His Divine Grace, A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has given quotes in books, lectures and especially in conversations with other devotees. The quotes below come from his Divine Grace.
"On Ekädasi, everything is cooked for Vishnu, including regular grains and dhal, but it is enjoined that a Vaishnava should not even take vishnu-prasädam on Ekädasi. It is said that a Vaishnava does not accept anything eatable that is not offered to Lord Vishnu, but on Ekädasi a Vaishñava should not touch even mahä-prasädam offered to Vishñu, although such prasädam may be kept for being eaten the next day. It is strictly forbidden for one to accept any kind of grain on Ekädasi, even if it is offered to Lord Vishñu".
"Since the living entities of Kali yuga are short lived and lusty, they are unable to perform severe austerity. The living entities of Kali yuga subsist on food grains and cannot survive without eating these grains. People of Satya, Treta and Dvapara yugas were capable of undergoing severe austerity and tolerate physical distresses. This is why a minimum austerity in the form of fasting twice a month on the days of Ekadasi has been prescribed for the people of Kali yuga. If they are able they should eat only once the day before Ekadasi, fast totally on the day of Ekadasi and eat only once the day after Ekadasi. If one is unable to follow even this, in other words if one is unable to eat only once on the day before and after Ekadasi, than he must observe complete fast on the day of Ekadasi. If one is still unable to follow this then he should give up eating five types of grains and observe the vow of Ekadasi simply by partaking some fruits and roots. The five types of grains are:
rice or other products made from rice such as flat rice, puffed rice etc.;
wheat flour and white flour etc.;
barley etc.;
pulses such as moong, chickpea, green peas, lentil, etc.;
mustard oil and sesame oil.
"On Ekädasi, everything is cooked for Vishnu, including regular grains and dhal, but it is enjoined that a Vaishnava should not even take vishnu-prasädam on Ekädasi. It is said that a Vaishnava does not accept anything eatable that is not offered to Lord Vishnu, but on Ekädasi a Vaishñava should not touch even mahä-prasädam offered to Vishñu, although such prasädam may be kept for being eaten the next day. It is strictly forbidden for one to accept any kind of grain on Ekädasi, even if it is offered to Lord Vishñu".
"Since the living entities of Kali yuga are short lived and lusty, they are unable to perform severe austerity. The living entities of Kali yuga subsist on food grains and cannot survive without eating these grains. People of Satya, Treta and Dvapara yugas were capable of undergoing severe austerity and tolerate physical distresses. This is why a minimum austerity in the form of fasting twice a month on the days of Ekadasi has been prescribed for the people of Kali yuga. If they are able they should eat only once the day before Ekadasi, fast totally on the day of Ekadasi and eat only once the day after Ekadasi. If one is unable to follow even this, in other words if one is unable to eat only once on the day before and after Ekadasi, than he must observe complete fast on the day of Ekadasi. If one is still unable to follow this then he should give up eating five types of grains and observe the vow of Ekadasi simply by partaking some fruits and roots. The five types of grains are:
rice or other products made from rice such as flat rice, puffed rice etc.;
wheat flour and white flour etc.;
barley etc.;
pulses such as moong, chickpea, green peas, lentil, etc.;
mustard oil and sesame oil.
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