Hindu faith is a melting pot of customs and traditions. The Hindu calendar is marked with rituals, festivals, auspicious muhurta, and many others. nearly day by day of the month. This text offers you insights into the Ekadashi Vrat, its auspicious dates, process, significance and advantages of Ekadashi Vrat, and numerous different points. So, with out additional ado, let’s start.
What’s Ekadashi Vrat?
Ekadashi is a mixture of two phrases Eka and Dashi which stands for ‘Eleven’ in Sanskrit. The Ekadashi quick is without doubt one of the most important fasts as per the Hindu calendar and is noticed by Hindus and Jains. Ekadashi is also called Tholi Ekadashi in some elements of India.
The pageant is devoted to Lord Vishnu and devotees observe a partial/full or stricter Nirjala (with out water) quick on at the present time. The Ekadashi quick spans three days ranging from Dashami (tenth day) and ending on Dwadashi (twelfth day). The devotees eat a single meal at midday on Dashami to keep away from the presence of meals that is still on the day of fasting (Ekadashi). The quick is damaged on the Dwadashi (twelfth day) after finishing the puja rituals.
Additionally it is believed that the water in our our bodies is influenced by the lunar phases and might trigger imbalances within the physique. Abstaining from meals and cleaning oneself throughout the Ekadashi time is believed to be useful to the physique because it protects the physique from any adverse results of the lunar phases on the physique.
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Ekadashi Days and Presiding deity
In line with the Vedic calendar, there are 24 Ekadashi days in a yr with two further Ekadashi noticed throughout the intercalary year making it a complete of 26 Ekadashi days. Each Ekadashi day worships the presiding deity of Lord Vishnu identified in numerous names and kinds and likewise holds particular significance connected to it. The beneficial puja rituals and practices may additionally differ in line with every Ekadashi day which is assumed to learn the devotees enterprise the vrat. Individuals might observe a strict or partial quick and will chorus from consuming rice, grains, and beans. These enterprise a partial quick might eat milk and fruits.
| Vedic lunar month (Gregorian calendar) | Presiding deity | Krishna Paksha Ekadashi | Shukla Paksha Ekadashi |
| Chaitra (March–April) | Ram Vishnu | PapamochiniEkadashi | Kamada Ekadashi |
| Vaisakha (April-Might) | Madhusudana (Vishnu) | Varuthini Ekadashi | Mohini Ekadashi |
| Jyestha (Might-June) | Trivikrama (Vishnu) | Apara Ekadashi | Nirjala Ekadashi |
| Ashaada (June-July) | Vaamana | Yogini Ekadashi | Devashayani Ekadashi |
| Shravana (July-August) | Sridhar | Kamika Ekadashi | Shravana Putrada Ekadashi |
| Bhadrapada (August-September) | Hrishikesh (Vishnu) | Annada Ekadashi | Paarshwa Ekadashi |
| Ashwin (September – October) | Padmanabha | Indira Ekadashi | PashankushaEkadashi |
| Karthik (October – November) | Damodara | Rama Ekadashi | Prabodhini Ekadashi |
| Marghashirsha/Agrahayana (November-December) | Keshava | Utpanna Ekadashi | Mokshada Ekadashi/Vaikunta Ekadashi |
| Pausha (December –January) | Naarayana(Vishnu/Krishna) | Saphala Ekadashi | Pausha Putrada Ekadashi/Vaikunta Ekadashi |
| Magha (January – February) | Madhava | Shattila Ekadashi | Bhaimi Ekadashi/Jaya Ekadashi |
| Phalguna (February-March) | Govinda (Krishna) | Vijaya Ekadashi | Amalaki Ekadashi |
| Adhika month (as soon as in 2-3 years) | Purushottama | Padmini Visuddha Ekadashi | ParamaaShuddha Ekadashi |
Significance of Ashadi and Vaikuntha Ekadashi
Of the 24 Ekadashi fasts noticed in a yr, Ashadi Ekadashi and Vaikuntha Ekadashi are essentially the most vital Ekadashi days. The Ashadi Ekadashi or Maha Ekadashi is noticed within the month of Ashada throughout the Shukla Paksha (waxing part of the moon). It’s believed that Lord Vishnu goes right into a deep meditative state (Yoga Nidra) on the passing of the Ashadi Ekadashi and wakes up after 4 months on Prabodhini Ekadashi.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi is noticed throughout the Shukla Paksha within the month of Margashirsha. Vishnu devotees consider that ‘Vaikuntha Dwaram’ also called ‘the gate to the Lord’s Internal Sanctum’ is opened on at the present time. This pageant is widely known with nice fervor by arranging particular prayers and yajnas at Vishnu temples around the globe.
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Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat Katha
Every of the 26 Ekadashi days has a ‘Vrat Katha’ related to it which describes the explanation why the quick is undertaken and what are the advantages of enterprise the particular vrats. The vrat katha of Nirjala Ekadashi is one amongst them. Legend has it that Bheema, the second of the Pandava brothers was keen on consuming and failed to manage his starvation. His starvation pangs didn’t permit him to carry out the Ekadashi fasting with utmost sincerity as his brothers and Draupadi. This put him in a repair and he was saddened by the thought that by not observing Ekadashi Vrat, he was disrespecting Lord Vishnu.
To hunt an answer to his dilemma Bheema approached Maharishi Vyasa for assist who suggested him to undertake the Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat annually. Maharishi Vyasa additionally defined to Bheema how performing one Nirjala Vrat was equal to enterprise twenty-four Ekadashis of the yr. That is additionally one of many prime the reason why Nirjala Ekadashi additionally got here to be often known as Bhimsen Ekadashi or Pandava Ekadashi. Equally, each Ekadashi Vrat Katha mentions the importance of enterprise the vrat, and devotees recite these vrat tales whereas enterprise the quick.
Methods to do Ekadashi Vrat?
The Ekadashi vrat have to be taken with utmost pious and pure thoughts. By following the rituals appropriately, the devotees are absolved of their sins and shall attain Vaikunthapura. The rituals are as under:
On Ekadashi day, one should get up early earlier than dawn, take a shower and put on clear garments. Clear the puja space and adorn the puja space with flowers and decorations. Place the idols and adorn them with sandalwood paste, flowers, and lightweight an incense stick. Take a vow (Sankalp) within the puja room or the temple and lightweight an oil lamp. Carry out the puja by reciting the Vishnu mantra “On NamoBhagavateVasudevaya” and begin meditation. The devotees should abstain from consuming meals and water the whole day.
A Jagran can be held the place the devotees keep awake the whole night time reciting the mantras and hymns in reward of Lord Vishnu and likewise recite the related ‘Vrat Katha’ for every Ekadashi. The quick is concluded the subsequent day by taking a shower early earlier than dawn and performing the puja. After worshipping the Lord, the devotees provide donations to the Brahmanas, poor and needy in money and/or variety. After performing the ultimate aarti, the puja is concluded and the devotee partakes meals and breaks their quick.
Ekadashi Vrat Vidhi and Ekadashi Fasting rituals
The Ekadashi vrat requires following sure meals restrictions. The longstanding rule has been that people should keep away from peas, grains, and any kind of cereals. Milk merchandise, fruits, and root greens are on the listing of permissible edibles. Individuals enterprise the Ekadashi Vrat should not eat any type of meat, liquor, or tobacco merchandise throughout the fasting interval.
Dos and Don’ts of Ekadashi quick
- Keep away from consuming rice, peas, grains, or any kind of cereals.
- You may have restricted parts of milk, fruits, dry fruits, roots, and greens.
- Don’t pluck Tulsi leaves throughout Ekadashi Vrat as it’s mentioned that Lord Vishnu is obtainable Tulsi on Ekadashi and Dwadashi. It’s forbidden in Hindu scriptures.
- Don’t use powdered asafoetida (hing) in any preparation, because it usually accommodates grains.
- On Ekadashi Vrat non-veg (meat, fish, eggs), mushrooms, liquor, intoxicants (cigarettes, tobacco), and different tamasic meals are strictly prohibited.
Breaking an Ekadashi Vrat quick
Whereas the Ekadashi quick begins from Dashami, it’s concluded on Dwadashi day (the twelfth day) after dawn. Ekadashi fasts aside from Nirjala quick might be concluded by consuming grains. Whereas following the Nirjala quick, devotees should conclude their quick with non-grain objects like milk or fruits.
Who ought to observe Ekadashi Vrat?
Ekadashi Vrat is secure as a cleaning ritual for everybody except any medical situation prevents the devotees from fasting for a given interval. When you have any issues about whether or not Ekadashi Vrat is secure for you, please verify along with your physician about your situation. As indicated by sacred writings, from the age of eight to the age of eighty, all people ought to quick on Ekadashi Vratdays.
Ekadashi Vrat Mantras
Reciting ‘Om Narayana Vidmahe, Vasudevaya Dhimahi, Thanno Vishnu Prachodayat’ is alleged to learn devotees largely. Additionally it is beneficial that there be prayers throughout the night, which invoke Lord Vishnu. Chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra 108 occasions can be mentioned to reap wealthy advantages and produce a couple of sure calming impact on the physique. Chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama and Vishnu Chalisa additionally advantages the devotees.
Ekadashi Vrat/Quick Advantages
Along with the bodily advantages of fasting, fasting on Ekadashi additionally provides religious advantages to the devotees enterprise the fasts. The Ekadashi quick has better advantage than visiting temples and holy locations and providing fireplace and aswamedha yajnas. A single Ekadashi quick is equal to feeding 1000 Brahmanas day by day. It offers numerous bodily advantages and helps within the detoxing of the physique. It cleanses the bowel system, in addition to improves the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, urinary programs. It offers psychological and bodily energy. It’s believed that Lord Vishnu absolves the sins of the devotees who observe the Ekadashi quick. Fasting on Ekadashi is believed to liberate one from the cycle of births and deaths and likewise attain blessings of Lord Vishnu on account of the timeless religion and love for Lord Vishnu/Krishna.
