Lord Vishnu worshippers conduct a day-long fast on Ekadashi, the 11th day of the Hindu lunar month, which often begins in the evening (Dashami Tithi). Interestingly, some earnest worshippers do not even drink water! And most importantly, there is a strict ban on eating food grains. And rice is mentioned as one of the food products that must not be eaten. In addition to rice, devotees can’t eat dishes made with wheat, lentils, or pulses.
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What causes individuals to practice Vrat on Ekadashi?
The reason why people fast on Ekadashi and don’t eat rice on Ekadashi
As we have always said, Hinduism is mostly based on science. Hindu rituals are always based on some kind of science, and fasting on Ekadashi is no different.
First, fasting on every Ekadashi cleanses the body of the person who does it every ten to eleven days, giving all the body’s systems, especially the digestive system, a day to rest. This type of fasting, in which individuals abstain from eating any grain at all for the duration of the day or consume nothing but fruits, assists in the cleansing of the body by keeping the digestive tract light.
Second, there is an occurrence of a geographical phenomenon on Ekadashi. It is good knowing that the Moon is responsible for the periodic rising and falling of the water level in the ocean. The Moon’s pull on the Earth’s surface causes the tides to rise and fall. People also know that the Moon pulls water towards it. On the evening of Ekadashi, the moon is believed to be in a position that causes it to exert a particularly strong gravitational pull on the oceans and other bodies of water that are located all over the planet.
Rice is a food that holds onto water. So, if rice is eaten on Ekadashi, the water in the rice grains could mess with the Moon’s gravitational pull, which would make it hard for people to digest. So, the founders of the Hindu religion said that you can’t eat rice on Ekadashi to keep your stomach from getting sick. Find out why you can’t eat rice during Ekadashi Vrat.
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The story behind why you shouldn't eat rice on Ekadashi
The name of the age we are living in now is Kaliyuga. The Dwapar Yuga, the Treta Yuga, and the Sat Yuga came before this yuga. And the same will happen again when Kaliyuga is over.
The Kaliyuga, according to traditional beliefs, is characterized by evil attributes like greed, wrath, destruction, devastation, fury, discord, violence, etc. And it won’t be over until Kalki, Lord Vishnu’s eleventh avatar, shows up. So, it’s hard for people who want to observe vrat in the Kaliyuga to do austerities. Consequently, the restriction of particular foods makes it simpler for the Vrati (an individual who keeps a vrat).
On the day of Ekadashi, the consumption of rice is discouraged due to intriguing mythology that is related to this ritual. Brahma once had a drop of sweat fall from his forehead. And soon it became a demon. The demon then asked Lord Brahma for a permanent place to live. Therefore, Lord Brahma pleaded with him to take up residence among the grains of rice that people would eat on the Ekadashi Tithi. So, on Ekadashi Tithi, people don’t eat rice. People don’t eat rice on this day, though, for a good reason.
According to another set of beliefs, high and low tides are caused by the Moon’s pull on the Earth. This is because it pulls in water bodies, which high waves high. Additionally, it is believed that the Moon’s position on Ekadashi Tithi is harmful to the digestive tract of humans. On the day of Ekadashi, it is prudent to refrain from consuming any food grains that have the property of retaining water.
Conclusion:
We hope that this blog shed some light as to why it is not advised to eat rice on Ekadashi along with scientific reasons to back the religious beliefs. To learn more about the scientific rationale that lies beyond religious beliefs, read more blogs about dharma, astrology, and Vedic sciences at: https://alokastrology.com/blog/
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