Nirjala Ekadashi

[Guest guest]

Nirjala Ekadashi-

 

Today is Nirjala Ekadashi. As name suggests, not

a Ekadashi with one time food , but a Ekadashi

minus even drinking water.

 

This comes in Jyeshta Masa,in Shukla Paksha.

In other Ekadashis one may eat fruits, but here

not even water is allowed. This Ekadashi Vrata

is performed in Grishma ritu with utmost Kashta

and tapasya,hence the importance of this

ekadashi is foremost. As per Mahabharata if

one cannot perform the 26 Ekadashis annually

(Including adhika masa),then performing this one,

can give one, all the benefic desired results of others

too.

 

This Vrata is one by keeping oneself away even from

having a drop of water, till the next morning, i.e.Dwadashi,

and after performing ordained rituals and donations ,

one can then take partake food the next morning.

 

Katha -

Bhimsen was the most strongest Pandava physically

in strength. In his stomache, he had 'Vraka' named

Agni (Fire), that is why he is also named as Vrakodar.

He was by birth strong too, but when he had gone to

nagaloka, and partaken rasa (Liquid) from 10 kunds,

he derived strength of 10000 elephants. Because of

drinking this Rasa, the digestive powers of Bhim

became stronger, and so was his hunger. The

Pandavas and Draupadi used to perform vrata of all

ekadashis regularly, but for Bhim doing these Vratas

was terrible strain due to his great hunger, so Vyasji

adviced him to perform this Ekadashi occurring on

Jyeshta Masa Shukla Paksha, and said that due to

performance of same, he would derive benefits of all

the Ekadashis done annually, with this single Ekadashi.

On instruction of Vyasji , Bhim did the Vrata on this

day, and consequently, this Ekadashi came to be known

as " Bhimsen Ekadashi " .

 

N.B. I have translated the above from the monthly

magazine " Kalyan " , Gita press,Gorakhpur.

Those who have not d

to this magazine should immediately do so, because

the information in this , is not available anywhere

and does not cost much too. What we pay for monthly

newspaper, we spend same amount on

annual subscription for this great Magazine.

 

I know hundreds of people who do Ekadashi, but I know

at least 3 people who perform Nirjala Ekadashi, the

way it is supposed to be performed. This is to just

denote, that people are there today, who still follow

the Shastras and believe in them,in ditto.

 

regards,

Bhaskar.