Ekadashi

Ekadashis are associated with the worship of the god Vishnu, patron of the Vaishnavism sect.

Ekadashi (Sanskrit: एकादशी, romanized: Ēkādaśī, lit. 'The eleventh day') is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of the waxing (Shukla Pakṣa) and waning (Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa) lunar cycles in a Vedic calendar month.[1] Ekadashi is popularly observed within Vaishnavism one of the major paths within Sanatan Dharma. Followers offer their worship to the god Vishnu by fasting or just symbolically; the idea was always to receive self-discipline and the benefits of fasting and it was connected to the way of life via Sanatam Dharma practices.[2][3]

In Hinduism, the primary purpose of fasting on Ekadashi is to gain control over the mind and bodily senses, and channel it towards spiritual progression. In addition, there are several health benefits to fasting.[4] Ekadashi fasting spans for three days. Devotees take single meal in the afternoon a day before Ekadashi day(Dasami) to make sure there is no residual food in the stomach on next day. Devotees keep a strict fast with no food or water on Ekadashi day and break the fast on next day(Dwadashi) only after sunrise.[5] Since this form of fasting is very stringent and may not be possible for people in all walks of life due to health and life choice reasons, a more liberal from of fasting is followed by most devotees.

There are different ways to observe the Ekadashi fasting in this method,[6] ranging from complete abstention from food and water to partial fasting or consuming only specific types of food. Devotee can chose the fasting approach that aligns with his/her health, lifestyle, and spiritual goals.[7]

  1. Nirjala: Devotees observe complete fasting without even water on Ekadashi day.
  2. Jalahar: In this type of Ekadashi fasting, devotees consume only water.
  3. Ksheerbhoji: In this type of Ekadashi fasting, devotees consume milk and milk products.
  4. Phalahari: In this type of Ekadashi fasting, the devotees consume only fruits.
  5. Naktabhoji: In this type of Ekadashi fasting, the devotees have single meal. Generally, in the later part of the day with dishes made of Sabudana, Singhada, Shakarkand (Yam), Potatoes and Groundnuts. However, the meal should not have any grains like rice, wheat, millets or cereals like dals and beans.

The timing of each ekadashi is according to the position of the moon.[8] The Hindu calendar marks progression from a full moon to a new moon as divided into fifteen equal arcs of 12°. Each arc measures one lunar day, called a tithi. The time it takes the moon to traverse a particular distance is the length of that lunar day. Ekadashi refers to the 11th tithi, or lunar day. The eleventh tithi corresponds to a precise angle and phase of the waxing and waning moon. In the bright half of the lunar month, the moon will be exactly 3/4 full on the start of Ekadashi, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be 3/4 dark on the start of Ekadashi.[9]

There are usually 24 Ekadashis in a calendar year. Occasionally, there are two extra Ekadashis that happen in a Hindu leap year.[10] Each Ekadashi day is purported to have particular benefits that are attained by the performance of specific activities.[11]

Bhagavata Purana (skandha IX, adhyaay 4) notes the observation of Ekadashi by Ambarisha, a devotee of Vishnu.[12]

Legend

The story behind Ekadashi began with Vishnu sleeping or in a meditative state. A demon, Murdanav, approached and attempted to attack Vishnu. At that time, a beautiful woman sprung forth from Vishnu's 11th sense (often called the "mind"). An infatuated Murdanav asked to marry her, to which she responded that she would agree only if he defeated her in battle. As they fought, Murdanav was eventually killed. Vishnu awoke from his sleep, and blessed the woman by naming her "Ekadashi", and stated that if anyone were to fast on this day, they would attain moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).[13][14]

List of Ekadashis

The table below describes the ekadashis and when they fall in the year.

Vedic lunar month Presiding deity Krishna paksha ekadashi Shukla paksha ekadashi 2024 Dates
Chaitra (चैत्र, March–April) Rama/Vishnu Papavimocani Ekadashi Kamada Ekadashi Papmochani/Papavimocani Ekadashi: 4-5 April

Kamada Ekadashi: 18-19 April[Note 1] (17-18 April in some traditions)[15][16]

Vaisakha (वैशाख, April–May ) Madhusudana (Vishnu) Varuthini Ekadashi Mohini Ekadashi Varuthini Ekadashi: 3-4 May

Mohini Ekadashi: 18-19 May[15][16]

Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठ, May–June) Trivikrama (Vishnu) Apara Ekadashi Nirjala Ekadashi Vaishnava Apara & Apara Ekadashi: 2-3 June

Nirjala Ekadashi: 17-18 June[15][16]

Ashada (आषाढ, June–July) Vamana Yogini Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi Yogini Ekadashi: : 1-2 July

Devshayani (Shayani) Ekadashi: 16-17 July (15 -16 July in some traditions)[15][16]

Shravana (श्रावण, July–August) Sridhara Kamika Ekadashi Shravana Putrada Ekadashi Kamika Ekadashi: 30-31 July[Note 1]

Shravana Putrada Ekadashi: 15-16 August[Note 1][15][16]

Bhadrapada
(भाद्रपद, August–September)		 Hrishikesha[17] Annada Ekadashi Parsva Ekadashi Aja (Annada) Ekadashi: 29-30 August[Note 1]

Parsva Ekadashi: 13-14 September[15][16]

Ashvina (अश्विन्, September–October) Padmanabha Indra Ekadashi[18] Pasankusa Ekadashi Indira (Indra) Ekadashi: 27-28 September[Note 1]

Papankusha Ekadashi: 13-14 October[15][16]

Kartik (कार्तिक, October–November) Damodara Rama Ekadashi[19] Prabodhini Ekadashi Rama Ekadashi: 27-28 October[Note 1]

Devutthana Ekadashi: 11-12 November[15][16]

Margashirsha(Agrahayana)
(मार्गशीर्ष, November–December)		 Keshava Utpanna Ekadashi Mokshada Ekadashi/Vaikuntha Ekadashi Utpanna Ekadashi: 26-27 November[Note 1]

Mokshada & Guruvayur(Vaikuntha) Ekadashi: 11-12 December[15][16]

Pausha (पौष, December–January) Narayana (Vishnu/Krishna) Saphala Ekadashi Pausha Putrada Ekadashi/Vaikuntha Ekadashi Saphala Ekadashi: 7-8 January (11 -12 January in Eastern Traditions)

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi: 20-21 January[15][16]

Magha (माघ, January–February) Madhava Shattila Ekadashi Bhaimi Ekadashi / Jaya Ekadashi Shattila Ekadashi: 5-6 February[Note 1]
Bhaimi/Jaya Ekadashi: 19-20 February[15][20][21][16]
Phalguna (फाल्गुन, February–March) Govinda (Krishna) Vijaya Ekadashi Amalaki Ekadashi Vaishnava Vijaya & Vijaya Ekadashi: 6-7 March (4 -5 March in some traditions)[Note 1]

Amalaki Ekadashi: 20-21 March[15][16]

Adhika month
(अधिक, once in 2–3 years)		 Purushottama Padmini Vishuddha Ekadashi Parama Shuddha Ekadashi

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Fasting may begin several days before

References

  • Gangadharan, N., Agni Purana, New Delhi: Motilala Banarsidass, 1985, Chapter 178.
  • Iyer, N.P. Subramania, Kalaprakasika: The standard book on the election (mahoortha) system: with the original text in Devanagari and English translation, New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1982.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ekadasi tithi.
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  3. ^ Melton, J. Gordon (13 September 2011). Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. p. 490. ISBN 978-1-59884-205-0.
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  9. ^ "The Hindu Calendar". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  10. ^ Bikos, Konstantin. "Leap Months and Leap Days in the Hindu Calendar".
  11. ^ Goswami, Danvir; Das, Kushakrita (2010). Sri Garga Samhita. Rupanuga Vedic College Publishing.
  12. ^ Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta Swami (1995). Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto Nine. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. pp. 85–170. ISBN 978-81-8957491-8.
  13. ^ Melton 2011, p. 585.
  14. ^ "Mokshada Ekadasi". ISKCON. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
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  18. ^ "Indira Ekadashi 2019: Date, Times, Puja Vidhi, Shubh Mahurat and all you need to know - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  19. ^ "Rama Ekadashi 2019: आज है रमा एकादशी, जानिए शुभ मुहूर्त, पूजा विधि, व्रत कथा और महत्‍व" [Rama Ekadashi 2019- Date, Time, Significance, Auspicious Time, Puja Vidhi, Vrat Katha and Lakshmi-Puja]. NDTVIndia. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
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  21. ^ "Hare Krishna Calendar - Bhaimi Ekadashi 2023". Hare Krishna Calendar. 9 October 2019.