Apara Ekadashi

Vrata (Fasting, Penance)

Not a public holiday, but a significant religious observance, especially among Vaishnavites.

One day (the duration of the Ekadashi tithi), with the fast being broken on the following day (Dwadashi) during the Parana period.

Observed to cleanse sins, attain liberation (moksha), and receive boundless merits. It is believed to remove the sins of past lives and free one from the cycle of birth and death. The word 'Apara' means immeasurable or boundless, signifying the immense spiritual benefits.

Key Rituals & Practices

Strict fasting (Nirjala Vrata - no food or water, or partial fasting with fruits and water/milk depending on one's capacity and health).

Worship of Lord Vishnu, often with offerings of flowers, incense, lamps, and fruits.

Chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama or Vishnu mantras ('Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya').

Reciting or listening to the glories of Apara Ekadashi (Vrata Katha), which are often found in Puranic texts.

Reading sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam.

Staying awake overnight (Jagran) in prayer and meditation, avoiding sleep.

Performing acts of charity (donating food, clothes, or money to the needy) on Dwadashi (the day after Ekadashi) after breaking the fast.

Associated Deities

Lord Vishnu

Hindu Calendar Details

Hindu Month

Jyeshtha

Paksha

Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight)

Tithi

Ekadashi (11th lunar day)

Historical & Mythological Context

The glory of Apara Ekadashi is narrated in ancient Hindu scriptures, particularly in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana. One popular mythological account associated with Apara Ekadashi involves King Mahidhwaj. His younger brother, Vajradhwaj, treacherously killed him and took over the kingdom. Mahidhwaj, due to his unceremonious death, became a ghostly spirit (Pishacha) residing on a tree. A pious sage named Dhaumya Muni, while passing by, recognized the spirit and, through his spiritual insight, understood the cause of its suffering. The sage then guided the spirit to perform the Apara Ekadashi Vrata. By observing the fast and rituals with devotion, the spirit of King Mahidhwaj was liberated from its ghostly existence and ascended to Vaikuntha, Lord Vishnu's celestial abode. This story emphasizes the immense power of Apara Ekadashi in absolving even grave sins and granting liberation from suffering.

Alternative Names

Achala Ekadashi

Jyeshtha Krishna Paksha Ekadashi

Gregorian Date

Varies annually, typically falls in May or June.