Ekadashi Vrat (Sri Vaishnava — Bhagavata)
Sri Maha Vishnu (Narayana) — invoked through the Ashtakshara mantra; Sri Lakshmi seva precedes every Vishnu seva in the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya
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Ekadashi — the eleventh day of each lunar paksha — is the most sacred recurring fast for every Vaishnava sampradaya. Sri Vaishnavas observe Bhagavata (shuddha) Ekadashi: when Dashami-vedha touches the tithi at sunrise, the fast is shifted to Dwadashi (called Suddha Dwadashi Vrat). Both Krishna and Shukla pakshas are observed as a complete grain-free fast, with night-vigil and Divya Prabandham parayanam, and parana on Dwadashi morning at the prescribed time.
Dates 2026–2027
Mantra
ॐ नमो नारायणाय
Om Namo Narayanaya
Salutations to Sri Narayana — the Sri Vaishnava Ashtakshara mantra (the eight-syllable mantra received at Pancha Samskaram from one's acharya), recited continuously through every Ekadashi.
How to recite
Begin sankalpa at sunrise after Suprabhatam at the home Perumal sannidhi. Apply Urdhva Pundra (the Sri Vaishnava U-shaped tilak with red Sri churna in the centre) before any worship. Recite Vishnu Sahasranama, the Tiruppavai (especially in Margazhi), and one chapter of the Tiruvaymozhi (the Tamil Veda of Sri Nammazhwar). Maintain Ashtakshara japa continuously through the day. Stay awake (jagaran) with Divya Prabandham parayanam through the night. Break the fast on Dwadashi morning at the prescribed parana time (per local Sri Vaishnava panchangam) with tulsi-charanamrita followed by curd rice (thayir sadam) — never with honey or grains alone.
Benefits
The Padma Purana states that observing all 24 Ekadashis in a year grants the punya of a thousand Ashwamedha yajnas. For Sri Vaishnavas, Ekadashi is the day Sri Maha Vishnu is most easily pleased — and the day Sri Lakshmi presents His devotees to Him directly. Ramanujacharya prescribed strict, complete Ekadashi observance as the foundation of Prapatti (surrender). Each of the 24 Ekadashis carries its own name and mahatmya — Saphala, Putrada, Shattila, Jaya, Vijaya, Amalaki, Papamochani, Kamada, Varuthini, Mohini, Apara, Nirjala, Yogini, Devshayani, Kamika, Pavitra, Aja, Parsva, Indira, Pasankusha, Rama, Prabodhini, Utpanna, Mokshada — the 24th, Mokshada, is observed as Vaikuntha Ekadashi at every divya-desam.
✦ Special Note
The dates listed are the standard Vaishnava ekadashi tithi for 2026-27. Sri Vaishnavas DO NOT follow the standard Tamil Vakya solar calendar or the North Indian Vikram Samvat alone for Ekadashi — they follow the Sri Vaishnava (Vishesha) panchangam published by their mutt or acharya: Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy, Tirumala TTD, Ahobila Mutt, Andavan Ashramam, Parakala Mutt, and others each publish authoritative Ekadashi dates. For the precise shuddha Ekadashi in your locality and the correct Dwadashi parana time, ALWAYS Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Margazhi Shukla Ekadashi), Devshayani Ekadashi (Ashadha Shukla — Chaturmas vrat begins), and Prabodhini Ekadashi (Karthik Shukla — Chaturmas ends) have their own dedicated entries in this calendar. Dates follow the SriVaishnava Calendar of Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam (andavan.org/srivaishnavacalendar/), Tenkalai convention; Vadakalai households may observe Ahobila Mutt Panchangam dates, which can differ by a day on some Ekadashi/Utsav observances.
Foods Allowed
Foods to Avoid
Meal Idea
Tulsi-charanamrita and panchamrit at sunrise after sankalpa; phalahar — fresh fruits, javvarisi payasam, sundal, panchamrit — through the day; one phalahari meal of sabudana khichdi with sendha namak in the evening; break the fast on Dwadashi morning at the panchangam-prescribed parana time with tulsi-charanamrita, then thayir sadam (curd rice).
📜 The story behind this vrat
Once the sage Narada Muni asked Lord Vishnu — "O Lord, what is the greatest vrat a devotee can observe?" Lord Vishnu replied — "Narada, of all vrats Ekadashi is the most sacred. On this day a demon named Mura hid inside grains and pulses to corrupt the minds of humans. When devotees avoid grains on Ekadashi they starve this demon and protect their soul from impurity. I am most pleased by this fast…
Read full katha ›
Once the sage Narada Muni asked Lord Vishnu — "O Lord, what is the greatest vrat a devotee can observe?" Lord Vishnu replied — "Narada, of all vrats Ekadashi is the most sacred. On this day a demon named Mura hid inside grains and pulses to corrupt the minds of humans. When devotees avoid grains on Ekadashi they starve this demon and protect their soul from impurity. I am most pleased by this fast above all others." Narada asked — "Who first observed this vrat?" Lord Vishnu smiled and said — "Long ago a demon named Mura terrorised the heavens and my realm. I fought him for a thousand years and grew weary. I rested in a cave called Badarikashram. From my own divine energy a beautiful maiden emerged — born of my exhaustion and my shakti — and while I slept she fought Mura alone and slew him. When I awoke and saw what she had done I granted her a boon. She said — Lord, give me a name and let those who fast on the day of my birth be freed from all sin. I named her Ekadashi — she who was born on the eleventh day. I blessed her thus: Whoever fasts on Ekadashi shall be freed from the cycle of birth and death. Their devotion shall reach me directly. The sins of seven lifetimes shall be washed away in a single Ekadashi fast observed with pure heart and full devotion. This is why Ekadashi is the most beloved fast among all Vaishnavas. It comes twice every lunar month — on the eleventh day of the waxing moon and the eleventh day of the waning moon. Each Ekadashi carries its own name and its own special blessing. Observe it with devotion, stay awake in prayer if you can, and Lord Vishnu himself will hold you in his heart."
Your family's version of this story may differ — all versions are sacred.
🪔 Aarti
Om Jai Jagdish Hare
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे । भक्त जनों के संकट, दास जनों के संकट, क्षण में दूर करे ॥ जो ध्यावे फल पावे, दुःख बिनसे मन का । सुख सम्पत्ति घर आवे, कष्ट मिटे तन का ॥ मात-पिता तुम मेरे, शरण गहूं मैं किसकी । तुम बिन और न दूजा, आस करूं मैं जिसकी ॥ तुम पूरन परमात्मा, तुम अंतर्यामी । पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, तुम सबके स्वामी ॥ तुम करुणा के सागर, तुम पालनकर्ता । मैं सेवक तुम स्वामी, कृपा करो भर्ता ॥ तुम हो एक अगोचर, सबके प्राणपति । किस विधि मिलूं दयामय, तुमको मैं कुमति ॥ दीनबंधु दुःखहर्ता, ठाकुर तुम मेरे । अपने हाथ उठाओ, अपनी शरण में लाओ ॥ विषय विकार मिटाओ, पाप हरो देवा । श्रद्धा भक्ति बढ़ाओ, संतन की सेवा ॥
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