Parama Ekaadasi - May 9/10, 2010

Dear Members:

The auspicious Parama Ekaadasi fast falls on May 9/ May 10, 2010 this year.

schedule of the fast for those living in different places on earth

The fast is to be observed on May 9, 2010 by those living in the United States, Canada, and other American continent countries, those living in Gulf countries, and European countries (including UK).

Smaartha ekaadasi for those living in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (ekaadasi for those following shaiva doctrines) is to be observed on May 9, 2010.
Vaishnava ekaadasi for those living in India, Pakistan, and Bangaladesh (ekaadasi for those following vaishnavite doctrines) is to be observed on May 10, 2010.

The fast is to be observed by those living in Myanmar, China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia on May 10, 2010.


significance of the Parama ekaadasi

Parama Ekaadasi is the ekaadasi fast to be observed on the 11th lunar day in the dark phase of the extra-lunar month (adhika maasa). As the name implies it is an "Ultimate Fast," that has the potency to remove sufferings caused by great karmic backlogs that follow us from various previous births. According to puraanaas, kubEraa - the demigod of Wealth obtained never ending wealth by the power of observance of this fast, and King Harischandra who lost his kingdom, wife and son due strange twist of events regained his lost kingdom, relatives, and glory by the power of this fast.

It is traditional to begin a Pancharaatrika fast (fast for 5 nights) beginning from this ekaadasi day. In such observances, a full fast is to be observed on ekaadasi day, and on the subsequent days a full fast is not observed - but food habits are regulated and one needs to spend time in Divine Contemplation consuming just little, maintaining strict celibacy, etc. Very few people can observe such a rigorous fast in these modern times, and I am mentioning this just for information purposes and for the sake of the rare soul who might be tempted to give this Divine Endeavour an attempt:) Lord Krishna declares that anyone who observes the Parama Ekaadasi and continues the pancharaatrika fast burns away all sins, and such a person will enjoy a happy mundane life in this plane and attain Liberation from cycle of births once the tenure in this plane of existence comes to an end.

This Parama Ekaadasi is considered as King of Fasts, and one who observes this diligently (even devoid of the pancha raatrika - 5 day austerity) enjoys merit equal to that obtained by taking bath in the Holy Teertha of Pushkar, Ganges, etc., and donating a cow to a learned religious person. Such a person also enjoys the merit of having observed all other auspicious austerities, and also deceased ancestors of such a person get satisfaction equivalent to that obtained when oblations are offered at Gaya.

Offering even a small quantity of wealth in charity to deserving persons on this Parama ekaadasi day can give manifold results (as per shastras, donation of wealth in charity is mandatory for ensuring good wealth in subsequent incarnations - if at all we fail to obtain liberation).

May our members observe this austerity to the best of their abilities and become recipients of Divine Grace.

Blessed be.
Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI.
dakshinastrologer@yahoo.co.in