More Nirjala Ekadasi

By Dravida Dasa

Originally posted at www.dandavats.com

With some further research and help from His Holiness Bhanu Swami, we have concluded that there is really no basis in either 1) the scripture, specifically the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, the guidebook for devotional practices compiled by Sanatana Gosvami, or 2) Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, for the idea that if one performs a full nirjala fast on Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi, that will negate any ill effects from having broken Ekadasi over the previous year.

The following excerpt from Hari Sauri Prabhu’s “Transcendental Diary” definitively reveals how seriously Srila Prabhupada regarded Ekadasi, and his prescribed remedy for breaking it:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

January 13 1976 – Calcutta

Because it was Ekadasi we skipped breakfast and fasted until noon. But at lunchtime the devotees inadvertently broke the Ekadasi vow because the cook accidentally put peas into the vegetables. No one noticed until too late. Fortunately I arrived late for lunch because I had been massaging Srila Prabhupada. Just as I was about to eat, Jayapataka Maharaja shouted for me to stop. Although initially annoyed at being told not to eat, I was relieved when he pointed out the peas.

Shamefaced, Tamal Krishna Maharaja went to Prabhupada to report what had happened and to find out what should be done.

Srila Prabhupada told us we were all nonsense. He angrily rebuked us, “Now you have to fast for three days!” This shocked everyone. “Yes, that is the procedure,” he confirmed. Seeing the stunned look on our faces, he relented but said that we should observe Ekadasi for the rest of the day and then again tomorrow on Dvadasi.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Srila Prabhupada’s only mention of Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi (also known as Bhima Ekadasi) comes in the conversation with Ramesvara Prabhu quoted in our earlier post. But Srila Prabhupada’s full answer raises some doubt as to whether he really confirmed Ramesvara’s premise, namely, that fasting on Nirjala Ekadasi is equivalent to fasting on all the Ekadasis:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

June 7, 1976, Los Angeles

Ramesvara: So I’ve been told that if one fasts on Bhima-ekadasi, that it is like fasting on all the ekadasis. Is that true?

Prabhupada: Yes. Ekadasi is meant for fasting, either Bhima or Arjuna. But we cannot fast, therefore we have to take little fruits and…. Otherwise, ekadasi means fasting.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Was Prabhupada really confirming that full fasting on Nirjala Ekadasi was equivalent to strictly observing all the other Ekadasis, or was he simply affirming that Ekadasi is meant for fasting? And even if he did confirm Ramesvara’s premise, it is still a logical leap from this to the conclusion (unsupported in any scripture) that full fasting on Nirjala Ekadasi negates any ill effects from breaking Ekadasi. I think we can safely conclude that this idea is a concoction, despite its long observance by many ISKCON devotees.

But what about the benefits of full fasting on Nirjala Ekadasi or any other Ekadasi? Yes, Prabhupada stated in several places that such full fasting is good. But not if it impedes one’s service, especially preaching:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tamala Krsna: I remember you were instructing once that all of your initiated disciples should chant twenty-five rounds…

Prabhupada: Minimum.

Tamala Krsna: Minimum on this day. Is that a rule that we should all follow in our temples?

Prabhupada: We are sixteen rounds.

Tamala Krsna: No, I mean on ekadasi.

Prabhupada: Oh yes. Ekadasi, simply you should chant. No other business. Nirjala.

Tamala Krsna: No preaching work? Should they go out for preaching?

Prabhupada: No, those who are preaching, not for them. Those who are sitting idle, or they… (laughter) [break] … has no other regulation, simply preaching. A preacher is so exalted. He hasn’t got to follow any regulation. But don’t take it. (laughter) And actually if one is busy in preaching work, that is first-class. [break] … not my manufactured word, my Guru Maharaja, that the… That Madhava Maharaja, when he was a brahmacari, his name was Hayagriva. So he was to go somewhere. So but he was sick. Guru Maharaja was informed that he was sick and “Today is ekadasi. He cannot take his regular meals.” So Guru Maharaja said, “No. Let him take immediately meals and go.”

Revatinandana: For preaching.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

So in conclusion, Srila Prabhupada, recognizing our many disqualifications, adjusted so many rules and regulations for us. Not 64 rounds minimum but 16, not full nirjala fasting on Ekadasi but fasting from grains and beans, etc. And it was all in the name of preaching: he never forbade us from chanting 64 rounds — he even started with that number in 1966 — but when he saw that the whole day would be taken up with chanting rounds and nothing else would get done, he reduced it to
32, and finally to 16 — minimum. Same thing with Ekadasi. If Srila Prabhupada had set up the strict rule as nirjala fasting on Ekadasi and staying up all night hearing and chanting — the orthodox Gaudiya Vaisnava practice — then first of all 99% of the devotees would have freaked out at the “impossible” austerity and blooped, and the few remaining devotees would have spent two days every fortnight just doing Ekadasi and recovering from it, without any other service.

So there is absolutely no justification or need for the practice of diminishing one’s preaching service, or any other service, in the name of practicing nirjala Ekadasi on Bhima Ekadasi to atone for previous broken Ekadasis. If you’ve broken Ekadasi and realize it on the Ekadasi day, follow Ekadasi for the rest of the day and fast from grains and beans the next day (or observe full fasting if it won’t impede your service), and if you’ve broken Ekadasi and failed to observe it the next day, well, then pray for forgiveness and vow to strictly follow Ekadasi in the future (no grains or beans), and go on with your service. There is no prayascitta (atonement) for devotees except the practice of devotional service itself, centering on hearing and chanting the holy name.