બુધવાર, 2 માર્ચ, 2011

Ekadashi

 1. Ekadashi (Agiyaras) Fasting

Suvrat Muni said: Oh King! On the 10th day of the month of Kartak sud, after the sunset in the evening, Shree Hari were seated on a high seat addressing everyone. At that time Shree Narayan muni told : Oh devotees! All munis, sansaris, women etc; listen, because of my being your guru, I am telling all of you, a matter of utmost concern to you all.

Oh disciples! Tomorrow is the fasting day, Ekadashi, by the name of Prabodhini. That fasting should be done by all my disciples with importance and due respect. Because of that fasting being specially related to lord Shree Krishna, it is more special as lord Shree Krishna is our main deity. Ignorant people who do not follow the ekadashi fasting fall into the utmost depth of hell. The person who eats food on the day of the fasting on lord Shree Hari’s day, falls into the sins equivalent to that of the killing of a Brahmin. The person eating food on ekadashi day is equivalent to the killer who kills his parents and his teacher. The person who eats food on the day of ekadashi of Krishna paksha or Shukla paksha eats the sins created at every step on earth. There is salvation written of Brahma hatya in scriptures but there is no salvation for the sinner of ekadashi written down anywhere in any of the scriptures. Devotee of god who might be a male or a female does the fasting of ekadashi. The ekadashi of Krishna paksha and the ekadashi of Shukla paksha both hold the same and equal importance. Devotees above the age of 8 and below the age of 80 should do both the fasting. Brahmachari’s, Social people, Tyagis and Sanyasis and all the married and widow women should do the fasting. If a widow eats food on the day of ekadashi then her punya is burnt down. On that day one should control all their senses and fast and do the pooja of lord Shree Krishna. The fasting done as per the proper rituals burns the sins for last 100 briths. The fasting of the ekadashi burns all the sins committed by the 11 senses in last lives. The fasting of ekadashi gives you a place in heaven and is very helpful for moksha and is good for healthy body and mind too. Even holy rivers and places like Ganga, Kashi, Pushkar lake, Kurukshetra, Narmada and Devki etc are not equivalent to Ekadashi. By doing the fasting on ekadashi, not sleeping during night and praying to lord Shree Krishna during that day, one can actually get to Vishnulok, the abode of lord Shree Krishna. Those people, who do the fasting of ekadashi, go to the abode of lord Shree Krishna and do not come back to earth. So above are a few good reasons why one should do and follow the rules of ekadashi fasting.”

“Oh devotees! The fasting of ekadashi destroys all the sins done knowingly or unknowingly and knowing this fact of importance, you should bear this in your heart and do it accordingly.”

Suvrat muni said: “Oh King! In this way by listening to the importance of ekadashi from Shree Hari all the devotees were overjoyed. Devotees who were good at asking questions then started asking their doubts to one and only lord Shree Hari: “Oh lord! Please do explain to us the utmost importance of this fasting and why is it above all other fasting and Vratas?”

2. The Evolution of Ekadashi (Fasting on the 11th day)

Then Narayan muni spoke: Oh good devotees! The biggest importance of the fasting is that it relates you directly to the lord Vishnu himself and you should be absolutely confident about that. In Satyug there lived a demon whose name was Nadijangh and had a son with the name of murdanav who was very powerful. After undergoing severe penance, he got blessings from Brahma that he could never be defeated by any gods. He soon defeated all the gods including Indra and took control of all the three Loks. Because of the fear from him all the gods took different forms on earth. Indra and other gods who had been harassed by him went to Brahma and told their problems to them. As Brahma himself did not have a solution, along with Shankar went to a place called shwetdip near kshirsagar and on the northern bank of that place started prayers of lord Shree Narayan standing on one feet and their arms raised high up in the sky. Because of their severe penance lord Narayan got pleased and appeared in front of the gods. Having pleased lord Shree Hari, the gods started complaining the harassment of murdanav and his misdeeds, which had caused immense suffering to everyone. Hearing their cry, lord Shree narayan went to chandravati puri where murdanav was residing with other demons and started blowing the panchjanya shanka. Irritated by the sound of panchjanya, murdanav declared war on the gods and started fighting them. The gods started running in ten directions scared of him. Lord Shree Narayan fought for a thousand years with the demon with the powerful sudarshan chakra but lost and went to badrikashram and went into the cave called sinhavati to sleep. Lord Narayan was in yoganindra putting all the eleven senses in front of him. Murdanav went to that cave looking for Narayan in total rage. At that time a beautiful lady appeared out of the eleven senses of lord Shree Hari. Seeing an extremely beautiful lady in front of her demon murdanav asked; “O beautiful lady, marry me”. That lady with divine beauty told murdanav: “O demon, you can marry me if you win me in a battle”. Soon murdanav started fighting with her with all his might and his weapons. Getting enraged with the demon, that lady cut the head of the demon with a sword. After the death of murdanav, the gods were pleased and started praising the lady and asked who she was. Looking at the lord, the lady said: “ O lord! I am made out of the power of your eleven senses and the strength of your penance, I am your power. I am the destroyer of all the evil and demons in the universe. My name is Ekadashi.” Pleased, lord Shree Narayan then told her: “ O sinless! Everyone is overjoyed and pleased with you. Ask for a boon.” Ekadashi told: “ O lord! If you are pleased with me then please grant me a boon that anyone doing fasting on my day have all his wishes and dreams fulfilled. The person who does fasting on my day should be removed from all his sins and get salvation. Person suffering may eat once and still do my fasting and have all his wishes fulfilled. O lord! My fasting be practiced in all three loks and everywhere and in all the four yugas and that you be my supreme lord. This is my prayers” Then lord spoke: “ O beauty! You have asked what is not given by me even to brahma and other gods but because I am pleased with you, may you be granted with it. Starting from today Magsar sudi Ekadashi whosoever will do your fasting including my prayers shall be granted with all his wishes. O beloved! Whosoever shall desire for moksha shall be granted with it, who soever shall wish for worldly pleasures shall be granted with it, hence people will get whatever they want who fast on your day and offer their prayers to me.” So said Narayan muni. Ekadashi being granted by the boon of lord soon disappeared and then lord narayan made all the gods do the fasting of ekadashi. All the munis in badrikashram did the fasting on that very day and from that day onwards the fasting came to existence.

Soon lord went to his abode after that and all the senses that took the form of Ekadashi went after him and requested the pleased lord to grant her to be a part of lord himself like laxmiji. Lord Narayan then gave her a position in their eyes. This way by giving Ekadashi position in their eyes lord narayan were in yoga nindra in kshirsagar. So, O devotees! All the devotees of lord narayan should fast and pray to lord narayan and laxmiji during ekadashi. O devotees! All of you should thus do ekadashi, as it is so beloved to Vasudev Narayan.”

“O Devotees! Those who do not fast during Ekadashi and respect it should be considered out of the Uddhav sampraday, know it this way”

Good devotees do not eat anything on this day of ekadashi and pray to Shree Narayan the whole day on Ekadashi. During the fasting one should not think about food, nor should he take the smell of the food, nor see it or even dream of food. During the fasting he should not be in a company of anyone who is an atheist, violent, sinner, ignorant and carnivorous; nor should he see any such kind of person. The person doing the fast should not take bath with oils and smelly ointments, should not take a massage on his body nor should he sleep during the day. He should avoid looking at women, nor think of them or touch them as it affects your fasting. Drinking more water, eating pan and having company with women destroys the fasting. One should also not get angry or shout at anyone. Taking water once during the day, eating the roots, drinking milk, eating fruits, eating herbs or auyurvedic medicene does not destroy your fasting. If there is a sutak or birth or death during the fasting, prayers and other rituals should done by calling a Brahmin. During the menstruation period, women should not touch any items or do the pooja of the deity even during the fasting. If due to any reason anyone cannot do the fasting then they should do the Vishnu Gayatri mantra thousand times or do the pranayam having twelve sequences in a row. On the tenth day one should take a bath at night before starting of the fasting. All the men and women doing the fasting on Ekadashi should offer their prayers to Keshwadik swami’s of the Ekadashi along with Krishna. Weak person should only offer their prayers to Krishna.

Now I will show you the classifications of the Ekadashi:
3. Mokshada Ekadashi

The Ekadashi that falls on the Shukla paksha (bright half) of magshar month is called mokshada ekadashi. The deity to be prayed is called Keshav along with their wife Shreenam. One should offer oranges and fryed laddoos and offer seven types of grains for charity, namely wheat, jowar, paddy, til, kang, coscous and mung.
4. Safla Ekadashi

The Ekadashi that falls in the Krishna paksha of magshar month is called safla ekadashi. One should pray to Sankarshan bhagwan along with his wife Sunanda. One should use the flowers from the Agathiya tree and should offer laddos made from jaggery. Charity of gold should be done in this ekadashi.
5. Sananda Ekadashi

One should pray to Narayan and their wife Padma. One should pray using the flowers of Gugal tree. One should make laddos out of churma and rotla. Pomegranate should be offered and one should offer a pot of ghee for charity.
6. Tilda Ekadashi

The Ekadashi that fall in the Krishna paksha of Posh month is called tilda ekadashi. The main deity is Vasudev alongwith their wife Shreepriya. One should use the flowers of Kallar.Drakshafal and Ghebar should be used for offerings. One should give away clothes and other garments in charity.
7. Jaya Ekadashi

The Ekadashi that falls in Shukla paksha of Madhya month is called Jaya Ekadashi. One should pray to Paramatma Madhav and their wife Nitya. One should use flowers from bordi and fruit of Bijor. One should give parimit til weighing thirty-two sheer (ounces).
8. Vijaya Ekadashi

Maghvadi Ekadashi is known as Vijaya Ekadashi. One should pray to Prudhyuman and their wife Dhi. Tulsi leaves should be used in the pooja. Lemon should be used in the pooja. Suvali should be used in the naivedh and footwear should be given in charity.
9. Dhatri Ekadashi

Fagan sudi Ekadashi is known as Dhatri Ekadashi. The main deity prayed is Govind and their wife Chandravati. Flowers of Guldawati and apricot fruit should be used. A pot of Til should be used in charity
10. Papmochini Ekadashi

The Ekadashi that fall in Krishna paksha of Fagan month is called Papmochini. The main deity prayed is Anirudh and their wife Sushila. Flowers of mogra should be used in the prayers and Borfal fruit should be used. Sev should be used for offerings. Tildhenu should be used for charity.
11. Vimala (Kamada) Ekadashi

Chaitra Sudi Ekadashi grants all the wishes. Hence it is called Vimala or Kamada Ekadashi. The main deity are Vishnu and their wife Raama. Chibhdu fruit and Moor of mango as flower and ladoos of dal as offerings should be made. One should give sweets in charity.
12. Varuthini Ekadashi

Chaitra Vadi Ekadashi is called Varuthini Ekadashi. One should pray Purushottam and their wife Nanda. Jamfal fruit and Champa flower should be used. Offerings of Vada should be made. One should offer land in this Ekadashi for the offering.
13. Mohini Ekadashi

Vaishak Sudi Ekadashi is called Mohini Ekadashi. One should pray Madhusudan along with their wife madhvi. One should offer the big flowers of Mogra and Panas fruit. Offerings of milk porridge should be done. One should offer a bed for charity.
14. Apara Ekadashi

Vaishak Vadi Ekadashi is called Apara Ekadashi. One should pray Trayi and their husband Adokshaj. One should used the flowers of Ketki and Bofli – Umarda fruit. Offerings of milk and rice are to be made. One should give cow along with its calf for charity.
15. Nirjala Ekadashi

Jeth Sudi Ekadashi is called Nirjala Ekadashi. Trivikram alongwith their wife Padmakshi should be prayed with Juhi flowers and fruit of mango. Offerings of milk and rice and umbrella for charity should be given.
16. Yogini Ekadashi

Jeth vadi Ekadashi is known as yogini ekadashi. Nrusimha and their wife Kshemankari are prayed with flowers of Bhangarwa and Jambu fruit. Offerings of Penda and charity of Jaldhenu should be made.
17. Devshayni Ekadashi

Ashad sudi Ekadashi is known as Devshayni Ekadashi. Vaman bhagwan and their wife Kamla are prayed with flowers of Andheda and Puranpoli is offered. Fruit of Coconut is also offered. Charity of Suvarna Dhenu is given.
18. Kamika Ekadashi

Ashad Vadi Ekadashi is known as Kamika Ekadashi. Achyut and their wife Kamika are prayed with a garland of Parijat flowers and Bilwa fruit. Offerings of Khaja and clothes of men and women are given away as alms.
20. Aja Ekadashi

Shravan Vadi Ekadashi is called Aja Ekadashi. Janardan with their wife Sundari are prayed. Flowers of Sheni and Supari fruit is used. Charity of buffalo is given. Offering of ladoos made from jaggery is done.
21. Padma Ekadashi

The Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Bhadarwa month is called Padma Ekadashi. Hrishikesh with their wife Aparajita are prayed with flowers of Kasha.
22. Indira Ekadashi

Bhadarwa Vadi Ekadashi is called Indira Ekadashi. Upendra and their wife Subhaga are prayed with durva and the fruit of Imli. Offerings of Jalebi and charity of “Kanyadan” is given.
23. Pashankusha Ekadashi

Asho sudi Ekadashi is called Pashankush Ekadashi. Padmanabh and their wife Padmavati are prayed. Leaves of Shamdi and offerings of Harisho and charity of Ghee and laddoos made from rice flour mixed with saakar (big pieces of sugar) are given.
24. Raama Ekadashi

Asho vadi Ekadashi is called Raama Ekadashi. Hari and their wife Hirni are prayed with flowers of Satpada mogra. Fruit of banana and offerings of Ghee and Saakar and banana. Offering of a pot of Ghee is given.
25. Prabodhini Ekadashi

Kartak sudi Ekadashi is called Prabodhini Ekadashi. Lord Damodar with their wife Radha are Prayed with lotus flower and offerings of Magdal and lotus seeds. Charity of Khatlo (bed) is given.
26. Abhida Ekadashi

Kartak Vadi Ekadashi is called Abhida Ekadashi. Lord Krishna with their wife Sulakshana are prayed with the flowers of Til and coconut. Offerings of Jaggery rice is done. Charity of Vrishab is given.
27. Kamla Ekadashi

The Ekadashi that falls in Adhik month is called Kamla Ekadashi. The main deity are lord Shree Purushottam. The rest of the rituals are that to be followed in Adhik month.

As said above are different kinds of Ekadashi. If a person cannot find things mentioned above for the offering then they should offer SUPARI in lieu of that, leaves of tulsi should be used, offerings of SAAKAR should be made and charity should be done according to ones capacity but one should not give up out of greed or idleness. Person doing the fasting should pray the deities along with their wives, parshads, Laxmiji along with Shree Krishna. Even by praying one Lord Shree Krishna, one has prayed all the deities of the respective Ekadashi’s and by praying one Goddess Laxmiji, one has prayed all the wives of the respective deities of the respective Ekadashi

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