Nirjala Ekadashi, also known as Pandava or Bhim Ekadasi, occurs during the waxing phase of moon in the month of Jyestha (May – June). The greatness of this Ekadasi was explained to Bhima, the second Pandava brother, by sage Vyasa. Hence the Ekadasi is also referred as Pandav or Bhim Ekadasi. In 2013, the date of Nirjala Ekadashi is June 19.
The significance of Nirjala Ekadasi is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Padma Purana. Draupadi and the Pandavas, except for Bhima, used to observe all the Ekadasis. Bhima, who was a voracious eater, could not bear hunger and used to skip the fasting.
Now, Bhima wanted to observe fast and also eat!! So he enquired to Sage Vyasa to find a way out. But since eating and fasting was impossible, sage Vyasa told about Nirjala Ekadasi, which has all the benefits of observing twenty four ekadasis.
Nirjala Ekadasi is one of the strictest fast in Hindu religion and among all Ekadasis. Nirjala means ‘without water.’
Staunch Vishnu devotees who undertake this fast does not drink water while fasting on the day. No food is also consumed on the day. The fast begins on Ekadasi sunrise and ends on next day sunrise.
It is believed that observing Nirjala Ekadashi provides the benefit of all the other Ekadashis observed in a year. Observing it is also equal to going on pilgrimage. Above all, upon death, people who have observed Nirjala Ekadashi are received by messengers from Vaikunta and not by Yama, the god of death.
It is strictly advised by elders and doctors that those people having poor health condition (diseases), those undertaking medicines, pregnant women and those who have just delivered baby should not attempt to observe Nirjala Ekadasi. One should never torture the body in the name of customs and religious traditions.
6 comments:
Hare Krishna. Nice post.
Thank you so much for this posting!! Being away from India and no elders around, this was quite handy for me to know the real meaning. Appreciate your sharing with us all and now I know the real importance of this ekadasi..
Regards,
Harshil Patel
Thanks very much, and appreciate your effort of putting such useful info.
Here I would like to add something is very useful.Hope this help in realizing importance of 'NIRJALA EKADASHI'
"Without drinking even water, one should fast on the Ekadasi 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).
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 Ekadashi without taking any water. Oh unlimited Anantadev, I shall break fast on the next day, Dwadashi.’ Thereafter, to remove all his sins, the devotee should honour this Ekadashi 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 Ekadashi, the sins that have been accumulated all become nullified and are burned to ashes. Such is the great power of this Ekadashi.
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 Ekadashi day to sunrise on the Dwadashi day. If a person endeavours to observe this great fast very strictly, he easily achieves the result of observing all twenty-five other Ekadashi fasts throughout the entire year."
My Best wishes to all.
Kishor Paridwal
jai shree krushn..thanks for posting this..this was indeed very helpful n imformative too...
sharmila patel
jai shree krushn..thanks for posting this..this was indeed very helpful n imformative too...
sharmila patel
If you actually read the section in the Mahabharat krsna is instructing bhim not the rest of the world. Following Bhim or Pandava ekadasi each year observing nirjala doesn't count for every other ekadasi during the year this is a misconception similar to the misconception that the Jiva fell from goloka vrindavan (spiritual world) - read and inquire from a learned source (bonafide guru)
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