Ekadashi — vrat katha & puja vidhi

What Ekadashi is

Ekadashi (“eleventh”) is the 11th tithi of both the bright (Shukla) and dark (Krishna) halves of the lunar month. It is observed above all in Vaishnava tradition as a day of worship of Vishnu, often with Krishna. There are usually 24 in a year, and two more in a leap (Adhik) year.

The main aim, as Wikipedia puts it, is to steady the mind and senses and turn them towards spiritual practice.

Source: Wikipedia — Ekadashi

The katha — how Ekadashi began

While Vishnu rested in yogic sleep, the demon Mura (called Murdanav in some tellings) came to attack him. A beautiful woman arose from Vishnu’s eleventh “sense”, the mind; she agreed to Mura’s demand to marry her only if he could defeat her in battle, and in the fight he was slain. When Vishnu awoke he named her Ekadashi and blessed the day: whoever fasts on it, gathering all eleven senses (five of knowing, five of action, and the mind) towards God, moves towards liberation.

Drik Panchang calls Goddess Ekadashi the Yoga Maya of Vishnu and marks Utpanna Ekadashi (Margashirsha Krishna) as the day she appeared. Each of the 24 Ekadashis also has its own katha — see the list below. The Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 9, chapter 4) tells of King Ambarisha’s devotion to this vrat.

Source: Wikipedia — Ekadashi · Drik Panchang — Ekadashi vrat katha list

What you need

• A picture or image of Lord Vishnu / Krishna
• Incense (dhoop) and a lamp (deep)
• Fruit to offer before you eat it
• The Gita or Vishnu Sahasranama to read or listen to
• Food to give in charity, as you are able

Source: Drik Panchang — Ekadashi vrat vidhi

Puja vidhi — simple steps

1. Dashami (the day before): eat one simple meal; avoid meat, onion and masoor dal.
2. Ekadashi morning: bathe, then take the vow (sankalpa) before God — to fast, to speak no harsh word and to keep the day for prayer.
3. Worship Vishnu with dhoop and deep, and offer fruit before eating it. Tulsi leaves are not eaten on this day.
4. Read or listen to the Gita, chant the twelve-syllable mantra and the names of Rama, Krishna and Vishnu; many keep a night of kirtan.
5. Choose your fast: nirjala (no water), jalahar (water), ksheerbhoji (milk), phalahari (fruit) or naktabhoji (one meal of sabudana, singhara, sweet potato, potato or peanuts — no grains or dals).
6. Dwadashi: after sunrise, give food (or the raw ingredients) in charity, then break the fast (parana) within Dwadashi — not in its first quarter (Hari Vasara).

Source: Drik Panchang — Ekadashi vrat vidhi · Drik Panchang — Ekadashi parana · Drik Panchang — Kamada Ekadashi · Wikipedia — Ekadashi

When it falls and what time to keep

Our Panchang marks Ekadashi on the day the Ekadashi tithi prevails at sunrise in New Delhi (the Smarta date, as Drik Panchang lists it), moving it so the fast never lands on the parana day. Parana is after the next sunrise, within Dwadashi, preferably in the morning and not during Hari Vasara. Vaishnava (e.g. ISKCON) calendars sometimes keep Ekadashi a day later.

Source: BornClock festival calendar (dates checked against Drik Panchang, New Delhi) · Drik Panchang — Kamada Ekadashi · Drik Panchang — Ekadashi parana

Traditions differ

When Ekadashi touches two days, Drik Panchang notes that Shaiva devotees accept the Ekadashi joined with Dashami, while Vaishnavas fast on the Ekadashi joined with Dwadashi and break the fast before Trayodashi. Some traditions keep certain Ekadashis (for example Saphala, Kamada, Devshayani) a day apart from the main listing.

Source: Drik Panchang — Ekadashi vrat vidhi · Wikipedia — Ekadashi

The 24 Ekadashis (and the two leap-month ones)

Each Ekadashi has its own name and katha. One line on each — the katha it is known for, and the form of Vishnu honoured that month:

• Kamada Ekadashi — Chaitra ShuklaKatha of the Gandharva couple Lalit and Lalita and King Pundarika. Drik Panchang: believed to fulfil wishes and wash away sins. Month deity: Rama / Vishnu.
• Varuthini Ekadashi — Vaishakha Krishna (purnimanta) / Chaitra Krishna (amanta)Its glory is narrated by Lord Krishna. Month deity: Madhusudana (Vishnu).
• Mohini Ekadashi — Vaishakha ShuklaKatha of Dhanapal’s wayward son and his redemption. Drik Panchang notes the Kurma Purana praises it, that Rama kept it while searching for Sita, and that Vishnu’s Mohini form is worshipped. Month deity: Madhusudana.
• Apara Ekadashi — Jyeshtha Krishna (purnimanta) / Vaishakha Krishna (amanta)“Apara” means boundless; Lord Krishna explains its merit to Arjuna (Drik Panchang). Month deity: Trivikrama.
• Nirjala Ekadashi — Jyeshtha ShuklaKatha of sage Vyasa and Bhimsena. Kept without water (nirjala). Month deity: Trivikrama.
• Yogini Ekadashi — Ashadha Krishna (purnimanta) / Jyeshtha Krishna (amanta)Katha of Kubera and the Yaksha Hemamali. Month deity: Vamana.
• Devshayani Ekadashi — Ashadha ShuklaKatha of a famine in King Mandhata’s kingdom. Drik Panchang lists it as the last Ekadashi before Chaturmasa. Month deity: Vamana.
• Kamika Ekadashi — Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) / Ashadha Krishna (amanta)Katha told between Lord Brahma and sage Narada. Month deity: Sridhara.
• Shravana Putrada Ekadashi — Shravana ShuklaKatha of the childless King Mahajit, who is blessed with a son. Month deity: Sridhara.
• Aja Ekadashi — Bhadrapada Krishna (purnimanta) / Shravana Krishna (amanta)Katha of King Harishchandra and sage Gautama. Also called Annada. Month deity: Hrishikesha.
• Parsva (Parivartini) Ekadashi — Bhadrapada ShuklaKatha of Lord Vamana and the demon king Bali. Month deity: Hrishikesha.
• Indira Ekadashi — Ashwina Krishna (purnimanta) / Bhadrapada Krishna (amanta)Katha of King Indrasen, whose father is freed from Yamaloka. Month deity: Padmanabha.
• Papankusha Ekadashi — Ashwina ShuklaIts merit is explained by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. Month deity: Padmanabha.
• Rama Ekadashi — Kartika Krishna (purnimanta) / Ashwina Krishna (amanta)Katha of King Muchukunda, Shobhana and Chandrabhaga. Month deity: Damodara.
• Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi — Kartika ShuklaKatha told between sage Narada and Lord Brahma. Month deity: Damodara.
• Utpanna Ekadashi — Margashirsha Krishna (purnimanta) / Kartika Krishna (amanta)The day Goddess Ekadashi appeared and slew the demon Mura — the origin of the Ekadashi vrat (Drik Panchang). Month deity: Keshava.
• Mokshada Ekadashi — Margashirsha ShuklaKatha of King Vaikhanasa and sage Parvata. Also called Vaikuntha Ekadashi in some lists. Month deity: Keshava.
• Saphala Ekadashi — Pausha Krishna (purnimanta) / Margashirsha Krishna (amanta)Katha of Lumpaka, the wayward son of King Mahishmana. Month deity: Narayana.
• Pausha Putrada Ekadashi — Pausha ShuklaKatha of the childless King Suketuman, who is blessed with a son. Month deity: Narayana.
• Shattila Ekadashi — Magha Krishna (purnimanta) / Pausha Krishna (amanta)Katha of a woman who had never given in charity. Month deity: Madhava.
• Jaya Ekadashi — Magha ShuklaKatha of the Gandharvas Malyavan and Pushpavati, freed from a pishacha (ghostly) birth. Also called Bhaimi. Month deity: Madhava.
• Vijaya Ekadashi — Phalguna Krishna (purnimanta) / Magha Krishna (amanta)Katha of sage Vakadalbhya and Lord Rama. Month deity: Govinda.
• Amalaki Ekadashi — Phalguna ShuklaKatha of a hunter and Prince Vasuratha. Month deity: Govinda.
• Papamochani Ekadashi — Chaitra Krishna (purnimanta) / Phalguna Krishna (amanta)Katha of sage Medhavi and the apsara Manjughosha. Month deity: Rama / Vishnu.
• Padmini Ekadashi — Adhik (leap) monthOnly in a leap month. Katha of King Kartavirya, who captured Ravana. Leap-month deity: Purushottama. (Sources differ on which half of the leap month is Padmini and which Parama.)
• Parama Ekadashi — Adhik (leap) monthOnly in a leap month. Katha of the Brahmin Sumedha, freed from poverty. Leap-month deity: Purushottama.

Source: Drik Panchang — Ekadashi vrat katha list · Wikipedia — Ekadashi · Drik Panchang — Kamada Ekadashi · Drik Panchang — Mohini Ekadashi · Drik Panchang — Apara Ekadashi

Mantra (with meaning)

• ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

  Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

  Meaning: Salutations to the Divine Lord Vasudeva (Vishnu / Krishna).

  When: The twelve-syllable mantra chanted on Ekadashi.

  Source: Drik Panchang — Ekadashi vrat vidhi