Ekadashi

Ēkādaśī ("Eleven"), also spelled as Ēkādaśi, is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of each of the two lunar phases which occur in an Indian calendar month - the Shukla Pakṣa (the period of the brightening moon also known as the waxing phase) and the Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa (the period of the fading moon also known as the waning phase).. [1] It is according to the Indian medical texts of Ayurveda and is mentioned in detail in many original treatises such as Charaka Samhita and Susruta Samhita.

In India, Ekādaśī is considered a day to cleanse the body, aid repair and rejuvenation and is usually observed by partial or complete fast. High protein and carbohydrate-containing foods such as beans and grains are not consumed by observant people during the fast as it is a day to cleanse the body. Instead, only fruit, vegetables, and milk products are eaten. This period of abstinence starts from sunrise on the day of Ekādaśī to sunrise on the following day. Rice is not eaten on Ekadashi.[2]

The timing of each Ekādaśī is according to the position of the moon.[3] The Indian calendar marks progression from a full moon to a new moon as divided into fifteen equal arcs. Each arc measures one lunar day, called a tithi. The time it takes the moon to traverse a particular distance is the length of that lunar day. Ekādaśī refers to the 11th tithi, or lunar day. The eleventh tithi corresponds to a precise phase of the waxing and waning moon. In the bright half of the lunar month, the moon will appear roughly 3/4 full on Ekādaśī, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be about 3/4 dark on Ekādaśī.[4]

There are usually 24 Ekādaśīs in a calendar year. Occasionally, there are two extra Ekādaśīs that happen in a leap year. Each Ekādaśī day is purported to have particular benefits that are attained by the performance of specific activities.[5]

Bhagavata Purana (sk. IX, adhy. 4) notes the observation of Ekādaśī by Ambarisha, a devotee of Lord Vishnu.[6]

List of ekadashi

The table below describes the Ekādaśīs and when they fall in the year.

The Vedic lunar month	Presiding deity	Krishna paksha Ekadashi name	Shukla paksha Ekadashi name
Chaitra (चैत्र, March–April)	Ram Vishnu	Papavimocani Ekadashi	Kamada Ekadashi
Vaisakha (वैशाख, April–May )	Madhusudana (Vishnu)	Varuthini Ekadashi	Mohini Ekadashi
Jyeshta (ज्येष्ठ, May-June)	Trivikrama (Vishnu)	Apara Ekadashi	Nirjala Ekadashi
Ashaad (आषाढ, June-July)	Vaamana	Yogini Ekadashi	Shayani Ekadashi
Shraavana (श्राव=90ण, July-August)	Sridhar	Kamika Ekadashi	Pavitropana or Shravana Putrada Ekadashi
Bhadrapada (भाद्रपद, August-September)	Hrisikesha (Vishnu)[7]	Ananda Ekadashi	Parsva Ekadashi
Ashvin (अश्विन्, September-October)	Padmanabha	Indira Ekadashi[8]	Paashunkushaa Ekadashi
Kartik (कार्तिक, October-November)	Damodara	Rama Ekadashi[9]	Prabodhini Ekadashi
Margashirsha(Agrahayana) (मार्गशीर्ष, November-December)	Keshava	Utpanna Ekadashi	Mokshada Ekadashi / Vaikunta Ekadashi
Pausha (पौष, December-January)	Naaraayana (Vishnu/Krishna)	Saphala Ekadashi	Pausha Putrada Ekadashi / Vaikunta Ekadashi
Maagha (माघ, January-February)	Maadhava	Shat Tila Ekadashi	Bhaimi Ekadashi / Jaya Ekadashi
Phalguna (फाल्गुन, February-March)	Govinda (Krishna)	Vijaya Ekadashi	Amalaki Ekadashi
Adhika month (अधिक, once in 2–3 years)	Purushottama	Padmini Visuddha Ekadashi	Paramaa Shuddha Ekadashi

Calculation

Ekādaśī is different for Vaishnavites and Smarthas. According to Kala Prakashika, a Jyotish text discussing auspicious times for beginning an activity ("Muhurta"), the Ekādaśī fast is performed on a day which is not touched or ruined by any influence of the tenth tithi or lunar day. The cut-off time is 96 minutes before sunrise. If the tenth day completes just 96 minutes before sunrise, then that day is celebrated as Ekādaśī. If the tenth day is incomplete at 96 minutes before sunrise, but still continues to be Dashimi sometime during that day, then the Ekādaśī fast is performed on the following day. (Rules need to be included here by a Panchang Karta from Dharma Sindhu and Nirnaya Sindhu.)

Significance

Ekādaśī Tithi, the eleventh lunar day (Shukla Ekādaśī), also known as Hari Vasara because it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is a day of fasting and prayers for all Hindus. Those who fast on this day are considered to get rid of malefic planetary influences, experience happiness, and gain the right peace of mind to think of Ishvara and attain moksha. It is a day of Vishtikarana, a day of malefic influences. Vishtikarana coincides with the second half of Ekādaśī Tithi and is avoided for all functions associated with worldly prosperity but for such celebrations, Ekādaśī Tithi should not have Dasami Vedha. Fasting should be done during Vishtikarana but the fast should not be broken during this. Vishtikarana coincides with the second half of Krishna Dasami.

Karana is half of a tithi. Tithi is the time taken by the moon to travel approximately twelve degrees of space with reference to the Sun, but as the motion of the moon is irregular, the duration of tithi is not constant.

There are seven moveable and four fixed karanas. Vishti or Bhadra is one of the moveable karanas which rotate among the other tithis beginning with the second half of Shukla Padyami.

Mantra

The Vishnu mantra chanted on this day is: "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya"

Hare Krishna maha-mantra to chant 108 times: "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare or Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare"[10]

See also

• Guruvayur Ekadasi
• Prasad (see for food which can/not be offered on Ekādaśī)

Notes

1. "Ekadasi: Why Ekadasi is celebrated in Hinduism?-by Dr Bharti Raizada". NewsGram. 22 May 2017.
2. Singh, Shalu (31 October 2017). "Scientific Explanation: Why you shouldn't have rice on Ekadashi, 31st October 2017". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
3. "Ekadashi Dates & Fast Breaking Times (Parana) for 2018 - Ekadashi Katha - Ekadashi Svarupa Darsana". Ekadashi Svarupa Darsana. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
4. List of All Ekadashi: https://www.bhaktibharat.com/festival/ekadashi
5. Goswami, Danvir; Das, Kushakrita (2010). Sri Garga Samhita. Rupanuga Vedic College Publishing.
6. Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta Swami (1995). Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto Nine. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. p. 85-170. ISBN 978-81-8957491-8.
7. N.A (1950). THE SKANDA-PURANA PART. 1. MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS PVT. LTD, DELHI. pp. 154 (18.31-32).
8. "Indira Ekadashi 2019: Date, Times, Puja Vidhi, Shubh Mahurat and all you need to know - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
9. "Rama Ekadashi 2019: आज है रमा एकादशी, जानिए शुभ मुहूर्त, पूजा विधि, व्रत कथा और महत्‍व" [Rama Ekadashi 2019- Date, Time, Siginificance, Auspicious Time, Puja Vidhi, Vrat Katha and Lakshmi-Puja]. NDTVIndia. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
10. About Things you must do on Ekadashi

About Ekadashi Vrat: Ekadashi Vrat Vidhi-Niyam and Vrat Bhojan

References

• Gangadharan, N., Agni Purana, New Delhi: Motilala Banarsidass, 1985, Chapter 178.
• Iyer, N.P. Subramania, Kalaprakasika: The standard book on the election (mahoortha) system: with the original text in Devanagari and English translation, New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1982.