Why Not Eat Rice on Ekadashi in Hindi? Not only rice but anything that belongs to the “Grain” category should not be consumed on Ekadashi. Not only from religious point of view but also scientifically it has been proven that consuming food that belongs to the grain category can have detrimental effect on the body.

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Why Not Eat Rice on Ekadashi in Hindi

Since it has been highlighted in vishnu purana that it will be a sin to take grains and rice on the ekadashi. But according to a report it had been found that regular eating of food including grains, fast food and others helps the viruses to take birth and hence it results in the increase in the number r of poison in the body and this poison is at its highest at the eleventh day therefore it is said to have a fast on this day.

Also rice effects and expedite it in the body. Hence whatever is written in our ancient texts is all consist of scientific reason. Also it is one of the reason, one day stomach should be given a break and everyone should eat satwik food that leads to peace in mind.

Ekadashi is the 11th Lunar day (tithi) of each of the two lunar phases. The two phases are- The Shukla Paksa (the period of brightening moon) and The Krishna Paksa (the period of the fading moon).

In Hinduism, both the Ekadashi are considered auspicious and devotees usually observed partial fasts on this day. Each Ekadashi has its own significance and benefits and blessings. Lord Vishnu is worshipped by devotees on the days of Ekadashi. The Vishnu mantra chanted on this day is: “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.”

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There are two stories underlying why rice is not consumed on the day of Ekadashi:

According to Hindu Mythology

The story behind not consuming rice on the day of Ekadashi is an interesting one. Once a drop of sweat had fallen down from Lord Brahma’s head and took a form of Demon. When the demon approached Lord Vishnu and asked him to give him a place to reside, Lord Brahma told him to dwell in rice eaten by devotees on Ekadashi and transform into worms in their stomach.

According to Astrology

The reason behind not eating rice on Ekadashi is not only religious but astrological as well. According to astrology, the amount of water content in rice is high. The effect of the moon on the water is more. In such a situation, eating rice increases the amount of water in the body and this leads to the distraction of the mind. Being fickle minded hinders the observance of fasting rules. Since observing the sacred and sattvic spirit of the mind is very important in Ekadashi fast, it is forbidden to eat things made of rice at this event.

What can you eat for ekadashi?

While fasting, they start taking coffee, tea, fruits, nuts, uncooked food etc and say they are okay to be consumed and only avoid rice items. It is clearly against to essence of Upavasam. Any food item is against to fasting. (This is answer to your question). In fact Coffee, tea are “Tamas” foods because they are “Stimulants and Addictive” and also foreign brought foods, they should be avoided any day.

We have to first understand why we do “Upavasam” before deciding what we should eat or what we shouldn’t eat.

Many think, Fasting=Upavasam, which is not true.

Upavasam = Fasting + Devotion (Dedicated Daiva Aradhana). That day and night should be dedicated to God, that’s it!

The objective of upavasam is simple. Every human being has two things “Jeevam” (life) and “Deham” (Soul). Death is the time where the “Jeevam” leaves “Deham” forcefully and painfully. It is painful because Life never wants to leave Soul. Nobody enjoys death and nobody will eat the food they like or luxuries they have, during the time of death.

That is the real test for the human being, if he/she can chant “Sri Hari” that time, his/her Jeevam will reach Sri Hari’s abode. It is not easy to do that in your normal life style and hence to reach that state, we need to do lot of upasana/dedication throughout the life. The essence of Upavasam is the same. We are artificially creating a platform where we renounce our luxuries and concentrate on Lord.

Food is considered as the greatest luxury and hence it is avoided. We needn’t do that every day, our rishis mentioned that it can be done once in 15 days, and selected Ekadashi thidhi.

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How can I fast for Ekadashi?

Why Not Eat Rice on Ekadashi in Hindi? In India, there are mainly two systems of observing fasts on different occasions. One is according to Karmakand and the other is Yoga system.

Apart from this one thing is to be noted that people of both the systems know how to start fast but rare are those who really know how to break it after 24 hours.

In the interest of other people who want to know the real meaning and procedure of observing fast like you, I am giving full details of both the systems so you can choose according to your ease.

Real meaning of Fast: – In Sanskrit it is called UPVAS, “Up” mreans near and “Vas” means to sit. So, Upvas means to sit near(God). This means on the fast days one should contemplate the Ist Mantra, read the spiritual literature and do meditation day and night. But no body follows this . Means, they leave taking food on the fast day that’s all.(where as leaving food in Sanskrit is known as ANSHAN and not Upvas)

Karmkandis

1- Karmkandis, do like this: They do not eat regular food but take fruits and other things they like and do idol worship according to the procedure shown by their pundits. They may break it by doing worship and taking food in the evening or continue fasting taking fruits at nigh and break it in the morning next day by dong worship and taking regular food. They do not know the reason of observing fast except this, that it is some festival and their pundit has advised doing this they will fulfill their all desires etc.

Yogik system

2- Yogik system, is the real system to observe fast. Yogis observe fast on Ekadashi, Amavashya and Poornima days every month. That is, 4 days every month. They do not take regular food and even water on these days and do their meditation in the morning , at the noon and in the evening for more time as they do in other days. During the gap time they study the spiritual literature and do not waste even a single minute .This continues up to the next morning. In the next morning they break their fast in the following way_

They take 1 liter of warm water in glass or steel pot and mix it with 3 lemon juice and 3 tea spoon of salt( nearly 10 grams) . Now they drink it completely. after 15 to 30 minutes they feel thirsty so they again take one or two glasses of ordinary room temperature water. After 5 to 10 minutes the pressure in their stomach increases so much so that they rush to the toilet room and flush all the accumulated waste.

This continues for half an hour and all the waste stitched to the intestine flushes out in three to four strokes dissolving in the warm lemon water. Now their body becomes light , they take bath and do their morning meditation and then take either 3 bananas or Khichuri for breaking the fast. Then after two to three hours they take normal food.

So, you have noticed that real meaning of doing fast is to sit near god i.e. doing Sadhana to the maximum time and clean the body and mind.

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When should ekadashi fast be started and up to which number?

 There is no such time or number prescribed. If you really want to start ekadashi fast, start from tomorrow itself and continue to life long. It is very beneficial if followed according to yogik system. You may observe it on ekadashis only leaving Amavashya and Purnima.

You may ask why to do fast on ekadashis ,Amavashya and Purnima? Answer is this. The food we eat is changed and passes to different stages. Finally it takes the form of lymph which is the food of our mind and brain cells. In one month the lymph equal to the food of 4 days becomes surplus in our body and is affected by the earth’s gravitation during the eksdashi to Amavashya or Poornima like tides in sea water .

If we observe Nirjal(without water) fast on these days it is absorbed by our body and does not come in the influence of the gravitation of moon . This helps the Sanyasis and Yogis to remain faithful to their Brahmcharya Vrat.

Now, You may say that this is the procedure fit to the Yogis and Sanyasis, why it be followed by general people. Yes, The married people may use this surplus lymph for the purpose of producing children so they may have sex 2 to 4 days in a month without affecting their mental and spiritual energy. So they may observe ekadashi fast leaving Amavashya and Poornima.

But students and unmarried should follow four fasts in a month in order to become mentally and spiritually strong . Disobeying to these rules of Yoga people generate animal qualities and pollute the society as we see presently not only in India but the whole world.