How to Observe Ekadashi Vratham at Home

Ekadashi vratham is the fast kept for Lord Maha Vishnu on the eleventh tithi of each paksha. It is really a three-day practice: one light sattvic meal on Dashami, a fast without grains along with Vishnu puja and nama smarana on Ekadashi, and parana at the prescribed time on Dwadashi. Families can observe it simply and devotedly at home.

What is Ekadashi and why is it important?

Each lunar month has a Shukla Paksha and a Bahula Paksha, and the eleventh tithi of each is Ekadashi. So a year usually has 24 Ekadashis, and 26 in a year with an Adhika masam. The Puranas call Ekadashi Hari Vasaram, the day dearest to Vishnu, and texts such as the Padma Purana give each Ekadashi its own name, story and glory.

Rules for Dashami, the day before

• Eat only one sattvic meal, usually at midday.
• Skip rice at night; take milk or fruit if needed.
• Avoid onion, garlic, non-vegetarian food and alcohol.
• Before sleeping, remember Vishnu and prepare your mind for the fast.

How to observe Ekadashi at home

1. Early morning: rise in Brahma muhurtam or before sunrise and bathe.
2. Sankalpam: light the deepam and resolve that you are keeping the Ekadashi vratham for the grace of Maha Vishnu.
3. Vishnu puja: offer sandal paste, flowers and tulasi to an image of Vishnu, Krishna or Venkateswara. Offer fruit and milk as naivedyam.
4. Parayana: read Vishnu Sahasranamam, the Bhagavad Gita or the katha of that Ekadashi, and chant Om Namo Narayanaya or Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
5. Fast: choose nirjala, water-only or phalahara according to your strength. Grains such as rice, wheat and dals are avoided.
6. Evening: do deeparadhana and harati, and visit a Vishnu temple if you can.
7. Night: some keep jagarana with bhajans and keertanas. This is optional; rest if you need to.

What to avoid on Ekadashi

• Rice and anything made from grains.
• Many families do not pluck tulasi on Ekadashi; pick leaves the day before.
• Anger, arguments and gossip.

How to do Dwadashi parana

The vratham is complete only with parana on Dwadashi. Bathe, offer puja and naivedyam to Vishnu, and break the fast with that prasadam. The rule is to finish parana before Dwadashi tithi ends and after the first portion of Dwadashi known as Hari Vasaram. These times change each time, so check the parana time in your local Telugu panchangam.

Start with tulasi teertham, then a light meal. Some families eat amla or agathi leaf curry on Dwadashi, and offering annadanam is considered meritorious.

The 24 Ekadashi names

These are the widely used names by the amanta months followed in the Telugu states. A few names vary by region.

In an Adhika masam year, two more Ekadashis, Padmini and Parama, are added. The Shukla Ekadashi in Dhanurmasam is celebrated specially as Vaikunta Ekadashi or Mukkoti Ekadashi.

Keeping Ekadashi together as a family

Not everyone at home needs to fast the same way. Elders may fast while children eat sattvic food and join the puja and bhajans. Listening together to Vishnu Sahasranamam or the day's katha in the evening helps children absorb the tradition naturally.

Why are Smarta and Vaishnava Ekadashi sometimes different?

Panchangams sometimes list two Ekadashi days, one for Smartas and one for Vaishnavas, because of different rules about Dashami tithi touching sunrise. Follow your family's tradition, and ask your purohit if unsure.

A note on health

The elderly, pregnant women, children, people with diabetes or other conditions, and anyone on medication should not attempt a nirjala fast. Keep the vratham with phalahara or one light meal after consulting a doctor. Devoted remembrance of Vishnu is the heart of Ekadashi.

Key points

• Ekadashi spans Dashami, Ekadashi and Dwadashi.
• On Ekadashi: no grains, Vishnu puja and nama smarana.
• Do parana before Dwadashi ends, as per the panchangam.
• There are 24 Ekadashis a year, 26 with Adhika masam.
• Those who cannot fast strictly can take phalahara with medical advice.