Ekadashi Vrat (Ramanandi)

Bhagavan Sri Ram (Vishnu) — fasting on Ekadashi pleases Vishnu in the form of Hari

Ramanandi

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Ekadashi — the eleventh day of each lunar paksha — is the most sacred recurring fast for every Vaishnava sampradaya. The Ramanandis observe both pakshas (Krishna and Shukla) as a complete grain-free fast. The 24 Ekadashis of the year carry distinct names and kathas, but the core practice — sankalpa, no grain, Sita-Ram naam, jagaran (night vigil), and Dwadashi-morning paaran — is identical.

Dates 2026–2027

May 13, 2026May 27, 2026June 11, 2026June 25, 2026July 11, 2026July 25, 2026August 9, 2026August 24, 2026September 7, 2026September 22, 2026October 6, 2026October 22, 2026November 5, 2026November 21, 2026December 4, 2026December 20, 2026January 3, 2027January 19, 2027February 2, 2027February 17, 2027March 4, 2027March 18, 2027April 2, 2027April 17, 2027May 2, 2027May 16, 2027June 1, 2027June 14, 2027June 30, 2027July 14, 2027July 30, 2027August 12, 2027August 28, 2027September 11, 2027September 26, 2027October 11, 2027October 26, 2027November 10, 2027November 24, 2027December 9, 2027

Mantra

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Salutations to Bhagavan Vasudeva (Vishnu / Sri Ram) — the universal twelve-syllable mantra recited on every Ekadashi.

How to recite

Begin sankalpa at sunrise with tulsi and Ram-charanamrita. Read the Ekadashi-mahatmya for that specific Ekadashi (each of the 24 has its own name and katha — Saphala, Putrada, Vijaya, Mohini, Nirjala, Devshayani, Pavitra, Aja, Indira, Pasankusha, Rama, Prabodhini, Utpanna, Mokshada). Stay awake through the night with continuous Sita-Ram naam-sankirtan. Break the fast on Dwadashi morning after offering tulsi-charanamrita to the Ram darbar.

Benefits

The Padma Purana states that observing all 24 Ekadashis in a year grants the punya of a thousand Ashwamedha yajnas. For Ramanandis, Ekadashi is the day Sri Ram and Devi Sita are most easily pleased — every devotee of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, and Sita-Ram mandirs holds this fast strictly without grain.

✦ Special Note

Three Ekadashis are observed with extra intensity at Ayodhya: Devshayani Ekadashi (Ashadha Shukla — Chaturmas begins), Prabodhini Ekadashi (Kartik Shukla — Chaturmas ends), and Nirjala Ekadashi (Jyeshtha Shukla — observed without even water, considered equal to all 24 combined). These have their own dedicated entries in the calendar. Dates per the standard Vikram Samvat Panchang (Purnimanta system — month boundary at Purnima), Ayodhya/Varanasi convention; same underlying calendar as Hindu general, Purnimanta month naming.

Foods Allowed

Fresh fruits — banana, mango, pomegranate, sitaphal, chikoo, grapes, papayaMilk, curd, ghee, panchamritSabudana khichdi and kheerKuttu atta puri with aloo sabzi (sendha namak only)Singhara atta halwaRajgira (amaranth) ladooSama (samvat) rice kheerCharanamrita with tulsi from the Ram darbarDry fruits — cashew, almond, raisins, mishriSendha namak only — never regular salt

Foods to Avoid

All grains — wheat, rice, daal, beans (the strictest grain-fast in the Ramanandi calendar)Onion, garlic, brinjal — alwaysRegular saltMeat, fish, eggs, alcohol — neverHoney on Dwadashi (the day after) — break the fast with milk first

Meal Idea

Sabudana kheer for the morning naivedya; phalahar — fresh fruits and panchamrit — through the day; kuttu puri with aloo sabzi (sendha namak) at one evening meal; break the fast next morning on Dwadashi with tulsi-charanamrita and rice-and-curd.

📜 The story behind this vrat

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

Shri Ram Lalla

Aarti Kije Shri Ramlala Ki

आरती कीजे श्रीरामलला की । पूर्ण निपुण धनुर्वेद कला की ॥ धनुष वाण कर सोहत नीके । शोभा कोटि मदन मद फीके ॥ सुभग सिंहासन आप बिराजैं । वाम भाग वैदेही राजैं ॥ कर जोरे रिपुहन हनुमाना । भरत लखन सेवत बिधि नाना ॥ शिव अज नारद गुन गन गावैं । निगम नेति कह पार न पावैं ॥ नाम प्रभाव सकल जग जानैं । शेष महेश गनेस बखानैं ॥ भगत कामतरु पूरणकामा । दया क्षमा करुना गुन धामा ॥ सुग्रीवहुँ को कपिपति कीन्हा । राज विभीषन को प्रभु दीन्हा ॥ खेल खेल महु सिंधु बंधाये । लोक सकल अनुपम यश छाये ॥ दुर्गम गढ़ लंकापति मारे । सुर नर मुनि सबके भय टारे ॥ देवन थापि सुजस विस्तारे । कोटिक दीन मलीन उधारे ॥ कपि केवट खग निसिचर केरे । करि करुना दुःख दोष निवेरे ॥ देत सदा दासन्ह को माना । जगतपूज्य भे कपि हनुमाना ॥ आरत दीन सदा सत्कारे । तिहुंपुर होत राम जयकारे ॥

Lord Vishnu

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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