'Ek?da??' (ek?hda??, "Eleven") Sanskrit: ??????, Tamil: ??????, Bengali: ??????, Telugu: ??????, Malayalam: ?????? also spelled as Ekadasi, is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of each of the two lunar phases which occur in a Hindu calendar month - the Sukla Paksha (the period of the brightening moon also known as the waxing phase) and the Krishna Paksha (the period of the fading moon also known as the waning phase).
In Hinduism and Jainism, Ek?da?? is considered a spiritual day and is usually observed by partial fast. Beans and grains are not consumed by observant people during because they are believed to be contaminated by sin. Instead, only fruit, vegetables, and milk products are eaten. This period of abstinence starts from sunrise on the day of Ek?da?? to sunset on the following day.
Hindu rules state that anyone between the ages of eight years and eighty years should fast, including forgoing water. However, people who are sick, have health issues, or are pregnant are exempt from the rule and may consume light food including milk and fruits.
The timing of each Ek?da?? is according to the position of the moon. The Hindu 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. Ek?da?? 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 Ek?da??, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be about 3/4 dark on Ek?da??.
There are usually 24 Ek?da??s in a calendar year. Occasionally, there are two extra Ek?da??s that happen in a leap year. Each Ek?da?? day is purported to have particular benefits and blessings that are attained by the performance of specific activities.
Bhagavata Purana (sk. IX, adhy. 4) notes the observation of Ek?da?? by Ambarisha, a devotee of Lord Vishnu.
Video Ekadashi
List of Ek?da??s
The table below describes the Ek?da??s and when they fall in the year.
Maps Ekadashi
Calculation
Ek?da?? is different for Vaishnavites and Smarthas. According to Kala Prakashika, a Jyotish text discussing auspicious times for beginning an activity ("Muhurta"), the Ek?da?? 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 Ek?da??. If the tenth day is incomplete at 96 minutes before sunrise, but still continues to be Dashimi sometime during that day, then the Ek?da?? fast is performed on the following day. (Rules need to be included here by a Panchang Karta from Dharma Sindhu and Nirnaya Sindhu.)
Significance
Ek?da?? Tithi, the eleventh lunar day (Shukla Ek?da??), 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 Ek?da?? Tithi and is avoided for all functions associated with worldly prosperity but for such celebrations, Ek?da?? 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"
See also
- Guruvayur Ekadasi
- Prasad (see for food which can/not be offered on Ek?da??)
Notes
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.
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