Today being the auspicious Rama Ekadasi, our Vaisnvava tradition tells us to fast from grains and beans, and increase our hearing and chanting.
Coincidentally, all of my programs for the day were almost magically rescheduled, postponed, or cancelled on their own. I took it as a sign from above and embarked on a long, relaxed journey to the temple. The long journey gave me ample time to finish my sixteen rounds (and even a few extra!)
Fond memories of a Kartik four years ago flooded my mind. My best friend an I decided to do a nirjal on this very same ekadasi. It was one super-surcharged day! We went to mangal arati, the morning program, spend the day chanting japa, in kirtan, and trying to remember Krsna as much as possible (in spite of school). We even went on harinam sankirtan and book distribution! Aahhh, youthful, happy days...
Today, I wasn't sure if I could do a nirjal fast successfully. The weather has been quite hot and I didn't want to promise something I couldn't do. So I decided to do a nirjal for half the day, till noon, and allow myself to take as little fruit and water as possible. The lesser the eating, the more the time of sravanam, kirtanam, and visnu-smaranam!
I even read the beautiful bhakti-rasa-filled poetry of Srila Vrndavana Das Thakur, Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur, Srila Govinda Das Thakur, and Srila Vasudeva Ghosh. These poetic songs filled with philosophy as well as extraordinary pastimes are powerful enough to melt even the most stone-like of hearts! My heart swells up in pride and admiration for our rich Gaudiya Vaisnava culture, and its radiant gem-like saints.
Read the glories of Karttika-krsna Ekadasi, or Ramaa Ekadasi, from the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana of Srila Krsna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa here.
Read a Dandavats article: Hearing Gaura Katha on ekadasis in Kartika here.
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