In the vast ocean of Sanatana Dharma, Ekadashi stands as an island of purification and spiritual elevation. Each month, on the 11th lunar day, the devotee is offered a divine opportunity to transcend the pull of the material world through fasting, prayer, and surrender to Lord Vishnu.Yet among these luminous days, there is one that blazes with unmatched brilliance—Nirjala Ekadashi, the most austere, the most powerful, and the most sanctifying of them all.Observed during the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month (May–June), when the sun blazes overhead and thirst scorches the throat, Nirjala Ekadashi calls the devotee to sacrifice even water, the very essence of life, in pursuit of a higher truth.This Ekadashi is more than a fast—it is a pilgrimage of the soul, an offering of the self at the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. It is the day when the body is silenced, and the spirit speaks.
The Legend of Bhima and the
Divine Grace of Vyasa Muni
The story of Nirjala Ekadashi is rooted in the Mahabharata tradition, and preserved in the Padma Purana.
Bhima, the mighty son of Vayu and one of the Pandava brothers, was renowned for his enormous appetite and strength. His devotion to dharma and loyalty to Krishna were unwavering, yet he struggled with one command of spiritual discipline-fasting on Ekadashi.
Despite the encouragement of his noble mother Kunti and his devout brothers-Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva-Bhima admitted to his grandfather Sage Vyasa that he could not bear hunger and especially not thirst. He feared that he would fail in observing Ekadashi and thus lose the spiritual merit.
Vyasa, filled with compassion, told him:
“O Bhimasena! If you cannot observe all the Ekadashis, then observe one-Nirjala Ekadashi-with complete faith, without food or water, from sunrise to sunrise. This will bestow upon you the merit of all 24 Ekadashis and cleanse you of all sins.”
Bhima agreed. He undertook the Nirjala fast with great difficulty, yet he endured it with the fire of bhakti (devotion) and emerged spiritually awakened. Since then, Nirjala Ekadashi has also been called Bhimaseni Ekadashi, and its observance is praised as the essence of all Ekadashis combined.
The Spiritual Meaning of
Fasting Without Water
The word “Nirjala” means “without water.” To abstain from food is difficult, but to abstain from water, especially in the heat of Jyeshtha, is a supreme form of tapasya (austerity). It is a symbolic gesture of:
– Self-surrender: Placing one’s entire bodily needs at the feet of God.
– Renunciation of ego: “I do not rely even on water, Lord, but only on Your grace.”
– Concentration on the soul: Turning away from the body’s call and toward the eternal Self (Atman).
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna declares:
“Whoever offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept that offering of devotion.” (Gita 9.26)
But on this day, the devotee offers even water itself as a sacrifice.
How Nirjala Ekadashi Leads
the Soul to Liberation
According to the Skanda Purana, those who observe Nirjala Ekadashi with faith and devotion:
– Are forgiven for all sins, even the most grievous.
– Do not meet the messengers of Yama, the god of death.
– Are escorted to Vaikuntha, the eternal abode of Lord Vishnu, by divine beings.
– Achieve freedom from the cycle of birth and death (moksha).
The fast is not meant to be mere physical deprivation. It is a sacrifice born of devotion (bhakti-yajna). The body may thirst, but the heart must sing with the name of the Lord. That is the true essence of Nirjala.
The Path of Devotion on Nirjala Ekadashi
Even those unable to fast fully due to health or age can observe this sacred day with devotion, purity, and spiritual intent. What matters most is bhava-the inner feeling of surrender.
Spiritual Practices on Nirjala Ekadashi
– Waking early before sunrise and taking a sacred bath.
– Offering prayers to Lord Vishnu, especially as Madhusudana or Narayana.
– Chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama, reading the Bhagavad Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam.
– Meditating and singing bhajans in praise of the Lord.
– Performing charity-especially giving water, fans, clothing, or food to the poor.
– Feeding cows, Brahmanas, or saints, a deeply purifying act.
– Even a glass of cool water offered to a thirsty soul in the name of the Lord on this day brings great merit.
Method of observing the fast
Before observing the Nirjala fast, pray to God, “O Lord! Today I observe a Nirjala fast, and tomorrow I will eat food. I will observe this fast with devotion. May all my sins be destroyed by your grace.” On this day, one who remains without water himself and donates a pitcher full of pure water to a Brahmin or a needy person with this mantra, attains special virtue.
Rules and importance of the fast
This fast should be observed by both men and women. On this day, keeping a waterless fast and worshipping Lord Vishnu in the form of Sheshashayi has special importance. On this day, one should chant the mantra “Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevay” and donate cows, clothes, umbrellas, fruits etc.
In the Ekadashi fast, consumption of water is prohibited except for bathing and achamana. There should not be more than six mase of water in achamana, otherwise it becomes similar to drinking alcohol. Food should not be eaten on this day, because eating food breaks the fast.