Varuthini Ekadashi | Hari Vasara

Ekadashi is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is also called Hari Vasara, Ekadashi means eleven, which means eleventh of the fifteen-day lunar month and is the most important fast in Hindu tradition. There are two Ekadashi fasting in a month one during Shukla Paksha and another during Krishna Paksha.

Hindus consider it a spiritual day and only fruits, vegetables, and milk products are consumed during the fast. This period of abstinence runs from sunrise on the day of Ekādaśī to sunrise on the following day.

Varuthini Ekadasi falls on the 11th lunar day of the fortnight of the waning moon in the Hindu month of Chaitra or Vaishakha and falls in April or May. On Varuthini Ekadashi particularly the fifth avatar of Lord Vishnu Vamana is worshipped.

The greatness of Varuthini Ekadashi is narrated by the god Krishna to King Yudhishthira in the Bhavishya Purana. The Ekadashi will turn a lame person to walk normally, an unfortunate woman into a lucky one, an animal would be released from its cycle of birth and death. King Mandata was enlightened. The Ikshvaku king Dhundhumara was freed was from a curse by the god Shiva. All human beings are assured of prosperity in this life and the next. In the order of donations made on this day, the order of superior benefits are derived in the ascending order of benefits given namely, a horse, an elephant, land, sesame seeds, food grains, gold, giving a daughter in charity, and cows and finally the highest benefit would be achieved by sharing one’s knowledge with others. All such charitable actions would please one’s ancestors, the gods, and all living entities