Morning Program (Temple Room)

4:30am – Mangal Arati
7:00am – Darshan & Guru Puja
7:30am – Class

Evening Program (Temple Room)

5pm – Kirtan & Glories of Ekadasi
7pm –  Gaura / Sandhya Arati
7:30pm – Kirtan
9pm – Shayan Arati
9:30pm – Finish

About Ekadasi

Ekadasi is one of the regular celebrations in the Vaishnava calendar. It is observed eleven days after the full moon and eleven days after the new moon of every month. Ekadasi is known as the day of Lord Hari and is said to be the mother of devotion. Keeping the fast on Ekadasi is one of the sixty-four items of devotional service listed in Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. In fact, it is one of the first ten.

The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada’s summary study of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, states, “In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana it is said that one who observes fasting on Ekadasi day is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and advances in pious life. The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one’s faith and love for Govinda, or Krsna. The real reason for observing fasting on Ekadasi is to minimize the demands of the body and to engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar service. The best thing to do on fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Govinda and to hear His holy name constantly.”

Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi

“Pandava” refers to the Pandavas, the sons of Emperor Pandu. One such son was Arjuna, to whom Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita. Another son of Pandu was Bhima, a most powerful warrior and a most voracious eater. He was not one who welcomed fasting, and admitted to not being able to follow Ekadasi. However, he was told that if he observed complete fasting on one particular Ekadasi day annually, he would get all the spiritual benefits of having followed every Ekadasi fast of the year. He and his brothers thus all agreed to fast on that day (Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi).

“Nirjala” means “no water.” Strict followers of Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi observe a total fast today, even from water.