HOW TO PERFORM EKADASI FASTING?

 

1. Actually fasting on the Ekadasi day means fasting from all categories of eatables and drinks.
2. The eight following exceptions do not break one's fast: drinking water, eating potatoes, sweet potatoes, drinking milk, eating yogurt, eating butter, eating things by the request of a traditionally authentic Brahmana following the orders of a Vedicly authorized Guru, and consuming the prescribed medicines."
3. According to the Padma Purana, sin personified (Papa-purusha) was told by the Lord to live in food grains on the Ekadasi day. Sin personified retracts himself from all other places and enters into grains on the Ekadasi day. When a person eats grains on the Ekadasi day, he solemnly consumes sins.
4. In all circumstance eating normal food on Ekadasi is forbidden for all human beings. The Brhan Naradiya Purana states, "It does not matter what category of special birth one has, either born as a Brahmana, Ksyatriya, Vaisya, Sudra, Mleccha or Yavana, male or female, everyone must perform the Ekadasi fast.
6. "Why is eating normal food forbidden on Ekadasi?" The answer is found in the Naradiya Purana where it states, "All categories of sins live in food grains on the Ekadasi day, anyone who eats them becomes filled with sins."
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8. What about eating Mahaprasad (eatables offered to the Deity of the Lord) on the Ekadasi day? The answer to this question is found in the Narada Pancharatra where it states, "If Mahaprasad includes grains, it should be kept for the next day."
10. Aany person, even if pious, who eats regular food on Ekadasi day becomes filled with sins." The Visnu Dharmottara states, "In each morsel of regular food eaten by anyone on Ekadasi day, the person receives the equal amount of sin of eating cow's meat.
12. There is no atonement for those who eat regular food on Ekadasi." The Gautamiya Tantra states, "Those who eat regular food on Ekadasi will fall to hell."
13. The Visnu Dharmottra states that "anyone who suggests that normal food can be eaten on Ekadasi, or that nothing happens to a person by eating regular food on Ekadasi, become ghosts after their death."
14. The Narada Purana, the Padma Purana and the Agni Puranas state, "Everyone, including Gurus, Acharya, Sanyasis, Grahasthis, widows and the contaminated woman with her menstrual period, must not eat food grains on the Ekadasi day. Undoubtedly everyone must fast from food grains on the Ekadasi day."
16. One may ask what is the minimum age and the maximum age for fasting on Ekadasi? The answer to this can be found in the Katyayana Smruti where it states, "Beginning from the age of eight till one completes the age of eighty, he or she must fast on Ekadasi." The Naradiya Purana states, "The authority of observing Ekadasi is given to those who have entered their age of eight and continue till they reached the age of eighty. Everyone must perform Ekadasi."
18. One may question if the Ekadasi fast is only for Vaisnavas, or intended for others as well? In answer, the Vishnu Dharmottara states, "Those who claim to be devotees of Lord Vishnu, as well as those who worship Lord Siva, everyone must follow the Ekadasi fast."
19. The Skanda Purana states, "Either one is a devotee of Lord Krsna, Lord Vishnu, Lord Siva, Skanda, Ganesha, Durga or Surya, everyone must fast on the Ekadasi day."
21. One may ask, what if due to illness one is unable to observe the Ekadasi fast? To this the Vayu Purana states, "If, due to illness, one is genuinely unable to perform the Ekadasi fast, he or she should give charity to a traditional Brahmana with the request that he perform the Ekadasi fast on his/her behalf."
23. One may inquire, what if one needs medication on Ekadasi? To this the Tattvasagara states, "Medicine consumption does not break ones fast."
25. Now one may ask, what should one do on Ekadasi after one passes the age of eighty? To this the Bodhayana Smruti states, "After the age of eighty, if one is unable to fast on Ekadasi, eating one meal in the afternoon of Ekadasi day is allowed."
27. It is stated in the Padma Purana, "If `Sraddha day' of one's parents falls on the Ekadasi day, it should be postponed to the next day (Dvadasi), because even the celestial beings (demigods) do not eat food grains on the Ekadasi day."
28. It is stated in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, "If someone performs `Sraddha' on the Ekadasi Day, the giver of the charity, the taker of the charity, and the deceased person for whom the charity is being given, all three go to hell."
29. It is stated in the Varaha Purana, "If someone becomes contaminated due to a death in the house, still one should perform the Ekadasi fast, after first taking a clean bath and paying homage to Lord Hari."
30. It stated in the Visnu Rahasya, "Even if one's home is contaminated by a new birth of a child, or a recent death of a relative, still the Ekadasi fast should be observed."
31. One may wonder what the result of observing Ekadasi is? To this Vasistha Muni states in the Naradiya Purana, "If Ekadasi is observed correctly while worshipping the Supreme Lord Sri Hari, the acquired sins of the follower's previous life get destroyed."
32. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana states, "In this world there are only two concrete procedures for attaining liberation and atoning for one's sins. These two things are– fasting on the Ekadasi days and chanting of the names of Supreme Lord Sri Hari."
34. "What to speak of eating normal food containing grains, if someone eats fruits or vegetables on Padma, Parivartini or Haribodhini Ekadasis, I do not forgive, and send him/her down to hell."
35. Lord Siva tells Parvati the following in the Padma Purana, "If someone ignores the Ekadasi fast and instead observes other fasting days, he/she is liked to a person who reaches for mud, bypassing diamonds."
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37. It is stated in the Skanda Purana, "If one puts the merits obtained from performing the Ekadasi fast on one side of a scale, and the merits obtained from performing other fasts on the other side of the scale, the merit obtained from performing the Ekadasi fast will definitely be heavier."
38. What is the proper way to determine the correct day to follow the Ekadasi fast? In answer to this question, the Siva Purana states, "There are two categories of overlapping days which help to determine the proper fasting day–Ekadasi mixed with previous days (the Dasami tithi), and–Ekadasi mixed with the next day (the Dvadasi tithi). The later day (Ekadasi mixed with Dvadasi) must be accepted for fasting."
39. Srila Sanatana Goswami states in the Digdarsini Tika (20.203), "Ekadasi mixed with the previous day destroys the merits earned by the observer."
40. The Supreme Lord is quoted in the Hari Bhakti Vilasa, "What to speak of eating normal food consisting of grains, if someone eats even fruits or vegetables on Padma, Parivartini or Haribodhini Ekadasis, I do not forgive, and send him (her) deep down to hell."
42. The Visnu Dharmottar states, "One should fast on Ekadasi mixed with Dvadasi, but never fast on Ekadasi mixed with Dasami." Following this rule we astrologically calculate the Ekadasi fasting days. Sometimes it is seen that many Vaisnava calendars differ with our dates because others do not measure their calculation with established Vedic scriptures. Because of the consequence of incurring sin rather than merit from performing Ekadasi on an incorrect day, we say that calculating the correct date is more important than the fasting itself.
44. It is stated in the Naradiya Purana, "Due to illusion (or being proud), if someone fasts on an incorrect date, rather than gaining merits, one looses merits, looses health, and family members."
45. The Brahma Purana states, Once Dhrtarastra asked Maitreya Muni why all his sons were dead, to which Maitreya Muni replied, "You, together with your wife, had observed an Ekadasi fast on an incorrect day, that is why not even one of your sons remained alive."
46. The Brahma Purana states, "When Lord Rama vanished Goddess Sita, She lived in the Ashram of Valmiki Muni. While living there, She asked Valmiki, 'O sage! I am completely pure and devoted to Lord Rama, Why am I suffering?' To this Valmiki meditated deeply on the topic and said, 'You had previously observed an Ekadasi fast on an incorrect day, that is why Your suffering has occurred.'"
47. In Satyayuga Queen Saivya, the wife of King Hariscandra, asked Vasistha Muni the cause of her suffering. To this Vasistha Muni replied, "Your suffering from separation from your son and husband is due to your observing an Ekadasi fast on an incorrect date." He further said, "Anyone who fasts on Ekadasi mixed with Dasami will surely loose his family members and also suffer in hell."
48. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana states, "Just as a pot of Ganges water is rejected if a drop of wine falls in it, similarly an Ekadasi date should be rejected if it is tinged with Dasami." It is stated in the Skanda Purana, "Anyone who indicates or suggests to follow the Ekadasi on an incorrect date is certainly bewildered by the illusion created by Sukracharya." This is confirmed by Lord Siva, speaking to Parvati in the Skanda Purana thus, "O Devi, Whoever fasts on an incorrect date for Ekadasi (Ekadasi mixed with Dasami), he or she is asking to go to hell."
49. One may ask what rules to follow on Ekadasi day? In answer to this, the Hari Bhakti Vilasa states,"Beginning from the day before Ekadasi till one day after Ekadasi, one should avoid every category of sex, avoid bleeding inside the mouth, sleeping in the day time, and activities which are forbidden by the scriptures." To this one may ask, what activities must be done on Ekadasi day? To this the Hari Bhakti Vilasa states, "Worshipping the Lord, chanting His names, studying those scriptures which glorify Lord Hari, and speaking the truth, are the main activities to be done on Ekadasi."
50. One should avoid bleeding in the mouth the day before, the day of, and the day after a fasting day. Because brushing one's teeth with a toothbrush may cause bleeding in the mouth, it is advised to clean one's teeth by applying toothpaste with one's finger on these days.
52. According to the scriptures, "On fast days one should avoid sea salt because Agastya muni once drank the ocean and passed it out as urine."