Talk:Ekabhakta

By Swami Harshananda

Ekabhakta literally means ‘taking food once’.

Ekādaśī is the eleventh day of every pakṣa or fortnight of the lunar month. It is observed as a vrata or religious rite. It is the main part of fasting.

This fasting can be of four types, out of which the ‘ekabhakta’ is the first. It permits a person who is observing ekādaśi, to eat only once in 24 hours. The normal time prescribed for this taking of food is a little after noon. Ekabhakta can be observed as a vrata independent of ekādaśī also.

The Mahābhārata dilates upon the rewards attained by observing ekabhakta for one year from Mārgaśīrṣa (December) to Kārttika.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore