Ekadashi and Why?

What is the single most important

reason to observe and celebrate
Ekadashi?

The single most important reason

is the Shreeji Maharaj’s aagna in
Shikshapatri Shloka No. 79
 Shikshapatri Shloka 79

This Shloka is
taken from the
Shikshapatri
that was given
to Sir Malcolm
in 1830 by
Lord Shree
Swaminarayan
 Shikshapatri Shloka 79

My devotees shall observe fast on
Ekadashi. They shall also fast
devoutly on Janmashtami and
Shivratri, and shall celebrate these
with songs in honour of Lord Shree
Krishna being played on musical
instruments in a spirit of great glory.
Shikshapatri Shloka 79
 Shikshapatri Shloka 80

On these days of fasting one must
avoid sleeping during the day as it
nullifies the fast. In similar manner
the fast is nullified by sexual
indulgence.
Shikshapatri Shloka 80
 What is Ekadashi?

Ekadashi is a Sanskrit word.
Eka = 1 and dashi = 10 (1+10=11)

Ekadashi comes once every fortnight

Ekadashi is the King of all the fasts

Ekadashi is when one withdraws the
ten Indriyas and eleventh – the mind,
from their worldly ‘foods’ and focus
them on god and devotional activities.
 What is Ekadashi?

Ekadashi is not just about eating right type of
food, it is about controlling your senses and mind
as well.

Sight = Food for Eyes, control what you see, only

watch religious programs on TV, serials like Shree
Swaminarayan / Ramayana etc.

Sound = Food for Ears, no Bhangra / R & B / Pop

Taste = Food for Tongue, no gossip or swearing
 What is Ekadashi?

As well as 24 Ekadashi in a year there
are 5 other festival days, which must
be observed just like an Ekadashi

Hari Jayanti (Ramnavmi)

Janmashtami

Shivratri

Vaman Jayanti

Narshi Jayanti
 Story of Ekadashi

Shreeji Maharaj spoke to saints in the
Vachanamrut Gadhada II. 8.

"The significance of the observance of the
Ekadashi Vrata is like this. In ancient times, Lord
Narayan was resting, by drawing inward his ten
Indriyas and the mind. Mur Danav – a demon,
and the son of Nadi Jangh, came there and
challenged the Lord to enter into a combat with
him. In the meantime, a young lady appeared
there, evolved out of the Ekadash Indriyas of the
Lord Narayan.
Story of Ekadashi

Ekadashi Mur-Danav
 Story of Ekadashi

Seeing the charms of the young lady, the demon
Mur Danav was drawn to her and proposed to
her. With a prompt gesture, the young lady said,
`I have taken a vow that whosoever shall defeat
me in straight fight shall marry me.' The demon
– Mur Danav, therefore, accepted the challenge
and entered into a fight with her. The young
lady killed the demon with a dagger.
Story of Ekadashi

Ekadashi killed Mur Danav

 Story of Ekadashi

Lord Narayan, pleased at the destruction of the demon by
the young lady, told her to ask a boon. The young lady then
said, 'Since I am evolved out of your Ekadash Indriyas, my
name is Ekadashi. I am wedded to Tapa. I therefore desire
that people should observe the Ekadashi Vrata and should
restrain their Ekadash Indriyas from indulging in their
respective sense objects. Hearing the words of the young
lady, Lord Narayan granted her the boon. Lord Narayan
suggested that she does not need her sword anymore.
Ekadashi proposed that she would use her sword to cut Sins
of Satsangis who observe Ekadashi Vrata. Lord Narayan
agreed and offered her to reside in his eyes (Netras). This is
the story of Ekadashi Vrata narrated in the Purana.”
 Ekadashi Vrata

Some people fast on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Fridays, Saturdays, ect. This might be due to
some kind of belief of theirs, however, it is of no
spiritual benefit. Only the 24 Ekadashis and 5
other days of fasting are important in the whole
year. The history of Ekadashi is fully explained in
the Satsangijivan, 3rd part, chapters 31 to 38 and
in Vachanamrut Gadhada II. 8.
 Why on 11th

It refers to the 11th day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar
month – the bright and the dark. The moon influences
the tides, and also the moods of mankind. We have
energy centres in our body called ‘chakras’. The moon’s
influence on the body has an influence on the chakras,
which tells upon the mind ultimately. On Ekadashi the
mind finds itself in its own abode which is the ‘eye-brow
centre’ (chakra) and the ‘heart’ centre (chakra). So the
mind gets concentrated and collected easily on these
days. Seekers take advantage of these two days per
month and try to practice deep meditation.

11 represents, your mind, 5 senses and 5 motor organs

5 Senses

1 Sight (eyes)

2 Sound (ear)

3 Smell (nose)

4 Touch (skin)

5 Taste (tongue)
5 Motor Organs

1 Vocal chords (mouth)

2 Hands

3 Feet

4 Reproductive Organs

5 Excretory Organs
Senses, Mind & Motor Organs

Ekadashi is all about controlling 10 Senses
and the Mind.

Reproductive Organs

Excretory Organs
 Ekadashi Vrata

Shreeji Maharaj spoke to Satsangis in the Vachanamrut
Gadhada I. 38.

“Fasting on Ekadashi carries significance. Ten Indriyas
and mind should be withdrawn from their respective
worldly foods, and should be focused on God only. The
significance of the Ekadashi Vrata is in starving the
Indriyas and mind of their food. Therefore this Vrata
should be observed constantly by the devotee of God.
If the mind is not fully detached from worldly desires
then mere denying food to the body does not lead to
spiritual development. “
 Ekadashi Vrata

Anyone who fasts on these twenty-nine days
of the year is said to be Vaishnav.

Those who observe self-discipline on these
days of fast suffer no pain in their lives. By
performing the vrata, one can cleanse the
body and soul by giving it a rest. Just as a
car needs time to cool down after a long
journey, so does our body. By allowing the
body to rest on these days, we can make it
work better.
 Ekadashi Vrata

Who should observe Ekadashi?

Ekadashi should be observed by all persons aged
between 8 and 80

At the age of 80 years one can stop fasting on the
day of Ekadashi if one’s body is not healthy. If one
is still very healthy then, fasting on Ekadashi should
be carried out. People who do not observe Ekadashi
not only remain very unfortunate, but pick up
mountains of Sins. Shiksapatri Bhashya explains the
consequences and magnitude of Sins one gets by
not observing Ekadashi.
 Ekadashi Vrata

Ekadashi Fasting in order of Merit

1 No Food or Water

2 No Food but Water only

3 No Food but Milk only once a day

4 Fruit only once a day

5 Farari Food (e.g. Rajgaro, Moraiyo
(samo) Potatoes, Cassava, Milk products,
Only once a day and HOME COOKED
Ekadashi Benefit
 Ekadashi Fruits

All types of Fruits can be eaten on Ekadashi
 Food not for Ekadashi

Do not eat or drink anything that is not home
made on Ekadashi.
 Food not for Ekadashi

Do not eat following on Ekadashi even if it is
home made.

Rotli, Bread, Rice, any kind of Cornflakes, in
fact anything made from grain or lentils
should not be eaten on Ekadashi, (apart
from moraio, rajgaro)
 QUIZ

Which of the following food items can not
be eaten on Ekadashi?
Pizza Pasta
Chips Chewing Gum
Jacket Potato Sweets
Crisps Apple
Baked Beans Cassava Crisps
Bhel Dhokri
 Bibliography

Shikhsapatri

Vachanamrut

Satsangijivan

Many thanks to Shree Kutch Satsang
Swaminarayan Temple Harrow Bal Mandal
 The End

Jay Shree Swaminarayan