Sastra has many quotations that glorify the specialty of Sayana Ekadasi. During these four months, some devotees adopt mauna-vrata; they adopt the vow of silence. They completely stop talking to people. They start manasi-seva; their internal services to their Lordships. Every day, they arrange a nice seat, water, and abhiseka for Hari. They offer delightful bhoga for Hari every day and distribute His remnants. Newer and newer performances and festivals are arranged for Krishna…
We will now hear some of Ekadasi-devi’s pastimes. We will hear how she gives the souls her blessings, mercy, and grace. She empowers her followers with devotion for her worshipable Lord. In the Srimad Bhagavatham, the life of Kardama Rsi is described. He engaged in many austerities. Practicing excruciating forms of tapa, japa, and dhyana, he would enter Samadhi. Seeing his sons wander, Brahma cleverly had them bound and arrested. How did he have them bound?..
You must always be of the firm conviction, “I am in Mahaprabhu’s line.” People have no idea that Mahaprabhu has Himself requested and begged everyone to follow Ekadasi. People don’t know of the glories of Ekadasi-devi. I am my Guru Maharaja’s foot step follower, I follow Ekadasi on the day he does. Time is not guru. If anyone understands the grave importance of this, they will seriously follow Ekadasi. Otherwise, you can do as you like. You can make your own choices. How does the Nimbarka sampradaya follow Ekadasi..?
Both, the prince and the king, strictly followed Ekadasi. They ordered everyone in their kingdom to follow Ekadasi. They told their citizens, “Those who don’t follow Ekadasi cannot avail themselves of any facilities available in the kingdom. Consequently, they will have no place in the kingdom and they may also face a death penalty. By following Ekadasi, you can earn your rightful place in the kingdom.” By following Ekadasi, a person will never be sick and diseased. The person will never have any problems and…
Always chant, remember, and pray, and act under the guidance of the Vaisnavas. Go on parikrama, hear harikatha, do not insult others, and do not listen to other people’s criticism. Always follow in the footsteps of the Vraja-devis. We should pray, “O Ekadasi-devi, O Madhava tithi, O Bhakti janani, please help me. Otherwise, I am collecting anarthas from everywhere, and then I will become as useless as garbage.” Pray to Ekadasi-devi, she will soon bless you with the chance to serve the Vraja-devis…
One should think, “I have not created anything. All this creation comes from God, and anything I have, I will offer first to God; then it is pure.” Then you will have no more suffering or tension. So, this Annada Ekadasi is giving strength and power to follow this bhakti program. If your ahara, diet, is pure then your brain will be very nice. You will then have a pure brain and clean heart, and your memory will be very sharp and vast. You will remember past lives and all that you did…
Guru-pada-padma, Ganga, Vaisnavas, and Bhakti are always present in this world. They are always helping us. But we should follow these personalities. We should never forget Guru-pada-padma. We should never forget bhakti and her rules and regulations. By being sincere, we will always be with Guru-pada-padma and the Vaisnavas. You will then realize, “I am very lucky and fortunate. I am always surrounded by Vaisnava association. In their association, harikirtana and haribhajana is always present”…
Mahāprabhu replied, “Following Ekādaśī is the primary limb of bhakti. She is the mother of devotion. One must take shelter of Ekādaśī-devī. If you do not respect her you will be destroyed. No one has the strength to save you if you disrespect Ekādaśī-devī. When Ekādaśī-devī mercifully comes, you must respect her no matter what. You will get mahā-prasāda every day, but on the day of Ekādaśī do not take that mahā-prasāda. Take it the next day, in doing this there is no problem…
Try not to do any worldly activities on Ekadasi. We should utilize at least one day in two weeks to be closer to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, and in that way you will not lose your bhakti. Your bhakti will certainly increase by Their association, and therefore Krsna has arranged this opportunity – He Himself has become Ekadasi. In the form of Ekadasi, He invites us: “Today you should give your eleven senses to Me.” This is a very good thing – Krsna has become Ekadasi – so we should try to observe it…