Varuthini Ekadashi, also known as Baruthani Ekadashi, holds great significance and importance for Hindus. On the day of Varuthini Ekadashi, devotees worship and offer prayers to Lord Vamana, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. According to the North Indian Purnimant calendar, Varuthini Ekadashi is observed during Krishna Paksha of Vaishakha month and, according to the South Indian Amavasyant calendar, Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month. However, both North Indians and South Indians observe it on the same day. According to the Gregorian calendar, the day falls in the month of April or May. Read on to find out more about Varuthini Ekadashi. This year, Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat will be observed on May 7.

Puja vidhi

Vaishnava Varuthini Ekadashi is dedicated to Lord Vamana – the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. On this day, devotees worshipped Lord Vishnu with dhoop, sandalwood paste, fruits, incense sticks, and flowers in order to evoke the deity.

The fasting begins from the day of Dashami tithi and is broken on Dwadashi tithi after praying to Lord Vishnu. It is believed that any person who devotedly observes fast on this day can change their bad luck and attain prosperity, abundance and good luck in their lives.

By performing various acts of donations and charities on this particular day, the devotees get blessed with the divine blessings of their ancestors and the deities.

Among the twenty-four Ekadasis of the year, Varuthini Ekadashi is considered as the most efficacious, as it confers amazing benefits to the devotees who observe fast on this day.

Significance

The greatness and glories of Vaishnava Varuthini Ekadashi finds mention in several religious scriptures like ‘Bhavishya Purana’ in the form of conversation between Sri Krishna and King Yudhisthira, the eldest of Pandavas. Various Maharajas observed this sacred fast and obtained uncountable benefits. The merits of the Vaishnava Varuthini Ekadashi outpowers all kinds of charities including ‘Kanyadaan’ that is believed to be most pious of all the ‘daans’. The word ‘Varuthini’ in Hindi signifies ‘protected or armoured’ and hence by observing a religious vrat on Vaishnava Varuthini Ekadashi a person will be shielded from all the evils and misfortunes and in the end gain good fortune.

Rituals

Fasting on Vaishnava Varuthini Ekadashi is believed to be highly rewarding for Hare Krishna followers. The rituals start right from the previous day ‘dashami’ and the observer of this vrat eat selective meal once before sunset. Eating on bell metal plates is also not allowed on this day. This is done to make sure no traces of food are left in the stomach on the ekadashi day.

On ekadashi, devotees do not eat anything or even take a sip of water all day. However if someone cannot keep a strict vrat, partial fasting or even fasting from morning till sunset is also allowed. While keeping the fast, the person should not sleep during the daytime and stay away from sinful thoughts and actions. It is popular belief that one who stays awake all night chanting religious hymns on ekadashi will gain freedom from all their sins.

Ekadashi is meant for spiritual attainment and therefore the day is spent chanting mantras or singing bhajans in praise of Lord Vishnu. Devotees worship Lord Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Sri Hari Vishnu, on this day and make several offerings to their beloved deity. It is also important to visit temples of Lord Vishnu in the evening and witness the celebrations of the day.

Vaishnava Varuthini Ekadashi vrat is broken next day on ‘dwadashi’ (12th day) after praying to Lord Vishnu and offering food and money to some respectful Brahmins.

Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat

Devotees observing Varuthini Ekadashi vrat are recommended to fast from sunrise in Ekadashi to sunrise in Dwadashi. Since a complete fast is recommended, one can start fasting from the previous day’s sunset to ensure that no undigested food remains in the stomach. Observing Varuthini Ekadashi vratis not just abstaining food. One should not indulge in gambling, lying, criticizing others, violence, sports, and sexual activity. The devotee on vrat should not succumb to sleep, anger and greed too. Thus, by resisting the feelings and temptations, vrat purifies the mind, body, and soul. Certain activities such as shaving, smearing oil on the body, etc. are also prohibited on Varuthini Ekadashi.

Parana or breaking the fast should be done on the next day (Dwadashi) after the sunrise. It is necessary to do Parana on the next day unless Dwadashi is over before sunrise. Also, one should take care not to do Parana on Hari Vasara period, which is the first quarter of the Dwadashi tithi. Pratahkal is considered as the most auspicious time to break the fast while breaking the fast in Madhyahna is not recommended. So, if one couldn’t do Parana in Pratahkal, then he/she should do it after Madhyahna.

Two types of Ekadashi Vrats are recommended; one for Smarthas, those with family, and the other for Sanyasis and Moksha seekers. While a one-day fast is recommended for Smarthas or normal devotees, alternate fasting or a two-day fast is suggested for Sanyasis and Moksha seekers.

Though full fasting is recommended on Varuthini Ekadashi, those who can’t bear it due to health issues can observe a partial fast by eating once, at midday, or in the evening. In that case, a devotee should avoid non-veg food (meat, fish, egg, etc.), beverages (tea, coffee, cola, and other energy drinks), mushrooms, grains, onion, peas, beans, black gram, spinach, betel nut, paan, red lentil, honey, sesame seeds, mustard, asafoetida, cloves, fenugreek, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, tulsi, tamarind, custard, salt, baking soda, baking powder, etc.

Eating in bell metal utensils and eating from other houses are also prohibited. The devotee can choose to eat the Havishyanna food offered to Yajna on the previous day. It is said that even those who are not observing the vrat should avoid consuming grains, pulses, and non-vegetarian foods on Ekadashi.

Fasting Procedure

–              A complete fast is recommended. So, a devotee can start fasting from the previous day’s sunset to avoid any undigested food remaining in the stomach.

–              On Ekadashi day, the devotee should wake up before sunrise, take a bath and worship Lord Vishnu.

–              Visiting a Vishnu temple, chanting prayers, and reciting Vishnu Sahasranamaor Bhagavad Gita will intensify the spiritual drive.

–              Breaking the fast or Parana should be done on the next day (Dwadasi) after taking a bath and worshiping Lord Vishnu. It should be done in the Parana time, which varies with each Dwadasi.

–              Parana or breaking the fast shouldn’t be done during Hari Vasaraperiod, the first quarter of Dwadashi.

–              The most auspicious time for Parana is Pratahkal. If the devotee couldn’t do it duringPratahkal, then he/she should do it after Madhyahna.