Thread by @rameshvenkatram

(1) How should one observe Ekādaśī (एकादशी)?

Ekādaśī (एकादशी), which means 11 is not just a fast for 24 hours or for that matter fasting from food for 24 hours. In fact it is usually much more than 24 hours on almost all Ekādaśī.

(2) The 11 in Ekādaśī is a reference to the 5 Jñānendriyas and the 5 karmendriyas which make up 10 plus the Manas (the mind) that adds up to 11 – the fasting is for all of these – five sense organs and their outward tendencies need to be pulled back in.

(3) The five organs of action and their constant activity needs to be reined-in and finally the mind needs to be emptied out completely – turned inside out as it were and then given just one thought to contemplate on – the nāma of Viṣṇu This is what it means to do upavāsa

(4) – where you are as close to your Iṣṭa as possible in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions for a period of 36 to 42 hours once every 10 days – this break is essential

(5) So, Ekādaśī also means complete fasting from all things that one has indulged in or indulges in on a regular basis – work, social media, friends, colleagues… withdraw and rest so that you can rejuvenate yourself.

(6) This is how our holidays should have been planned as well, not this Saturday, Sunday business. Ekādaśī, Saṅkaṣṭī, Pūrṇimā, Amāvásyā, Pradoṣa and so on

(7) …unless, the system allows Hindus to practice their Dharma or unless the Hindus ensure that they pressure the system, these practices will slowly but surely die away

(8) This Nirjala Ekādaśī (waterless) also known as Bhīma- Ekādaśī because Bhīma unlike other pāṇḍavas kept the Ekādaśī Vrata only once a year as he could not fast twice a month but for one Ekādaśī he stayed away from water too & therefore this is one of most important Ekādaśīs