The Scientific Basis of Ekadasi

October 15,
2017
All glory to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga
Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj explains the relationship
between service and rasa.
Student: Mahārāj, since today is Ekādaśī, I was wondering if you
could tell us a little something about the importance of Ekādaśī.
Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj: We are to understand what is aprākṛta.
Aprākṛta means that which is like prākṛta, but is not; that which is
similar to the mundane, but is not mundane. So, aprākṛta means
supramundane. The colour of the mundane is there, so, the
word mundane is there, but we are given a warning that it is not
mundane, so we are told supramundane. That which is aprākṛta bears
similarity to the mundane, is like the mundane, but it is not mundane.
By the influence of the moon, the rasa, the watery portion in the body,
within everything everywhere here in this world increases. In the
ocean also, there is the tide, the ebb and flow of high and low tide. As
the time of the full moon and the new moon nears, the watery portion
within everything swells, and thereby the enjoying spirit increases. I
am speaking from a lecture of my Guru Mahārāj in Kurukṣetra in 1927
or ’28 about the scientific basis of Ekādaśī.
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October 15,
2017
By the movement of the earth, the moon, the sun, and the other
planets, heat decreases, the rasa, the exciting juice, in our body is
enhanced, and thereby the tendency for exploitation, for enjoyment,
increases. So, fasting is necessary to meet with that external
movement in nature. Fasting can save us from that particular reaction.
So, fasting has been recommended, and specially, if one can’t fast at
all, if it is impossible, then one may follow a diet that will give less
cause for excitement. That is called anukalpa. But mainly fasting is
recommended. Why? To check the senses. Because the pull of the
senses at that time, by the flow of nature, becomes more intense, the
result is that one is excited and wants to enjoy, to encroach on the
environment. So, this unfair encroachment of our own self should be
controlled, and fasting has been recommended. This is one way
Ekādaśī is explained.
In another way, if this consideration is taken to the centre, then by
such conditions in the environment, Kṛṣṇa Himself also feels a greater
necessity for enjoyment, and when Kṛṣṇa feels more necessity, the
devotees get a greater chance to serve. So, this time is very valuable
for them. Kṛṣṇa wants to enjoy more, and devotees should be busy to
supply things for His enjoyment. So much so, that they won’t have
any time to feed themselves.
Fasting is called upavāsa. Upa means samīpe [‘near’], to always
remain [vāsa] by the side of Kṛṣṇa and supply whatever He wants. In
doing so, servitors forget to take food and other things for themselves.
They want to be more busily engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa, because
at this time of need, they will fetch more remuneration, more affinity
for Kṛṣṇa, more grace. So, upavāsa [‘fasting’] means samīpe vāsa
[‘staying near’]. And, secondarily, by fasting, we can make our body
dry so that our enjoying spirit will be lessened. These are the two
general explanations of Ekādaśī.
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October 15,
2017
There are so many things, and everything is conscious—personal.
So, Ekādaśī has her personal character. She devotes herself to the
service of Kṛṣṇa, and she engages everyone accompanying her in the
service of Kṛṣṇa. She does not care for food or anything else, and does
not allow others in her group to take food or waste time. She keeps
everyone always engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa. The underlying
meaning is that. Am I clear?
Student: Yes.
Student: Why is it then that we take some foods and not other foods?
Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj: I told that. Some foods may be less injurious.
Foods that are considered to be less injurious—not more exciting—
have been prescribed. Also, it is mentioned in another way in Haribhakti-vilāsa.
Some peculiar sins are fond of taking shelter in those
places [foods] that we reject. Pāpa, a type of sin, is very fond of taking
shelter in those plants. So, we surely want to avoid them. It is
mentioned like that.
Reference
Spoken 19 February 1982.
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