Ekadashi: the fast that comes twice a month

What Ekadashi is

The eleventh tithi of each fortnight of the lunar month is Ekadashi: one in the bright fortnight (waxing moon) and one in the dark fortnight (waning moon). So there are 24 Ekadashis in a year, and 26 in a year with an adhika (extra) month. Tradition holds it as Vishnu's fast: giving up grain, with fruit and milk or a simple fruit meal, remembrance of his name and worship.

Muhurta Chintamani, listing the lords of the tithis, gives the Vishvedevas for Ekadashi and Hari for Dvadashi, and counts Ekadashi among the Nanda tithis. A fast on Ekadashi and its breaking on Hari's tithi, Dvadashi: the pair is built into the vrat itself.

Smarta and Vaishnava: two rules, sometimes two days

Shastra (Dharmasindhu): those who keep the Ekadashi fast are of two kinds, Smarta and Vaishnava, and the ‘vedha’ (touch of Dashami) is checked differently for each:

• Smarta: if even a little Dashami is present at sunrise, the Ekadashi counts as ‘viddha’ (touched by Dashami).
• Vaishnava: if Dashami is present at arunodaya (four ghatis, about 96 minutes, before sunrise), the Ekadashi counts as viddha, and the fast moves to the next day (Dvadashi).

From this our calendar fixes the day like this:

In most fortnights both give the same day; in some the Vaishnava Ekadashi is a day later. Then we show both days separately.

Which day should I keep?

Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the larger digests say those with Vaishnava initiation are Vaishnavas and the rest Smartas, but Dharmasindhu notes that elders accept being Vaishnava or Smarta as known from one's own family line, and that this is what is followed everywhere.

So, simply: follow your family's tradition. Those initiated into a Vaishnava sampradaya (such as ISKCON, Vallabha, Ramanandi or Madhva) usually keep the Vaishnava day; many other householders keep the Smarta day. Both traditions are old and respected; there is no need to call either wrong.

The year's 24 Ekadashis (tradition)

Each Ekadashi has its own name, carried by the panchang tradition (we did not find this full list in our library's texts, so take it as tradition; some names vary by region):

In an adhika month: Padmini (Shukla) and Parama (Krishna). In amanta panchangs the Krishna Ekadashi is written under the previous month's name; the Ekadashi is the same, only the month label changes.

Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the text calls Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi Nirjala (waterless). But a fast without water is not right for everyone; see the health section below.

The fast and the parana

Tradition: on Ekadashi grain, especially rice, is not eaten; a fruit meal is taken instead, such as fruit, milk, nuts, sabudana, water chestnut or buckwheat. Many eat one fruit meal; some only fruit and milk. In the evening, Vishnu puja, a lamp, tulsi, and ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ or the Vishnu Sahasranama.

Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the parana (breaking the fast) is done the next day within the Dvadashi. If the Dvadashi is long, the parana is after its first quarter (‘Harivasara’). The exact window depends on your city's sunrise, so see the panchang. The custom is to break the fast with simple food and a tulsi leaf.

Health: lighter forms are in the text itself

Fasting and health: keep the fast as your health allows. With diabetes, blood pressure, pregnancy, breastfeeding, older age, if you are unwell, or on regular medicine, choose a lighter form (fruit, milk, or one simple meal), or ask your doctor first. Don't change medicine timings. For health, the doctor comes first; no vrat replaces that.

Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the text itself says those who cannot fully fast may resolve, as their strength allows, to take only water, only milk, a fruit meal, or one meal at night (nakta). And the text gives the age for the Ekadashi vrat as eight to eighty years; so it is simply not meant for small children.

A waterless (nirjala) fast is not right for everyone; with diabetes blood sugar can drop, in the heat dehydration can set in, and in pregnancy it can do harm. Then choose a form with water, fruit or milk. If you feel dizzy, anxious or weak, break the fast. With a fast twice a month, keep up balanced meals and water on the days between.

In ePandit

In ePandit: our calendar shows the Ekadashi day with your city's sunrise and sunset. The day is decided once, for Ujjain; when the Smarta and Vaishnava days differ, both are shown separately. We don't compute muhurta yet, and we never call a vrat good or bad for anyone.

Frequently asked questions