Festival

Ekadashi

एकादशीEkādaśī

verses
1,124
books
20
chapters
342

What the texts say

In the Padma Purana, Ekadashi (Ekādaśī), the eleventh lunar day, is beloved of Vishnu. Padma Purana 6.38.105 The same Purana directs devotees to fast on it and keep vigil through the night, worshipping Vishnu. Padma Purana 1.23.33, 6.37.7 Another chapter says that even a sixteenth part of merit cannot equal a single fraction of the Ekadashi fast, so powerful is it in destroying human sin. Padma Purana 3.31.156 The Narada Purana adds that one takes a single meal on the tenth day and on the twelfth, and stays without food on Ekadashi, if one seeks liberation. Narada Purana 1.1.23.7

Where to read

Every verse that names Ekadashi, book by book.

  1. Padma Purana

    551 verses · 104 chapters

    All 551 verses in the Padma Purana
    • 6.38.3

      Śiva said: “O Brahman, this Ekādaśī bestows the fruit of great merit. When it is conjoined with auspicious lunar-asterism alignments (ṛkṣa-yogas), it should be duly observed by the foremost of sages.”

    • 1.20.110

      The vow called Vaiśvānara is said to destroy all sins. On the eleventh lunar day, one who eats only at night and offers a cakra (disc) as an offering [observes it].

    • 1.21.24

      Facing north or facing east, and after first cleansing the teeth, on Ekādaśī one should remain without food and duly worship Keśava (Viṣṇu).

  2. Skanda Purana

    216 verses · 111 chapters

    All 216 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 1.1.5.139

      Having performed the worship properly, with an array of many jewels and ritual requisites, and furnished with the fivefold offerings—also duly observing the Ekādaśī (vow/observance).

    • 1.1.18.17

      “One should eat upon a plantain (banana) leaf, avoiding salt. And on Ekādaśī one should carefully observe a fast.”

    • 1.1.33.81

      The Daśamī tithi should be known as belonging to Brahmā; the Ekādaśī likewise to Rudra. The Dvādaśī is dear to Viṣṇu, and the Trayodaśī belongs to Antaka (Death).

  3. Narada Purana

    214 verses · 39 chapters

    All 214 verses in the Narada Purana
    • 1.1.5.74

      Those who are devoted to giving drinking-water, who likewise delight in giving food, and who are steadfast in the vow of Ekādaśī—such people are indeed the foremost among the devotees of Bhagavān.

    • 1.1.13.37

      Whoever performs a bath with the pañcāmṛta on Ekādaśī attains union (sāyujya) with Lord Viṣṇu; and along with hundreds of thousands of members of his lineage, he becomes blessed with that attainment.

    • 1.1.19.8

      Observing Ekādaśī and maintaining celibacy, remembering Nārāyaṇa even in sleep, the purified brāhmaṇa—clad in clean, washed garments—should remain in the presence of Nārāyaṇa.

  4. Garuda Purana

    36 verses · 17 chapters

    All 36 verses in the Garuda Purana
    • 1.52.21

      One who, on Ekādaśī, fasts without food and duly worships Janārdana is, on the Dvādaśī of the bright fortnight, released from even great sins.

    • 1.59.30

      Even among the new-moon days, the Amāvāsyā that falls on a Thursday is considered the most excellent. The Sun ‘burns’ (spoils) the Dvādaśī, and the Moon likewise ‘burns’ (spoils) the Ekādaśī.

    • 1.121.1

      Chapter (named) the one-hundred-and-twenty-first. Brahmā said: “I shall describe the Cāturmāsya observances. One should undertake them on Ekādaśī—either on the full-moon day of Āṣāḍha—and worship Hari with complete devotion.”

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Ekadashi matters most.

  1. Origin of Ekādaśī and the Slaying of Mura; Greatness of Mahādvādaśī and Ekādaśī Rules

    Padma Purana 6.38 · 46 verses

    protagonist

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q1196722