Bhaimi Ekadasi

Bhaimi Ekadasi (Jaya Ekadasi) It is said that if one observes upavasa on this day then one receives entrance to Visnu's abode, even though one has not performed the other vratas of the year. The half day fast (vrata) for the appearance of Lord Varahadev is also observed on this Ekadasi day, and the utsav (festival celebration - pujas and feasting, etc.) is observed on the Dvadasi, which is when He appeared.

Ekadasi means eleven in Sanskrit. On every eleventh day, there is a day of fasting from grains and beans which is set aside for us to focus on our spiritual life and meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. 

Srila Prabhupada said we can observe the fast by avoiding food with grains and beans and eating only light foods. Fasting should cause buoyancy of feeling and not tiredness or fatigue. We should only practice as much fasting as our capacity allows.

We fast on Ekadasi in order to minimize the demands of the body so we can engage more of our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing some other devotional service. The best thing to do on these fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Krishna and to hear His Holy name being sung and chanted. In the book "Nectar of Devotion" Srila Prabhupada tells us the purpose of Ekadasi is to increase our love for Krishna. On the day of Ekadasi we should plan to chant more rounds and read more devotional literature. If possible we should spend more time with devotees at the temple.

So as we can see Ekadasi is a time for us to step back from our normal routine and take stock of our spiritual lives. It is a time for us to increase our practice and to put a little more effort into our devotional service. This Ekadasi falls when the moon is waning.