Mahaperiyavaa on Ekadasi Vratham (select excerpts)
(All italicized texts are quotes from sastras or from mahaperiyavaa or Bhagavatpaada) In the food taken on Dwaadasi the special kind of greens and berry which have been prescribed have to be taken and instead of tamarind lemon and amla should be taken. It is also indicated here that according to dieticians this kind of food helps the secretion of digestive juices after the previous day’s fasting “ekaadasyaam tu kartavyam sarveshaam bho jana dwayam suddhopavaasaha pratamaha satkathaa sravanaam thathha” “Oh people (bho jana) these two things (dwayam) that should be done on Ekaadasi day by all (ekaadasyaam tu kartavyam sarveshaam). First pure fasting (suddhopavaasaha pratamaha) and thereafter listening to the glories of the Lord (satkathaa sravanaam thathha)” Sasthras have prescribed vrathas and upavasas for this reason. ‘Even if you feel hungry, get habituated to fasting; even if there is pleasure in idle talk, observe silence; even if you are dragged by sleep keep awake throughout night...
