>Tom.Reding at 21:13, 7 June 2021

2021-06-07T21:13:56Z

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{{More citations needed|date=April 2015}}
[[File:Ekadashi Lunch.jpg|thumb|Typical lunch eaten on an important fasting day like Aashadhi Ekadashi in Maharashtra]]

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
'''Ēkādaśī''' ("Eleventh"), also spelled as '''Ēkādaśi''', is the eleventh [[lunar day]] (''[[tithi]]'') of each of the two [[lunar phase]]s which occur in an [[Hindu calendar|vedic calendar]] month<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is Ekadashi? Its types, benefits of Ekadashi fast and foods to be eaten - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/what-is-ekadashi-its-types-benefits-of-ekadashi-fast-and-foods-to-be-eaten/articleshow/76996495.cms|access-date=2021-04-20|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> - the ''[[Shukla Paksha|Shukla Pakṣa]]'' (the period of the brightening moon also known as the waxing phase) and the ''Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa'' (the period of the fading moon also known as [[waning|the waning]] phase)<ref>{{cite web |title=Ekadasi: Why Ekadasi is celebrated in Hinduism?-by Dr Bharti Raizada|date=22 May 2017|website=NewsGram |url=https://www.newsgram.com/ekadasi-importance-hinduism/}}</ref> It{{clarify|date=December 2020}} is according to the Vedic medical texts of [[Ayurveda]] and is mentioned in detail in many original treatises such as [[Charaka Samhita]] and [[Susruta Samhita]].

In Nepal and India, '''Ekādaśī''' is considered a day to cleanse the body, aid repair and rejuvenation and is usually observed by partial or complete [[fasting|fast]]. High [[protein]] and [[carbohydrate]]-containing foods such as beans and grains are not consumed by observant people during the fast as it is a day to cleanse the body. Instead, only fruit, vegetables, and milk products are eaten. This period of abstinence starts from sunrise on the day of Ekādaśī to sunrise on the following day. Rice is not eaten on Ekadashi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/books-culture-scientific-explanation-why-you-shouldn-t-have-rice-on-ekadashi-31st-october-2017-409380|title=Scientific Explanation: Why you shouldn't have rice on Ekadashi, 31st October 2017|last=Singh|first=Shalu|date=2017-10-31|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref>

The timing of each Ekādaśī is according to the position of the moon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ekadashi.net/|title=Ekadashi Dates & Fast Breaking Times (Parana) for 2018 - Ekadashi Katha - Ekadashi Svarupa Darsana|website=Ekadashi Svarupa Darsana|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-30}}</ref> The Indian calendar marks progression from a full moon to a new moon as divided into fifteen equal arcs. Each arc measures one lunar day, called a ''tithi''. The time it takes the moon to traverse a particular distance is the length of that lunar day. Ekādaśī refers to the 11th ''tithi'', or lunar day. The eleventh ''tithi'' 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 Ekādaśī, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be about 3/4 dark on Ekādaśī.<ref>List of All Ekadashi: https://www.bhaktibharat.com/festival/ekadashi</ref>

There are usually 24 Ekādaśīs in a calendar year. Occasionally, there are two extra Ekādaśīs that happen in a leap year. Each Ekādaśī day is purported to have particular benefits that are attained by the performance of specific activities.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goswami |first1=Danvir |last2=Das |first2=Kushakrita |date=2010 |title=Sri Garga Samhita |publisher=Rupanuga Vedic College Publishing}}</ref>

[[Bhagavata Purana]] (skandha IX, adhyaay 4) notes the observation of Ekādaśī by [[Ambarisha]], a devotee of Lord [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{cite book |last= Prabhupada |first= Bhaktivedanta Swami|author-link= Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada|date= 1995 |title= Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto Nine |location= |publisher= The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust |pages= 85–170 |isbn= 978-81-8957491-8}}</ref>

==List of ekadashi ==
The table below describes the Ekādaśīs and when they fall in the year.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! The Vedic lunar month !! Presiding deity !! [[Krishna paksha]] Ekadashi name !! [[Shukla paksha]] Ekadashi name
|-
| [[Chaitra]] (चैत्र, March–April) ||Ram [[Vishnu]]|| Papavimocani Ekadashi || [[Kamada Ekadashi]]
|-
| [[Vaisakha]] (वैशाख, April–May ) || Madhusudana ([[Vishnu]]) ||[[Varuthini Ekadashi]] || Mohini Ekadashi
|-
| [[Jyeshtha|Jyeshta]] (ज्येष्ठ, May–June) || Trivikrama ([[Vishnu]]) || Apara Ekadashi || [[Nirjala Ekadashi]]
|-
| [[Aashaadha|Ashaad]] (आषाढ, June–July) ||[[Vamana|Vaamana]]|| Yogini Ekadashi || [[Shayani Ekadashi]]
|-
| [[Shravan|Shraavana]] (श्राव=90ण, July–August) || Sridhar || Kamika Ekadashi || [[Shravana Putrada Ekadashi]]
|-
| [[Bhadrapada]]<br>(भाद्रपद, August–September) || Hrisikesha ([[Vishnu]])<ref>{{Cite book|last=N.A|first=|url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12961|title=The Skanda-Purana Part 1|date=1950|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers| location=Delhi|year=|isbn=|pages=154 (18.31–32)}}</ref>|| Annada Ekadashi || Parsva Ekadashi
|-
| [[Ashvin]] (अश्विन्, September–October) || Padmanabha || Indira Ekadashi<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/events/indira-ekadashi-2019-date-times-puja-vidhi-shubh-mahurat-and-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/71277619.cms|title=Indira Ekadashi 2019: Date, Times, Puja Vidhi, Shubh Mahurat and all you need to know - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref>|| Pasankusa Ekadashi
|-
| [[Kartika (month)|Kartik]] (कार्तिक, October–November) || Damodara || Rama Ekadashi<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://khabar.ndtv.com/news/faith/rama-ekadashi-2019-date-time-siginificance-shubh-muhurat-puja-vidhi-vrat-katha-and-lakshmi-puja-2121181|title=Rama Ekadashi 2019: आज है रमा एकादशी, जानिए शुभ मुहूर्त, पूजा विधि, व्रत कथा और महत्‍व|last=|first=|date=|website=NDTVIndia|trans-title=Rama Ekadashi 2019- Date, Time, Siginificance, Auspicious Time, Puja Vidhi, Vrat Katha and Lakshmi-Puja|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref>||[[Prabodhini Ekadashi]]
|-
| [[Agrahayana|Margashirsha(Agrahayana)]]<br>(मार्गशीर्ष, November–December) || Keshava || Utpanna Ekadashi || [[Mokshada Ekadashi]] / [[Vaikunta Ekadashi]]
|-
| [[Pausha]] (पौष, December–January) ||[[Narayana|Naaraayana]] (Vishnu/Krishna) || Saphala Ekadashi || [[Pausha Putrada Ekadashi]] / [[Vaikunta Ekadashi]]
|-
| [[Magha (month)|Maagha]] (माघ, January–February) || Maadhava || Shat Tila Ekadashi || Bhaimi Ekadashi / Jaya Ekadashi
|-
| [[Phalgun]]a (फाल्गुन, February–March) ||[[Govinda]] ([[Krishna]]) || Vijaya Ekadashi || [[Amalaki Ekadashi]]
|-
| Adhika month<br>(अधिक, once in 2–3 years) ||[[Adhik Maas|Purushottama]]|| Padmini Visuddha Ekadashi || Paramaa Shuddha Ekadashi
|}

==Calculation==
Ekādaśī is different for Vaishnavites and [[Smarta Tradition|Smarthas]]. According to Kala Prakashika, a Jyotish text discussing auspicious times for beginning an activity ("Muhurta"), the Ekādaśī fast is performed on a day which is not touched or ruined by any influence of the tenth tithi or lunar day. The cut-off time is 96 minutes before sunrise. If the tenth day completes just 96 minutes before sunrise, then that day is celebrated as Ekādaśī. If the tenth day is incomplete at 96 minutes before sunrise, but still continues to be Dashimi sometime during that day, then the Ekādaśī fast is performed on the following day. (Rules need to be included here by a Panchang Karta from Dharma Sindhu and Nirnaya Sindhu.)

==Significance==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
Ekādaśī Tithi, the eleventh lunar day (Shukla Ekādaśī), also known as Hari Vasara because it is dedicated to Lord [[Vishnu]], is a day of fasting and prayers for all [[Hindus]]. Those who fast on this day are considered to get rid of malefic planetary influences, experience happiness, and gain the right peace of mind to think of [[Ishvara]] and attain [[moksha]]. It is a day of Vishtikarana, a day of malefic influences. Vishtikarana coincides with the second half of Ekādaśī Tithi and is avoided for all functions associated with worldly prosperity but for such celebrations, Ekādaśī Tithi should not have Dasami Vedha. Fasting should be done during Vishtikarana but the fast should not be broken during this. 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 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.

==Mantra==
The Vishnu mantra chanted on this day is:
''"Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya"''

Hare Krishna maha-mantra to chant 108 times: ''"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
or
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare"''<ref>[https://realbahubali.blogspot.com/2017/11/what-is-ekadashi-implies-ashadi-significance.html About Things you must do on Ekadashi]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Guruvayur Ekadasi]]
* [[Prasad]] (see for food which can/not be offered on Ekādaśī){{Clarify|date=June 2012|post-text=Link exact section}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

[https://www.hindirasayan.com/religion/worship/vrat-festivals/ekadashi/know-about-ekadashi-vrat-19646 About Ekadashi Vrat: Ekadashi Vrat Vidhi-Niyam and Vrat Bhojan]

==References==
*Gangadharan, N., ''Agni Purana'', New Delhi: Motilala Banarsidass, 1985, Chapter 178.
*Iyer, N.P. Subramania, Kalaprakasika: ''The standard book on the election (mahoortha) system: with the original text in Devanagari and English translation'', New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1982.

{{Tithi}}
{{HinduFestivals}}
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[[Category:Days of the Hindu calendar|11]]
[[Category:Hindu calendar]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:Hindu holy days]]
[[Category:Vrata]]

Ekadashi - Revision history

>Tom.Reding at 21:13, 7 June 2021