ISKCON Desire Tree - Forum

Hare krishna prabhuji,
1)I wanted to know that do we have to observe krishna paksha ekadashis also?People often say that we should not observe ekadashis that fall in krishna paksh.What is the fact behind it and pls tell me whether I should observe these krishna paksh ekadashis.
2)My second question is that should we stay awake all night on ekadashis compulsorily?Is it okay if we dont stay awake? Will the observance go wrong or become invalid or incorrect or impure if we do not stay awake and sleep the entire night on ekadshis?
Thank you.

Hare krishna,
pamho:agtsp;

Answer 1: we follow all ekadashis. two ekadashis in month therefore 24 ekadashis in year we follow.
Answer 2: Staying awake all night is higher standard.but we have to give best.
it is OK if u don't stay awake
observance Won't go wrong if we do not stay awake and sleep the entire night on ekadshis

I heard once in lecture srilla prabhupada has mention to read his books only because if we read other scriptures which requires qualification to read (which most of kaliyuga people don't have) they will become bewilded and completely destroy devotional life.i went through such condition
if we simply follow iskcon general rules and regulations it is ok.
main thing is Chant hare krishna and don't offend vaishnavas*, be 100% sure u'll go back home back to godhead.

thank you,
npawar

[Moderator's Note: We asked this question to HG Ajamila Prabhu (disciple of Srila Prabhupada) and he kindly provided his answer below. We thank HG Ajamila Prabhu for for his inputs.]

1) I wanted to know that do we have to observe krishna paksha ekadashis also?People often say that we should not observe ekadashis that fall in krishna paksh.What is the fact behind it and pls tell me whether I should observe these krishna paksh ekadashis.

Sri Sanatana Goswami explains in Sri Hari Bhakti Vilasa that one should NOT differentiate between the dark and bright Moon Ekadasis, that both are equally important. Srila Prabhupada also instituted this principle.

2)My second question is that should we stay awake all night on ekadashis compulsorily?Is it okay if we dont stay awake? Will the observance go wrong or become invalid or incorrect or impure if we do not stay awake and sleep the entire night on ekadshis?

It is highly recommended to stay awake all night to increase one's love for Krishna, but it is not compulsory. If one is unable to stay awake all night (which is very difficult, I can do it only a few times a year on major
appearance days), the only downside is that the auspiciousness is less. But one still gets very significant blessings from Krishna.

Think of it like this: If the King of the world enters your room in which there are many people, those who are awake and smiling will be favoured. Those who are sleeping will not be favoured. Those who are awake for most of the time and smiling (doing devotional service) will also be favoured but not as much as those who smile and applaud throughout the duration of the King's auspicious appearance.

So Lord Sri Krishna likes to see us awake and smiling with devotional service when He appears on Ekadasi and Vishnu Tattva appearance days. He is a person and He likes to be greeted and praised when He enters a particular day and makes everything auspicious for us. But He does not like it if we ignore Him on those most auspicious days.