Ekadashi
Encyclopedia
Ekadashi also spelled as Ekadasi, is the eleventh (11th) lunar day
(Tithi
) of the shukla (bright) or krishna (dark) paksha
(fortnight) of every lunar month
in the Hindu calendar
(Panchang). In Hinduism
and Jainism
it is considered a spiritually beneficial day. Scriptures recommend observing an (ideally waterless) fast
from sunset on the day prior to Ekadashi to 48 minutes after sunrise on the day following Ekadashi.
Two Ekadashis occur in one month according to different positions of moon. One Ekadashi also coincides with the times when the Moon
is the closest to Earth (perigee
) and the times when it is farthest from the Earth (apogee) . These are also the times of high tide and low tide respectively. During Ekadashis in the Krishna paksha, the Moon is at its closest to the Earth and during Ekadashis in the Shukla paksha at its farthest from the Earth.
Bhagavata Purana
(sk. IX, adhy. 4) notes the observation of Ekadashi by Ambarisha
, a devotee of Vishnu
.
Lunar day
In space exploration, a lunar day is the period of time it takes for the Earth's Moon to complete one full rotation on its axis with respect to the Sun. Equivalently, it is the time it takes the Moon to make one complete orbit around the Earth and come back to the same phase...
(Tithi
Tithi
In vedic timekeeping, a tithi is a lunar day, or the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours. There are 30 tithis in each lunar month, named...
) of the shukla (bright) or krishna (dark) paksha
Paksha
Paksha , is a fortnight in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Literally meaning side or period, that is either side of the Full Moon Day or Purnima...
(fortnight) of every lunar month
Lunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the young crescent moon becomes first visible at evening after conjunction with the Sun one or two days before that evening...
in the Hindu calendar
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
(Panchang). In Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
it is considered a spiritually beneficial day. Scriptures recommend observing an (ideally waterless) fast
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
from sunset on the day prior to Ekadashi to 48 minutes after sunrise on the day following Ekadashi.
Two Ekadashis occur in one month according to different positions of moon. One Ekadashi also coincides with the times when the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is the closest to Earth (perigee
Perigee
Perigee is the point at which an object makes its closest approach to the Earth.. Often the term is used in a broader sense to define the point in an orbit where the orbiting body is closest to the body it orbits. The opposite is the apogee, the farthest or highest point.The Greek prefix "peri"...
) and the times when it is farthest from the Earth (apogee) . These are also the times of high tide and low tide respectively. During Ekadashis in the Krishna paksha, the Moon is at its closest to the Earth and during Ekadashis in the Shukla paksha at its farthest from the Earth.
Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
(sk. IX, adhy. 4) notes the observation of Ekadashi by Ambarisha
Ambarisha
Ambarisha , in Hindu mythology, was an Ikshvaku king and son of Nabhaga. According to the Bhagavata Purana, he was a great devotee of Vishnu and adhered firmly to the truth...
, a devotee of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
.
List of Ekadashis
The table below describes the various Ekadashis and when they fall in the year.| Vedic (Lunar) and Vaishnava Month | Krishna paksha Ekadashi name | Shukla paksha Ekadashi name |
|---|---|---|
| Chaitra Chaitra Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar.... (चैत्र), Vishnu (March - April) |
Papamochani Ekadashi | Kamada Ekadashi |
| Vaisakh Vaisakh Vaisakh is the second month in the Nanakshahi calendar. This month coincides with April and May in the Gregorian calendar and to Vaisakha in the Hindu calendar; it comprises the time of crop-harvesting in the Punjab region.... a (वैशाख), Madhusudana (April - May) |
Varuthini Ekadashi | Mohini Ekadashi |
| Jyeshta (ज्येष्ठ), Trivikrama (May - June) | Apara Ekadashi | Pandava Ekadashi |
| Ashaad Aashaadha Aashaadha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Aashaadh is the fourth month of the year, beginning on 22 June and ending on 22 July. The month is known as Aadi in Tamil... (आषाढ), Vaamana (June - July) |
Yogini Ekadashi | Shayani Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi or Maha-ekadashi or Prathama-ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha . Thus it is also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi... |
| Shraavana Shravan Shravan is a Sanskrit word, which literally means listening.* Shravanam is one of the nine most important angas of bhakti.Shravan Kumar belonged to the time when King Dashratha ruled Ayodhya. He was born of poor and blind parents, but they had brought him up remarkably well. He was strong healthy... (श्रावण), Sridhar (July - August) |
Kamika Ekadashi | Pavitropana Ekadashi |
| Bhadrapada (भाद्रपद), Hrisikesha (August - September) | Ananda Ekadashi | Parsva Ekadashi |
| Ashvin Ashvin Ashvin , also known as Aswayuja, is the seventh month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, the Tamil solar calendar where it is known as Aipassi and the solar India's national civil calendar. It is the sixth month of the solar Bengali calendar. It falls in the season of Shôrot, or Autumn... (अश्विन्), Padmanabha (September - October) |
Indira Ekadashi | PApankushA Paashunkushaa Ekadashi |
| Adika month (once in 2–3 years) | Parama Ekadashi | Padmini Visuddha EkAdasii |
| Kartik Kartik Kartik may refer to:* Kartika , a month in the Indian national calendar and Bengali calendar* Kartik * Karttikeya, the brother of Ganesha in the Hindu mythology... (कार्तिक), Damodara (October - November) |
Rama Ekadashi | Prabodhini Ekadashi Prabodhini Ekadashi Prabodhini Ekadashi is the 11th lunar day in the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik. It marks the end of the four-month period of Chaturmas, when god Vishnu is believed to sleep... |
| Margashirsha (Agrahayana) Agrahayana Agrahayana or Margashirsha, is a month of the Hindu calendar and Tamil calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Agrahayana is the ninth month of the year, beginning on 22 November and ending on 21 December. Since Vedic times, this month is known as Maargashirsha after the Nakshatra ... (मार्गशीर्ष), Keshava (November - December) |
Utpanna Ekadashi | Mokshada Ekadasi (Vaikuntha ekadasi Sri Rangam) |
| Pausha Pausha Pausha is a month of the Hindu calendar In the Indian national calendar, Pausha is the tenth month of the year, beginning with the solstice on 22 December and ending on 20 January.... (पौष), Naaraayana (December - January) |
Saphala Ekadashi | Putrada Ekadashi |
| Maagha Magha Magha may refer to:* Magha , a month in the Hindu calendar* Magh , the same month in the Bengali calendar* Magha , an 8th century Sanskrit poet, who wrote Shishupala-vadha... (माघ), Maadhava (January - February) |
Sat TilA Ekadashi | Bhaimi Ekadashi |
| Phalguna (फाल्गुन), Govinda (February - March) | Vaikunta Ekadasi | Amalaki Ekadashi |
Ekadashi Calculation
Ekadashi is different for Vaishnavites and Shankarites(Advaitis). Whether Ekadashi is today, yesterday or tomorrow is to be determined. (Rules need to be included here by a Panchang Karta from Dharma Sindhu and Nirnaya Sindhu).See also
- PrasadPrasadPrasād is a mental condition of generosity, as well as a material substance that is first offered to a deity and then consumed...
(see for food which can/not be offered on Ekadashi) - Vaikunta EkadashiVaikunta EkadashiVaikunta Ekadashi or Mukkoti Ekadashi is the Shukla paksha Ekadashi that occurs during the Dhanurmasa period in the Hindu calendar . Vaishnavism culture believes that ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to Lord's Inner Sanctum’ is opened on this day...
- Guruvayur EkadasiGuruvayur EkadasiEkadasi, the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight, is very auspicious to the Hindus. Of the 24 Ekadasis in a year, the Vrishchika Ekadasi has got special significance in Guruvayur. It falls in the Mandala season . The Navami and Dasami are also very important...
- Shayani EkadashiShayani EkadashiShayani Ekadashi or Maha-ekadashi or Prathama-ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha . Thus it is also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi...
External links
- Why to fast on Ekadashi - its significance. Short audio clip in Kannada
- Ekadashi Dates & its Importance Stories(Mahaatmya)
- Ekadashi Vrat Kathas in Hindi at Indif.Com
- Ekadasi - background, references, etc. (Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition)
- Vedic Calendar Program (freeware) Calculates Ekadasis (and other dates) for any location in the world.
- Pushtimarg Ekadashi Calendar
- Ekadasi Calendar by Sri Narasingha Chaitanya Matha
- Panchanga / panchangam for your city
- Ekadashi Dates & Mahatmya
- Ekadashi dates for the year
- Panchang for the world to find out ekadashi dates for your city
- Why Can't I use Indian Panchangam abroad (Ekadashi dates in Indian panchangam will differ in abroad )
- The Inner Meaning of Ekadasi by Swami TripurariSwami TripurariTripurari Swami, also known as Swami B.V. Tripurari and Swami Tripurari, is "an author, poet and guru. As a prominent master in the Gaudiya Vaishnava lineage, he is one of the leading practitioners of Bhakti-yoga in the West."-Biography:...