Introduction
of Ekadashi tithi
Ekadashi is a wonderful opportunity for all spiritual
practitioners to intensify their devotional service and come closer to Lord
Vishnu. Many of my clients and students were requesting me to share my thoughts
on Ekadashi for a very long time and this tithi is so unique and has so many
benefits that I was not able to describe its significance in a short post. A
few months ago while reading Padma Purana, I came across a quote by Rishi Vyasa
addressing to Jaimini Rishi where he told him that results of following
Ekadashi can only be perfectly described by the Supreme Lord that is Lord
Narayana because He is only capable of describing its benefits in full. This reminded me that as humans we have many
limitations due to which it is not possible to describe physical, religious,
spiritual and moral significance of this unique tithi. Still I have tried to
share my views on this unique tithi in brief so that more and more people can
understand its significance and they are motivated to keep at least a partial
fast to get the blessings of Lord Hari.
Ekadashi is a Sanskrit word, which means Eleventh. It refers
to the eleventh day of a fortnight in a lunar month. There are two fortnights
in a lunar month, the bright and the dark or commonly known as Shukla Paksha
and Krishna Paksha. So, Ekadashi occurs twice in a month, in the bright fortnight
and the dark fortnight. There are 24 Ekadashis in a year. It is
an important fasting day dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Legend behind the origin of Ekadashi
Ekadashi is a tithi which is dear to Lord Vishnu
and it is an opportunity to get His blessings. The story of Ekadashi traces its
origin in Satya-Yuga where a demon called Mura lived and he terrified all
devatas and on their request, Lord Vishnu decided to fight with him. The Lord
wrested with Mura for one thousand celestial years and then, apparently
fatigued, left for Badarika Ashram. There He entered a very beautiful cave,
named Himavati, to rest. The demon followed Him into the cave, and, seeing Him
asleep, started thinking within his heart: "Today I will kill this slayer
of all demons". While the wicked demon Mura was making plans in this way,
from Lord Vishnu body there manifested a young girl who had a very bright
complexion. Mura saw that she was equipped with various brilliant weapons and
that effulgent goddess shattered all of Mura weapons and in a moment deprived
him of his chariot. He ran toward her to attack her with his bare hands, but
when she saw him coming she angrily cut off his head. Then the Supreme Lord
woke up and saw the dead demon before Him, as well as the maiden bowing down to
Him with joined palms. The Lord, being pleased with the girl, offered to give
her a boon. The girl requested Lord Vishnu to give her the power to free a
person from his or her sins who fasts on this day, i.e. Ekadashi. Lord Vishnu
said that because you, my transcendental potency, have appeared on the eleventh
day let your name be “Ekadashi”. If a person fasts on Ekadashi, I will burn up
all his sins and bestow upon him my transcendental abode, i.e. Vishnu Lok.
Benefits of
Ekadashi Vrat as quoted in Vedic Scriptures
Ekadashi Vrat has many benefits. In this context, I
would like to quote a translation of Ekadashi shloka which means, “There is no
mantra superior to the Gayatri mantra. There is no God superior to the mother,
there is no water purifying or superior than River Ganges and there is no vrat
or austerity or fast, holy or superior than the Ekadashi”. In my view when Lord Vishnu blesses you with
His divine grace, you get a chance to keep Ekadashi vrat.
Some of the benefits of Ekadashi Vrat include:
- Ekadashi fasting is greater in merit than staying and visiting places of pilgrimage, performing fire sacrifices or ashwamedha sacrifice.
- This day was created as a supreme medicine to remove the miseries of material existence of body and mind. One will not suffer from mental problems.
- Single Ekadashi fast earns the same merit as the one who feeds 1000 mendicants every day for 60,000 years.
- It prevents and cures illnesses and diseases as it helps in the detoxification of the body and cleansing of bowel system.
- It gives ten times merit in comparison to a person giving away in charity 1000 cows to a learned brahmin.
- According to Brahma- Vaivarta Purana, it is believed that Lord Vishnu removes the sins of those who observe this fast. The obstacles to spiritual progress are removed and perfection in life is achieved.
- Sage Vasista in Narada Purana says, “Neither Ganga, Kasi, Kurukshetra, Yamuna, Reva, Vedika, Gaya, Pushkara and Chandrabhaga, none of them are equal to the day of Lord Hari, Ekadashi. Even if one fasts on Ekadashi, all his sins are burnt at once and he attains the spiritual world.”
- Ekadashi fasting is believed to liberate one from the cycle of births and deaths.
- It attracts the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
- Those who fast on this day gets the blessings of religious bent of mind, wealth and ultimate salvation.
- Fasting helps to improve the working of digestive, respiratory, circulatory, urinary system. It makes the person strong mentally and physically.
Ekadashi
Vrat and its benefits on physical, material, mental and spiritual level
In the above discussion I have dealt with some of
the benefits of keeping Ekadashi fast and worshipping Lord Vishnu. It is not
only a matter of spiritual or religious importance to observe Ekadashi but this
fast has the backing of science also. I would deal with advantages of keeping
Ekadashi vrat on a physical, mental and spiritual level.
Ekadashi
Vrat and its benefits on Physical level: The first advantage of keeping
Ekadashi fast on a physical level is that we give our digestive system a day of
rest to recover and perform its functions in a better manner. Not only that the
undigested food material gets proper opportunity for its further digestion, but
also by fasting the digestion power increases, better assimilation of food
takes place helping in more production of blood and other necessary chemicals,
and thereby helping better health and better nutritional effects. It is both a
good measure for avoiding the future stomach problems and a cure for a number
of ailments. It helps in better functioning of the liver, pancreas, intestines
and kidney thereby reducing the chance of any ailment relating to these organs.
Ekadashi
Vrat and its benefits on material level: Ekadashi Vrat also
gives benefits on material level by increasing your wealth, business and
savings also. Although I would not advise you to keep this fast for material
level but still whether you keep this fast for material things or not, you
would definitely see an increase in your wealth, savings, business through
regularly keeping this vrat and worshipping Lord Vishnu. The reason for this is
that when you worship Lord Vishnu on this day, Bhagwan gives His blessings to
you and Maa Lakshmi who is the divine consort of Lord Vishnu stays only at a
place where Lord Vishnu resides. If Lord Vishnu is with you, then you will see
blessings of Maa lakshmi will also be on you. So on Ekadashi day worship Lord
Vishnu and Maa Lakshmi and you will see an increase in your finances also.
Ekadashi
Vrat and its benefits on a mental level: All of us know that a
human being is built of 80 per cent liquid and 20 per cent solid. The water
content in our body is approximately 80 per cent. Scientists have discovered
that there is high tide on new moon and full moon days and low tide on the
seventh day of the lunar cycle. This is lunar attraction on the liquid of the
earth. The earth and the moon attract each other but on certain days the
attraction is more because of their nearness. It is this attraction that causes
tides in the ocean and it is certain that there will be biological high tide
and low tide too, governed by the moon. The gravitational force of the moon
exerts its influence on the water in the human body as it does in the case of
the oceans of the planet. There are many researches that vouch to the fact that
there are tidal days when the moon comes close to the earth and people having
weak mind or weak body suffer more. In many studies, it has been found that
symptoms of depression, restlessness, insomnia and rapid heartbeat increase during
extreme tidal days. Ekadashi fast has varied effects on the body and the mind
to counter negative effects. The first and foremost impact is keeping the
balance of hormones and other secretions in relation to the glands and cells.
As there will be no food and less water in the stomach on these fasting days,
the linear attraction will not affect the intestine, kidney and liver.
Further, the tendency of the functioning of most of the forces of the body will
be centripetal, i.e. towards the inner side of the body. So, the internal
gravitational pull will be more powerful to balance the external pull of the
lunar gravitational force. This will help in controlled functioning of
all the organs, chemical changes, growth of cells and other biological
transmutations. If functioning be normal and balanced, there will hardly be
health problem and the longevity will get enhanced many folds. Ekadashi day
falls in between seventh and fifteenth day of lunar cycle and fast on this day
helps in balancing the effect of lunar attraction. People who have a weak moon
may be able to get relief by such systematic fasts and many abnormalities of
mind are also reduced. Even hypertension can be controlled efficiently with the
help of Ekadashi fast.
Ekadashi
Vrat and its benefits on a spiritual level: On a spiritual
level, on Ekadashi day you will be indulged in worship of Narayana. Lord
Krishna who is an avatar of Lord Vishnu says in Bhagvad Gita, “People who
remember me, worship me, have trust in me, I always protect them”. When you
worship and remember Lord Hari, then He will take care of all your problems.
Leave everything on Him. Planets have an impact on you until you are away from
the force that has created those planets. When you are under the protection of Supreme
force that has created planets, then all your worries will be removed by Him.
The food that can be consumed on the Ekadashi day
includes fresh and dried fruits, milk products, vegetables and nuts. Avoid
pulses, rice and grains on Ekadashi. Drink lots of water and eat fresh and
dried fruits. Many devotees due to several reasons like health and job
commitments observe partial fast on the day. Such people should avoid
non-vegetarian and food items made from beans, pulses and grains, especially
rice. The most preferred Ekadashi fasting food in western parts of India is
Sabudana Khichadi with potatoes and ground nut but no onion and garlic. If due
to any health reason or any other problem, you are not able to keep Ekadashi
full or partial fast, I would suggest you to worship Lord Vishnu with full
devotion and pray Him for giving you strength to keep this fast. The whole
purpose of fast or known as “Upvaas” is meant to bring you near to God. So do
not worry more about rules, regulations, rituals, expected benefits from fast.
Rather spend Ekadashi day in worshipping Lord Vishnu. Chant the following
mantra as much as possible.
“OM
NAMO BHAGVATE VASUDEVAYA”
Hari Om Tat Sat
Acharya Vikas Malhotra
Lal Kitab Astro Centre (LKAC)
Book phone or personal consultation by visiting website lalkitabastro.com
