🌼 Kamika Ekadashi 🌼

✨Meaning Of Kamika Ekadashi:

       Hindus believe that keeping a vrat (fast) on Kamika Ekadashi will bring them more blessings than bathing ceremoniously in any of India’s holy rivers on auspicious days. Furthermore, it is said that a devotee who diligently fulfills the Kamika Ekadashi vrat will be blessed by the Lord with even more blessings than someone who has visited every major Hindu holy place, including Haridwar, Kedarnath, and Kashi.

         It is said that fasting on Kamika Ekadashi has the same spiritual potency as reciting the entire canon of scriptures devoted to Shri Vishnu. The attainment of Vaikunta Prapti, or salvation in Vishnu Lokam, is the main advantage of keeping this vrat. This implies that the God of Death, Yamadharmaraj, will not impede the devotee’s devotion.  

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✨kamika ekadashi vrat vidhi:✨

For fasting on Kamika Ekadashi, the Vrat Vidhi should be followed by devotees to ensure successful completion of the Vrat. 

• Kamika Ekadashi Vrat starts on the morning of Ekadashi and the Sankalp(intension) of observing the Vrat(fast) should be taken after having bath early in the morning.
• Invoke and worship Lord Shridhar/Vishnu.
• The best fasting is dry fasting, Nirjala Vrat, which means, fasting without drinking water and food. However, devotees should be aware of what their body and health and fast accordingly. Commonly devotees abstain from eating any food but drink water.

• Beans and grains are prohibited to eat on Ekadashi for devotees who are fasting by eating one meal on Ekadashi. Non vegetarian food, onion, garlic is strictly not allowed on Ekadashi and Dwadashi. 

• Sleeping during the day or night during Ekadashi Vrat is prohibited. The devotees should chant/ sing praises of Lord Vishnu/Krishna, read the Bhagawat Geeta and other holy books through the day and night.

• Indulging in gossiping, talking/thinking ill of others or self, does not give the desired outcome of the Ekadashi Vrat. 

• Abstinence from alcohol, drugs, tobacco, other addictions, sex on Ekadashi and Dwadashi has to be observed. 

• Maintain calmness, avoid anger/aggression for the best outcome of observing the Kamika Vrat.
• Distribute the Prasad to family members and as many people as possible on Dwadashi.
• Devotees who observe fast should not eat food in other people’s house on the day after Ekadashi.
• The next morning give charity to Brahmanas respectfully ask them for forgiveness for any offence. Donating to the needy is also advised which garners Bhagwan Vishnu’s blessings.
• For people who observe Kamika Vrat, when breaking the fast, one should say the prayer – ‘O Pundarikaksha, O lotus-eyed Lord, now I will eat. Please shelter me’.
• After the prayer the devotee should offer flowers and water at the lotus feet of the supreme God Vishnu and request Bhagwan to eat by chanting the mantra of eight-syllable, thrice: “Om Namah Narayanaya”. To garner the full merits of the fast, the devotee should have water which has been offered to the God.
• On Dwadashi only one meal should be eaten, and Honey and Urad-dal (black lentil) is not to be consumed.
• For devotees observing fast, if due to some unavoidable reason they are not able to break the fast on Dwadashi during Prana time, then drinking water to signify breaking of fast is advised. Later food can be eaten as per convenience.

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