Sri Ramanuja Munaye Namaha,
Dear Baktha,
Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami in EnpaNi # 33 “Ability in Austerity” says about the Ekadesi fasting.
1) Doing full fasting (Nirjala) is the ‘Standard method’ as per scriptures. So who has the ‘Ability’ to do full fasting, should comply.
2) If one doesn’t have the ability to do full fasting (NirJala), then Scriptures no where says to SKIP it completely. Atleast follow the fasting as much as possbile without skipping it (Nammal Aanadhai Seyya Vaendum).
If someone feels like fainting during Ekadesi, while doing full fasting, then they can eat prasadham to the neccessary amount to sustain their condition depending up on situation, but still comply the fasting rest of the time during Ekadesi day.
This is not prescribed in Scriptures, but we can follow it based on our family Elders or ask Acharyan.
This is called as ‘Shistacharam”.
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Swami says step by step ‘Alternative methods’ in this Enpani #33, that can be followed when we couldn’t follow the ‘Standard methods’ prescribed in Shastras either for Ekadesi or Shraddham or Dharpanam.
But the ‘Alternative method’ (DEVIATION) should not become a ‘Standard method’ during Ekadesi or Shraddham or Dharpanam, as it is a temperory method which needs to be followed only during very Critical or Emergency time.
That situational temperory solution can also vary from person to person. So, there is no ‘bench-mark’ deviation method common for all.
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Within a family, if wife can do full fasting with no issues, then she can continue full fasting. But, if the husband will faint during full fasting, then husband can eat prasadham to the neccessary amount to sustain their condition, keeping in mind that it is Ekadesi day. But wife cannot force her husband to do full fasting, since she is able to do. Same for vice-versa and other perons within family.
So adhering to the Shastras “as much as possible” without deviating is what is needed.
Thats why we need Acharyas/Sathvik Gurus like Swami to help us to understand what Shstaras says us to do.
Swami has said in one of the Upanyasam in Tamil as below.
[Adiyen will try to translate in English as much as possible. Sri Velukkudi Swami to forgive adiyen for translation or misinterpretation erros].
Swami has said that “If one is already so lean, how much he/she can do full fasting. Shastras doesn’t say strict on them. At the same time, though being lean, if they can survive through the Ekadesi day by full fasting, it is well and good. But a big person, who is just focussing only on eating in regular days, they should do Ekadesi full fasting “Nirjala”, since He/She can defenitley survive full fasting, but the same big person, if faint during full fasting due to health issues like diabetes etc, then he/she can eat prasadham depending up on the situation”.
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A) Shastras is ‘Very Strict’ to those who have ‘Ability’ to do, but are ‘Adamant’ in following and give excuses.
[Irukkamaanava’nukku, Sattam ‘Kadumaiyaga’ Irukkum]
[For Tight-hearted persons, Shastram is very Strict]
B) Shastras is ‘Easy’ to those who have the ‘Ability’ to do and ‘Follow’ easily.
[Eyandrava’nukku, Sattam ‘Inimaiyaaga’ Irukkum]
[For Easy-hearted persons, Shastram is very Sweet]
C) Shastars is ‘Flexible’ to those who are ‘incapable’ to comply, but ‘TRY’ as much as possible with temperory deviation due to inability, and get back immediately on track to follow Shastras after recovery.
[Eyaladhava’nukku, Sattam ‘Sulabhamaaga’ Irukkum]
[For Light-hearted persons, Shastram is very Flexible]
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[On Ekadesi day, don’t make more quantity of Prasadham like in normal days. If we know, we are going to waste it, then make minimal prasadham for sustainability, so prasadham is not wasted].
Overall, depending up on which status A), B), C) each one of us fit, we can decide our conduct based on Honesty. So, kindly don’t think ‘yet we don’t have rights to eat prasadham on Ekadesi day’.
Swami’s step by step ‘Alternative methods’ in this Enpani #33 “Ability in Austerity”, can be followed when we couldn’t follow the ‘Standard methods’ prescribed in Shastras either for Ekadesi or Shraddham or Dharpanam.
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Adiyen Velukkudi ‘SriKrishna’ Dasan,
Adiyen Acharya Dasan,
Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan,
Yella Neramum Paanaiyai ‘Pot’ (Body) pottu udaithu (break) panni,
Vennai ‘Butter’ (Athma) Saapittu Kondu Irukkum ‘SriKrishna’ BhagavAn ki Jai.
Sarvam Sri Krishna Kudumbham
