Few have asked me how to fast, what to eat and what not to eat on Ekadhasi days.
Hope this helps,
On Dhashami, single time meals is taken, at night phalahara can be taken. But should not use onion and garlic on dhashami.
- On Ekadhasi, the best way of fasting is not to have even a single drop of water.
- If that is not possible, the next option can be water, fruits, fruit juices alone.
- The next option can be fruits, fruit juices, water and milk. (Fruits and milk should not be taken simultaneously one after the other as it will be counted as having food)
– Many are having upma (without onion,garlic) milk, water and fruits. (Upma should not be done with rice flour, wheat flour can be used)
– Few have rotis and poori. But I dont advice that because they contain grains. If people are aged or have work and if they cant resist they are having rotis etc. But I was able to sustain very well with fruits and nuts once when I had work the whole day. So I hope everyone can do ekadhashi vratha either nirjala or at least with fruits…
On Dwadhasi, one should break his fast after the sunrise,
- Wake up early morning, finish nithya karma and pooja. Food should be cooked in madi and should be kept as neivedhya to Lord Sri Vishnu.
- People who have salagraama in house will prepare salagraama theertha and will break fast with that.
- People who dont have salagraama in house can take theertha which is used for abhisheka to Sri Vishnu paada or Sri Vishnu vigraha.
- By having the thulasi theertham (which is prepared with salagraama theertha) it means one is breaking the fast.
- Then on can have the food which is kept as neivedhya to Lord which is known as Dwadhashi parane. Even on dwadhasi onion and garlic should be avoided.
REMEMBER :
1. NEVER CONSUME RICE, ONION, GARLIC, TOMATOES, DRUMSTICK ON EKADHASI.
2. Having thulasi theertham on ekadhashi is counted as having food, one should not have that.
Madhwa saints 