In the Nectar of Devotion Srila Prabhupada describes Ekadasi as follows,"In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana it is said that one who observes fasting on Ekadasi day is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and advances in pious life. The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one's faith and love for Govinda, or Krishna. The real reason for observing fasting on Ekadasi is to minimize the demands of the body and to engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar service. The best thing to do on fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Govinda and to hear His holy name constantly."
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Ekadasi is observed by not taking any grains or beans and increasing our Krishna consciousness. It occurs twice in a month on the 11th day of the waning and waxing moon. Once a year there is a special Ekadasi known as Nirjala Ekadasi during which many devotees completely abstain from all eating and from even drinking water for 24 hours. This Nirjala Ekadasi is not required, but many devotees relish the opportunity to perform this extra austerity.
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Our last day in Kuala Lumpur was Nirjala Ekadasi. So we observed it along with many of the Malaysian devotees. And it just so happened that the time for breaking the fast (sunrise on the day following Ekadasi) occurred just as we arrived at the airport for our departure to Sydney, Australia. It was a beautiful moment. The morning sun was rising over the mountains in the east. The devotees were chanting a Hare Krishna kirtan. And we all got to break our fast together taking some water and grains. After I took a final group photograph of these wonderful devotees, Mataji and I headed in to check-in and departed for my next lecture venue.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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