Today is Mokshada Ekadashi 2020 VRAT (fast ) is observed on Friday, December 25, 2020. on Christmas day !!
Ekadasha is a Sanskrit word for number 11. It means the 11th day of each half of the month in the Vedic lunar calendar It is a Hindu holy day, which falls on the eleventh day of the moon cycle, both from the Purnima (full moon) and from the Amavasya (new moon). Well-known as the day of Lord Hari, this is celebrated as one of the highly auspicious days suitable for fasting. There are two Ekadashi due to having two paksha’s in a month, one on the Shukla Paksha and the other on the Krishna Paksha. Normally , there can be at least 24 Ekadashi in a year, but in 2020 due to of Adhik Mas (extra months), this number will be 26. Extra month in Hindu calendar comes around every 3 years .
Mokshada Ekadashi Significance.
This Ekadashi is named after Shri Vishnu’s heavenly abode, Vaikuntha. It is said that the door to Vaikuntha remains open on this day. People normally seeking salvation (Moksha) or liberation from the vicious cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, succeed in achieving their goal by observing a vrat on Vaikuntha Ekadashi Tithi. People from the Vaishnava community believes that “Vaikunta Dwara” or “the gate to the god septum” is opened on this special day. Many Hindu devotees queue up to pass through the gate of Vaikunth in Lord Vishnu temple.
Explanation in Hindi
हिंदू पंचांग के अंतर्गत प्रत्येक माह की 11वीं तीथि को एकादशी कहा जाता है। एकादशी को भगवान विष्णु को समर्पित तिथि माना जाता है..
एक महीने में दो पक्ष होने के कारण दो एकादशी होती हैं, एक शुक्ल पक्ष मे तथा दूसरी कृष्ण पक्ष मे। इस प्रकार वर्ष मे कम से कम 24 एकादशी हो सकती हैं, परन्तु अधिक मास की स्थति मे यह संख्या 26 भी हो सकती है।
एकादशी के व्रत का सम्वन्ध तीन दिनों की दिनचर्या से है। भक्त उपवास के दिन, से एक दिन पहले दोपहर में भोजन लेने के उपरांत शाम का भोजन नहीं ग्रहण करते हैं, ताकि यह सुनिश्चित हो सके कि अगले दिन पेट में कोई अवशिष्ट भोजन न बचा रहे। भक्त एकादशी के दिन उपवास के नियमों का कड़ाई से पालन करते हैं। तथा अगले दिन सूर्योदय के बाद ही उपवास समापन करते हैं। एकादशी व्रत के दौरान सभी प्रकार के अनाज का सेवन वर्जित होता है।
मार्गशीर्ष माह के शुक्ल पक्ष मे आने वाली इस एकादशी को मोक्षदा एकादशी कहा जाता है। यह व्रत मोक्ष देने वाला तथा चिंतामणि के समान सब कामनाएँ पूर्ण करने वाला है। जिससे आप अपने पूर्वजो के दुखों को खत्म कर सकते हैं
Why to do Ekadashi
The reason is because the planet itself is in a certain state on that day, so if we keep our body light and available, our awareness will turn inward.
We fast on Ekadasi in order to minimize the demands of the body so we can engage more of our time in the spiritual and devotional service
Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji explanation on Ekadashi
We know that the Moon affects the ocean. On Full Moon Day the waves are higher. The Moon affects water. Our body is made up of water. Nearly 60% of our body is made up of water, and it has saline content, like the ocean. So, our body is a miniature capsule of sea water. Moon has an influence on the body and anything that influences the body influences the mind as well.
And that is why our ancestors have said to fast on Ekadashi (eleventh lunar day of the Hindu calendar). Why have they said this is because when the stomach is kept empty the toxins in the body get cleared. Fasting has a purifying effect on the body and it cleanses all the undigested food, toxins, etc.
So, if you fast three days before Full Moon then on Full Moon day you will not have any illnesses – this is the belief.
Conclusion
I have been fasting on all Ekadashi since April 2008 as part of remembrance of my younger brother Sushil who left us in heaven at very short age of 45 .Its customary normally to commit for observing to do Ekadashi for one year for liberation of our close family members departed soul for peace . There is no rule how long one need to observe the fasting .Its personal choice and individual commitment . I observed the fast without any break either in US or during business travel to China , Japan or Europe.
I wanted to understand scientific and spiritual reason why to do fasting hence decided to acquire knowledge through information .Its interesting to understand the various perspective
I liked the 2 times in month fasting helps to develop some discipline to break the normal routine ( breakfast /Lunch/dinner) .It helps me to provide rest to my body’s digestive system . It’s also helps to clean entire body twice in a month . If you have a full stomach, and you are unaware and dull, you will not notice it. So, to stay alert and also to purify the body, you go without food on that day. This makes your day energetic. Irrespective of religion its good practice to build strong immune system and discipline to to do fasting
Also developing discipline slowly becomes habit and part of our natural normal routine . Let’s develop whatever way with or without fasting develop any good quality that will help us to remain happy in our life .