ekadashi

{{Short description|Eleventh day of the lunar fortnight}}

File:Vishnu and his Avatars.jpg, patron of the Vaishnavism sect.]]

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

Ekadashi ({{Langx|sa|एकादशी|lit=The eleventh day|translit=Ēkādaśī}}) is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of the waxing (Shukla Pakṣa) and waning (Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa) lunar cycles in a Vedic calendar month.{{Cite news|title=What is Ekadashi? Its types, benefits of Ekadashi fast and foods to be eaten - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/what-is-ekadashi-its-types-benefits-of-ekadashi-fast-and-foods-to-be-eaten/articleshow/76996495.cms|access-date=2021-04-20|website=The Times of India|language=en}} Ekadashi is popularly observed within Vaishnavism one of the major paths within Sanatana Dharma. Followers offer their worship to the god Vishnu by fasting or just symbolically; the idea was always to receive self-discipline and the benefits of fasting and it was connected to the way of life via Sanatana Dharma practices.{{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Constance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |last2=Ryan |first2=James D. |date=2006 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5 |pages=147 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KDU30Ae4S4cC |title=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations |date=2011-09-13 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-205-0 |pages=490 |language=en}}

In Hinduism, the primary purpose of fasting on Ekadashi is to gain control over the mind and bodily senses, and channel it towards spiritual progression. In addition, there are several health benefits to fasting.{{Cite journal |title=Intermittent Fasting on the Ekadashi Day and the Role of Spiritual Nutrition |url=https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume9number1/intermittent-fasting-on-the-ekadashi-day-and-the-role-of-spiritual-nutrition/ |journal=Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal|date=16 April 2021 |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=122–126 |doi=10.12944/CRNFSJ.9.1.12 |last1=Suchitra |first1=M.R. |last2=Parthasarathy |first2=S. |doi-access=free }} Ekadashi fasting spans for three days. Devotees take single meal in the afternoon a day before Ekadashi day(Dasami) to make sure there is no residual food in the stomach on next day. Devotees keep a strict fast with no food or water on Ekadashi day and break the fast on next day(Dwadashi) only after sunrise.{{Cite web |title=Ekadashi Fast |url=https://www.riversidetemple.org/ekadashi-fast}} Since this form of fasting is very stringent and may not be possible for people in all walks of life due to health and life choice reasons, a more liberal from of fasting is followed by most devotees.

There are different ways to observe the Ekadashi fasting in this method,{{Cite news |title=Devshayani Ekadashi fasting rules: Types of Ekadashi fasting .. |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/religion/rituals-puja/devshayani-ekadashi-fasting-rules-types-of-ekadashi-fasting-foods-allowed/articleshow/76709543.cms |work=The Times of India}} ranging from complete abstention from food and water to partial fasting or consuming only specific types of food. Devotee can chose the fasting approach that aligns with his/her health, lifestyle, and spiritual goals.{{Cite book |last=Verma |first=Manish |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4gzFFLdBoYC&dq=mura+vishnu&pg=PA65 |title=Fasts and Festivals of India |date=2013 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. |isbn=978-81-7182-076-4 |pages=65 |language=en}}

1. Nirjala: Devotees observe complete fasting without even water on Ekadashi day.
2. Jalahar: In this type of Ekadashi fasting, devotees consume only water.
3. Ksheerbhoji: In this type of Ekadashi fasting, devotees consume milk and milk products.
4. Phalahari: In this type of Ekadashi fasting, the devotees consume only fruits.
5. Naktabhoji: In this type of Ekadashi fasting, the devotees have single meal. Generally, in the later part of the day with dishes made of Sabudana, Singhada, Shakarkand (Yam), Potatoes and Groundnuts. However, the meal should not have any grains like rice, wheat, millets or cereals like dals and beans.

The timing of each ekadashi is according to the position of the moon.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ekadashi.net/|title=Ekadashi Dates & Fast Breaking Times (Parana) for 2018 - Ekadashi Katha - Ekadashi Svarupa Darsana|website=Ekadashi Svarupa Darsana|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-30|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613211308/http://www.ekadashi.net/|url-status=dead}} The Hindu calendar marks progression from a full moon to a new moon as divided into fifteen equal arcs of 12°. 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. Ekadashi refers to the 11th tithi, or lunar day. The eleventh tithi corresponds to a precise angle and phase of the waxing and waning moon. In the bright half of the lunar month, the moon will be exactly 3/4 full on the start of Ekadashi, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be 3/4 dark on the start of Ekadashi.{{Cite web |title=The Hindu Calendar |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/hindu-calendar.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}

There are usually 24 Ekadashis in a calendar year. Occasionally, there are two extra Ekadashis that happen in a Hindu leap year.{{Cite web |last=Bikos |first=Konstantin |title=Leap Months and Leap Days in the Hindu Calendar |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/date/hindu-leap-year.html}} Each Ekadashi day is purported to have particular benefits that are attained by the performance of specific activities.{{cite book |last1=Goswami |first1=Danvir |last2=Das |first2=Kushakrita |date=2010 |title=Sri Garga Samhita |publisher=Rupanuga Vedic College Publishing}}

Bhagavata Purana (skandha IX, adhyaay 4) notes the observation of Ekadashi by Ambarisha, a devotee of Vishnu.{{cite book |last= Prabhupada |first= Bhaktivedanta Swami|author-link= Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada|date= 1995 |title= Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto Nine |location= |publisher= The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust |pages= 85–170 |isbn= 978-81-8957491-8}}