Ekadasi Fast is a natural feast;
‘Ekam’ means “one, single, unique” in Sanskrit, and that is Sarvothaman or Hari, which is the Ekatma, or seed of life, in every human body. He is like the ocean. In it, each human being is like the countless waves that appear and disappear; each ripple is like a drop of water!
Every human being is structured and functions as a jeevothama by the Dasavayus of Vital Prana, Apanan, Vianan, Udana, Samanan, Nagan, Kurman, Krigaran, Devadattan, and Dhanancheyana.
In other words, the Ekadasi fast is an easy method of reaching Paramatma, which exists as Ekathma through Jivatma, which is made up of Dasama Vayus. ‘Ekadasa’ is the combination of one and ten, which equals eleven, that comes on every 11th Tithi in the Hindu calendar. Which denotes the union of paramathma and jivatma.
Taittirîyaka-Upanishad: Part 3:7 says,
Let him never abuse food; that is the rule. Breath is food; the body eats the food. The body rests on the breath; the breath rests on the body. This is the food resting on food.
So Vital Prana is always the primary fuel source for every human body. Water and solid foods come next. Only water and solid foods are eschewed during the Ekadasi fast. On that day, only the vital prana energized by the remembrance of Hari becomes whole food. As there is no other tainted food in the body, the cosmic energy flows through it to the Dasa Vayus, where it can readily reach the Paramatma, which permeates and resides in the body.
Thus, Jeevatma Paramatma unity is naturally available to all those who fast Ekadasi. And because the excess power of the cosmic power is perfectly available to the person who is fasting on that day through vital prana, Ekadasi Tithi is not considered fasting only because other liquid and solid foods are avoided on that day. And according to the Upanishad, Annam (Pranaan) is consumed with the thought of Hari without abuse, so it becomes a feast cum fasting simultaneously.
The ultimate benefit of Ekadasi fasting is, ‘If you put one step of ‘Ekam’ towards me, I will put ten steps of ‘Dasam’ towards you, like Sri Krishna said.
As one drop of water mixes with the ocean, when the cosmic energy takes one step towards the Eka Paramatma through the dasama Vayu body, just as the ocean mixes with one drop, the Ekam (Paramatma) will put ten feet towards the dasama Vayu body. These mixes become immortal cosmic energy.
Shri Gurupyo Namaha🙏🏿
Aadesh 