Nirjala Ekadashi falls on the 11th day of the Shukla Paksha
(waxing phase of the moon) in the month of Jyeshtha as per the traditional
Hindu lunar calendar.It is also known as Pandav Bhim Ekadashi. While in all
Ekadashi fasts, devotees are allowed to drink water, however while observing a
Nirjala Ekadashi vrat, they do not drink water throughout the day.
Legends take one back to the mythological story
of Mahabharata as the Nirjala Ekadashi vrat has been mentioned therein. Kunit,
mother of the Pandavas, Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, and all the four
Pandava brothers - Yudhisthira, Arjun, Nakula and Sahadeva used to observe
Ekadashi vrats without fail. However, the second Pandava brother, Bhima
resisted from fasting as he was a voracious eater and wasn’t able to control
his hunger. On one occasion, Bhima chose to observe the vrat but he also wanted
to eat. Hence, he went out to Ved Vyasa, the grandfather of the Pandavas, to
seek help in observing the fast.
While eating and fasting were not possible
simultaneously, sage Vyasa suggested that he observe the Nirjala Ekadashi vrat,
which includes the benefits of observing 24 Ekadashi vrats. Nirjala Ekadashi is
regarded as the strictest fast among all the Ekadashis in the Hindu religion as
one cannot even drink water while observing it. The literal meaning of Nirjala
is ‘without water’. Thus, all Vishnu devotees who take up this fast do not drink
water nor eat any food during the entire day of fasting. Observing a Nirjala
Ekadashi is highly beneficial as it is considered equivalent to going on a
pilgrimage. The vrat begins at sunrise on the Ekadahsi and ends on the next
day’s sunrise.
The entire day of the Nirjala Ekadashi vrat is
spent at Vishnu temples. Devotees also prefer spending the day at home by
listening to stories from Bhagavad Purana or chanting bhajans dedicated to Lord
Vishnu. People who are under medications, having a poor health condition or
disease, pregnant women and those who have just delivered a baby are relieved
from observing this vrat. Therefore, it is advised not to keep this fast as one
should not torture their body in the act of following customs and religious traditions.
Instead, they can compensate for the fast by donating food and clothes to the
poor and needy.
2017 Date : 5th June.
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