(June 10-11, 2022)
Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi is called 'Nirjala Ekadashi'. On this day women fast for the whole day without food, fruits and even water. That is why this Ekadashi is considered to be of utmost importance. By observing this Ekadashi fast, there is an increase in life and health and good results are obtained. It is said in the Mahabharata that if 26 Ekadashis of a year cannot be performed including Adhimaasa, then only by observing the fast of Nirjala Ekadashi, full results can be obtained. Nirjala Ekadashi should be fasted whole day and night without consuming water and any other food. On the day of Dwadashi, one should take a bath in the morning and make donations (donation of food, clothes, umbrella, fans, water pot etc.). The story of Nirjala Ekadashi should be told and heard on the day of Ekadashi.
nirjala ekadashi fasting story
One day during the Mahabharata period, Maharishi Ved Vyas was explaining the importance of Ekadashi fasting to the Pandavas. Hearing that importance, except Bhima, all the Pandavas and Draupadi resolved to observe Ekadashi fast. Since Bhima had a fire called Vrikka in his abdomen, due to which he felt more hungry. After drinking the juice of ten ponds in the Naga region, when the power of ten thousand elephants came to him, his hunger increased further, so he was unable to observe the fast of twenty four Ekadashis of twelve months, but the greatness of Ekadashi fasting. Hearing this, he also wanted to keep the fast. He placed his position in front of Maharishi Ved Vyas, then Ved Vyas said that if you keep a fast on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi, then you get results equal to the importance of twenty-four Ekadashis. After that Bhima resolved to observe the fast of Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi. That is why Nirjala Ekadashi is also called 'Bhimsen Ekadashi'.