Dear *******,
dandavat pranams. Swami B.V. Tripurari asked me to reply to your
questions. He gets a lot of different questions, so he sometimes asks
disciples to answer some of them. Since I am a bit of an expert on
Ekadasi (I have written one book on the subject, called "Dearest to
Vishnu"), he requested me to answer your letter.
Q: Could you please explain why somtimes fasting for some ekadashis is being
observed on the dvadashi?
A: According to the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, there are two reasons for
sometimes fasting on Dvadasi instead of Ekadasi. The first is if
Ekadasi is contaminated (viddhi) by Dasami by beginning too late. In
that case, it is not a Suddha Ekadasi, and one should fast on Dvadasi
instead. The second case is if the Dvadasi is a Maha-dvadasi, of which
there are eight different variants. In this case, the Dvadasi is even
more auspicious than the Ekadasi, and one should fast then. In
calenders such as the VCAL used in ISKCON, these calculations have
already been made, so you just need to follow the calender in order to
fast on the correct day.
Q: What is the procedure for fasting on apearance days of Sri Vishnu tattvas
when they occur the day after ekadashi or such dvadashi?
A: Since one has to break the fast at the correct time in the morning
after Ekadasi or Maha-dvadasi, one cannot fast on the following day
(i.e., Dvadasi or Trayodasi). For that reason, a fast prescribed for
that day has to be performed on the Ekadasi or Maha-dvadasi instead.
This is also usually indicated in the calender.
I hope this helps. My book contains much more information on these and
similar questions It can be obtained through my website:
www.absolutetruthpress.com
Your servant,
Bhrigupada Dasa
Brahmaji added the line on "my website" -- I wouldn't dare call the ATP website "my". :Nail Biting: But that aside, how is the updating of it going, Syamagopala? Have you had any chance to work on it?