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Astrologer Parduman Suri talked more about this festival in an interaction with News 18 Hindi.
Rama Ekadashi is celebrated on the Ekadashi date of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase) of Kartik month. This festival is particularly dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. This year, Rama Ekadashi will be observed on October 28. The fast for this festival can be broken on October 29, between 6:23 AM and 8:35 AM. Astrologer Parduman Suri talked more about this festival in an interaction with News 18 Hindi. The astrologer said that on this day, all the sins of the devotee who fast are finished and he attains a place in Lord Vishnu’s abode Vaikuntha. According to Padma Purana (a book containing 50,000 Sanskrit metrical verses), fasting on Rama Ekadashi is considered to give results similar to keeping Kamadhenu cow and Chintamani in the house. It is believed that Kamadhenu is a divine cow that resides in heaven. The Chintamani Stone is considered a powerful spiritual talisman that can enhance one’s meditation practice and spiritual growth. Fasting on Rama Ekadashi pleases the Goddess Lakshmi and removes the lack of wealth of the devotees.
In Ekadashi, there are five Gyanendriyas, five Karmendriyas and one Antakaran ie- mind.
The devotees observe Ekadashi fast to control all the senses and mind. Vrat and fasting have two different meanings. Vrat means taking a vow and fasting implies getting deeper insights about yourself.
Which food product is prohibited for eating on Ekadashi?
Devotees are not allowed to eat rice on Ekadashi because it is observed four days before the new moon. Due to the movement of the moon, the tides in the sea show an ebb (change from high to low tide) and flow (change from low to high tide) movement. The consumption of rice is not allowed to ensure that the moon remains in a calm state in the body. Rice cultivation requires more water and due to this reason, this food crop absorbs a large quantity of water. The devotees who observe Ekadashi fast never get ill from cancer. Italian scientist Dr Valter Longo conducted a series of experiments on rats suffering from cancer.
The experiments concluded that fasting can reduce the harmful effects of chemotherapy to cure cancer. Therefore, 90 percent of the people who keep fast on Ekadashi never get cancer.