Practice of Ekadasi in the raganuga tradition - How is it done? Who does it? Perception?

I would like to know about Ekadasi among the followers of the traditional form of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

- How is it performed?

- Who does it? Only those who are capable of doing it in India, or even sadhakas living in Western countries too?

- What is the perception of Ekadasi in the raganuga approach?


There is a nice book, 'Dearest to Visnu,' written by Brghumuni das, and it contains all the quotes from HBV relating to Ekadasi, as well as additional information. It is very nice. Has anyone here read it, and is able to carry out the directions in that book?

Contrary to popular opinion, Ekadasi is not just a one-day fast. The vrata lasts three days, from dasami to dvadasi. Only one meal must be eaten on Dasami and Dvadasi, with complete fasting on the Ekadasi day. One must also chant the appropriate mantras.

Well, as you know from Bhrigu's book, the traditional Ekadasi vrata consists of fasting even from water, staying awake both the previous and the following night, and worshiping Govinda all day and night. As for all the other injunctions in addition to this... hardly anyone follows them. I know Bhrigu is a strict follower of Ekadasi-vrata himself, but as far as I know, he doesn't go by the book either. Bhrigu if you're around and reading, perhaps you can drop a thought or two into the thread.

Practically most of us are not capable of doing that, especially people who work. Nevertheless, we abstain from grains and a number of other foodstuffs, keeping a simple diet of fruits, milk and so forth, if necessary. Following Ekadasi-vrata is for everyone.



You'll have to be a bit more specific with this question.

You may like to peruse Sri Viswanatha Cakravarti's booklet 'Ragavartma Candrika'. It says, among other things, that Ekadasi is a must for raganuga sadhakas.

When I asked my Guru why we don't practise this super-austere 3-day Ekadashi marathon prescribed in Haribhakti Vilasa, he replied: "We must do all this service here in the ashram, how can we do that when we are lying starving?"
Generally he did not favor shushka vairaagya. He used to rhyme : 'kha, por, bhajan kor' - 'Eat, dress and do bhajan'. In other words, how to meditate on Radha-Krishna while starving? nara-tanu bhajanera mula (Narottam) : "The human body is the root cause of bhajan."

You're right, Madhava, I also do not generally go by the book. I usually just fast and do a little extra japa. Very few people follow all the rules, just as practically nobody follows most of the other rules of the HBV. The HBV is a normative book, setting the perfect standard, unto which it is almost expected that we fallen Kali-yugaites will never reach. However, I have done full Ekadasis several times (last Nirjala Ekadasi, for example), and can thus tell you from my own experience that it is possible. In fact, if you are able to summon up enough enthusiasm, it isn't even that difficult. The most difficult part is staying up the whole night and the next day, but if you try it, you will notice that the sleepiness will come in waves that can be withstood if you are determined. After fulfilling the whole three-day vrata, you certainly will feel purified and uplifted - if also exhausted!

So why don't I always do the full vrata? You need to reserve three days for the vrata, and I seldom have so much time at my disposal. But I am also lazy and addicted to a comfortable life. "Se rase majhiya" sounds good but "bishaya chadiya" is more scary...

Yours,

Bhrgu

The idea of following Ekadashi vrata for raganuga bhaktas is that by performing some austerity on the day of Lord Hari, one will get the blessings to remember Sri Govinda. Rememberance is the life force of bhajan in raganuga sadhana and therefore very conducive for one who desires to attain the bhava of the manjaris in Vrndavana. Austerities performed in relation to Sri Krsna are aids to bhajan. The Ekadashi vraja is a must for sadhakas though.

Yes I don't have a problem with going without food and water. In fact, it's not a problem at all, and neither is worshipping Govinda all day as that may consist of chanting japa, singing bhajans/kirtan and reading sastra. The only thing that I have a problem with is staying awake all night. Rather ironic; I can go without eating and drinking but I can't stay awake!


Depends which injunction we're talking about, right? I mean, are there any Vaishnavas in Vraja today who brand themselves and their families with the auspicious signs including sankha-chakra-gada-padma? I read in Brghumuni's book that the gada-brand in particular should be branded on one's forehead! So I am not sure, but I wouldn't expect that modern-day Vaishnavas, even those living a life of serious sadhana in Vraja, would brand themselves every year.


Why are people incapable of total abstinence? In this connection I'd like to relate my experiences with Ekadasi. I first started fasting after a friend gave me the 'Ekadasi' book that was published by Krsna-Balaram Swami. I was most impressed with the stories and directions in this book and after a while I started fasting. Yes, total fast without food or water, and this was while I was still a kid in high school. I continued fasting for a few years and then stopped the practice since I had lost inspiration. I have been doing it on and off through the years and have made special efforts to do Nirjala Ekadasi, just one major Ekadasi a year.
Recently, I decided that I should increase whatever sadhana I am doing by taking up the process of doing Ekadasi every time it happens (every 2 weeks or so). I have found that due to discontinued practice, my willpower has grown weaker and I find myself succumbing to the temptation of breaking the fast earlier. This is very bad, so I have decided to keep practising it no matter if I break it earlier, and perhaps my willpower will slowly grow more and more until I can maintain a total nirjala fast as I used to before. As the story goes, every Ekadasi is nirjala for me. As Brighumuni das has pointed out, it's not actually that hard. Contrary to popular opinion, no one actually needs to eat or drink every three hours or so, and abstinence for 24 hours is not actually that hard. For me, it has always been easy. "Do not eat or drink" - it's as simple as that. And if I am strong, my stomach doesn't rumble either.
The only problem that I have had over the years is the one about staying awake all night. I can go without food but I need my sleep! So I suppose that I have to first perfect myself in nirjal practice and then I shall tackle the problem of staying awake all night. Of course, Ekadasi is not just fasting from food. It's also about fasting with the other senses as well, hearing, touch, smell, sight. So there's not much point in starving yourself if you're going to gossip about material topics or admire the ladies, or whatever. Personally I try my best to immerse myself in japa, kirtan and reading. I am happy when Ekadasi falls on a day when it is my day off, but if I have to work that day then I go to work and do my duties, and then come home and engage in sadhana.

This thing about restricting diet to fruits and milk - where does that idea come from? I'm curious to know this as a lot of devotees I know advise me and others that this is "OK." Well I have never read anything that insinuates that this is an acceptable practice; on the contary, almost every sastric statement I have read urges the practitioner not to eat at all. In fact, all these years I have been under the impression that one may eat certain acceptable foods as long as the general restriction from grains and beans is followed. However, I have learned from Brighumuni's book and other sources that all types of food are forbidden. The reason for this is that the word 'anna' is found in connection with fasting, and 'anna' basically means food implying all types of food. The opinion is that the 'grains and beans' restriction is a later development. Any more information on this point?

I have also learnt from Brighumuni's book that Ekadasi is not just for one ay, but for three days! So I guess my Ekadasi goals are first to perfect a complete fast, then try to perfect the art of staying awake all night, and finally tackling the whole task of the three-day vrata! Can all of you assembled Vaishnavas give me your pure-hearted blessings so that I may achieve these goals?

The Nike slogan is good for Ekadasi motivation: Just Do It!

Yes, thank you Advaitaji. I have got a copy of Ananta das Babaji's edition of RVC. Judging from your next post and Brighumuni's post, am I to assume that this is all there is?

Are there any Vaishnavas who are as strict as possible in their Ekadasi fasting, or do they all more or less eat something such as fruits and milk, breaking their fast half-way?

Very interesting that Sri Cakravartipada recommends Ekadasi fasting. Since this discussion is mainly about the way modern-day Vaishnavas do their fasting, what was it like in those days? And in the days of the Goswamis? Since Jiva or Gopala Bhatta Goswamis are claimed as the author(s) of HBV, am I correct in thinking that sadhakas in those days were able to follow the perfect standard, and indeed did so?

No, my Guru wrote in 'Sanksipta nitya karma paddhati': "For niskincana paramahamsas the nirjala vrata is the best." anukalpa is not compulsory. I may do up to 7 nirjalas a year, depending on my enthusiasm. no harm. You yourself describe how you went through periodical bouts of enthusiasm and then again would drop fasting for a period of time, even in the middle of it. that's life. life-long nistha in any sadhana or vow is extremely rare.

Just to clarify something Madhava wrote: traditional Ekadasi (not only among Gaudiyas) means eating Havisya food once on Dasami, not at all on Ekadasi, and once on Dvadasi. The total time of fasting is thus about 48 hours. Drinking water is not only allowed (except on Nirjala E), but necessary for the sankalpa. The sadhaka should also avoid sleeping during the day on Ekadasi and Dvadasi, and stay awake during the night between Ekadasi and Dvadasi.

The idea of eating anukalpa prasadam on Ekadasi is mentioned in the HBV (12.91) among with other alternatives for those unable to fast completely. The idea is not new. In ISKCON at least we speak of "Ekadasi prasadam", but it is the same kind as is served on all other days of "fasting". Anyone who has spent a Janmastami in Vrindavan will know that almost everybody "fasts" by eating sumptuous amounts of anukalpa.

Regarding how the Goswamis themselves observed Ekadasi, there is little we can say. Jiva Goswami and Visvanatha follow the statements of the HBV, but that doesn't mean that everybody followed the rules. In fact, I do not believe that Gopala Bhatta himself even branded a club on his forehead every Sayana Dvadasi! I think it is important to realise that these books are normative, not descriptions of the actual daily life of sadhakas of those times.

Your servant,

Bhrgu

Well, my wife faints if she goes without food or drinking long enough. I have a living example here of a person who cannot go without food or water for 24 hours, and I've been witnessing it for several years now. It would be interesting to review a medical examination of complete fasting and it's potential health hazards for people with weak bodily constitution.



I don't think you are correct, at least as far as your reasoning goes. HBV was a book of standards in the 1500's, and it is a book of standards now. Its date of writing doesn't bear witness to the practices of contemporary sadhakas. All one can say is that they were aware of the existence of such an injunction.



Anna conveniently means "food or victuals , especially boiled rice" according to Monier-Williams.



Would someone mind supplying the text of HBV 12.91?

You'll find that also in Ananta Das Pandit's tika on Raga Vartma Candrika.

"If one is unable to fast entirely, one may just eat fruits and roots instead, as a substitute. This is generally considered a cutting down of the fast, but in the worship of Sri Hari such a substitute is not considered a climbdown. Therefore, in the version of the Vaisnavas, Sri Ekadasi-day is called Sri Harivasara, the day of Lord Hari. How can such a name be fulfilled if Lord Hari Himself is not worshipped?"

I'd assume this has been a common sense rule since a long time.



For some who are not in a youthful, strong body, taking fruits and milk may be their "as strict as possible".



Many of us follow additiona restrictions. No tomatos, eggplants, cauliflower, or green leafy veggies, no honey, no spices except salt, black pepper and jeera, and so forth.

What is havisyanna food? By that, I mean, are the items listed in your book meant to be eaten by themselves, or cooked together, or what? What exactly is meant by "cereals" ? Those of us who live in the West might think of cereals as Weetabix or CornFalkes or something, while for Indians it might mean dal or something. Srila Prabhupada mentioned something in his Krsna book about how rice and dal are cooked together without any spices and that is havisyanna.
About water, how is it that you say that it is necessary for the sankalpa? According to your book, HBV 13.51-52 says that repeated drinking of water is one of the things that break the fast, along with brushing one's teeth and sleeping in the daytime, etc. The only other time I see mention of water is when HBV is advising to drink it on Dvadasi when one cannot break the fast in the proper way due to lack of time.


Hehe, ok, this is a new word. 'Anukalpa,' what does that mean?
Sometimes I wonder about the motivation of some of these sadhakas. Are they eating anukalpa/"Ekadasi prasadam" because they cannot be bothered to fast, or because they want to fast but cannot due to a weaker constitution? Or is the fault mine for seeing faults? Anyone who reads your book will know that Ekadasi is perhaps one of the most important practices of Gaudiya Vaishnavas. The Madhvas, for example, have it instituted in their doctrines.


OK, I understand that point. Perhaps then I should rephrase my question: Is there any record of how the Goswamis or their prominent followers like Narottama performed their sadhana in respects to Ekadasi?

Very nice book you have written! And even nicer to discuss with the author!

Of course I was not referring to every specific case, but was making a general statement. My mother also has a weak constitution due to worsening diabetes and it is hard enough to eat normal food never mind Ekadasi fasting. According to the HBV quotes in Brighumuni's book, she is exempt from fasting due to illness. By the way, Madhavaji, if you claim that your wife has a weak constitution, then you can do the fast on her behalf! Yes, that is authorised by HBV as well. Only joking, I know what you really mean.
About medical examinations, I understand that an "impersonalistic" preacher by the tentatious name of Paramahamsa Yogananda gave several interesting lectures about fasting, highlighting it's physical and spiritual rewards. I also recently read an article about a Muslim man who lived to age 117 or something. Despite smoking and eating meat along with a generally bad lifestyle and diet, he attributed his longevity to fasting a lot since he was a Muslim. Interesting, perhaps that can be an examination of how Vaishnava acharyas tend to live long lives. Could it be due to their fasting?


Convenient for who?
By the way, here is what is written about the issue in Brighumuni's book:

QUESTION : I have been told that on Ekadasi one need only fast from grains, anna. This is what you have given as a refuge for Papa-purusa in the classic story you have also provided in the beginning. In you book, however, you translate it simply as 'food.' Why such an extreme version?
ANSWER: 'Anna' basically means 'eaten' and thus food in a generic sense, but has over time gradually assumed the meaning of grain, especialy rice. I have chosen to translate anna to 'food,' since that makes the story consistent with other places where it is explicitly said that one should not eat anything (see for example HBV 12.12-34). The prohibition against grains and especially rice on Ekadasi amongst modern Vaisnavas arises from the fact that if one is unable to fully fast, one is allowed to take some light food on Ekadasi, but never grains (see HBV 12.97-101).

So that's why I was asking, if it is true that the "grain" part is a later development and what does 'anna' really mean.


But according to HBV 13.257-259, Hari-vasara is the name for the first quarter of Dvadasi. I also find it very interested and am much relieved that Ananta das Pandit says that eating fruits and roots is cutting down but not climbing down, but I would also like to know the scriptural and cultural basis for that particular allowance.


Actually, in my experience since I first started fasting in high school, having a youthful body is not really all that. I found that I would need between 2-6 days of mental preparation before the event so that my mind would be in the right frame for fasting. I find that is true for me even now. Now if someone just informed me that today was Ekadasi, that I had forgotten about it and I should stop eating NOW, then I would certainly have difficulties in maintaining that fast. I would say that mental preparation is a huge factor in attaining success at fasting.

Also, let's just say that I ate an apple under the plea of "keeping myself going." That apple would be unsatisfactory because having tasted the apple, it's taste on my tongue, the tangible presence of it in my stomach, I would be inclined to eat more and then that will lead to temptations, so I think that it would be better for me not to eat anything at all if I can do it. Of course the situation may change when I become older.

And this is the biggest and most important question; how can we be sure that Govinda is pleased with our efforts?


You know what we need to do? We all need to swap Ekadasi recipes. Knowing my history, if I succumb to temptation and eat something, then I might as well eat the appropriate foods.

My pranams.

This post is rather old. So I don't know If anyone is still watching. I try it anyway.

I've a view questions about ekadasi. Not about how it should be performed, rather
about the why. Yes I know it's written in the shastras. But somehow I'm searching for some more explanation.

Srila Vishvanath Thakura quotes the vers from the Skanda Purana (in R.V.C 1.15), so does Srila Prabhupada (CC Adi 15.9 Purport, SB 11.12.1-2), in which it is sayed that one goes to hell and is a murderer, if one not observes the wow.

So my Questions:
Why does one go to hell and is considered a murderer, if one does not follow ekadasi?

The same seems to apply for Kartika. R.V.C. 1.16 Krpa-kanika Vyakya by Sri Ananta dasa Babaji:"...Anyone who does not observe the Kartika wow is a killer of a brahmana ..."

The present system of ekadasi seems to be initiated by Sriman Mahaprabhu himself. (CC Adi 15.10 and purport by Srila Prabhupada). So everyone before went to hell?

And the last question.
Why is it that exactly the eleventh day is so dear to Sri Krishna and not any other?

I hope these question don't appeare to be stupid. I know a Vaishnava accepts the
scriptures as evidently in themself. But still. These statements of the shastras seem to be rather drastic in nature.

Jagannath

Ekdasi is followed by many different types of Vaishnavas, other than Gaudiyas, including some Brijbasis who have not heard of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Also I have heard that to some extent all traditional Bengali women try to follow ekadasi, even non-Gaudiyas. There seems to be a special traditional emphasis on women following ekadasi amongst some Hindus.

Here's something interesting I found, it is also the most important observance of the Adivasi :

'Karam is the most popular and important festival of the Adivasis all over India including Assam. Out of the five types of Karam celebrated at the different times of the year, which coincide with events in the agricultural cycles, 'Raji Karam' is the most popular...

The 'Raji Karam' is celebrated on 'Bhado Ekadashi' that is, on the 11th day of the Lunar month of August-September. The feast is meant for the protection of standing crops. It is primarily meant for the 'parvatins' that is the young girls who are recently engaged, who fast and pray for the healthy children in their future life. It is also believed that these ascetic practices bring down blessings upon their brothers and protect them from all harm and evil. Nevertheless, this festival is a community affair, where young and old all join in festivity...

The core message of the Karam myth is - "respect and veneration of the Karam deity brings down blessings of peace and prosperity, while its disrespect and desecration causes curse and misery"...'

http://www.joharadivasi.com/adivasi_festiv...ramfestival.php

(sorry I don't know the direct answer to your questions).

Ekadasi vrata is also followed by Smartas, Madhvas and Sri Vaisnavas. The calculation of ekadasi however is different by these three groups. Also Smartas and Vadakalai Sri Vaisnavas will observe sraddha (with pinda rice balls) on Ekadasi if the sraddha date falls on that tithi whereas Madhvas (+ Gaudiyas) and Tengalai Sri Vaisnavas postpone ekadasi sraddha to the next day.

Madhvas are probably the most strict followers of this vrata today. In Udipi many restaurants are closed on Ekadasi day, no prasadam is distributed in the Temple and even the attendant (bhakta) deities in the temple (Hanuman, Garuda, etc) do not receive flowers or food offerings on that day. All Madhva Sannyasins observe full fast on Ekadasi days. As for the lay Madhvas themselves many do fast completely and those who do not restrict their diets on Ekadasi to fruits and milk taken sparingly. Some people (Madhvas and Sri Vaisnavas) simply follow the general restriction of No rice. Thus it is possible to see people eating a little halava and/or puris. However one should remember that in South India the normal diet is huge mounds of rice.

Sri Vaisnavas also follow Ekadasi/Dvadasi vrata. Here is a link to the Ahobilam Matam where one can calculate ekadasi and dvadasi paranai dates and times http://www.ahobilamutt.org/Calendarmenu.html See here for some explanation http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/cgi-bin/kbase/Ekadasi Mostly I have seen that very few lay Sri Vaisnavas follow full fast these days (Except on occasions like Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Janmastami, Ramanavami, etc). Instead they also follow the generally accepted practice of giving up rice (anna) on these vrata days. Some people even do take rice byproducts like idlis and dosas. The idea behind this is that they do not take WHOLE grain rice but items made from ground up rice. Some have stated to me that the papa is present in whole rice but not in products made from ground up rice. Anyway these rice by products do seem to be easier to digest than the solid cooked rice grains themselves. Sri Vaisnava as you can see from the description at the link above also have certain special foods that they use for breaking the Ekadasi fast. Many people still take these traditional foods on Dvadasi even though they may or may not have fully fasted the day before.

Of all the Hindus I would say that the Smartas are probably the most austere when it comes to following vratas and fasting, etc. There are so many vratas and fasts that are mentioned for different occasions and devatas and as Vaisnavas we only have very few to follow.

Personally having looked into the immense volume of Hindu/Vaisnava do's and don'ts, I find my self using the following as a guiding principle.

sartavyaH satataM viSNur
vismartavyo na jAtucit
sarve vidhi niSedhAH
syur eteyor eva kiGkarAH (BRS 2.8)

Lord Visnu is always (daily) to be meditated on and never forgotten. All other regulative and prescriptive codes of the scriptures are only servants to these two principles.

N.B. Visvanatha Cakravarti points out that the word satatam in the text should not mean "constantly" but it is used in the sense of "daily". If the vidhi (rule) is constant remembrance of the Lord by an individual which is not possible in the state of bondage then such a vidhi, which it will be impossible to obey, will lose it's purpose.

Why don't they offer flowers or food offerings on Ekadashis? We always offer food on Ekadashi, and either give the prasadi to someone (when someone is available) or save it for the next day.

Here's something I wrote to some friends as recommendations for observing Ekadashi:

* * * * *

There are basically four levels of food-related vrata one may observe, each being successively better than the previous:

1. Cooked preparations;
2. Fruits;
3. Drinking;
4. Taking nothing at all.

Among the first two, eating once a day is better than eating twice, and eating in the evening is better than eating in the morning.

If one does take cooked preparations, then there are several vegetables to be avoided on ekadashis. Among the more common items to be avoided are eggplant, tomatoes, bell-pepper, green leafy vegs such as salads and spinach, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage. Among spices, it is best to restrict oneself to using salt, pepper and cumin.

When breaking nirjala, we usually take a mixture of water, lemon, salt, sugar and black pepper early in the morning to nourish the body, and after the puja some solid prasad. If one does the only drinking fast, that's an excellent mixture to keep the body vital throughout the day.

* * * * *

OK, read what I wrote again. Food IS offered to Udipi Krsna but is NOT offered to Bhakta deities like Hanuman and Garuda, neither do these parivara devatas receive flowers on ekadasi day. There is a system of offering large groups of people free meals (prasadam) twice a day in the Udipi temple. They say that they have the aksaya patra (Drupadi's plate) there. (I have personally seen it.) These prasadam meals are typical South Indian fare consisting of mounds of rice with rasam, sambar, payasam and buttermilk. On Ekadasis these meals are not served out from the temple and the only small amount of food cooked in the temple is offered only to Udipi Krsna no other deity or person. Due to the prohibition on eating leftovers this is given to the cows of the temple gosala. It is not kept for distribution the next day. Anyway like I said Madhvas are probably the most fanatic about Ekadasi nowadays.

Oh, sorry for my sloppy reading. We observe the same with regards to food offerings. However what's with flowers?

When I lived in Vrndavan we only used to use a certain type of salt, rock salt I believe. There was definitely a different type of salt used. Most orthodox Hindu/Vaisnavas in South would not eat many of the videshi vegetables you mentioned like eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, and tomatoes. They also do not eat potatoes, or red cabbage. Funnily enough Madhvas do eat "gula" a small greenish eggplant which is used to thicken sambar in Udipi. This is due only to this vegetable being considered a cure for poison in the story of Vadiraja Tirtha whose deity of Lord Hayagriva was mistakenly poisoned. Since that time only eggplant sambar has been a daily obligatory offering at Udipi.

Vedanta Desika has written a book called ahara niyama about the rules of eating for Sri Vaisnavas in which he mentions under the heading of Forbidden Foods: Food cooked on Ekadasi.

Here are some other interesting forbidden foods:

1. That portion that is set aside for oneself prior to the partaking of the rest of the group
2. foods that were not offered to the guests
3. foods that were cooked without first cleaning them
4. foods earned in immoral ways
5. cooked by unclean children
6. foods intended for devatas
7. foods offered to devatas such as Siva
8. foods that harm our pranas and indriyas
9. foods that are unrecognizable
10. foods that are not palatable to the mind
11. vegetables and flowers that bloom in an untimely fashion
12. Foods from which the essence is taken out, except buttermilk
13. viLaam fruit and popped rice during the day
14. foods prepared with curd and sesame seed oil, during night time
15. foods that are said to give magical powers
16. any foods on Ekadasi days, and at dusk or midnight.

Do not eat:

1. before your shower and sandhya japam
2. alone, eat with a group of bhaktas
3. foods that are mashed by someone else
4. under the moonlight or fire
5. husband and wife together
6. while staring at inferior individuals
7. with your left hand
8. anything that is avoided by religious people
9. ghee that is served after you have begun eating
10. foods that have been cooked twice (reheated?)
11. foods served by bare hand or spatulas made of iron, only uncooked foods may be served by bare hand
12. foods already bitten into
13. old, and spoilt foods
14. foods prepared in someone else's house (no potluck)
15. foods that someone else wanted or rejected
16. foods with smell of earth, or separated by fingernails, salt that you can see
17. separated for one self and guests
18. sap coming out of trees, except asafoetida

Foods that can be accepted.

Accept without hesitation:

1. foods with the saliva of one's father, teacher, and first older brother
2. Saliva in the soma vessel in soma yajna
3. foods with husband's saliva for wife, if such food is contaminated with hair, worm, or thread, these may be removed properly and the food accepted
4. all prohibited foods during calamitous times
5. water, roots, ghee, milk, havis from yajna, guru's teachings, and medicine may be accepted even during fasting days
6. sugar cane juice, yogurt, milk, ghee, betal nut, pepper, honey, cardamon, water made from snow
7. anything until you realize its blemish
8. old rice that is soaked in clean water may be taken with buttermilk, ghee, milk, yogurt
9. snacks made of yogurt and juice of flower,vegetables, and fruits; these are OK even if they are slightly spoilt.
10. foods that are spoilt may be taken during calamitous times by cleansing them and adding ghee and honey

Forbidden Milks
1. milk from one hoofed animals like horse or donkey
2. salt added milk
3. milk from women
4. milk from pregnant cow
5. milk extracted with the help of calf that does not belong to that cow
6. cows that belong to temples
7. goat milk, milk bought from brahmins
8. milk kept in copper vessels, burnt milk

Forbidden Water
1. Water from previous day, except ganga water
2. remainder of water used for cleaning feet
3. murky water
4. heated coconut water
5. water gathered in a ditch
6. water offered in "water-sheds"
7. doubtful water, water taken from where washermen work
8. water contaminated by saliva
9. water from conch
10. rain water that has not fallen on the ground

Betal leaves
1. don't chew betal nut without betal leaves
2. don't consume the bottom, stem, or tip of betal leaves
3. don't chew beetle leaves and nuts at the same time ?
4. widows, sanyaasi, and bachelors must not consume betal leaves
5. don't consume the betal leaf used to keep calcium (one leaf is traditionally used to keep a supply of curnam, scented calcium hydroxide)
6. never use betal leaves on fasting days such as Ekadasi
7. don't drink water while chewing betal leaves

This is not the full text but just a sampling.

Well, apparently since the Bhaktas are observing vrata they do not decorate their bodies with flowers. I guess that Madhvas offer flowers directly to Hanuman and Garuda. So on Ekadasis these deities give up accepting flowers as part of their vrata. Of course there seems no prohibition on any devotee accepting flower prasadam even on Ekadasi.

Sri Vaisnavas in principle would fist offer the flowers to God and then offer them to these Bhakta deities. Except in the case of Andal who is offered a garland first because the Lord wanted the garland worn by her becuase of His love for her. However since she is considered an incarnation of His consort (Bhudevi) this hardly needs mentioning. Usually of course flowers and garlands are offered to the Lord first and then to His consorts and parivara attendant deities.

Having reviewed this old thread, I should note in this regard (being a first-hand witness to the fact) that with an ardent desire arising from the grace and instructions of holy Vaishnavas even those with weak constitutions seem to be able to perform full Ekadashi fasts without noteworthy inconvenience. Live and learn.

Right, then it makes sense. I was wondering, since we ourselves are accepting prasadi flowers on Ekadashi, and it would be rather strange for us to do that if the Bhaktas wouldn't. But offering amaniya flowers evidently makes a difference there.

Why this?
I would never want to follow this rule.

Are you kidding--seeing your wife eat like a horse damages your respect for her like nothing else. And it makes for indigestion also. It's about protection, not discrimination.

I believe this idea applies when there are guests. Someone's got to serve out the prasad, too.

Remember that there is a particular cultural surrounding to which the rules are given; let us remember that, and we'll have more respect for them.

I think that is to prevent any kind of allure
derived from the surrounding circumstances…

In essence, the rules above (ahara niyama) are wise instructions.

Can I ask where this recipe comes from? I mean, does the "we" refer to people in Vraja who consume this preparation for instance?

Anyone willing to make their contributions with this?