Apara Ekadashi 2025: Date, time, mantra, puja vidhi, fasting rules, significance of Achala Ekadashi to please Lord Vishnu
Apara Ekadashi, also known as Achala Ekadashi, is observed by devotees of Lord Vishnu across India to seek blessings and spiritual merit. The fast is observed on the eleventh day (Ekadashi Tithi) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Jyeshtha.
Apara Ekadashi 2025: Religious importance
Hindu scriptures describe Apara Ekadashi as spiritually significant. Vaishnavites—followers of Lord Vishnu—observe this day by fasting and offering prayers. Each Ekadashi has distinct customs, and on Apara Ekadashi, devotees fast and offer bhog prasad to the deity. The fast is concluded the next day during the Parana period.
As per religious texts, Lord Krishna explained the significance of this day to Yudhishthir, the eldest Pandava. The Pandavas are believed to have observed this fast for victory in the Mahabharata war. 'Apar' means limitless, symbolising that Lord Vishnu grants boundless blessings, wealth, and fulfillment of wishes to those who observe the fast sincerely.
Scriptures state that those who keep the fast with purity and devotion are freed from their past sins. Many believe the fast helps cleanse the body, mind, and soul. It is also said to lead devotees toward salvation.
Live Events
Why Vamana Avatar is Worshipped on Apara Ekadashi
Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is remembered for restoring balance in the universe. As per the scriptures, he appeared in the form of a dwarf and defeated the demon king Mahabali. Through this act, Vamana reestablished the power of the gods and upheld dharma. His story is seen as a lesson in humility and the victory of righteousness over ego.
Spiritual and Planetary Significance
The
Vamana avatar
is associated with humility and karmic balance. Devotees believe that worshipping him helps remove ego and correct past actions. Astrologically, this form of Vishnu is connected to the planet Jupiter, which signifies wisdom and spiritual knowledge. Prayers to Vamana on Apara Ekadashi are believed to help reduce the impact of unfavourable planetary positions.
Apara Ekadashi Rituals
Devotees begin the day with a morning bath and commence puja rituals early. An idol of Lord Vishnu is placed and worshipped with a diya lit using desi ghee and flowers or a garland.
For the evening puja, devotees prepare panchamrit—a mixture of milk, ghee, curd, honey, and sugar—and offer it as bhog prasad. Lord Vishnu Aarti is recited during the offering.
Apara or Achala Ekadashi Mantras
The mantra 'Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaye' is chanted throughout the day. Many devotees also visit temples of Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. Those who are unable to fast completely may consume satvik food in the evening. The fast is broken on the following day during the Dwadashi Tithi after offering prasad to the Lord.
Mantras recited on Apara Ekadashi
Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaye
Hari Om Namo Narayanaye
Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari, Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva
Achyutam Keshavam Krishna Damodaram, Ram Narayanam Janki Vallabham
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Restoring balance: 131 turtles thriving in Hajo temple pond to enter the wild
1 2 Guwahati: Temples have emerged as an unexpected safe haven for turtles, turning into conservation hotspots. However, experts warn that this trend is creating an imbalance, as turtles are incredibly rare to be seen in their natural habitats. To restore balance, Assam state zoo has planned to release several critically endangered turtle species into the wild. The state zoo is working in tandem with authorities of Hayagriva Madhava temple, located in the town of Hajo in Kamrup district, 30 kms from Guwahati. Temple authority has handed over 131 turtles, which were growing in the temple's pond, to zoo authorities. Ashwini Kumar, state zoo DFO said the turtles are currently in quarantine, and will be released into the wild after 15 days. "We are monitoring the turtles to ensure that they are healthy, and we will be releasing them," the officer added. Kumar said the 131 turtles to be released include black softshell turtles, Indian softshell turtles, peacock softshell turtles and Indian tent turtles. The black softshell turtles are endemic to the Brahmaputra basin, and are listed as 'critically endangered' in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list. Meanwhile, the Indian softshell turtles and the peacock softshells turtles are listed as vulnerable in the list. Pranab Malakar, a resident of Hajo, who is also known as the turtle man said turtles are more commonly found near wetlands, instead of temple ponds, as it disturbs their natural balance and survival. He added that the turtles often face overcrowding, lack of food and poor water quality, which can spread disease. Malakar, who has been engaged in turtle conservation since 2007, recalls that the historic Madhava Pukhuri pond dates back to the Ahom era. Originally built under the reign of the Ahom kings, the pond featured natural sandbars and a rich aquatic environment, which made it a perfect habitat for turtles to thrive. "Being part of a Vishnu temple, it became customary for devotees to release fish and turtles into its waters, considering them as reincarnations of lord Vishnu. Over time, this age-old religious practice turned the pond into a refuge for turtles," Malakar said. He added that in 2006, the pond was encircled with concrete boundaries, which made it nearly impossible for turtles to nest and lay eggs. To address this, Malakar himself intervened — removing sections of the boundary walls and creating artificial sandbars to provide suitable nesting grounds. Today the temple pond is home to more than 1,000 turtles of 15 different species. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
UK's Royal Navy appoints Himachal Pradesh cadet as first-ever Hindu chaplain
The UK's Royal Navy has appointed its first-ever Hindu chaplain, the first non-Christian to be appointed for the official role of offering spiritual support to fellow naval officers based on the tenets of Hinduism. Bhanu Attri, originally from Himachal Pradesh, took over his new role last week after undergoing a somewhat different course from other Navy cadets. He went through six weeks of officer instruction, including sea survival with four weeks at sea aboard the warship HMS Iron Duke, and three weeks focused on the role of a military chaplain."To become the first-ever Hindu chaplain in the fleet is a profound honour," said Attri."As a Hindu brought up in India, the chance to represent individuals from other diverse religions brings meaningful representation for the Hindu community and reflects the Navy's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and spiritual care for all," said the 39-year-old. "My family feels immense pride, a pride grounded in generations of faith, service, and resilience," he Hindu Council UK (HCUK) welcomed the move after proposing Attri as fitting the criteria for the role: personal fitness both physical and mental, principled in faith and philosophy, reflective and pastoral; professional eligibility of education equivalent to Hindu scriptural degree level and post accreditation experience in leadership capacity, with a sound sense of spirituality and interfaith relations; and general outlook for integration into the British culture and having good English communicative skills."The training can be arduous, which requires medical fitness standards, ready for duty 24/7 at short notice," said HCUK's Anil Bhanot, Hindu Advisor to the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD)."MoD careers are sometimes neglected by our Hindu youth and we will try and do more community meetings at temples to raise awareness. British Hindus have settled here from all corners of the world, and although our spiritual bhoomi (land) is India, our karmabhoomi is the United Kingdom and MoD represents our protective arm," he was among 148 new officers among the so-called "leaders of tomorrow", including warfare specialists, engineers, overseas and all cadets who joined from civilian life who completed their "Initial Officer Training" last up to 29 weeks of demanding instruction at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, south-west England, they transformed from civilian to sailor and formally passed out at a BRNC ceremony in front of friends, family and senior naval officers."We live in a perilous world and as a service we must respond to the challenges to our nation's security, also with confidence - and that means we need people like you that can offer leadership of the highest quality," said Andrew Burns, Vice-Admiral and the Royal Navy's senior operational commander who was the guest of honour at the ceremony."There is no greater commitment than to serve your country, and to lead others to do the same," he training is designed to teach the basics of serving in the military, such as drill and uniform, through the fundamentals of leadership, seafaring, naval history and addition to extensive time in the classroom and on the parade ground, cadets head out on to Dartmoor to learn and develop leadership and teamwork skills, spend time at sea aboard an operational warship, and conduct training on specialist Vahana boats on the River Dart and in the English Channel. "Commissioning into the Royal Navy is a moment none of us forget, and it has been a privilege to follow these officers through their training. What awaits is a life of duty and frontline service," said Captain Andy Bray, Captain Britannia Royal Naval College. PTI
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
UK's Royal Navy appoints Himachal Pradesh cadet as first-ever Hindu chaplain
The UK's Royal Navy has made history by appointing Bhanu Attri as its first-ever Hindu chaplain. Attri, originally from India, underwent specialized training, including sea survival and time aboard HMS Iron Duke, to prepare for his role of providing spiritual support to naval officers based on Hindu principles. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The UK's Royal Navy has appointed its first-ever Hindu chaplain, the first non-Christian to be appointed for the official role of offering spiritual support to fellow naval officers based on the tenets of Hinduism. Bhanu Attri , originally from Himachal Pradesh, took over his new role last week after undergoing a somewhat different course from other Navy went through six weeks of officer instruction, including sea survival with four weeks at sea aboard the warship HMS Iron Duke, and three weeks focused on the role of a military chaplain."To become the first-ever Hindu chaplain in the fleet is a profound honour," said Attri."As a Hindu brought up in India, the chance to represent individuals from other diverse religions brings meaningful representation for the Hindu community and reflects the Navy's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and spiritual care for all," said the 39-year-old."My family feels immense pride, a pride grounded in generations of faith, service, and resilience," he Hindu Council UK (HCUK) welcomed the move after proposing Attri as fitting the criteria for the role: personal fitness both physical and mental, principled in faith and philosophy, reflective and pastoral; professional eligibility of education equivalent to Hindu scriptural degree level and post accreditation experience in leadership capacity, with a sound sense of spirituality and interfaith relations; and general outlook for integration into the British culture and having good English communicative skills."The training can be arduous, which requires medical fitness standards, ready for duty 24/7 at short notice," said HCUK's Anil Bhanot, Hindu Advisor to the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD)."MoD careers are sometimes neglected by our Hindu youth and we will try and do more community meetings at temples to raise awareness. British Hindus have settled here from all corners of the world, and although our spiritual bhoomi (land) is India, our karmabhoomi is the United Kingdom and MoD represents our protective arm," he was among 148 new officers among the so-called "leaders of tomorrow", including warfare specialists, engineers, overseas and all cadets who joined from civilian life who completed their "Initial Officer Training" last up to 29 weeks of demanding instruction at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, south-west England, they transformed from civilian to sailor and formally passed out at a BRNC ceremony in front of friends, family and senior naval officers."We live in a perilous world and as a service we must respond to the challenges to our nation's security, also with confidence - and that means we need people like you that can offer leadership of the highest quality," said Andrew Burns, Vice-Admiral and the Royal Navy's senior operational commander who was the guest of honour at the ceremony."There is no greater commitment than to serve your country, and to lead others to do the same," he training is designed to teach the basics of serving in the military, such as drill and uniform, through the fundamentals of leadership, seafaring, naval history and addition to extensive time in the classroom and on the parade ground, cadets head out on to Dartmoor to learn and develop leadership and teamwork skills, spend time at sea aboard an operational warship, and conduct training on specialist Vahana boats on the River Dart and in the English Channel."Commissioning into the Royal Navy is a moment none of us forget, and it has been a privilege to follow these officers through their training. What awaits is a life of duty and frontline service," said Captain Andy Bray, Captain Britannia Royal Naval College. PTI
