On Ekadasi, strict followers of Vaishnava regulations avoid eating any mahaprasad from an offering that includes grains. The shastra explains that the papa-purusha (sin personified) takes shelter in grains on Ekadasi, and therefore we avoid grains at all cost on that day, not even risking taking non-grain preparations of mahaprasad from an offering plate containing grains. Ekadasi mahaprasad should be stored until the next day; if that is not possible it can be distributed to persons not strictly following Vaishnava regulations or to animals. In fact, mahaprasad maintains its purity on Ekadasi despite the presence of the papa-purusha, and therefore it will purify anyone who eats it. Nevertheless, the followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being strict followers of Vaishnava regulations, avoid mahaprasad on that day because their strict sadhana will be hampered by the presence of the papa-purusha.
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