Papankusha Ekadashi

Shukla Paksha Ekadashi vrat of Ashwina masa is called Papankusha Ekadashi. This ekadashi vrat is referred as Papankusha because of its magnanimous effect on removing karmic burden and consequences of one’s wrongdoings. This day is an auspicious day to sow the seeds of good karma/deeds. All the Ekadashis of Chaturmaas are believed to establish better divine connection with Lord Vishnu. ‘Chaturmas’ period is the hibernation phase of the Lord and best time to accumulate ‘Punya’ or virtues.

Papankusha Ekadashi Date 2023

Papankusha Ekadashi Fast

According to the puranas, the devotees who observe Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat are blessed with forgiveness for all their past sins. Papankusha Ekadashi fasting means spiritual cleansing, a spiritual detoxification of all senses. People refrain from consuming solid food, grains, pulses or lentils on this day. Wake up in the brahma muhurat, take bath and clean sacred live space at home for pooja and bhajan ceremonies. We can recite or meditate on Vishnu Sahasranama during this time. Or be with the mantra “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaaya” all day, learn more Vishnu Mantras. Choose a fast that suits your schedule for the day or activities for the day. It is generally preferred to avoid grains and pulses, or lentils, tubers on Ekadesi.

Eat fruits, positive prana foods like coconut, coconut water, dairy products, peppercorn, honey and nuts. Stay mindful of your every thought and action. Offer flowers and light a lamp for Tulsi plant. We can participate in bhajan or homa remedy ceremonies. Temple visits, offerings and donations are advised since they can deepen the sense of devotion. Refrain from negative emotions like hate, anger, greed, jealously and violence choose happier, inclusive attributes like empathy, care, faith, integrity. 

Pregnant women, elderly people can skip fasting and rather chant & internalise Lord Vishnu Mantras. Children below the age of 12 can also avoid fasting since they are in the assimilation phase of their life.

We also suggest other modes of fasting like gadget free fast- taking a break from social media for a day, staying away from watching television, or mobile phone or even gaming gadgets and other distractive media. This can also create a significant amount of awareness and mindfulness.

Magnanimity of Ekadashi Vrat

Bhagavad Gita says that this Ekadashi Vrat was revealed by Lord Krishna to King Arjuna and all the Pandavas followed this fast all their lifetime. Vrat doesn’t necessarily mean denial of food, it’s the compulsive nature that is moderated during the Vrat. Ekadashi Vrat aims at making everything, a conscious process. When we do not act based on compulsive nature, we become conscious, when we are conscious, we choose; choose our reactions, our words and actions. This is the cycle the Vrat taps into, by making a shift in our very nature, from compulsive to conscious. We go on collecting data or memories based on day-to-day life, things we see, read and eat. Ekadashi creates a window to reflect on this memory pile, reevaluate data fetched to our system, a hard reboot. It is also believed that full stomach causes lethargy and dullness, and a light stomach keeps the mind sharp and alert. This Vrat is considered to be of incomparable power and benefits. There is a famous sloka on Ekadashi Vrat that goes,

“Na Gayathrya para mantram:
Na Mathu para dhaivatham:
Na Ganagasya paramam theertham:
Na Ekadasya samam vratham”

There is no mantra superior to Gayathri Mantra; there is no God superior to one’s mother; there is no holy water superior to River Ganga and there is no vrata superior to the Ekadasi vrat.

According to Srimad Bhagavad Purana, this Ekadashi Vrat earns the same merit as equivalent to performing an aswamedha homa, 10 times the merit of donating 1000 cows to a temple or an ashrama and the merit of feeding 1000 sages or spiritual seekers.

Benefits

Important Timings On Papankusha Ekadashi

Papankusha Ekadashi festival dates between 2019 & 2029

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