to his weak determination and doing a dishonor to Lord Vishnu, met Maharishi Vyasa to find some solution. Sage Vyasa advised Bhima to observe single Nirjala Ekadasi fasting to compensate for not observing all Ekadashi fasting in a year. Due to this legend Nirjala Ekadashi is also known as Bhimseni Ekadashi or Pandava Ekadashi.

How Nirjala Ekadashi should be celebrated

I am sharing here some of the very simple remedies that can be done by all to celebrate Nirjala Ekadashi. I understand that each and every person is not able to keep fast or be without water but do not worry. What matters is your devotion, sincerity and trust in God. The word “Upavas” means residing near yourself, when you are at your center. There you find that God is already near you, residing in you, breathing along with you. So I am against all those traditional pundits, astrologers and so called saints who exploit you for their own sake. In my view, whatever you offer to God with devotion, love and sincerity, He accepts it. So if you are not able to do fast on this day, do not worry. I am giving you tried and tested ways through which you can offer your prayers to Lord Hari.
1. First of all offer Puja to Lord Vishnu and seek His grace. For this purpose, you can bath the idol of Lord Vishnu if you have at your place with Panchamrit or if you have Shaligram in your house, you can bath it with Panchmrit consisting of water, milk, curd, ghee and honey/sugar. I believe that when Lord Hari puts His blessings on an individual, then he gets the chance to establish Shaligram at his house. Soon I will update my website with an article that highlights thousands of benefits of having Shaligram in your house. There are many people who have established Laddu Gopal in their house, then you can dress them in new clothes.
2. Suppose you do not have any idols or Shaligram in your house, then you can offer your prayer to Lord Hari by visualizing His picture or by seeing His picture. I am also sharing a good picture in this post and if you do not have any picture you can offer prayers to this one also. You can offer flowers, incense, water, lamps and a hand fan to Lord Hari or alternatively you can give these articles in temple. If possible you can worship Lord Vishnu by using Durva grass.
3. Most important you listen to Lord Hari bhajans or chant Mahamantra “Hare Krishna Hare Rama”, the whole mantra is given below for your reference.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare !
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare !!
Chanting Hare Krishna gets you out of the endless cycle of birth and death.
It is the most effective means of self-realization in the present Age of Quarrel. Nothing else works nearly as well. Chanting Hare Krishna cleanses the heart of all illusions and misunderstandings. By chanting Hare Krishna, you become free from all anxieties.
4. You should avoid having rice on this day as eating rice is prohibited on Ekadashi. I will discuss in detail the scientific significance of not eating rice and other grains on this day in one of my future posts but at present my schedule is very hectic so I am not able to deal with this subject here in detail but surely I will spare some time and will discuss with you why we should not have rice and other grains on Ekadashi.
5. The celebration of this Ekadashi would not be complete unless and until you donate some amount according to your capacity to nearby temple or poor people. For this day, I would suggest you a very simple remedy which will bestow thousands of benefits to you. What you can do is that you can take small pet bottles of lemon water/frooti/flavored milk or you can prepare sweet milk with Rooh Afza at your home and serve it to people especially poor people. It will give you tremendous satisfaction and above all you will see that you are able to quench the thirst of poor people with your hard earned money. Serving people is a mode of serving God.


HAPPY EKADASHI TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Acharya Vikas Malhotra
Lal Kitab Astro Centre (LKAC)
lalkitabastro.com

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