Regarding Ekadashi

Updated on February 12, 2024 in Daily rituals and practice
20 on September 21, 2017

What is the proper procedure for ekadashi fast?

 
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1 on September 21, 2017

Dear Sir

Based on what i have heard I describe below:

  1. The previous day dashami is suggested to start fasting. Either dinner is skipped or a light early dinner or a fruit milk dinner is suggested.
  2. The next day one has to rise early morning and take a head bath.
  3. The daily worship ,practices etc are done.
  4. Some rice rice offering can be made to Lord and offered to others or preserved in fridge.
  5. Spiritual practices of nama sankirtan, reading holy books etc must be increased on this day to help remember the Lord.
  6. For oneself, depending on one’s spiritual advancement and bodily condition, age, circumstances and if working on that day or not one can choose different possible type of fasts- complete fast> fast  but take water alone> fast but take milk and fruits alone > fast but take cooked vegetables, fruits and milk > fast but take some items which are considered non-grain (what constitutes non-grain- this depends on the advice given by the Acharya you are following)
  7. Worldly activities are minimized on this day
  8. Ideally one can remain awake at night, but may not be possible for many depending on their time place and circumstance.
  9. Finally the next day on Dwadashi , worship and offering is made. Agathi keerai , amla etc can be cooked and offered to the Lord.
  10. Prasadam should be offered to qualified brahmanas then feed cows with Agathi keerai if possible
  11. Then one can break the fast by taking grains. This must be ideally done in a specified period on Dwadashi (called paaranai time if i am right.

Most of us including me focus too much on point no 6 above and miss many other aspects. Point no 6 is essential but not sufficient condition.

 Also to ascertain the right day for fasting for ekadasi involves lot of nuances. It differs for Smartas and Vaisnavas, Vaisnavas usually fast on Shuddha ekadasi, that which does not have any dasami part in the early morning hours too. Among Vaisnavs too Gaudiya vaisnavas sometime fast on Dwadasi instead of Ekadasi (in certain specific ekadasi alone), it involves some deeper astrological aspects which i am not aware of, others here who know about it can enlighten us.

Hope my mistakes will be corrected by others.

Thank you.

 

 

on September 21, 2017

Thanks for the information.

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3 on September 22, 2017

Sri:
Point no 4, I differ
“Some rice rice offering can be made to Lord and offered to others or preserved in fridge.”

We should not eat rice or force others to eat anything on Ekadeshi. Both results in sin.

We should not eat food preserved in fridge as per AhAra niyamam.

Also we cannot avoid Perumal prasadham even during Ekadeshi as per my little knowledge.

Pure Ekadeshi fasting is “NirJala” not even drink water

Dasanudasan

on September 24, 2017

Sir
Thanks for your inputs.
Correct refrigerated food should strictly be avoided but at this age I am not sure how many people are so fortunate…then best is to prepare tamarind rice or lemon rice for neivadyam..it can remain fresh without being refrigerated..
Or to simplify just fruits can be offered too.

Regards

on September 24, 2017

Even if ifs ordinaire prasadh ifs supposée to be kept aside for dwadasi oedème time and grains,rice and certain types of vegetables should be avoided,if one does nirjala ,the fast should be broken at parana time on dwadasi by thirtha offered to narayana and if ifs partial fast of eating on fruits or vegetables it should be broken at parana at dwadasi with bhagavans prasadham containing grains,minimum worldly things in mind and more kesava in mind and less sleep ,control of senses and control dependency on indriyas to get close to oedème time ,chanting,temple,smrithi,saadhu samagam bhajans,bhagavatham should be main motive on ekadesi

on September 24, 2017

Even if its bhagavan prasadh its supposed to be kept aside for dwadasi parana time

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0 on October 11, 2017

Sri Ramanuja Munaye Namaha,

Super all Baktha’s about following Shastras as best as possible, and primarily mentioning about:

* point 5,
* we cannot avoid Perumal prasadham,
* more Kesava in mind…….smrithi,…saadhu samagam…….etc…….

Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami Yellarudaya Manadhayum Aandananaey,
Sarvam SriKrishna Kudumbham.

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0 on October 17, 2017

Thank u so much for the detailed points ji.. first time did complete ekadesi fasting with only fruits and next day finish it . I have to follow many points to do full fasting … thank u so much for all devotees ..

Sri velukkudi Krishnan swami thiruvadikagale saranam

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0 on October 17, 2017

Sri Ramanuja Munaye Namaha,

Super Baktha for doing Ekadesi fasting for BhagavAn Kesavan Happiness based on Baktha’s ‘Yatha Shakthi’ (to the Capacity what Baktha possess).

Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami ThiruvAdigalaey Thanjam,
Sarvam Sri Krishna Kudumbham.

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4 on April 6, 2021

Namaskaram.

fast but take cooked vegetablesFrom enpanifan
fast but take some items which are considered non-grainFrom enpanifan
certain types of vegetables should be avoided,From Prapannan

adiyen has observed in the following link

https://www.tamilbrahmins.com/threads/ekadasi-veratham-smartha-vainava.40344/ 

roots (such as beet root, potatoes, carrot, sweet potatoes, tapioca, sago etc.), nuts (ground nuts etc.,),  Singhara flour, Kutu flour, Sama Rice can be consumed on fasting days. 

Of course, this is considering one’s body condition and age.

adiyen request to provide the details such as name of vegetables, non-grains etc.,

adiyen

on April 7, 2021

Srimate Raamanujaye Namaha!

Jayaram swamy, there are different school of thoughts on what can be considered as non-grain..Saamai, Quinoa, Amaranth flour etc. can be considered as non- grain perhaps.. (not sure if all millets will fall in this category).

Most vegetables can be taken except for few exceptions perhaps. Instead fruits, amarntath chapatti with groundnuts may be a better option.. 

(P.S: For amaranth chappati need to use boiled yellow pumpkin or so as binder. Hope you can find suitable recipes) 

Adiyen

Thirukachidaasanudasan

on April 7, 2021

enpanifan swamy,

Thank you.
Will also check for கொண்டைக் கடலை (Chickpea) and it’s variants.

adiyen

on April 7, 2021

Swami , I am of impression that chick pea is considered a grain. Please check.

Adiyen

on April 7, 2021

Thanks swamy,

In some sites it is mentioned as to be avoided. I thought chickpea will give filling feeling.

adiyen

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0 on April 16, 2021

Adiyen stopped Ekadeshi vratham after Appa’s departure.

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4 on October 10, 2023

Namaskaram
I am confused about feeding cow ,
on Dwadashi day after paranai can we feed agasthya sagam to cow
Adiyen dasan

on December 20, 2023

Srimate Raamanujaye namaha,

Namaskaram swamy, question is unclear due to some typo error. Are you referring to Agathi keerai saadam?

adiyen

on January 30, 2024

Yes Agathi keerai,to feed cow after paranai or before paranai this is my doubt

on February 8, 2024

Adiyen,
Before Dwadhasi paranai.

on February 12, 2024

Dhanyoshmi swami

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