The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

Nirjala Ekadashi

Religious observance on the eleventh
day (ekadashi) in the bright, waxing half
of the lunar monthof Jyeshth (May–
June). As for all the eleventh-day obser-
vances, this is dedicated to the worship
of the god Vishnu. Most Hindu festivals
have certain prescribed rites, which
usually involve fasting (upavasa) and
worship, and often promise specific
benefits for faithful performance. The
regulations for this ekadashi are more
strict than all the others. Not only is all
food forbidden, but the person per-
forming this rite must not drink water,
hence the name nirjala meaning
“waterless.” The fast must last from
dawn till dusk. This is no easy task,
since this ekadashi occurs during the
hottest part of the year. The rewards are
great: Those who fulfill the vow for this
single ekadashi receive the religious
merit for all twenty-four ekadashis dur-
ing the year, whether or not they have
done the rites for the others. Carrying
out the vow for this ekadashi is also
believed to bring one a long life and lib-
eration of the soul after death.

Nirmala

(“free from defilement”) With the

Udasis, one of the two Hindu ascetic

communities tracing its origins to the

Sikh community. According to one tradi-

tion, the Nirmala sect was established

by the tenth Sikh guru, Gobind Singh.

On the whole, the Sikh tradition has not

endorsed asceticism, but rather an

active life in the world. The Nirmalas

have a large ascetic center in the north-

ern Indian sacred city of Haridwar,

where they run a primary school. As a

community, the Nirmalas are known far

more for learning and study than asceti-

cism or yoga. At the Kumbha Melas, the

Nirmalas bathe last of all, after the

Sanyasis, Bairagis, and Udasis.

Nirmala Devi

(b. 1923) Modern Hindu teacher who

claims to be an avatarof the primordial

Goddess, and the founder of Vishva

Nirmala Dharam, an organization dedi-

cated to spreading her message.

Nirmala Devi’s teaching is based on tra-

ditional ideas of hatha yoga and the

subtle body. The subtle body is an

Nirmala Devi

At the Kumbha Mela festival in Haridwar the Niranjani Akhara proceeds first, followed by the Mahanirvani.