I have received many emails requesting me to compile an article on Ekadashi and its influence and importance with regards to Weddings, Katha and Jhunda, Durga Path, General Pujas, Deaths, Funerals and the like. We hope that this article will give clarity with regards to this Fasting day which until now was quite largely unheard of amongst us Hindu’s.

Ekadashi, for those who don’t know is a Sanskrit word, which means 'the eleventh day'. Ekadashi occurs twice in a month, on the 11th day of the bright and dark fortnight. One can find these dates on Hindu calendars and on our website www.dipika.org.za. The special feature of Ekadashi is a fast that one abstains from grains, meat, alcohol, shaving and cutting one’s nails.

In the Caitanya-caritamrita (Adi-lila, chapter 15 verses 8-10), states “One day Shree Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell down at the feet of His mother and requested her to give Him one thing in charity. His mother replied, "My dear son, I will give You whatever You ask." Then the Lord said, "My dear mother, please do not eat grains on the Ekadashi day."Mother Sachi said, "You have spoken very nicely. I shall not eat grains on Ekadashi." From that day, she began to observe fasting on Ekadashi.”

And in the purport to these verses Srila Prabhupada explains that even though devotees eat food cooked for and offered to Lord Vishnu, prasada, which is spiritually potent and free from all karma, even on Ekadashi a devotee does not eat even maha-prasada that has grains in it. It can be saved for the next day.

When I read the above verses many, many years back when I first started studying our sastras I was really taken aback by these verses. It did make such a profound impact on me that I made it my life’s ambition to make people aware of this most holy of days… If one calls him/herself a Hindu then they must observe Ekadashi. Today by the kindest mercy of Srimati Ekadashi Devi Herself many many people that are not even Hindu’s are observing this most holy of days.

Asta varsadhiko martyo apurna asiti vatsarah

Ekadasyam upavaset paksayor ubhayor api.

“From the age of eight to the age of eighty, a person should fast on all of the

Ekadashi’s on both the light and the dark parts of the month”.

(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 12/75 from Katyayana smriti)

Lord Krishna says that if a person fasts on Ekadashi, “I will burn up all his sins. Indeed this day is the most meritorious day for destroying all kinds of sins.” Ekadashi was created as the Supreme Medicine to remove the disease of the material world of having a miserable material body and mind that is full of suffering.

We take on sins (and even more obstacles in one’s life) on this day if we consume grains since PAAP PURUSHA (sin personified) resides only in grains on this day. Also grains eaten on this day becomes harmful and remains undigested and turns toxic in the body-giving rise to various diseases and ailments. If any part of the body is overworked (generally the stomach is the most overworked organ), there will be dislocation of the working of the body. So, in fasting (like on Ekadashi) the energy is equally distributed, as the digestive function is not there. But, there should be no overdoing in fasting. Fasting is supposed to cause buoyancy of feeling and not fatigue. So people who are sick and cannot observe a total fast can take milk, fruits, water, fruit juices and vegetables. People, who are perfectly healthy and are confident, observe a complete fast. This helps in control of mind and will.

What many don’t know is that Ekadashi is not just a Hindu fast but a fast that should be observed by all humanity.... Srila Prabhupad mentioned that if a nation observes this fasting day then it can have so many health, psychological and other types of benefits... One should know that this fast is also observed by the Devas like Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Lord Indra and Devi's like Mother Durga, Mother Sarasvati and Mother Lakshmi and the rest of the Deva’s and Devi's. This is what I have just stated is an important piece of information because this will be used again and again below.

In any puja one performs one must invoke Lord Ganesh, Mother Gauri and the Navagrahas (9 planets). Now in the 16 items one offers to the invoked Deities is Naivedyam... Naivedyam is Sweet Rice, or yogurt mixed with sugar, or any sweet dish... Now this is where the problem arises because we are not supposed to offer sweet rice to the above Deities since they themselves are observing this very important fast.

Now I will be elaborating in detail on the different prayers that can and cannot be performed on Ekadashi...

In 2000 the late Pt H.R. Maharaj (my revered late Guru) from the SLNT released a brilliant article called “Shraddha” and in that article Guruji states that “The final rites after Death are called Antyesti. The ceremonies performed after the 10th, 13th day followed by the monthly observances until the yearly ceremony are called Shraddha."

Question: - Can a funeral be performed on Ekadashi?

Answer: - Absolutely NOT!!! Any shraddha Puja (i.e. a funeral, the 10th day puja, the 12/13th puja, the 6th and the 11 and ½ month pujas should NEVER be performed on this most holy of days. Srila Jiva Goswami has given quotations from many sastras stating that the shraddha ceremony of oblations to the forefathers should not be performed on Ekadashi Tithi (day). When the Tithi of the death anniversary falls on Ekadashi day, the shraddha ceremony should be held not on Ekadashi but on the next day, or Dvadashi. In the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana this is stated: -

Ye kurvanti maheepaala

shraaddham caikaadashee-dine

trayas te narakam yaanti

daataa bhoktaa ca prerakah

“If one performs the shraddha ceremony of oblations to the forefathers on the Ekadashi tithi, then the performer, the forefathers for whom the shraddha is observed, and the purohita, or the family priest who encourages the ceremony, all go to hell.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.14.23 Purport... There are very grave consequences for those who perform shraddha puja on Ekadashi.

Question: - Can one perform weddings on Ekadashi?

Answer: - Yes this is fine as long as one offers Lord Ganesh, Mother Gauri, the Navagrahas (planets) non grain food. With regards to Lord Vishnu we offer grains since we are fasting for Him. But the real problem arises what food to prepare for the invited guests, since the staple food for most Indian weddings is Biryani, Dhal, Salad and Suji (pudding). Now remember if you perform the wedding on Ekadashi you MUST cook Ekadashi (non-grain) food even for the guests... It just don’t work that the groom and bride has Ekadashi food but the invited guests has grain food. I would STRONGLY advise this as this will be a very inauspicious start to one's married life.

Question: - Can one perform a Katha and Jhunda Prayer on Ekadashi?

Answer: - In a Jhunda puja one hoists a jhunda (Flag) to Shree Hanumanji. Now we know that one traditionally offers to Shree Hanumanji Rhot and Panjari...These two items consists of grains. As I mentioned above that even Shree Hanumanji observes the Ekadashi fast, so to offer grains to Shree Hanumanji, do you really think Hanumanji will accept that food? Of course not... So I would strongly advise one to perform one's Katha and Jhunda on a day that’s does not fall on Ekadashi. And when one performs the puja one generally invites family members and friends… Then it means you must cook Ekadashi (non-grain) food for them as well…

Question: - Can one perform a havan on Ekadashi?

Answer: - Yes as long as the food that is offered to Shree Ganesh-Gauri is non grain foods. The grains that are offered into the fire are ultimately for Shree Vishnu.

Question: - Can one perform a Hurdi/Nelengu on Ekadashi?

Answer: - Firstly one should plan one’s wedding carefully because if the Hurdi/Nelengu is done on Ekadashi others issues come up like the food you are going to cook for the guests has to be Ekadashi (non-grain) food. As well as the turmeric (hurdi) must be whole turmeric ground to a paste... One cannot use shop turmeric because that has flour (which is grain) in it. Also mustard oil is used but on Ekadashi one cannot use this...

Question: - Can one perform a Durga Path puja on Ekadashi?

Answer: - I would advise against performing one’s Durga path on Ekadashi as one offers to Ma Durga Halwa, puri, boiled channa, sweet rice etc. This is grains and as I has stated above that Mother Durga herself fasts on this most holy of days.

Additional information: - *In Pitr Paksha, Ekadashi is 4 days before new moon (Amavasya). On this day one should not offer any grains to one’s ancestors. One should offer Ekadashi (non-grain food) on this day. In 2010 Pitr Paksha Ekadashi falls on 4th October. *

*Navaratri... with regards to Navaratri its fine as Navaratri falls immediately after Pitr Paksha for nine days. Ekadashi is observed two days after Navaratri ends...*

I have listed the remaining Ekadashi days until the end of this year (2010) as a guide... Plz when choosing a day for your Katha and Jhunda, Shraddha Puja, or Wedding and so forth make sure you try to perform it on a Non-Ekadashi day just avoid any issues...

Sayana Ekadashi = 21 July.

Kamika Ekadashi = 6th August.

Pavitropana Ekadashi = 20th August.

Annada Ekadashi = 5th September.

Parshva Ekadashi = 18th September.

Indira Ekadashi = 4th October.

Papankusha Ekadashi = 18th October.

Rama Ekadashi = 2nd November.

Utthana Ekadashi = 17th November.

Utpanna Ekadashi = 2nd December.

Mokshada Ekadashi = 17th December

Saphala Ekadashi = 31st December.

So if your prayers fall on Ekadashi you should respectfully and humbly ask your Priest/Punditji to perform it the next day or on another auspicious day...

Of course this is my very humble advice and I cannot force anyone to observe it. I compiled this article just for the concern of our fellow Hindus as this topic has not been clarified sufficiently in the past by our respected elders…

Narottam Das