Online Articles:: Lord Caitanya's Instructions on Ekadasi

One day after visiting the Gundica Temple, Gaurahari came and sat down in the Jagannatha Vallabha garden. It was the day of a sacred Ekadasi. The Lord spent the entire day and night chanting the holy names of Krsna, accompanied by many resident devotees like Svarupa Damodara, Ramananda Raya, and Vakresvara Pandita.

The Lord said, "Today all of you should attentively chant the holy names of Krsna and give up eating and sleeping. Some of you should chant the holy names a prescribed number of rounds, some of you should offer obeisances, and some of you should discuss the topics of Krsna and Balarama. Stay anywhere and constantly chant the name of Govinda and always be intoxicated with love of God."

At that time Gopinatha, along with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, brought prasada from Gundica temple. They placed rice, various types of vegetables, sweets, sweet rice, yogurt, and curd before Mahaprabhu. By the order of the Lord everyone offered obeisances and repeatedly glorified the Maha-prasada. Then they spent the entire day and night chanting the holy names of the Lord without any offence. According to the instruction of the Lord they took bath early in the morning on the day of Dvadasi and broke the Ekadasi fast with maha-prasada.

Thereafter the devotees folded their hands and requested the Lord as follows: "O Lord! We know that the vow of Ekadasi is the crest jewel among all the vows. We strictly observe this vow by giving up eating and sleeping. But it is recommended that the grain prasada of Jagannatha which is always respected at Jagannatha Puri should be honoured immediately upon receiving it. Therefore O Lord! We are in a great dilemma and also freightened. Please instruct us clearly in this regard. We know that your orders are the statements of the Vedas and they are followed even by Lord Brahma and Lord Siva.".

The Lord replied, "Observing Ekadasi is one of the limbs of devotional service. If one does not follow Ekadasi, his spiritual life will be spoiled. One should simply respect the prasada on the day of Ekadasi and eat them on the next day. On the day of Ekadasi the pious vaisnavas should become satisfied by drinking the nectar of Krsna's holy names. They do not indulge in any kind of material enjoyments and do not speak any useless words. The pure Vaishanavas only honor foodstuffs that have already been offered to the Lord and do not eat any unoffered foodstuff. On the day of sacred Ekadasi they fast totally and they break their fast by eating prasada on the next day. Only in special circumstances do Vaisnavas accept nongrain foodstuffs on the day of Ekadasi. Those who are nondevotees enjoy various foodstuffs day and night on the pretext of eating prasada. Such people associate with sinful persons and eat grains on the day of Ekadasi. Always cultivate the limbs of devotional service and thereby respect Bhakthi-devi and you will attain her bhakti. Give up the association of nondevotees and observe the vow of Ekadasi.

"Consider carefully that actually there is no contradication between honoring prasada and observing Ekadasi. Know for certain that if a person accepts one limb and envies another limb, he is certainly a fool. One should strictly follow a particular limb of devotional service according to time, place, and circumstance. The son of Nanda Maharaja is the Lord of all the limbs. Therefore please follow that by which He becomes pleased. One must give up eating and sleeping on the day of Ekadasi and honor prasada only on the next day."

After hearing these words of the Lord, all the Vaisnavas happily chanted the name Govinda and offered their respectful obeisances to Him. All the devotees of Orissa and Bengal headed by Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya became jubiliant.