Ekādaśīएकादशी(Ekadashi)
The eleventh tithi; devatā Viśvedevas, Nandā-class, classical register of fasting and Viṣṇu-devotion.
Ekādaśī
Ekādaśī (एकादशी, also written Ekadashi) is the eleventh of the thirty tithis, occurring in both Śukla-pakṣa and Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa. Its presiding devatā is Viṣṇu — and of all the tithis in the lunar month, Ekādaśī carries the most extensive classical vrata tradition: the fortnightly Ekādaśī vrata is observed by Vaiṣṇavas worldwide as a day of fasting, scriptural reading, and devotional practice. In the five-class auspiciousness scheme of the Muhūrta Cintāmaṇi, Ekādaśī belongs to the Nandā class (tithis 1, 6, 11) — the joyous, prosperity-oriented register — though the vrata register adds a quality of austere observance that distinguishes Ekādaśī from its Nandā peers.
Classical grounding
Muhūrta Cintāmaṇi and the Nirṇaya Sindhu identify Viṣṇu as Ekādaśī's devatā. The Padma Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Purāṇa, and Bhāgavata Purāṇa preserve the extensive Ekādaśī-vrata tradition, with specific named Ekādaśīs for each of the twenty-four fortnights of the solar year — Utpanna Ekādaśī (Mārgaśīrṣa-Kṛṣṇa), Vaikuṇṭha Ekādaśī (Mārgaśīrṣa-Śukla or Pauṣa-Śukla depending on tradition), Devaśayanī Ekādaśī (Āṣāḍha-Śukla) and Devotthāna Ekādaśī (Kārtika-Śukla) marking Viṣṇu's classical four-month yoga-slumber, Nirjalā Ekādaśī (Jyeṣṭha-Śukla), Mokṣadā Ekādaśī (Mārgaśīrṣa- Śukla), and many others. Each named Ekādaśī carries a specific classical fruit (phala) attributed in the Puranic texts.
Significations
What Ekādaśī classically governs:
- The fortnightly Vaiṣṇava vrata observance — classically observed by fasting from grains (often with specific regional variations on what foods are permitted), scriptural reading of Viṣṇu Sahasranāma or Bhagavad-Gītā, and kīrtana
- Scriptural study and devotional reading, particularly Vaiṣṇava texts
- Charity and dāna observances where a Vaiṣṇava register is appropriate
- Classical avoidance of sleep during Ekādaśī by strict observers — the jāgaraṇa (keeping vigil) tradition
- Beginnings of long-duration spiritual practice where a Viṣṇu- invocation is the opening
- Initiations into Vaiṣṇava lineages where possible; classical muhūrta favours Ekādaśī for initiations of this kind
Pakṣa-level reading
In Śukla-pakṣa, Ekādaśī carries the waxing register and several of the most significant annual Ekādaśī observances fall in this pakṣa — Devaśayanī, Devotthāna, Vaikuṇṭha, Mokṣadā, and the Nirjalā (waterless) Ekādaśī. The Śukla-Ekādaśī half-tithis carry Vaṇij and Viṣṭi — and the Viṣṭi (Bhadrā karaṇa, distinct from the Bhadrā-class tithi naming) in the second half introduces muhūrta caution for that window. In Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa, Ekādaśī carries the waning register and hosts Utpanna Ekādaśī as the classical "origin of Ekādaśī observance" day. The Kṛṣṇa-Ekādaśī half-tithis carry the movable karaṇas Bava and Bālava, both generally favourable. The vrata is classically observed in both pakṣas with equal weight — Ekādaśī's vrata register does not differentiate strongly between waxing and waning manifestations.
Muhūrta-relevance
Ekādaśī is classically the most significant vrata-tithi in the Vaiṣṇava observance calendar. For general muhūrta work outside the vrata register, Ekādaśī is favourable (Nandā class). The tithi is read alongside vāra — Ekādaśī on Bṛhaspativāra (Thursday, ruled by Guru, classically associated with Vaiṣṇava practice) is a classically reinforced combination for Ekādaśī vrata observance. The pāraṇa (breaking of the fast) is performed on Dvādaśī within the classically prescribed window — a detail that links Ekādaśī directly to Dvādaśī in every observance cycle.