According to our Puranas Ekadashi is an very auspicious day dedicated to lord vishnu on the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight in traditional Hindu calendar.It is said that Fasting on Ekadashi is considered highly auspicious and is believed to help in redemption of sins and in attaining Moksha.
In Hinduism and Jainism it is considered a spiritually beneficial day. Scriptures recommend observing an (ideally waterless) fast from sunrise on the day of Ekadashi to sunrise on the day following Ekadashi. Hindu scriptures teach that it is especially important to avoid all beans and all grains on this day because on the day of Ekadashi these two foods are contaminated by sin, one should eat only fruits and vegetables and milk products on this day . The Ekadashi day is recognized as the best of all days to fast because it is on this day of the moon phase in which the rays of the moon actually nourish the subtle nerves and feelings of the heart.
Two Ekadashis occur in one month according to positions of the moon. The progression of the moon from full moon to new moon is divided into fifteen equal arcs. Each arc measures one lunar day, called "tithi": The time it takes the moon to traverse that distance is the length of that lunar day. Ekadashi refers to the 11 tithi, or lunar day. The eleventh tithi therefore corresponds to a precise phase of the waxing and waning moon: In the bright half of the lunar month, the moon will appear roughly 3/4 full on Ekadashi, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be about 3/4 dark on Ekadashi.
Significance Of Ekadashi
Ekadasi Tithi, the eleventh lunar day (Shukla Ekadasi) and also known as Hari Vasara because it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is a day of fasting and prayers for all Hindus. One who fasts on this day is considered to become free from the malefic planetary influences, becomes happy, gains peace of mind to think of Ishvara to attain moksha. It is a day of Vishtikarana, a day of malefic influences. Vishtikarana, which coincides with the second half of Ekadasi Tithi, is avoided in all functions associated with worldly prosperity but for such celebrations the Ekadasi Tithi should not have Dasami Vedha; fasting is to be done when Vishtikarana is in duration and breaking of fast should not be done during this duration. Vishtikarana coincides with the second half of Krishna Dasami. Karana is half of a tithi. Tithi is the time taken by the Moon to travel approximately twelve degrees of space with reference to the Sun but as the motion of the Moon is irregular the duration of tithi is not constant. There are seven moveable karanas and four fixed karanas. Vishti or Bhadra is one of the moveable karanas which rotate among the other tithis beginning with the second half of Shukla Padyami. Vashishta states that Vishtikarana is appropriate for killing, binding, use of poisons, fire, arrows or instruments, cutting and use of black magic; auspicious functions pertaining to prosperity should be avoided for they will end in destruction, thus it is good for waging wars successfully. Jataka Parijata states:- निखिलजनविरोधी पापकर्मस्पवादी | परिजन परिपूज्यो विष्टिजातः स्वतन्त्रः || that one born on Vishti, will be an enemy of all, will commit evil deeds, of bad fame, independent and honoured by followers, which evil effects according to Kamalasana (cited by Lalla and supported by Brahma Siddhanta), will not be witnessed in case Vishtikaranas coinciding with the second half of a tithi are benefic in daytime and those coinciding with the second half are good at night.
| Ekadashi | Vedic Months | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Putrada/Vaikunth Ekadashi | Paush Shukla Paksh | 11th January |
| Shat Tila Ekadashi | Magha Krishna Paksh | 27th January |
| Jaya Ekadashi | Magha Shukla Paksh | 10th February |
| Vijaya Ekadashi | Phalgun Krishna Paksh | 26th February |
| Amalaki Ekadashi | Phalgun Shukla Paksh | 12th March |
| Papamochani Ekadashi | Chaitra Krishna Paksh | 27th March |
| Kamada Ekadashi | Chaitra Shukla Paksh | 11th April |
| Varuthini Ekadashi | Vaisakh Krishna Paksh | 25th April |
| Mohini/LakshmiNarayan Ekadashi | Vaisakh Shukla Paksh | 10th May |
| Apara/Jalkrida Ekadashi | Jyeshtha Krishna Paksh | 24th May |
| Nirjala/Bheem Ekadashi | Jyeshtha Shukla Paksh | 9th June |
| Yogini Ekadashi | Ashaad Krishna Paksh | 23rd June |
| Devshayani Ekadashi | Ashaad Shukla Paksh | 9th July |
| Kamika Ekadashi | Shravan Krishna Paksh | 22nd July |
| Putrada /Pavitra Ekadashi | Shravan Shukla Paksh | 7th August |
| Aja Ekadashi | Bhadrapad Krishna Paksh | 21st August |
| Padma / Parivartini Ekadashi | Bhadrapad Shukla Paksh | 5th September |
| Indira Ekadashi | Ashwin Krishna Paksh | 19th September |
| Paashankusha/ Paapaankusha Ekadashi | Ashwin Shukla Paksh | 5th October |
| Rama Ekadashi | Kartik Krishna Paksh | 19th October |
| Devuthi/ Prabodhini Ekadashi | Kartik Shukla Paksh | 3rd November |
| Utpatti Ekadashi | Margasirsha KrishnaPaksh | 18th November |
| Mokshada/ Vaikunth/ Mouni Ekadashi | Margasirsha Shukla Paksh | 2nd December |
| Safala Ekadashi | Paush Krishna Paksh | 18th December |
| Kamala Ekadashi | Purushottam Shukla Paksh |
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