Rama Ekadashi

Krishna Paksha Ekadashi tithi of Karthik month is celebrated as Rama Ekadashi. Tamil Panchang celebrates Rama Ekadashi in the tamil month of ‘Puratassi’ and states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra it is celebrated during the Ashwayuj or Ashwina month. According to ‘Brahma-Vaivarta Purana’, this Ekadashi fast can bestow blessings of Lord Rama and Sita. The devotee who observed Rama Ekadashi will be able to overcome all the obstacles in the smooth way and achieve immense success.

Prabodhini Ekadashi Date 2023

Rama Ekadashi Fast

According to the puranas, the devotees who observe Rama Ekadashi Vrat are blessed with forgiveness for all their past sins. Rama Ekadashi fasting means spiritual cleansing, a spiritual detoxification of all senses. People refrain from consuming solid food, grains, pulses, or lentils on this day. Wake up in the brahma muhurat, take bath and clean sacred live space at home for pooja and bhajan ceremonies. We can recite or meditate on Vishnu Sahasranama during this time. Or be with the mantra “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaaya” all day, learn more Vishnu Mantras. Choose a fast that suits your schedule for the day or activities for the day.

It is generally preferred to avoid grains and pulses, or lentils, tubers on Ekadesi. Eat fruits, positive prana foods like coconut, coconut water, dairy products, peppercorn, honey and nuts. Stay mindful of your every thought and action. Offer flowers and light a lamp for Tulsi plant. We can participate in bhajan or homa remedy ceremonies. Temple visits, offerings and donations are advised since they can deepen the sense of devotion. Refrain from negative emotions like hate, anger, greed, jealously and violence choose happier, inclusive attributes like empathy, care, faith, integrity.

Pregnant women, elderly people can skip fasting and rather chant & internalise Lord Vishnu Mantras. Children below the age of 12 can also avoid fasting since they are in the assimilation phase of their life.

We also suggest other modes of fasting like gadget free fast- taking a break from social media for a day, staying away from watching television, or mobile phone or even gaming gadgets and other distractive media. This can also create a significant amount of awareness and mindfulness. Devotees who observer Rama Ekadashi fast keeps night vigil and sing bhajans or kirtans. Also, read ‘Bhagavad Gita’ on this day. 

Magnanimity of Ekadashi Vrat

Bhagavad Gita says that this Ekadashi Vrat was revealed by Lord Krishna to King Arjuna and all the Pandavas followed this fast all their lifetime. Vrat doesn’t necessarily mean denial of food, it’s the compulsive nature that is moderated during the Vrat. Ekadashi Vrat aims at making everything, a conscious process. When we do not act based on compulsive nature, we become conscious, when we are conscious, we choose; choose our reactions, our words and actions. This is the cycle the Vrat taps into, by making a shift in our very nature, from compulsive to conscious. We go on collecting data or memories based on day-to-day life, things we see, read and eat. Ekadashi creates a window to reflect on this memory pile, reevaluate data fetched to our system, a hard reboot. It is also believed that full stomach causes lethargy and dullness, and a light stomach keeps the mind sharp and alert. This Vrat is considered to be of incomparable power and benefits. There is a famous sloka on Ekadashi Vrat that goes,

“Na Gayathrya para mantram:
  Na Mathu para dhaivatham:
  Na Ganagasya paramam theertham:
  Na Ekadasya samam vratham”

Meaning : There is no mantra superior to Gayathri Mantra; there is no God superior to one’s mother; there is no holy water superior to River Ganga and there is no vrata superior to the Ekadasi vrat.

According to Srimad Bhagavad Purana, this Ekadashi Vrat earns the same merit as equivalent to performing an aswamedha homa, 10 times the merit of donating 1000 cows to a temple or an ashrama and the merit of feeding 1000 sages or spiritual seekers.

Benefits

Important Timings On Rama Ekadashi

Rama Ekadashi festival dates between 2020 & 2030

Other Related Festivals