Ekadashi-vrata
08 Apr 2025 evening – Ekadasi Fasting (Hindi) | Amritsar, India | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
By observing the Ekadasi fast with faith, all sins are destroyed. On the day of Ekadasi, one should not consume any type of grain, such as rice, wheat, beans, chickpeas. Gurudeva explains that we should not accept or offer foods that are not permitted on this day of Ekadasi. Nirjala-ekadasi is the Ekadasi in which no food or liquid is consumed. Ekadasi Upavasi means sitting close to the Lord. Those who cannot follow nirjala-ekadasi can ingest small quantities of fruits and milk. Story of the...
25 Mar 2025 midday – Glories of Ekadasi (Bengali) | Kashinagar, India | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Through karma and jnana (knowledge) it is not possible to reach the Lord, bhakti (loving devotional service) is necessary. Srila Rupa Gosvami describes 64 types of devotional service, but declares that without ekadasi, bhakti will not manifest. Citra Gupta, secretary of Yama Maharaja records everything we do. We should follow ekadasi through love, without duplicity and hypocrisy. Story of King Rukmangada, his son Dharmangada and his beautiful wife, a harmonious family, and their subjects, all...
10 Jan 2025 evening – Ekadasi Tithi (English) | Itajai, Brazil | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
The lila of the demon Mura who asks Lord Siva as a boon that Sri Visnu may not kill him. About how the five forms of sin are in the grains on this Ekadasi day. About the name “Upavas Ekadasi” which means sitting next to the Lord. About how the Lord’s body is made of sat-cit-ananda, how He is Isvara, the Supreme Controller and how He is the all-attractive. About the nature of our soul which is also sat-cit-ananda and how it is in this body and that is why we should follow...
26 Dec 2024 evening – Glories of Ekadasi (English) | Puebla, Mexico | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Ekadasi tithi occurs 11 days after the full moon and after the new moon. Some people fast on ekadasi for their own health, but in the Vaisnava Sampradaya we observe ekadasi for the exclusive pleasure of Krsna, this is suddha-bhakti. Sloka that defines suddha-bhakti (bhakti-pure): anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam… (CC Madhya-lila 19.167). On Ekadasi we should stay very close to the Lord by chanting the Holy Names. Story of King Rukmangada, his son Dharmangada and the glories of...
26 Dec 2024 morning – Ekadasi (English) | Mexico City, Mexico | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
– Today is the last ekadasi of 2024. – The karmis, jnanis and devotees perform ekadasi for different reasons. – Instructions on how to proceed on the day of ekadasi: chant more Holy Names. – Lila of Mahaprabhu doing sankirtana at Srivasa’s house. – Sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. – Baladeva Prabhu punishes Romaharsana Rsi. – Narada Minu visits a couple who had no diksa, and their next life. – Serve the sadhu who comes to...