Ekadashi Vrat - Year 2023
Ekadashi ("Eleventh"), also spelled as Ēkādaśi (एकादशी → एक + दशम्), is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of each of the two lunar phases which occur in an vedic calendar month - the Shukla Pakṣa or Shukla Paksha (शुक्ल पक्ष) (the period of the brightening moon also known as the waxing phase) and the Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa or Krishna Paksha (कृष्ण पक्ष) (the period of the fading moon also known as the waning phase). It is according to the Vedic medical texts of Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद) and is mentioned in detail in many original treatises such as Charaka Samhita (चरक सहिंता) and Susruta Samhita (सुश्रुत संहिता).
Ekadashi occurs on the 11th day of each period (twice a month) when we keep fast and pray Lord Vishnu. It is tradition in Hindu religion to observe fast on this day and is considered a holy and auspicious day.
In Hinduism and Jainism it is considered a spiritual day and is usually observed by a partial fast. Only fruit, vegetables, and milk products are eaten during Ekadashi. This period of abstinence runs from sunrise on the day of Ekadashi to sunrise on the following day.
There are 2 ekadashi's in each month plus 5 additional Vrats (व्रत) that must be taken which means there is a total of 29 Vrats in a year which must be taken. They are as follows:
Because spiritual vibrations are heightened on this day with the particular configuration of moon and earth, it is considered beneficial also to keep silence, turn inwards and intensify one's meditation and other spiritual practices.
| वैदिक मास | पालक देवता | शुक्लपक्ष एकादशी | कृष्णपक्ष एकादशी |
| चैत्र (मार्च-अप्रैल) | विष्णु | कामदा | वरूथिनी |
| वैशाख (अप्रैल-मई) | मधुसूदन | मोहिनी | अपरा |
| ज्येष्ठ (मई-जून) | त्रिविक्रम | निर्जला | योगिनी |
| आषाढ़ (जून-जुलाई) | वामन | देवशयनी | कामिका |
| श्रावण (जुलाई-अगस्त) | श्रीधर | पुत्रदा | अजा |
| भाद्रपद (अगस्त-सितंबर) | हृशीकेश | परिवर्तिनी | इंदिरा |
| आश्विन (सितंबर-अक्टूबर) | पद्मनाभ | पापांकुशा | रमा |
| कार्तिक (अक्टूबर-नवंबर) | दामोदर | प्रबोधिनी | उत्पन्ना |
| मार्गशीर्ष (नवंबर-दिसम्बर) | केशव | मोक्षदा | सफला |
| पौष (दिसम्बर-जनवरी) | नारायण | पुत्रदा | षटतिला |
| माघ (जनवरी-फरवरी) | माधव | जया | विजया |
| फाल्गुन (फरवरी-मार्च) | गोविंद | आमलकी | पापमोचिनी |
| अधिक (3 वर्ष में एक बार) | पुरुषोत्तम | पद्मिनी | परमा |
List of Ekadashi in the year 2023
January 2023
Putrada Ekadashi (पुत्रदा एकादशी) - Jan 2nd, 2023
Shattila Ekadashi (षटतिला एकादशी) - Jan 18th, 2023
February 2023
Jaya Ekadashi (जया एकादशी) - Feb 1st, 2023
Vijaya Ekadashi (विजया एकादशी) - Feb 16th, 2023
March 2023
Amalaki Ekadashi (आमलकी एकादशी) - Mar 3rd, 2023
Papmochani Ekadashi (पापमोचिनी एकादशी) - Mar 18th, 2023
April 2023
Kamada Ekadashi (कामदा एकादशी) - Apr 1st, 2023
Varuthini Ekadashi (वरूथिनी एकादशी) - Apr 16th, 2023
May 2023
Mohini Ekadashi (मोहिनी एकादशी) - May 1st, 2023
Apara Ekadashi (अपरा एकादशी) - May 15th, 2023
Nirjala Ekadashi (निर्जला एकादशी) - May 31st, 2023
June 2023
Yogini Ekadashi (योगिनी एकादशी) - Jun 14th, 2023
Devshayani Ekadashi (देवशयनी एकादशी) - Jun 29th, 2023
July 2023
Kamika Ekadashi (कामिका एकादशी) - Jul 13th, 2023
August 2023
Shravana Putrada Ekadashi (पुत्रदा एकादशी) - Aug 27th, 2023
September 2023
Aja Ekadashi (अजा एकादशी) - Sep 10th, 2023
Parsva Ekadashi (पार्श्व एकादशी) - Sep 25th, 2023
October 2023
Indira Ekadashi (इंदिरा एकादशी) - Oct 10th, 2023
Papankusha Ekadashi (पापांकुशा एकादशी) - Oct 25th, 2023
November 2023
Rama Ekadashi (रमा एकादशी) - Nov 9th, 2023
Devutthana Ekadashi (देवउठनी एकादशी) - Nov 23rd, 2023
Guruvayur Ekadashi (गुरुवायुर एकादशी) - Nov 23rd, 2023
December 2023
Utpanna Ekadashi (उत्पन्ना एकादशी) - Dec 8th, 2023
Mokshada Ekadashi (मोक्षदा एकादशी) - Dec 22nd, 2023
Science behind Ekadashi
According to scriptures, fasting helps create a harmonius relationship between the body and soul. There is a control over our mind, senses and desires. Meditation reins the mind.
The influence of the phases of the moon has an effect on our body and mind since our body is made up of fluids, so ancient hindu scientists recommended fasting and meditation based on the moon cycle, such as on ekadashi.
Fasting is like servicing our body as in car service. When we don’t consume cereals and pulses, it does not strain our digestive system. It causes a natural slow down of the system. The fruits and water flushes out the toxins from our body and empowers our body with more strength.
The ekadashi fast is broken the next lunar day( dvadashi) by partaking nourishing herbs and fruits. Nellikkai( gooseberry), agatti keerai(leaves of humming bird) acts as a toning agent on our digestive tract and sundakkai(turkey berry) removes the remaining toxins.
So again, there is a scientific reasoning behind ekadashi, thanks to our ancestors who have designed such beautiful practices by weaving science, health and leisure.