Ekadashi is the 11th lunar day (tithi) of each fortnight in the Hindu calendar. Each month has two Ekadashis — one in Shukla Paksha (waxing) and one in Krishna Paksha (waning). With 12 months, that gives 24 Ekadashis a year (occasionally 26 in adhik-maas years).
✦ Why Ekadashi?
The Padma Purana states that Lord Vishnu personally blessed Ekadashi as the day to wash away sin. Fasting on Ekadashi is said to give punya equal to thousands of yajnas. The 11th tithi is when the moon-mind connection is most subtle — perfect for fasting and meditation.
✦ The 24 Ekadashis (with Hindi names)
| # | Month | Shukla Ekadashi | Krishna Ekadashi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaitra | Kamada | Papamochani |
| 2 | Vaishakh | Mohini | Varuthini |
| 3 | Jyeshtha | Nirjala | Apara |
| 4 | Ashadh | Devshayani | Yogini |
| 5 | Shravan | Putrada (Pavitra) | Kamika |
| 6 | Bhadrapad | Parsva | Aja |
| 7 | Ashwin | Papankusha | Indira |
| 8 | Kartik | Devuthani (Prabodhini) | Rama |
| 9 | Margashirsh | Mokshada | Utpanna |
| 10 | Paush | Putrada | Saphala |
| 11 | Magh | Jaya | Shattila |
| 12 | Phalgun | Amalaki | Vijaya |
✦ What to Eat / Avoid
Allowed (Phalahar) - Fruits (all) - Milk and dairy (curd, paneer, ghee) - Sabudana (tapioca) - Singhara atta (water-chestnut flour) - Kuttu atta (buckwheat) - Potato, sweet potato - Rock salt (sendha namak) only
Strictly Forbidden - **Rice** (most important — said to host the demon-soul born from Vishnu's anger) - Wheat, dal (lentils), legumes - Regular salt - Onion, garlic - Non-vegetarian - Alcohol, tobacco
✦ Three Levels of Vrat
1. Nirjala (Most strict) No water, no food. Once-a-year on Nirjala Ekadashi (Jyeshtha Shukla) — Bhima famously kept this.
2. Phalahar (Standard) Fruits, dairy, allowed flours. Most people follow this.
3. Ekbhukta (Lightest) One meal of phalahar after sunset.
✦ Paran (Breaking the Fast)
Paran is done on Dwadashi (12th tithi) morning, never on Ekadashi night. Specific rules:
- 1Paran must be in **Dwadashi tithi** but **after sunrise**
- 2Avoid **Hari Vasara** (first ¼ of Dwadashi) — fast continues
- 3Eat first food blessed to Vishnu
- 4Traditional paran food: cooked rice with ghee
✦ Mantras
Vishnu Sahasranama (any verse) `Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya` — 108 times
Ekadashi Mantra `Vishno Vishvambharo Vishvarupakritir Vibhuh`
✦ Health Benefits (Modern View)
- ✦24-hour fast = mild autophagy (cellular cleanup)
- ✦Reduced calorie intake → metabolic reset
- ✦Mental discipline practice
- ✦Reduced inflammation markers (24-72h fasts)
⚠️ Caution: Diabetics, pregnant women, elderly should consult a doctor before strict fasting.
✦ Common Mistakes
- 1Eating rice on Ekadashi (biggest taboo)
- 2Breaking fast before sunrise on Dwadashi
- 3Using regular salt instead of sendha namak
- 4Skipping the next-day paran ritual
- 5Anger, lying, gambling — these undo the punya
✦ Conclusion
Ekadashi is the most accessible spiritual practice — no ritual fire, no priest, no expense. Just 24 hours of restraint, 11 mantras, and one meal break the right way. Start with one Ekadashi a month and feel the difference. Hari Om!