FASTING
68-03-12. Letter: Balai
SO FAR THE ADVENT DAY OF LORD CAITANYA IS CONCERNED, I HAVE WRITTEN A FULL SUGGESTION TO MONTREAL, IN WHICH THE MAIN POINTS ARE THAT WE SHOULD ALL OBSERVE STRICT FASTING UP TILL MOONRISE, AND AT THAT TIME, AN OFFERING IS MADE TO LORD CAITANYA OF EKADASI FOODS, FRUITS, PEANUTS, MILK, AND SO FORTH. THEN, ON THE NEXT DAY, FRIDAY THE 15TH, A FULL-SCALE FEAST IS HELD TO CELEBRATE HIS ADVENT DAY. On the 14th, chanting, reading of Srila Bhaktivinode's book, Life and Precepts and Caitanya Caritamrta, Introduction to Bhagavatam, may be held all the day in the Temple.
SO FAR THE ADVENT DAY OF LORD CAITANYA IS CONCERNED, I HAVE WRITTEN A FULL SUGGESTION TO MONTREAL, IN WHICH THE MAIN POINTS ARE THAT WE SHOULD ALL OBSERVE STRICT FASTING UP TILL MOONRISE, AND AT THAT TIME, AN OFFERING IS MADE TO LORD CAITANYA OF EKADASI FOODS, FRUITS, PEANUTS, MILK, AND SO FORTH. THEN, ON THE NEXT DAY, FRIDAY THE 15TH, A FULL-SCALE FEAST IS HELD TO CELEBRATE HIS ADVENT DAY. On the 14th, chanting, reading of Srila Bhaktivinode's book, Life and Precepts and Caitanya Caritamrta, Introduction to Bhagavatam, may be held all the day in the Temple.
69-02-20. Letter: Satsvarupa
Lord Caitanya's advent day is on the 4th of March 1969. ON THAT DAY YOU SHOULD KEEP FASTING UP TO THE MOONRISE IN THE EVENING, AND THE WHOLE DAY MAY BE UTILIZED IN PERFORMANCES IN KIRTANA AND READING OF LORD CAITANYA'S TEACHINGS. IN THE EVENING AFTER CEREMONY OF KIRTANA IS OBSERVED, LIGHT REFRESHMENTS LIKE FRUIT AND MILK, BOILED POTATOES MAY BE TAKEN AND THE NEXT DAY GENERAL FEASTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRASADAM TO PUBLIC MAY BE OBSERVED.
Lord Caitanya's advent day is on the 4th of March 1969. ON THAT DAY YOU SHOULD KEEP FASTING UP TO THE MOONRISE IN THE EVENING, AND THE WHOLE DAY MAY BE UTILIZED IN PERFORMANCES IN KIRTANA AND READING OF LORD CAITANYA'S TEACHINGS. IN THE EVENING AFTER CEREMONY OF KIRTANA IS OBSERVED, LIGHT REFRESHMENTS LIKE FRUIT AND MILK, BOILED POTATOES MAY BE TAKEN AND THE NEXT DAY GENERAL FEASTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRASADAM TO PUBLIC MAY BE OBSERVED.
760211mw.may Conversations
Prabhupada: So today, ekadasi as usual, the Varaha-dvadasi will be also observed and tomorrow breakfast.
Tamala Krsna: Breakfast. Fast? No.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Tamala Krsna: Fasting tomorrow or...
Prabhupada: No.
Tamala Krsna: Regular...
Prabhupada: Simply worshiping Varahadeva. Kesava dhrta-sukara-rupa, jaya jagadisa hare. That take.
Jayapataka: Between 8:50 and 10:00 we should break the fast.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: Is that called parayana?
Prabhupada: Eh? Parayana.
Hrdayananda: There's a very famous lecture you gave, Srila Prabhupada, one day on a Varaha-dvadasi, where you sang Jaya Jagadisa and then you explained it. A very wonderful lecture.
Jayapataka: AND THE DAY AFTER IS NITYANANDA'S AVIRBHAVA.
Prabhupada: OH, THEN HALF-DAY FASTING.
Tamala Krsna: Wow.
Hrdayananda: Auspicious alignment.
Tamala Krsna: (break) ...on your appearance day and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's and Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Gaura Kisora's we should observe half-day fast. I have a question that on all the other auspicious days, just like Narottama dasa Thakura and others, should we also observe half-day fast?
Prabhupada: IT IS... BUT IF YOU CANNOT, THAT IS ANOTHER...
Tamala Krsna: Sometimes because of the sankirtana...
Prabhupada: No, no. If you cannot, you can take.
Tamala Krsna: And just sing some songs and praise.
Prabhupada: YES. YES. KIRTANA IS MAIN THING.
Tamala Krsna: And if possible, then the fasting.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: I see. (break) ...is up till sun...
Prabhupada: UP TILL SUNSET. LORD RAMACANDRA.
Tamala Krsna: Also. And Srimati Radharani?
Prabhupada: Half.
Tamala Krsna: Half day. (break)
Prabhupada: Oh, yes.
Tamala Krsna: What kind of fast is that?
Prabhupada: BALARAMA? HALF DAY. It is fifteen days before Janmastami.
Tamala Krsna: We should always chant twenty-five rounds on ekadasi if initiated.
Prabhupada: Initiated? Everyone. Why initiated?
Tamala Krsna: So that should be standard for our movement on ekadasi day?
Prabhupada: Standard is sixteen, but if one can chant more, then he is welcome.
Tamala Krsna: It's not mandatory for ekadasi.
Jayapataka: Recommended.
Prabhupada: NO. EKADASI MEANS THAT, FASTING AND CHANTING.
Tamala Krsna: Sometimes I'm wondering, because our men have to go out on book distribution.
Prabhupada: NO, NO. THAT IS ALSO PREACHING WORK. FOR THAT PURPOSE YOU CAN STOP THIS, BUT GENERALLY, ONE WHO HAS NO PREACHING WORK, HE CAN CHANT.
Tamala Krsna: Extra.
Prabhupada: Extra.
Tamala Krsna: I see. (end)
Prabhupada: So today, ekadasi as usual, the Varaha-dvadasi will be also observed and tomorrow breakfast.
Tamala Krsna: Breakfast. Fast? No.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Tamala Krsna: Fasting tomorrow or...
Prabhupada: No.
Tamala Krsna: Regular...
Prabhupada: Simply worshiping Varahadeva. Kesava dhrta-sukara-rupa, jaya jagadisa hare. That take.
Jayapataka: Between 8:50 and 10:00 we should break the fast.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: Is that called parayana?
Prabhupada: Eh? Parayana.
Hrdayananda: There's a very famous lecture you gave, Srila Prabhupada, one day on a Varaha-dvadasi, where you sang Jaya Jagadisa and then you explained it. A very wonderful lecture.
Jayapataka: AND THE DAY AFTER IS NITYANANDA'S AVIRBHAVA.
Prabhupada: OH, THEN HALF-DAY FASTING.
Tamala Krsna: Wow.
Hrdayananda: Auspicious alignment.
Tamala Krsna: (break) ...on your appearance day and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's and Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Gaura Kisora's we should observe half-day fast. I have a question that on all the other auspicious days, just like Narottama dasa Thakura and others, should we also observe half-day fast?
Prabhupada: IT IS... BUT IF YOU CANNOT, THAT IS ANOTHER...
Tamala Krsna: Sometimes because of the sankirtana...
Prabhupada: No, no. If you cannot, you can take.
Tamala Krsna: And just sing some songs and praise.
Prabhupada: YES. YES. KIRTANA IS MAIN THING.
Tamala Krsna: And if possible, then the fasting.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: I see. (break) ...is up till sun...
Prabhupada: UP TILL SUNSET. LORD RAMACANDRA.
Tamala Krsna: Also. And Srimati Radharani?
Prabhupada: Half.
Tamala Krsna: Half day. (break)
Prabhupada: Oh, yes.
Tamala Krsna: What kind of fast is that?
Prabhupada: BALARAMA? HALF DAY. It is fifteen days before Janmastami.
Tamala Krsna: We should always chant twenty-five rounds on ekadasi if initiated.
Prabhupada: Initiated? Everyone. Why initiated?
Tamala Krsna: So that should be standard for our movement on ekadasi day?
Prabhupada: Standard is sixteen, but if one can chant more, then he is welcome.
Tamala Krsna: It's not mandatory for ekadasi.
Jayapataka: Recommended.
Prabhupada: NO. EKADASI MEANS THAT, FASTING AND CHANTING.
Tamala Krsna: Sometimes I'm wondering, because our men have to go out on book distribution.
Prabhupada: NO, NO. THAT IS ALSO PREACHING WORK. FOR THAT PURPOSE YOU CAN STOP THIS, BUT GENERALLY, ONE WHO HAS NO PREACHING WORK, HE CAN CHANT.
Tamala Krsna: Extra.
Prabhupada: Extra.
Tamala Krsna: I see. (end)
710407LE.BOM Lectures
So this process should be adopted, how to become sukrtina. Sukrti means yajna-dana-tapa-kriya. One must perform sacrifices as prescribed in the sastras, and they must give in charity their hard-earned money for Krsna's cause. That is called dana. Yajna, dana, and tapasya. Tapasya. JUST LIKE TOMORROW IS SRI RAMA-NAVAMI. THE TAPASYA WILL BE THAT ALL THE DEVOTEES WILL OBSERVE FASTING FROM MORNING TILL EVENING. THIS IS CALLED TAPASYA. JUST LIKE EKADASI DAY--THERE IS NO EATING SUMPTUOUSLY. SIMPLY YOU TAKE LITTLE FRUITS AND FLOWERS. TRY TO AVOID THAT ALSO. YOU DON'T TAKE EVEN WATER. THAT IS REALLY EKADASI. But because we cannot do it--in the Kali-yuga the time is different--therefore we are allowed to take little fruit and milk, which is called anukalpa. These are different methods of tapasya. And yajna. This yajna, sankirtanaih prayair yajnaih, yajanti hi su-medhasah. In this age you cannot perform that big asvamedha yajna, gomedha yajna, rajasuya yajna, so many other yajnas. It is not possible. First of all, you have no means to perform such yajnas, hundreds and hundreds of tons ghee required for putting into the sacrificial fire. You have not even a drop of your ghee. So forget all those yajnas. In this age, yajnaih sankirtanaih prayaih. That is recommended in the sastra:
So this process should be adopted, how to become sukrtina. Sukrti means yajna-dana-tapa-kriya. One must perform sacrifices as prescribed in the sastras, and they must give in charity their hard-earned money for Krsna's cause. That is called dana. Yajna, dana, and tapasya. Tapasya. JUST LIKE TOMORROW IS SRI RAMA-NAVAMI. THE TAPASYA WILL BE THAT ALL THE DEVOTEES WILL OBSERVE FASTING FROM MORNING TILL EVENING. THIS IS CALLED TAPASYA. JUST LIKE EKADASI DAY--THERE IS NO EATING SUMPTUOUSLY. SIMPLY YOU TAKE LITTLE FRUITS AND FLOWERS. TRY TO AVOID THAT ALSO. YOU DON'T TAKE EVEN WATER. THAT IS REALLY EKADASI. But because we cannot do it--in the Kali-yuga the time is different--therefore we are allowed to take little fruit and milk, which is called anukalpa. These are different methods of tapasya. And yajna. This yajna, sankirtanaih prayair yajnaih, yajanti hi su-medhasah. In this age you cannot perform that big asvamedha yajna, gomedha yajna, rajasuya yajna, so many other yajnas. It is not possible. First of all, you have no means to perform such yajnas, hundreds and hundreds of tons ghee required for putting into the sacrificial fire. You have not even a drop of your ghee. So forget all those yajnas. In this age, yajnaih sankirtanaih prayaih. That is recommended in the sastra:
krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtanaih prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah
So these are pious activities, to perform yajna and to give in charity, yajna, dana and tapasya, accepting voluntarily austerity. That will make you sukrtina. And if you actually become sukrtina, then you'll be inclined. Because the dirty things will be cleansed by these pious activities, then you will understand. Just like when the sky is cleared of all clouds you can see the sunshine very brilliantly, similarly, you can see Krsna and God very brilliantly as soon as the cloud accumulated in your heart of all dirty things is cleansed. The process of cleansing in this age is this sankirtana yajna. This sankirtana movement is not unauthorized. It is authorized by the sastras. And because they are being properly performed, it is taking effect all over the world.
SB 7.14.20-23 P Ideal Family Life
Srila Jiva Gosvami has given quotations from many sastras stating that the sraddha ceremony of oblations to the forefathers should not be performed on Ekadasi tithi. When the tithi of the death anniversary falls on the Ekadasi day, the sraddha ceremony should be held not on Ekadasi but on the next day, or dvadasi. In the Brahma-vaivarta purana it is said:
ye kurvanti mahipala
sraddham caikadasi-dine
trayas te narakam yanti
data bhokta ca prerakah
If one performs the sraddha ceremony of oblations to the forefathers on the Ekadasi tithi, then the performer, the forefathers for whom the sraddha is observed, and the purohita, or the family priest who encourages the ceremony, all go to hell.
SB 8.16.25 P Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship
One should install the Deity of Lord Visnu or Krsna and worship Him nicely by dressing Him, decorating Him with flower garlands, and offering Him all kinds of fruits, flowers and cooked food, nicely prepared with ghee, sugar and grains. One should also offer a flame, incense and so on, while ringing a bell, as prescribed. This is called worship of the Lord. Here it is recommended that one observe the vow of subsisting only by drinking milk. This is called payo-vrata. As we generally perform devotional service on Ekadasi by not eating grains, it is generally recommended that on Dvadasi one not consume anything but milk. payo-vrata and arcana devotional service to the Supreme Lord should be performed with a pure devotional attitude (bhaktya). Without bhakti, one cannot worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. If one wants to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead and be directly connected with Him, knowing what He wants to eat and how He is satisfied, one must take to the process of bhakti. As recommended here also, bhaktya paramayanvitah: one should be surcharged with unalloyed devotional service.
SB 9.4 Summary Ambarisa Maharaja Offended by Durvasa Muni
Once Maharaja Ambarisa was worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vrndavana, observing the vow of Dvadasi. On Dvadasi, the day after Ekadasi, when he was about to break his Ekadasi fast, the great mystic yogi Durvasa appeared in his house and became his guest.
SB 9.4.29 P Ambarisa Maharaja Offended by Durvasa Muni
To observe Ekadasi-vrata and Dvadasi-vrata means to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those interested in advancing in Krsna consciousness must observe Ekadasi-vrata regularly. Maharaja Ambarisa's queen was equally as qualified as the King.
Adi 10.71 The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree
The injunction to fast on Ekadasi is especially meant for devotees; on Ekadasi there are no restrictions regarding food that may be offered to the Lord. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took the food of Lord Visnu in His ecstasy as visnu-tattva.
Adi 14.39 Lord Caitanya' s Childhood Pastimes
The Caitanya-bhagavata, Adi-lila, Chapter Six, fully describes the Lord's accepting visnu-prasada on the Ekadasi day at the house of Jagadisa and Hiranya. Regular prasada is offered to Lord Visnu on Ekadasi because, while fasting is recommended for devotees on Ekadasi, it is not recommended for Lord Visnu.
Adi 15 The Lord' s Pauganda-lila
A synopsis of the Fifteenth Chapter is as follows. The Lord took lessons in grammar from Gangadasa Pandita and became very expert in commenting upon grammar. He forbade His mother to take grains on the Ekadasi day.
Adi 15.9 The Lord' s Pauganda-lila
From the very beginning of His childhood life Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the system of observing a fast on the Ekadasi day. In the Bhakti-sandarbha, by Srila Jiva Gosvami, there is a quotation from the Skanda Purana admonishing that a person who eats grains on Ekadasi becomes a murderer of his mother, father, brother and spiritual master, and even if he is elevated to a Vaikuntha planet, he falls down. On Ekadasi, everything is cooked for Visnu, including regular grains and dahl, but it is enjoined that a Vaisnava should not even take visnu-prasada on Ekadasi. It is said that a Vaisnava does not accept anything eatable that is not offered to Lord Visnu, but on Ekadasi a Vaisnava should not touch even maha-prasada offered to Visnu, although such prasada may be kept for being eaten the next day. It is strictly forbidden for one to accept any kind of grain on Ekadasi, even if it is offered to Lord Visnu.
Madhya 24.342 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse
"You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekadasi and the performance of pure Ekadasi. You should also describe the fault in not observing this. One should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service.
TLC 12 The Devotee
However, one should generally accept the following principles to properly execute devotional service: (8) be satisfied by whatever is sent by Krsna for the maintenance of the body and hanker for no more, (9) observe fasting on Ekadasi day (this occurs on the eleventh day after the full moon and the eleventh day after the new moon. On such days no grains, cereals or beans are eaten; simply vegetables and milk are moderately taken, and chanting Hare Krsna and reading scriptures are increased.),
NoD 7 Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles
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 Krsna. 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.
NoD 26 Stimulation for Ecstatic Love
Some things which give impetus or stimulation to ecstatic love of Krsna are His transcendental qualities, His uncommon activities, His smiling features, His apparel and garlands, His flute, His buffalo horn, His leg bells, His conchshell, His footprints, His places of pastimes (such as Vrndavana), His favorite plant (tulasi), His devotee and the periodical occasions for remembering Him. One such occasion for remembrance is Ekadasi, which comes twice a month on the eleventh day of the moon, both waning and waxing. On that day all the devotees remain fasting throughout the night and continuously chant the glories of the Lord.
NoI 1
Those who suffer from diseases of the stomach must be unable to control the urges of the belly, at least according to this analysis. When we desire to eat more than necessary we automatically create many inconveniences in life. However, if we observe fasting days like Ekadasi and Janmastami, we can restrain the demands of the belly.
RTW 2.9 Following in the Footsteps of Self-Realized Saints books
Those who strive to emulate the mahatmas never fall prey to passivity and regression. Their eagerness and determination to serve the Lord steadily increase. Such followers observe spiritual occasions like Janmastami is the appearance festival of Lord Krsna Janmastami and Ekadasi--literally the eleventh day. In the lunar month it is the eleventh day of the waxing and waning moon. Vaisnavas abstain from grains on this day.Ekadasi for the pleasure of the Lord, in the way that the previous acaryas and mahatmas have recommended.
730422SB.LA Lectures
Just like... The, everything is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Just like in hospital. In hospital there are many patients, they are not eating anything on the Ekadasi day. Does it mean that is observing Ekadasi? He is simply hankering after, "When I shall eat, when I shall eat, when I shall eat?." But these students, they voluntarily don't eat anything. We, we don't say that you don't eat anything. Some fruits, some flowers. That's all. So param drstva nivartate. Just like a child. He has got in his hand something he's eating. and if you give him better thing, he will throw away the inferior thing and will take that better thing. So here is Krsna consciousness, this better engagement, better life, better philosophy, better consciousness, everything better. Therefore they can give up the sinful activities of life and that will promote to Krsna consciousness.
710407LE.BOM Lectures
So this process should be adopted, how to become sukrtina. Sukrti means yajna-dana-tapa-kriya. One must perform sacrifices as prescribed in the sastras, and they must give in charity their hard-earned money for Krsna's cause. That is called dana. Yajna, dana, and tapasya. Tapasya. Just like tomorrow is Sri Rama-navami. The tapasya will be that all the devotees will observe fasting from morning till evening. This is called tapasya. Just like Ekadasi day--there is no eating sumptuously. Simply you take little fruits and flowers. Try to avoid that also. You don't take even water. That is really ekadasi. But because we cannot do it--in the Kali-yuga the time is different--therefore we are allowed to take little fruit and milk, which is called anukalpa.
SVA 2.11 Suddha-bhakata
2) The holy days like Ekadasi and Janmastami are the mother of devotion for those devotees who respect them. Let the holy places of Krsna's pastimes be my places of worship, and bless me.
69-09-30. Letter: Madhudvisa
Regarding you first question, we observe Ekadasi from sunrise to sunrise. The 12 midnight is western astronomical calculation, but the Vedic astronomical calculation begins either from the sunrise or the moonrise. Generally it is sunrise. Our calculation is like this: when the sunrise is there, Ekadasi tithi (date) must be there. If Ekadasi tithi is not in the sunrise and the tithi begins, say after a few minutes after the sunrise, then we accept that day as previous to Ekadasi. All our ceremonies are calculated in that way. This means we must see the tithi during sunrise. Therefore, sometimes our dates of ceremonies do not exactly coincide like the western calculations. Just like Christmas Day they have fixed up on the 25th December, but our Janmastami tithi is not fixed up like that. My birthday is on the 1st September, 1896, but this year the tithi of my birthday was fixed for the 4th September. So it is very difficult to calculate, therefore we have to take help from the Indian expert almanac astronomers.
720422r2.tok Conversations
Devotee: On ekadasi, we can offer the Deity grains?
Prabhupada: Oh yes. But not guru. Ekadasi observed by jiva-tattva, not by Visnu-tattva. We are fasting for clearing our material disease, but Radha-Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Caitanya Mahaprabhu also may not be offered grains because He is playing the part of a devotee. Only Radha-Krsna, Jagannatha can be offered grains. Otherwise, Guru-Gauranga, no. And the prasadam should not be taken by anyone. It should be kept for next day.
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