Utpatti Ekadashi

When to do the puja

Quick facts

• Also known asUtpanna Ekadashi
• WhereAll of India; in the north it falls in Margashirsha Krishna
• Puja forVishnu, and the goddess Ekadashi
• In one lineThe goddess Ekadashi came out of Vishnu's body and ended the demon Mura.

Utpatti Ekadashi, in a little more detail

1. 01

   About the festival

   Utpatti means birth. The Ekadashi you fast on isn't just a date: she's a goddess. Today is her birthday.

   So if you want to start keeping Ekadashis, many begin with this one. The fast is the usual one: no grains, and broken on Dwadashi.

   The lesson in the story: when everyone else is worn out, a strength rises from within. The Ekadashi fast is a reminder of that inner strength.

2. 02

   How the goddess Ekadashi was born

   In the city of Chandravati lived a terrible demon named Mura. He beat Indra, Agni, Vayu and all the gods, and took heaven for himself. The gods went to Shiva, and Shiva sent them on to Vishnu.

   Vishnu fought Mura, but his arrows struck Mura like flowers. The war went on for years. At last Vishnu went to rest in a cave at Badrikashram, in yoga nidra. Mura followed him there and moved in to strike the sleeping god.

   Just then a radiant goddess came out of Vishnu's body. She fought Mura and finished him. When Vishnu woke he said: you were born on Ekadashi, so your name is Ekadashi. Whoever keeps your vow is my devotee.

3. 03

   In Maharashtra and beyond

   This Ekadashi comes a fortnight after Kartiki. Varkaris keep it as always: the fast, the Haripath and bhajans to Vitthal.

   Many who are new to the Ekadashi vow pick today to start, and then keep the Ekadashis of both halves of the month through the year.

   In the north the month ends on the full moon, so there this is Margashirsha Krishna Ekadashi, called Utpanna Ekadashi. There too it's held to be where the vow begins.

How to do the puja

In short: A light meal on Dashami, the fast and the Name on Ekadashi, and parana after sunrise on Dwadashi.

1. 1Eat light the day before, on Dashami.One simple meal is enough. Nothing heavy at night, so your stomach is light on Ekadashi.
2. 2Pick the tulsi leaves for the puja the day before.In many homes tulsi is not plucked on Ekadashi.
3. 3Bathe in the morning on Ekadashi and make your sankalp for the fast.Decide in your mind: no water at all, water only, fruit and milk, or one fasting meal.
4. 4Worship Vishnu or Vitthal.Offer a lamp, incense, sandalwood paste, flowers and tulsi leaves, with fruit or milk as naivedya.
5. 5Keep the fast you chose through the day.Leave out rice, wheat, jowar, bajra and dals. Offer your fasting food to God first, then eat.
6. 6Spend the day with the name.The Haripath, the Vishnu Sahasranama, bhajans, or the story of that Ekadashi on this page.
7. 7In the evening, light the lamp again and do the aarti.Many stay up singing bhajans (jagran). If you work tomorrow, a little while is enough.
8. 8Break the fast after sunrise on Dwadashi.If your panchang gives a parana time, keep to it. Offer naivedya first, then eat.

What you needTick as you go

• An image of Vishnu or Vitthal
• Tulsi leaves (picked the day before)
• Flowers
• Sandalwood paste
• A diya and ghee
• Incense
• Fruit or milk for naivedya
• The Haripath or the Vishnu Sahasranama
• For the fasting meal: sabudana, vari, peanuts, sweet potatoes, potatoes

Frequently asked questions