In this Kali Yuga, even if just one Ekadashi is observed with
dispassion, faith and devotion, and if the mind is wholly fixed on Hari, one is
freed from the rounds of birth and death. There is no doubt about this. The
scriptures give us their assurance on this point. Devotees fast on this day,
observe vigil the whole night and do Japa, Hari Kirtan and meditation. Some do
not take even a drop of water. Those who are unable to fast completely can take
some light fruit and milk. No rice should be taken on Ekadashi days. This is
very important. The sweat that fell down from the head of Brahma assumed the
form of a demon and said to the Lord, “O Lord! now give me an abode to dwell.”
Brahma replied, “O demon! go and dwell in the rice particles eaten by men on
Ekadashi day and become worms in their stomach.” For this reason rice is
prohibited on Ekadashi. If one observes the Ekadashi fast regularly, Lord Hari
is propitiated. All sins are destroyed. The
mind is purified. Devotion gradually develops. Love for God
becomes intense. Orthodox people in South India observe complete fasting and
vigil even on ordinary Ekadashi days. For the devotees of Lord Vishnu, every
Ekadashi is a very sacred day. <br> Benefits of Fasting Nowadays, many
educated people do not observe fasting on this sacred day. This is due to the
impact of the dark, vicious, materialistic forces. When the intellect develops
a little, people begin to enter into arguments and unnecessary discussions.
Intellect is a hindrance on the spiritual path. Theywho have not developed the heart but who have developed their intellect begin to doubt and question at every step. They are led astray. They want a “why” and a
“how” for everything. They want “scientific” explanations for all phenomena.
God is beyond proofs and presumptions. One has to approach religion and the
scriptures with great faith, reverence and purity of heart. Then only are the
secrets of religion revealed unto him like the apple in the palm of one’s hand.
Does anybody ask his mother to prove who is his father? Fasting controls
passion. It checks the emotions. It controls the senses also. It is a great
penance. It purifies the mind and the heart. It destroys a multitude of sins.
Fasting controls the tongue in particular which is the deadliest enemy of man.
Fasting overhauls the respiratory, circulatory, digestive and urinary systems.
It destroys all the impurities of the body and all sorts of poisons. It
eliminates uric acid deposits. Just as impure gold is
rendered pure by melting it in the
crucible again and again, so also this
impure mind is rendered purer by repeated
fasting. Young and robust Brahmacharis (celibates) should observe fasting
whenever passion troubles them. Only then will they have very good meditation,
as the mind will be rendered calm. The chief object of fasting is to render the
system calm so that one is able to practise meditation rigorously during that
period. Withdraw the senses and fix the
mind on God. Pray to God to guide you and to throw a flood of light on your
spiritual path. Say with feeling:
“O God, guide me! Protect me, protect me! I am Thine, I am
Thine! Forsake me
not!” You will be blessed with purity, light and strength.
Follow this Sadhana
on the
days that you fast, Ekadashi days in
particular. Fasting is one of the ten canons of Yoga. However, avoid excessive
fasting. It will produce weakness. Use your common sense. If you cannot fast
for the full twenty-four hours, at least fast for 10-12 hours and then take
some milk and fruit. Gradually increase your fast to 15 hours and then up
to 24 hours. Fasting makes a man strong, both spiritually and
mentally. Complete fasting helps to control sleep. Taking recourse to tea to
control sleep is not desirable. You will not gain any spiritual strength if you
depend on an external agent. During fasting avoid all company. Live alone.
Utilise your time in Sadhana. When breaking a fast do not take a heavy meal or
a heavy food that is hard to digest. Milk or some fruit juice is beneficial.
Moderation in eating and withdrawal of the senses in Yogic meditation are the
obverse and the reverse of the same coin. Moderation consists in taking a
little food or water just to keep the body in good working order.In
the <I>Gita </I>you will find: “Verily, Yoga
is not for him who eats too much, nor who abstains to excess,
nor who sleeps too much, nor to the excessively wakeful”. The Yogi withdraws
his senses from the particular sense objects. The senses are made to turn into
or get involved into the mind. When one is fully
established in these two practices, supreme control of the
senses is achieved. Once there was a demon, Mura, who oppressed the gods. The
gods approached Lord Hari for protection. Hari sent Yoga Maya to kill the
demon. Yoga Maya carried out the behests of the Lord successfully. Then the
Lord said to Yoga Maya, “Those who observe Ekadashi will be freed from all
sins, and you will be called by the name Ekadashi.” King mbarisha was a great
votary of Lord Hari. He practised the Ekadashi Vrata for a year. Ambarisha
obtained His Grace. On one occasion he fasted for three consecutive days. He
was about to break the fast when Rishi Durvasa appeared as his guest. The king
received him with due respect and requested him to take his meals. The Rishi
agreed and went to bathe in
the river. The king waited patiently for a long time, but the
Rishi did not return. Time was running out; if the king did not eat anything
before the day ended his Vrata would not bear fruit. And if he ate, he would be
showing disregard to the Rishi. As a compromise the king took a little water to
serve both the conditions. When Durvasa returned from his bath, he knew exactly
what had happened, and was angry. He tore a hair from his tuft and charged it
to kill Ambarisha. The king was unmoved. The discus of Lord Vishnu destroyed
the power of the hair of Durvasa. It now followed the Rishi wherever he went
and tried to destroy him. Rishi Durvasa went to Brahma and Shiva for help, but
to no avail. He went to Lord Hari who said to him, “I am dependent on My
devotees. My heart
is in the possession of My devotees. Go thou, therefore, to
Ambarisha; beg his pardon and thou shalt be saved.” Ambarisha thereupon prayed
to the charged hair to desist from its course, and saved the Rishi. Durvasa
thanked him from the bottom of his heart.
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