The ImportanceOf

EkadasiBy: Janvi Nandwani

Om Ajnana TimirandhasyaJnaanaanjana SalaakayaCaksur Unmilitam yenaTasmai Sri Gurave Namah

Pranams

•Ekadasi means 'the Eleventh Day‘

•Once on each 11 days

What Does Ekadasi Mean?

•Two Ekadasis occur in one month.

• The progression of the moon.

• Each arc measures one lunar day, called "tithi "

The Moon Cycle?

•Anhydrous fast is the most preferred way to fast on Ekadasi

• Or one can have only fruits and vegetables, but no grains.

How do we Observe Ekadasi?

•You can eat fruits and drink water •You cannot eat grains on Ekadasi

Why This and Not That?

•Break the fast on Dvadasi morning

•Take some offered grains (prasadam)

•You can also offer the Ekadasi Result

•Do you know when is the next Ekadasi coming?

When and How do we Break Ekadasi?

•Lord Krishna says that “If a person fasts on Ekadasi I shall burn all sins. “

•He also says,"I shall remove all obstacles in the path of spiritual life and bestow perfection of life“

Lord Krishna and Ekadasi

• Fasting will clean the toxins out of the body especially in the digestive system.

• The body will feel light and energetic after fasting.

The Health Benefits of Ekadasi

• To get Bhakti for Krishna

• Serving Krishna can only be done when we have Bhakti

The REAL Importance of Ekadasi

CC-14Bhakta āmā preme bāndhi- Yāche hrdaya-bhitare yahān netra pade tāhān Dekhaye āmāre .... (C.C. Madhya 25.127)

[ My pure devotee binds Me in his heart with the ropes of prema, and sees only Me wherever he looks.]

Krishna can be obtained only by Bhakti

•Guruvayur Temple of South India

•Keshava elephant ALWAYS observed Ekadasi.

•At end of life, he left the body in front of the temple

The Story of Bhakta Keshava Elephant

•What is the meaning of Ekadasi?•How many Ekadasis come in a lunar month?•What is the next day to Ekadasi called?•What is the topmost purpose of fasting for Ekadasi?•What items should one not eat on Ekadasi?•How do you break the fast on Dvadasi?•When is the next Ekadasi coming?

Quiz Time!

•http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/Ekadasi-Fast-11th-Day.htm•http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekadashi•http://www.indiadivine.org/content/topic/1363533-health-benefits-of-ekadashi/•The Vow of Ekadasi•On The Day Of Ekadasi

Bibliography

Thank You!Hare Krishna!