The Untold Truth of Ekadashi: Why You Are Probably Fasting for the Wrong Reasons

Let’s be honest for a moment. If you walk into any household in India on an Ekadashi day, you will likely see people fasting. They might be abstaining from grains, eating only fruits, or perhaps not eating at all. But if you were to stop 100 of these people and ask them, “Why exactly are you doing this? Who is Ekadashi? And what is the origin of this day?” I am willing to bet that 90% of them wouldn’t have a clear answer.

Most people today treat fasting like a business transaction. They fast because they want prosperity. They fast because they want wealth. They starve their bodies hoping that God will grant them a promotion, a new house, or financial stability. They do it because their parents told them to, or because their friends are doing it.

But here is the hard truth: If you are fasting for wealth, you are missing the point entirely.

Fasting alone will not give you anything if the intention is misplaced. Ekadashi was never designed for material gain. It is something far more profound. It is not about filling your pockets; it is about freeing your soul.

If you are one of the many who have been following this ritual blindly, pause for a moment. Let me take you back to the very beginning, to the Padma Purana—and tell you the true story of Ekadashi. If you understand this story, you might just change the way you look at spirituality forever.

The Legend of Murdanav: Chaos in the Golden Age

Our story takes place in the Satya Yuga, the Golden Age of truth. It begins not with a god, but with a demon named Murdanav.

Murdanav was not your average demon. He was a force of terrifying power and ambition. He didn’t just want to rule a kingdom; he wanted to dominate the cosmos. With an army that shook the earth, he launched a brutal attack on Swargaloka (Heaven). He defeated Indra, the King of Gods, and cast the heavens into absolute chaos.

The situation was dire. Murdanav was unstoppable. Even Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, could not quell the demon’s rage. Desperate and defeated, Indra and the other gods, accompanied by Shiva, went to Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the Universe. They begged him to intervene, to save creation from the tyranny of Murdanav.

Vishnu, hearing the plight of the gods, accepted the challenge. He mounted his vehicle, Garuda, and rode out to meet Murdanav’s troops.

The Thousand-Year War

What followed was a war that defies imagination. This wasn’t a skirmish; it was a cataclysmic battle that dragged on for what felt like an eternity. Lord Vishnu fought Murdanav and his armies for almost a 100-years. Arrows flew like lightning, and the clash of weapons echoed through the universe.

However, Murdanav was incredibly resilient. He possessed a strength that seemed to rival even the Divine. Despite Vishnu’s supreme power, the demon refused to fall.

Eventually, Vishnu decided to change his strategy. He realized that brute force alone was becoming a stalemate. He needed to play a trick, a divine play, or Leela. Pretending to be utterly exhausted by the long battle, Vishnu retreated from the battlefield.

He fled to the icy peaks of the Himalayas and entered a deep, dark cave known as Hemvati. There, the Lord lay down and entered Yoga Nidra, a state of deep, psychic sleep where the body rests, but the consciousness remains awake.

The Birth of the Goddess

Murdanav, arrogant and blinded by his perceived victory, chased Vishnu to the cave. When he saw the Lord sleeping, a wicked thought crossed his mind. “Now is my chance,” he thought. “I will kill him while he sleeps and become the undisputed master of the three worlds.”

He raised his sword, ready to strike the fatal blow.

But at that precise moment, a miracle occurred. From the sleeping body of Lord Vishnu, specifically from his 11th sense (the mind/consciousness combined with the ten senses), a brilliant light emerged.

This light took the form of a woman. She was not just a woman; she was a warrior. She was effulgent, radiating a blinding light, extremely beautiful, and armed with divine weapons. She stood as a barrier between the demon and the sleeping God.

Murdanav was stunned. He had never seen such beauty and power combined. His lust overtook his bloodlust. Lowering his sword, he asked this divine maiden to marry him.

The maiden smiled, a smile that hid her power, and said, “I will marry you, but on one condition. You must fight me. If you can defeat me in battle, I will be yours.”

Murdanav laughed. He had fought Vishnu for a years; what could a mere maiden do? He accepted the challenge instantly.

The Eleventh Sense

The battle that ensued was short and brutal. Murdanav, who had withstood the weapons of Vishnu, found himself outmatched by this new power. The maiden moved with the speed of thought. In a flurry of divine energy, she sliced through his defenses and, with a final strike, beheaded the demon Murdanav. The threat to the universe was ended instantly.

When Lord Vishnu woke from his Yoga Nidra, he saw the lifeless body of Murdanav and the radiant maiden standing before him. Even the Omniscient Lord feigned surprise (as part of the cosmic play) and asked who she was.

She bowed and replied, “Lord, I emerged from your own being. I am the manifestation of your 11th sense. I was born to protect you.”

The Boon of Moksha

Vishnu was incredibly pleased. He realized that this maiden was born on the 11th lunar day (Ekadashi Tithi) and had emerged from his eleven senses to conquer the ego (symbolized by the demon).

He smiled at her and said, “You have done what even the gods could not. I name you Ekadashi. Because you have pleased me, ask for any boon.”

Now, this is the most critical part of the story. Ekadashi could have asked to be the queen of the universe. She could have asked for jewels, wealth, or power. But she didn’t.

She looked at Vishnu and said, “O Lord, if you are pleased with me, grant me this boon: Whoever observes a fast on my day, the day of Ekadashi, and controls their senses (Indriyas), let them be cleansed of all sins and attain Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth).“

Vishnu granted the boon instantly. He declared that Ekadashi would be the most beloved day to him, and those who observed it with purity would reach his abode, Vaikuntha.

The Real Eligibility: Who Should Fast?

So, now that you know the story, let’s look at how people practice it today.

There is a misconception that everyone must starve themselves to prove their devotion. However, the scriptures and the spirit of the tradition are very practical. The eligibility for Ekadashi is simple but strict regarding intent, not just action.

Strict fasting is not recommended for:

• Old aged individuals who are frail.
• Pregnant women.
• Very weak individuals or those with medical conditions.

Why? Because the body is the vehicle for the soul. If you destroy the vehicle, how will you complete the journey?

Sage Vyasa famously advised Bhima (the Pandava brother who had a voracious appetite and could not tolerate hunger) on this very issue. Vyasa told Bhima that if his body could not support a total fast, he could perform alternative acts of devotion. Compassion for the body is essential.

Ekadashi is primarily suitable for Spiritual Seekers. It is for those who are determined to cleanse not just their gut, but their mind and soul. It is for those who are spiritually focused and ready to practice Indriya Nigraha (control of the senses).

Conclusion: Don’t Be Part of the 90%

If you take anything away from this article, let it be this: Ekadashi is not a transaction.

When you fast, you are mimicking the suppression of the demon Murdanav, the suppression of your ego and your uncontrolled senses.

• If you are fasting to get a raise at work, don’t bother.
• If you are fasting because your neighbor does it, stop.
• If you are fasting to show off your piety to your parents, it is a waste of time and energy.

Keeping greed in your mind while keeping your stomach empty is futile. The hunger you feel should be a hunger for Moksha, not for material objects. The purpose is to detach from the body and connect with the soul (Atma).

I truly believe that if people understood that Ekadashi offers Moksha, the ultimate liberation, rather than temporary earthly riches, many would actually stop doing it. Why? Because most people are attached to the illusion of this world. They want the demon’s gold, not the maiden’s liberation.

But you, dear reader, now know the truth. You know that Ekadashi is the warrior goddess born from Vishnu’s focus. You know she is the slayer of ego.

I want you to perform Ekadashi, but do it with understanding. Do it with the intent of cleansing your spirit.

And finally, a request: If this story resonated with you, do not just share a link to this article. Don’t just post it on a status. Spread this through your mouth. Sit down with your family, your children, or your friends, and tell them the story of Murdanav and the Goddess Ekadashi. Restore the meaning to the ritual.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your time. May your next Ekadashi be one of true awareness.