Will Ekadasi fasting reduce the doshas and karma?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Jai Radhe Krishna! Please don’t reveal my name. What are the effects of fasting on days like Ekadashis, Mahashivratri, and Navratris? Does it affect horoscopes? If yes, then how? Can it have positive effects on the planets or even on persons who have doshas?”
REPLY:
Sure. No doubt. But, the duration will differ.
Fasting is the greatest penance out of all types of penances.
(I face Problems even after Ekadasi fasting for many years. Why? READ HERE!)
But, we should approach your question as two cases:
(I) THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING SAKAMA BHAKTI:
Following devotion with some expectations/ remedies.
(II) THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING NISHKAM BHAKTI:
Following devotion without any expectations/ remedies but just the opportunity to serve the Lord and His devotees.
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (4-11) like this:
“As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha.”
This is explained by Srila Prabhupada in the Purport quoting a verse in Srimad Bhagavatham (2.3.10):
“Whether one is without desire [the condition of the devotees], or is desirous of all fruitive results or is after liberation, one should with all efforts try to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead for complete perfection, culminating in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”
Here it is said that one should worship Krishna either as Nishkam (without desires of fruits) or as Sakam (with some desires of fruits).
In all cases, our approaching person should be Krishna.
When a devotee advances in age and spiritual maturity and because of good association of devotees, the Sakama devotees will gradually become Nishkam devotees.
Most of the devotees come to follow devotion to Krishna with the expectation of some benefits or remedies or atleast some consolation.
Then, their association with the devotees who follow Nishkam devotion, makes these Sakama devotees also as Nishkam devotees!
Association, experience and the advancement of age makes a Sakam devotee as a Nishkam devotee.
(What if Ekadasi fast causes headache and I need to take tablets? READ HERE!)
These doshas and their remedies (Parihars) come under Sakam bhakti.
Only if a person bothers about having only happy life after marriage, he should fear for doshas.
The devotees who have set their mindset like that of Kunti devi, need not fear for doshas.
I have written in many places. Kunti devi prayed to Krishna to always give her problems so that she will always remember Krishna.
A pure devotee is even greater. They will remember Krishna even if they don’t face any problems in life and though they are given abundant wealth and happiness.
They are not attached to both the problems and happiness.
So, the reply to your question is:
Yes, Krishna accepts your penance of Ekadasi fasts!
If your prayers are genuine and those prayers will be favourable for your future elevation in devotional life, Krishna fulfills that prayer.
In case your prayer is not favourable for your future elevation in devotional life, Krishna does not give that to you and by giving some experiences, He makes you realize that not getting your desire/prayer fulfilled itself is good.
Moreover, Krishna definitely moderates the severity of the problems and also gives you the bearability to face the problems of life that come as per your karma.
(Is it compulsory to donate (Giving dhaan) on Ekadasi? READ HERE!)
If a devotee observes ekadasi fast just to please Krishna without any expectation, Krishna shows His special mercy to him and takes that devotee to Himself at the end of this life.
So, fasting will definitely be rewarded by Krishna.
As far as other fasts like Shivratri, Navratri, etc, those demigods will offer material benefits easier than Krishna, but the good or bad outcome of those benefits given by them is your responsibility.
Krishna Himself says this in Bhagavad Gita (4-12):
“Men in this world desire success in fruitive activities, and therefore they worship the demigods. Quickly, of course, men get results from fruitive work in this world.”
The take home message is:
Krishna gives only the boons favourable to elevate you in devotional life. The demigods too use some limited power given by Krishna and offer boons without evaluating whether those boons will do good or bad for you.
Hope you are clear whether Ekadasi fasting reduce the doshas and karma.
(Should one have Good Karma to be able to fast for Ekadasis? READ HERE!)