Ekadashi is the Sanskrit name for the eleventh day of the waxing and waning lunar cycle. Ekadashi is a special day for fasting and increasing your practices of meditation and bhakti yoga. The Vedas recommend observing this sacred day in order to experience both physical and spiritual benefits. In this article we discuss the benefits of fasting on Ekadashi, different types of Ekadashi fasts, upcoming Ekadashi dates, and more.
Why is Ekadashi so special?
The Vedas describe Ekadashi as hari-vasara, or the day of Hari. Hari is another name of Vishnu. The day of Ekadashi has been celebrated by Vishnu devotees for hundreds of thousands of years. Ekadashi is also known as upavasa, or a day for coming closer to God. Thus the purpose of Ekadashi is not merely to starve the body, but to bring our mind and heart closer to Krishna through acts of bhakti yoga, or devotional service. by the observance of the special Ekadashi day and its special fast, a person can accelerate their spiritual growth and awareness, and free themselves from negative karma that otherwise will only further bind them to the continuous rounds of birth and death.