| In the Vedic calendar called Panchang(am), Ekdashi is | | | | during Ekadashi, it also advised to exercise common |
| the name given for the eleventh(11th) day in the | | | | sense while following the fast. A reference to an |
| fortnight of the lunar cycle. It happens | | | | incident that took place in the Holy Mother, Sri Sarada |
| twenty-four(24) times in a year and each Ekadashi | | | | Devi's life illustrates this. |
| has a unique name. One of the widely celebrated is | | | | Mother Sarada Devi was said to have once chided a |
| known as the 'Vaikunta Ekadashi', alternatively known | | | | young woman devotee, who came to visit her. |
| as 'Mokshada ekadashi'. | | | | Concerned about the young woman's feeble health, |
| 'Vaikuntam' in the Tamil language literally means, the | | | | the Mother lovingly commanded her to give up |
| abode of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is represented as | | | | observing strict abstinences on Ekadashi days. It is |
| the Preserver of the universe and is one of the | | | | narrated that she also pointed out to the woman, |
| Trinity of the Hindu pantheon. | | | | her young age and how it was not quite suitable for |
| He assumes a distinct presence for the devotees | | | | her to follow such mature practices. |
| during the occurrences of the Ekadashi days. It is | | | | Hence discrimination is an important factor in following |
| believed that steadfast devotion and fasting even | | | | the Ekadashi fasts. |
| during a single Ekadashi occurence, brings the | | | | Apart from the spiritual significance that marks the |
| blessings of Vishu and liberation from the cycle of | | | | Ekadashi days and the strict observances thereof, |
| birth and death. One gains freedom from sins of the | | | | fasting periodically is obviously beneficial at other |
| past through following Ekadashi fasting. Not | | | | levels of our being, such as the physical, mental and |
| surprisingly, in the present times the occasion of | | | | emotional. |
| Ekadashi has become synonymous with fasting. | | | | Swami Sivananda, a physician who took to ascetism |
| The study of the Vedic astronomy reveals the | | | | and later came to be revered as a saint describes |
| significance of the moon's influence over the mind. | | | | about Ekadashi and fasting. To paraphrase his |
| Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the lunar fortnight is | | | | description on some of the benefits, Ekadashi fasting |
| said to be conducive for the mind to be in its natural | | | | enhances the physiological functions. There are five |
| states of love and wisdom. Finding the place of its | | | | functions of the physical body given in the philosophy |
| home, the mind is thus helped to merge with the | | | | of Vedanta (sacred scripture of Hinduism). They are |
| True Self. At this stage, the person reaches the | | | | the physiological functions of the respiratory, |
| enlightened states of being. | | | | circulatory, digestive, urinary and mental functioning. |
| Keeping the physical life relatively free through such | | | | He describes that fasting purges the internal systems |
| methods as abstinence from food and certain | | | | of its poisons. |
| activities benefit the spiritual aspirant to reach the | | | | Reflecting on my own experiences with Ekadashi |
| ultimate goal of coming into alignment with the Higher | | | | fasting, which I followed for at least a year during |
| Self. Through carving out an atmosphere of sanctity, | | | | my recent past, I relate to Swami Sivananda's |
| the time and energy is redirected toward devotional | | | | explanation that fasting results in the victory of |
| activities and selfless service. | | | | control over one's senses - an ideal that spiritual |
| As much as it is emphasized by the religion of | | | | aspirants long to achieve. |
| Hinduism to follow the spiritual discipline of fasting | | | | |