Sri Ekadasi / the most auspicious time to cleanse body and mind!
Auspicious time to start new undertakings too
(building houses, moving, business)!

______________________________________________________________

If you have observed a complete fast (without even water) you do not need to break it with grains, you can break it with caranamrta or fruit. But if you have observed Ekadasi by eating fruit and vegetables etc., then it should be broken the following day (2 1/2 hours after sunrise )by taking grains at the times mentioned herein.

Mahadvadasi is observed like Ekadasi.

If you want to do a first class Ekadasi, take note of this:
Foods that are restricted during Ekadasi
>Tomatoes, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Bellpepper, Peas, chickpeas and all types of beans, including products made form beans: (papadams, tofu tempeh, grain beverages, etc).
>Indian vegetables: karela, loki, parmal, toroi, kunli, drumsticks, okra(lady finger), banana flower.
>All leafy vegetables: spinach, salads, cabbages and leafy herbs like parsley, curry leaves, neem leaves, etc.
>Leafy herbs: mint, coriander, parsely, curry leaves, neem.
>Grains: millet, barley, farina, dalia, pasta, rice, corn, all types of dal and all types of flour made from grains and beans (like rice flour,chickpea flour, urad dal flour etc.).
>Starches from corn or grains and products made from and mixed with these starches like: baking soda, baking powder, certain soft drinks, custard,certain yogurts, puddings, cream cheese, sweets, candies and tapioca (In India, the only sweet there is no doubt about is petha).
>Oils made from grains: corn oil, mustard oil, sesame oil etc. and products fried in these oils: nuts, potato chips, certain snack foods, Honey.
>Spices: sesame seeds and powder, cumin seeds and powder, hing, fenugreek, mustard seeds, tamarind, fennel, celery, poppy seeds, kalongi seeds, ajwain seeds, cardamon, nutmeg, cloves etc. Spices that are used on Ekadasi taken from a new or clean package.
>Salt, tumeric, black pepper and ginger.

Foods that can be eaten all days of the year, including Ekadasi and Caturmasya:
>All fresh and dried fruits Pototoes, pumkin, cucumber, radish, squash (but not loki), green papaya, lemon, jackfruit, avocado, olives, coconut, buckwheat, all sugars. All nuts and oils made from nuts.
>All milk products, butter milk, except pure milk and yogurt during Caturmasya and sweets with starches on Ekadasi .

>For Brahmacaris: cutting nails and shaving is to be done only on full moon days.



CATURMASYA

Restrictions of foods during the entire four months of Caturmasya are:
>Tomatoes, eggplants, runner beans, loki, parmal, urad dahl and honey.

Particular foods that are restricted during each of the four months:
>First month: No leafy vegetables such as spinach, salads of all types, cabbages of all types, kale, leafy herbs such as coriander, mint, parsley, curry, and powered leafy herbs.
>Second month: No yogurt, (if one requires it for health, it can be mixed with water).
>Third month: No milk, (if required, it can be mixed with a drop of lemon juice).
>Fourth month: No mustard oil and sesame seeds.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Eat food that are nourishing for the body and spirit...
Food that will elevate the mind and spirit.