Nirjala Ekadashi 2025: A Test of Faith, A Path to Liberation

There are 24 Ekadashis in Vaishnava calendar and ‘Nirjala’ stands out the most powerful among all. It falls in the month of Jyeshtha(May-June) known for it’s deep devotion and spiritually profound discipline.

What makes it so powerful- It is it’s strict fasting, with no food and water the entire day. However ,it is not about starving oneself, but simply surrending one’s desires to Lord Vishnu in the most spiritual way possible.

In this year, 2025, Nirjala Ekadashi tithi will start on 6th June at 2.15 AM and ends on 7th June at 4.47 AM. Whether you are observing this fasting for the first time or already have done it, it is a devotional opportunity for everyone to connect themselves from the divine personality.

Why This Ekadashi Is Called Nirjala

‘Nirjala’ is sanskrit word where ‘Nir’ means without and ‘jala’ means water. Thus, unlike other ekadashi fastings including fruits, water and other edible foods, this ekadashi doesn’t allows anything at all.

Occurring in the hottest month of summer, it is a test of desires and level of patience a person can have to serve the Lord. This makes it ideal for the one who are unable to fast on other ekadashis, and offers the benifits of all of them at once.

The Ancient Story of Ekadashi Fasting

A story of Mahabharat times when bhimasena, the son of Vayudeva, brought his concern about fasting on ekadashi to his grandfather, Srila Vyasadeva. As a gift from wind-god, bhimasena was the only one in the pandavas- including the wife and the mother, who couldn’t bear the hunger at all. Due to this, he wasn’t able to fast on ekadashis but had a strong desire to pleases his Lord Vasudev, other than charity and worshipping.

Understanding bhimasen’s condition, Vyasadeva suggested him to observe the one fasting, falls in the month of Jayestha (May-June), in a extreme hot month of summer, known as Nirjala Ekadashi’. He described it as a most powerful Ekadashi, among all 24 ekadashis, containing the benifits of all of them combined.

This ekadashi demands a strict fasting without food and water, from sunrise till next day’s sunrise. It provides the mercy of getting holy bath in holy rivers, removes every single sin from one’s life. Also, it is a perfect once a year opportunity, for those who can’t observe any ekadashi fast sincerely.

By hearing the potencies of ‘Nirjala’, all the pandavas began to observe it sincerely. Thus, it is also known as ‘Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi’. Atlast, Vyasadeva mentioned bhimsen to chant the holy names of the Lord while fasting, the entire day. And, after fasting - offer prayers, beautiful offerings to the Lord, chaity to the poor, and horing the brahmanas with prasadam.

Steps to Follow for Perfect Nirjala Ekadashi Fasting

Observing Nirjala Ekadashi is about spiritual purification of mind and body. To accomplish that, there is a need of proper routine to follow:

1. Pre-preparation of Ekadashi: A day before Ekadashi, on 10th day (dashami) there should be restriction towards tamsic food, including garlic, onion and spices. One should only have satvic food the entire day until sunset. After sunset, one should starts preparing mentally to fast the next day with no food at all.

2. The day of Ekadashi: One should wake up in Brahma Muhurta(between 4:00-6:00 AM) on the day of fasting (11th day) to take a bath, offer sincere prayers to Lord Vishnu and ask for his blessings. This prayer will help gaining inner strength to control desires and observe fasting by restrict eating food and water for the next 24 hours.

Also, spend the entire day chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra, listening to ekadashi vrat katha and reading holy scriptures to fuel your inner consciousness.

3. Breaking the fast: On the folowing day after sunrise, the day should begins with offering food, fruits and sincere obeisances to the Lord. Offer the food and fruits to the devotees or brahamanas in the temple. Atlast, break your fast with fruits, water, and then some prasadam that has been offered to the lord.

This day of Dwadashi is very auspicious for donating food, clothes, and other help to the people in need.

Tips for fasting:

1. To fast sincerely on every Ekadashi, keep your mind and senses towards the Lord- by constantly seeing, listening and talking about him.

2. Do not engage in unnecessary physical or mental activities that may distract you enough to avoid chanting the holy names.

3. Try to be in a company with devotees to get inspiration, encouragement and inner strength for fasting sincerely.

4. Don’t let the demotivation or lethargy to stop you- chant the holy names of Lord Vishnu to get the strength to fast sincerely till the end.

5. In case of health emergency, one can have a little amount of fruits and water after asking for forgiveness from the Lord, he will accept the humble devotion.

Nirjala Ekadashi Observance at Gupt Vrindavan Dham

Gupt Vrindhavan Dham, a true gem of bhakti and driving path of one’s spiritual consciousness, provides an atmosphere to engage in divine activities throughout the day. Here’s a list of activities performed there:

1. Mangala Aarti and Tulasi Puja: The day starts at 4:00 AM with devotional mangala aarti and beautiful offerings to the Lord. This early obeisance reflects a deep belief where god personally descends to the earth to accept the offerings of his devotees. In Vaishnava tradition, There’s a tulsi aarti following the mangala aarti to pleases the Lord and honor the spiritually important plant ‘tulsi’.

2. Harinama SanKirtan: From morning rituals till the end of the day, there’s a non-stop kirtan organised by the devotees to glorifies the name of Vishnu. The spiritual vibrations of kirtan and the presence of the Lord purifies the environment for each and every presence in the temple. This transcendental energy nullifies the the negative energy that distracts one from focusing on the holy names.

3. Narrating the teachings of Lord Krishna: Throughout the day, there’s a teaching session organised for senior devotees to deliver the teachings of the Lord from Bhagavad gita. And, the narration of the story behind this auspicious fasting. This helps in understanding the purpose of fasting and how Lord’s mercy purifies one’s karma by removing all the past sins/mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How many Nirjala Ekadashis are there in a year?
Nirjala Ekadashi falls in the month of Jyestha(May-June) during the Shukla Paksha, celebrated only once in every year.

2. Why is Nirjala Ekadashi celebrated?
Nirjala Ekadashi is celebrated to please the Lord Vishnu by strict fasting- restricting from food and water the entire day, as a sign of complete surrender to the Lord. It is believed to be the most powerful ekadashi, provides all the benifits of 24 ekadashis at once.

3. Can we sleep on Nirjala Ekadashi?
Although in scriptures, it is adviced to not sleep the day and night during fasting hours. But, one can sleep for few hours after chanting the holy names of the Lord, the entire day.

A Journey of Purity and Divine Grace

Nirjala Ekadashi is more than just a day of sacrificing desires. It is a path for one to advance devotionally and reach the state of higher- level consciousness. This day reflects the beauty behind complete surrender to the Supreme personality, which is - ‘choose to please the Lord than satisfying one’s desires’.

Whoever will observe the fasting on 6th june- ‘May Krishna bless you with self control, freed you from all difficulties and provides you a beautiful shelter in his own heart’.