REMINDER! REMINDER!! REMINDER!!! COMING SATURDAY 19TH JUNE - Fwd: The story of Pandava Nirjala Ekadasii AND How to observe it------------18th June 2005

[Guest guest]

Mrs.Sudesh Johar

Sydney, Australia

Discover Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM &; more. Check it out!

Tue, 7 Jun 2005 07:02:40 -0700 (PDT)

sudesh johar lookfeelgood2004

The story of Pandava Nirjala Ekadasii AND How to observe it------------18th June 2005

sboi

HOW TO OBSERVE====

NirjalA EkAdasii: During the hottest season (northern hemisphere), if one can

perform upavasa without water one is performing a great feat. One may take only

charanamrta and achamana water. Bhima the mighty warrior of the Pandava dynasty

requested one vrata day by which he could obtain the fruits of all the other

days of vrata that he was incapable of observing. Vyasadeva advised him to

follow this difficult vrata. One should worship the Lord in the evening by

bathing him in milk.

On the dvadasi one should give full pots of water to brahmanas and feed them

before breaking one's fast. SAMVATSARASYA YA MADHYE EKADASYO BHAVANTI HI TASAM

PHALAM AVAPNOTI PUTRA ME NA ATRA SAMSAYAH ITI MAM KESAVAH PRAHA SANKHA CAKRA

GADADHARAH (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/25 from PADMA PURANA Vyasadeva speaks to

Bhimasena) Oh son, Lord Keshava, Who holds the club, disk, conch and lotus

flower in His hand, personally told me that all of the merit achieved by

fasting on whatever EkAdasis fall in one year can be attained by fasting on

this one EkAdasii (nirjalA EkAdasii). Of this, there is no doubt. ATMADROHAH

KRTASTES TU YAIR ESA NA HY UPOSITA PAPATMANO DURACARA DUSTAS TE NA ATRA

SAMSAYAH (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/33 from PADMA PURANA Vyasadeva speaks to

Bhimasena)

The Story of PANDava NirjalA EkAdasii: PANDava NirjalA EkAdasii -

Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii - from Brahma-vaivarta PurANam. Once Bhimasena, the

younger brother of Maharaja Yudhisthira, asked the great sage Shrila VyAsadeva,

the grandfather of the PANDavas, if it is possible to return to the spiritual

world without having observed all the rules and regulations of the EkAdasii

fasts. Bhimasena then spoke as follows, “Oh greatly intelligent and learned

grandfather, my brother Yudhisthira, my dear mother Kunti, and my beloved wife

Draupadi, as well as Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, fast completely on each

EkAdasii and strictly follow all the rules, guidelines and regulative

injunctions of that sacred day. Bring very religious, they always tell me that

I should also fast on that day too. But, Oh learned grandfather, I tell them

that I cannot live without eating, because as the son of VAyudeva –

Samanaprana, (the digestive air) hunger is unbearable to me. I can give widely

in charity and worship Lord Keshava properly with all manner of wonderful

upacharas (items), but I cannot be asked to fast on EkAdasii. Please tell me

how I can obtain the same merits result without fasting.” Hearing these words,

the grandsire of Bhima, Srila VyAsadeva said, “If you want to go to the

heavenly planets and avoid the hellish planets, you should indeed observe a

fast on both the light and dark EkAdasiis.” Bhima replied, “Oh great saintly

intelligent grandfather, please listen to my plea. Oh greatest of munis, since

I cannot live if I eat only once in a day, how can I possibly live if I fast

completely? Within my stomach burns a special fire named Vrika, the fire of

digestion. Agni the fire-god, descends from Lord Vishnu through BrahmA, from

BrahmA to Angirasa, from Angirasa to Brihaspathi, and from Brihaspathi to

Samyu, who was Agni'’ father. He is the gatekeeper in charge of Nairritti, the

south-eastern direction. He is one of the eight material elements, and

Parikshit MahArAja, he is very expert at examining things. He examined MahArAja

Shibi once by turning into a dove (for further information on this incident see

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s Srimad Bhagavatam commentary to

1:12:20. Purport.) Agni is divided into three categories; DavAgni, the fire in

wood, JatharAgni, the fire in the digestion in the stomach, and VadavAgni, the

fire that creates fog when hot and cold streams mix in for example the ocean.

Another name for the fire of digestion is Vrika. It is this powerful fire that

resided in Bhima’s stomach. Only when I eat to my full satisfaction does the

fire in my stomach become satisfied. Oh great sage, I might possibly be able to

fast only once, so I beg that you tell me of an EkAdasii that is worthy of my

fasting and that includes all other EkAdasiis. I shall faithfully observe that

fast and hopefully still become eligible for liberation’s release.” Shrila

VyAsadeva replied, Oh king, you have heard from me about the various kinds of

occupational duties, such as elaborate Vedik ceremonies and pujas. In the

Kali-yuga, however, no one will be able to observe all these occupational,

functional duties properly. I shall therefore tell you how, at practically no

expense, one can endure some small austerity and achieve the greatest benefit

and resultant happiness. The essence of what is written in the Vedic

literatures known as the PurANas is that one should not eat on either the dark

or light fortnight EkAdasiis.” As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam (Mahabhagavat

PurANam) 12:13:12 and 15.) the Bhagavat PurANam is itself the essence or cream

of all VedAnta philosophy (sara-vedAnta-sAram), and the Srimad Bhagavatam’s

unequivocal message is that of full surrender to Lord Sri Krishna and the

rendering of loving devotional service to Him. Observing EkAdasii strictly is a

great aid in that process, and here Shrila VyAsadeva is

simply stressing to Bhima the importance of the EkAdasii vratam. “…One who fasts

on EkAdasiis saved from going to the hellish planets.” Hearing Shrila

VyAsadeva’s words, the son of VAyu, Bhimasena, the strongest of all warriors,

became frightened and began to shake like a leaf on a banyan tree in a strong

wind. The frightened Bhimasena then said, “Oh grandfather, what should I do? I

am completely unable and ill equipped to fast twice in a month throughout the

year! Please tell me of the one fasting day that will bestow the greatest

benefit upon me!” VyAsadeva replied, “Without drinking even water, you should

fast on the EkAdasii that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of

Jyeshtha (May-June) when the sun travels in the sign of Taurus (Vrishabh) and

Gemini (Mithun), According to learned personalities, on this day one may bathe

and perform Achamana for pratiprokshana purification. But while performing

Achamana one may drink only that amount of water equal to a drop of gold, or

that amount it takes to immerse a single mustard seed. Only this amount of

water should be placed in the right palm for sipping, which one should form to

resemble a cow’s ear. If one drinks more water than this, he might as well have

drunk wine – despite the soaring heat of summer (in the northern hemisphere and

cold in the southern hemisphere). “One must certainly not eat anything, for if

he does so he breaks his fast. This rigid fast is in effect from sunrise on the

EkAdasii day to sunrise on the DwAdashii day. If a person endeavours to observe

this great fast very strictly, he easily achieves the result of observing all

twenty-four other EkAdasii fasts throughout the entire year. “On DwAdashii the

devotee should bathe early in the morning. Then, according to the prescribed

rules, guidelines and regulative injunctions, and of course depending on his

ability, he should give some gold and water to worthy brAhmaNas. Finally, he

should cheerfully honour prasAdam with a brAhmaNa. “Oh Bhimasena, one who can

fast on this special EkAdasii in this manner reaps the benefit of having fasted

on every EkAdasii during the year. There is no doubt of this, nor should there

be. Oh Bhima, now hear the specific merit one gets by fasting on this EkAdasii.

The Supreme Lord Keshava, who holds a conch, discus, club and lotus, personally

told me, ‘Everyone should take shelter of Me and follow My instructions.’ Then

He told me that one who fasts on this EkAdasii, without taking even drinking

water or eating, becomes free of all sinful reactions, and that one who

observes the difficult nirjalA fast on Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii truly reaps the

benefit of all other EkAdasii fasts. “Oh Bhimasena, in the Kali-yuga, the age of

quarrel and hypocrisy, when all the principles of the Vedas will have been

destroyed or greatly minimised, and when there will be no proper charity or

observance of the ancient Vedik principles and ceremonies, how will there be

any means of purifying the self? But there is the opportunity to fast on

EkAdasii and become free of all one’s past sins. “Oh son of VAyu, what more can

I say to you? You should not eat during the EkAdasiis that occur during the dark

and light fortnights, and you should even give up drinking water (nir = no

jalaa= water) on the particularly auspicious EkAdasii day of Jyeshtha-shukla

EkAdasii. Oh Vrikodara (veracious eater), whoever fasts on this EkAdasii

receives the merits of bathing in all the places of pilgrimage, giving all

kinds of charities to worthy persons, and fasting on all the dark and light

EkAdasiis throughout the year, in one go. Of this there is no doubt. Oh tiger

among men, whoever fasts on this EkAdasii truly becomes a great person and

achieves all manner of opulence and wealth, grains, strength, and health. And

at the fearful moment of death, the terrible YamadUtas, whose complexions are

yellow and black and who brandish huge maces and twirl mystic pAsha ropes in

the air for binding their victims, will refuse to approach him. Rather, such a

faithful soul will at once be taken to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu by the

Vishnu-dUtas, whose transcendentally beautiful forms are clothed in gorgeous

yellowish garments and who each hold a disk, club, conch and lotus in their

four hands, resembling Lord Vishnu. It is to gain all these benefits that one

should certainly fast on this very auspicious and important EkAdasii, even from

water.” When the other PANDavas heard about the benefits to be gained by

following Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii, they resolved to observe it exactly as

their grandfather Srila VyAsadeva had explained it to their brother, Bhimasena.

All the PANDavas observed it by refraining from eating or drinking anything, and

thus this day is also known as PANDava NirjalA DvAdashii (technically it is a

Maha-DvAdashii). Shrila VyAsadeva continued, Oh Bhimasen, therefore you should

observe this important fast to remove all your past sinful reactions. You

should pray to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna in this way

making your sankalpa declaration, ‘Oh Lord of all the devas (demigods), Oh

Supreme Personality of Godhead, today I shall observe EkAdasii without taking

any water. Oh unlimited Anantadev, I shall break fast on the next day,

DwAdashii.’ Thereafter, to remove all his sins, the devotee should honour this

EkAdasii fast with full faith in the Lord and with full control over his senses.

Whether his sins are equal in volume to Mount Sumeru or to MandarAchala Hill, if

he or she observes this EkAdasii, the sins that have been accumulated all become

nullified and are burned to ashes. Such is the great power of this EkAdasii. “Oh

best of human beings, although a person should also give water and cows in

charity during this EkAdasii, if for some reason or other he cannot, then he

should give a qualified brAhmaNa some cloth or a pot filled with water. Indeed,

the merit achieved by giving water alone equals that gained by giving gold ten

million times a day. “Oh Bhima, Lord Sri Krishna has said that whoever observes

this EkAdasii should take a Holy bath, give charity to a worthy person, chant

the Lord’s Holy names on a japa-mAla, and perform some kind of recommended

sacrifice, for by doing these things on this day one receives imperishable

benefits. There is no need to perform any other kind of religious duty.

Observance of this EkAdasii fast alone promotes one to the supreme abode of Sri

Vishnu. Oh best of the Kurus, if one donates gold, cloth, or anything else on

this day, the merit one obtains is imperishable. “Remember, whosoever eats any

grains on EkAdasii becomes contaminated by sin and verily eats only sin. In

effect, he has already become a dog-eater, and after death he suffers a hellish

existence. But he who observes this sacred Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii and gives

something in charity certainly achieves liberation from the cycle of repeated

birth and death and attains to the supreme abode. Observing this EkAdasii,

which is merged with DwAdashii, frees one from the horrible sin of killing a

brAhmaNa, drinking liquor and wine, becoming envious of one’s spiritual master

and ignoring his instructions, and continually telling lies. “Furthermore, Oh

best of beings (Jivottama), any man or woman who observes this fast properly

and worships the Supreme Lord JalshAyi (He who sleeps on the water), and who on

the next day satisfies a qualified brAhmaNa with nice sweets and a donation of

cows and money – such a person certainly pleases the Supreme Lord Vasudeva, so

much so that one hundred previous generations in his family undoubtedly go to

the Supreme Lord’s abode, even though they may have been very sinful, of bad

character, and guilty of suicide, etc. Indeed, one who observes this amazing

EkAdasii rides on a glorious celestial airplane (vimAna) to the Lord’s abode.

“One who on this day gives a brAhmaNa a waterpot, an umbrella, or shoes surely

goes to the heavenly planets. Indeed, he who simply hears these glories also

attains to the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord, Shri Vishnu. Whoever

performs the Shraddha ceremony to the forefathers on the dark-moon day called

amAvasya, particularly if it occurs at the time of a solar eclipse undoubtedly

achieves great merit, but this same merit is achieved by him who simply hears

this sacred narration – so powerful and so dear to the Lord is this EkAdasii.

“One should clean his teeth properly and, without eating or drinking, observe

this EkAdasii to please the Supreme Lord, Keshava. On the day after EkAdasii

one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form as Trivikrama

by offering Him water, flowers, incense, and a brightly burning lamp. Then the

devotee should pray from the heart, ‘Oh God of gods, Oh deliverer of everyone,

Oh Hrishikesha, master of the senses, kindly bestow upon me the gift of

liberation, though I can offer you nothing greater than this humble pot filled

with water.’ Then the devotee should donate the waterpot to a brAhmaNa. “Oh

Bhimasena, after this EkAdasii fast and donating the recommended items

according to his ability, the devotee should feed brAhmaNas and thereafter

honour prasAdam silently.” Shrila VyAsadeva concluded, “I strongly urge you to

fast on this auspicious, purifying, sin-devouring DwAdashii in just the way I

have outlined. Thus you will be completely freed of all sins and reach the

supreme abode.”

 

Mrs.Sudesh Johar

Sydney, Australia

Discover Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM &; more. Check it out!