Ekadashi
Ekadashi (Sanskrit: , Tamil: , ekda,Eleven), also spelled as
Ekadasi, is the eleventh lunarday (tithi) of the shukla (bright) or
krishna (dark) paksha(fortnight) of every lunar month in the Hindu
calendar(Panchang). In Hinduism and Jainism it is considered
aspiritually benecial day and is usually observed by a par-tial
fast. Beans and grains are not eaten during Ekadasi,as on this day
these two foods are believed to be contam-inated by sin. Only
fruits, vegetables and milk productsare eaten during Ekadasi. This
period of abstention runsfrom sunrise on the day of Ekadasi to
sunrise on the dayfollowing Ekadasi.Two Ekadasis occur in one month
according to positionsof themoon. The progression of themoon from
full moonto new moon is divided into fteen equal arcs. Each
arcmeasures one lunar day, called tithi: The time it takes themoon
to traverse that distance is the length of that lunarday. Ekadashi
refers to the 11 tithi, or lunar day. Theeleventh tithi therefore
corresponds to a precise phase ofthe waxing and waning moon: In the
bright half of thelunar month, the moon will appear roughly 3/4
full onEkadasi, and in the dark half of the lunar month, themoon
will be about 3/4 dark on Ekadasi.Bhagavata Purana (sk. IX, adhy.
4) notes the observationof Ekadashi by Ambarisha, a devotee of
Vishnu.
1 List of EkadashisThe table below describes the Ekadashis and
when theyfall in the year.
2 CalculationEkadashi is dierent for Vaishnavites and
Smarthas.Whether Ekadashi is today, yesterday or tomorrow is
de-termined by a formula. According to KalaPrakashika, aJyotish
text discussing Muhurta, auspicious times for be-ginning an
activity, the Ekadashi fast is performed on aday which is not
touched by or ruined by any inuence ofthe tenth tithi or lunar day.
The cut o time is 96 min-utes before sunrise. If the tenth day gets
completed, at96 minutes before sunrise, then that day is celebrated
asEkadashi. If the tenth day is not yet gets completed at 96minutes
before sunrise, but still continues to be Dashimisometime during
that day, then the Ekadashi fast is per-formed on the following
day. (Rules need to be included
here by a Panchang Karta from Dharma Sindhu and Nir-naya
Sindhu.)
3 SignicanceEkadasi Tithi, the eleventh lunar day (Shukla
Ekadasi)and also known as Hari Vasara because it is dedicatedto
Lord Vishnu, is a day of fasting and prayers for allHindus. One who
fasts on this day is considered to be-come free from the malec
planetary inuences, becomeshappy, gains peace of mind to think of
Ishvara to attainmoksha. It is a day of Vishtikarana, a day of
malec in-uences. Vishtikarana, which coincides with the secondhalf
of Ekadasi Tithi, is avoided in all functions asso-ciated with
worldly prosperity but for such celebrationsthe Ekadasi Tithi
should not have Dasami Vedha; fast-ing is to be done when
Vishtikarana is in duration andbreaking of fast should not be done
during this duration.Vishtikarana coincides with the second half of
KrishnaDasami. Karana is half of a tithi. Tithi is the time takenby
the Moon to travel approximately twelve degrees ofspace with
reference to the Sun but as the motion of theMoon is irregular the
duration of tithi is not constant.There are seven moveable karanas
and four xed karanas.Vishti or Bhadra is one of themoveable karanas
which ro-tate among the other tithis beginning with the second
halfof Shukla Padyami. Vashishta states that Vishtikaranais
appropriate for killing, binding, use of poisons, re,arrows or
instruments, cutting and use of black magic;auspicious functions
pertaining to prosperity should beavoided for they will end in
destruction, thus it is goodfor waging wars successfully. Jataka
Parijata states:-
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that one born on Vishti, will be an enemy of all, will com-mit
evil deeds, of bad fame, independent and honouredby followers,
which evil eects according to Kamalasana(cited by Lalla and
supported by Brahma Siddhanta), willnot be witnessed in case
Vishtikaranas coinciding withthe second half of a tithi are benec
in daytime and thosecoinciding with the second half are good at
night.[1]
4 See also Guruvayur Ekadasi
1
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