________________________________ From: V Madhavan Sent: Tue 8/31/2004 10:50 AM To: Anand Iyengar Cc: KPR; R Saranathan Subject: RE: [SriRangaSri] sandhyavandanam and ekadashi Swamin Let me tell you without fear of sin. Even on normal days, when you do achamanam, you are expected to take (only a small sip and swallow) - only very small quantity of water, each of the three times - volume as much (or as less) as a small pearl and not more. The water sipped and swallowed must not have the effect of drinking water which will quench one's thirst - it is more of symbolism and you must beware that you are virtually taking God into you. (This is told to us by the great Sri Thiruvaazhi Ramanujachariar - the great Upanyasakar of yester years). I have heard many a great person tell that water consumed during achamanam does not violate one's nirjala upavasam. (Definitely water sipped after invoking/telling the holy name of God cannot be spit away. Further while it is desirable to do the nirjala upavasam, if one puts this into practice from quite an early age it is helpful and good and can be continued for several ages. The country has had several eminent persons who have been practicising such upavasam despite having a rigorous and busy daily routine. (The former Prime Minister and leader Mr. Morarji Desai is a shining example for this type of yogis) One thing that is expressly prohibited to those who cannot observe total nirjala upavasam is rice. Other grains like wheat - in any form can be taken - as rough ground wheat (rava or soji) or as fine ground flour. If one cannot avoid rice, atleast the rice be made bhinnam (rice is to be broken into pieces and then cooked) - and/but this is a poor alternative. If one wants to put the nirjala upavasam into a practical habit at a very late age, my experience is that it will be quite a difficult experience and can be tried for a span of few hours on such auspiscious days - the upavasam ending with a drink of milk or have some light fruits. Once you put this into practice, over several Ekadasis you can graduate to total nirjala upavasam. (The maxim is - practice slowly and steadily and you will get that habit - atleast I had practiced jogging and running - at item that had eluded me in my earlier years. Now I can jog and run considerable length and without feeling tired or exhausted at the end of it). Ulitmnately, you will feel great physical and mental strenght at the end of you fasting (or even jogging) and you will not feel worn out or run down. For diabetic patients, upavasam is better not done at all or done after consulting a doctor who specializes in diabetes and treats diabetic patients.. All such nirjala upavasam or upavasam must be done with mind well under control - putting a cheerful moratorium to all the seven deadly sins viz. desire, anger, lust, jealousy, covetnousness, maatsaryam i.e. a feeling of satisfaction and happiness at others failure and unhappiness and a feeling of sadness and trauma at other's success and hour of pride and glory. (I am not mentioning gluttony here because the topic is upavasam. Likewise the thought of food for the day or food to consumed or had for the next day should not be allowed to cross your mind on the day of upavasam. If one has control on these base (basic) qualities, as a matter daily practice, the ekadasi vratam can pass off very peacefully and with a great sense of accomplishment. On such days the time is best spent by several laudable acts like recitation, discussing saatvika aspects and bhagavat vishayam (not Thiru vaimozhi) with others of equal wave lenght, going to temple, sharing a few thoughts on dharma with your peers and those who seek answers to difficult questions on dharma like the one now posed by you. Leisurely going through the commentary on Ramayanam and the Tiruvaimozhi (Bhagavat Vishayam) - not ritualisitc reading - will do you enormous good. The deeper you go into these fountains during a upavasam day the greater will be the thrill you will experience. If you analyse these acts that you can possibly do you will find that nirjala upavasam by itself is not the be all and end all. One who enjoys the Ekadasi can be equally satisfied both in the observence of nirjala upavasam (or mere upavasam in whatever degree) and inability to observe the same in all its rigour! Dasan Madhavan ________________________________ From: Anand Iyengar [mailto:anand2048@xxxxxxxxx] Sent: Tue 8/31/2004 5:16 AM To: SriRangaSri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [SriRangaSri] sandhyavandanam and ekadashi Namaskaram Bhagvathars, Shri Vaishnavas, Honorable people, please guide me with knowledge on my concern. I regularly do nirjala ekadashi and sandhyavandanam. Every time on day of Ekadashi & Dwadashi I get this query in my mind of whether to sip water during sandhyavandanam ? Finally I end up doing achamanam but not sip the water. So please share with me the knowledge on performance of Sandhya vandanam on ekadashi & dwadashi days. Food on dashmi and dwadashi whether it is one full meal and fruits or do you have any suggestions/knowledge of right way ? I take one full meal on dashmi (noon) and fruits in the evening. I am happy and satisfied for today with past. I want to grow with right attitude and knowledge in snadhyavandanama, ekadashi performances. What does the vedic sampraday provides knowledge on following topics, please share with me. Your guidance is a blessing. With all respects Anand Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/VkWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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