Jaya Ekadashi

Story of Jaya Ekadashi (Vrat Katha)

In Indra's court the gandharva Malyavan and the apsara Pushpavati were so taken with each other that they sang and danced out of tune. Angry, Indra cursed them to be born as pishachas on earth. They suffered in the freezing Himalayas, and on Magha Shukla Ekadashi, in the cold and without food or sleep, they spent the day and the night in remorse and chanting the name of Vishnu. Without knowing it they had kept Jaya Ekadashi. Their curse ended and they returned to their heavenly bodies.

This is the traditional story from the Puranas, retold in our own words. Details can differ a little between regions and tellers.

Significance of Jaya Ekadashi

Jaya Ekadashi is also called Bhaimi Ekadashi. It comes a few days after Bhishma Ashtami, and Bhishma Dwadashi is kept the next day in memory of Bhishma Pitamah.

The tradition says that keeping Jaya Ekadashi gives freedom from a pishacha birth and ghostly fear. It falls in Magha Shukla Paksha and is kept with the worship of Lord Vishnu.

How to keep Jaya Ekadashi: vrat and puja vidhi

• Dashami evening: eat a light sattvik meal and avoid onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food.
• Ekadashi morning: bathe before sunrise and take the sankalp to worship Lord Vishnu.
• Puja: offer yellow flowers, tulsi leaves, fruit, panchamrit and a ghee lamp. Chant "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" and read the katha on this page.
• During the day: no grains; phalahar or a waterless fast as your tradition says. Avoid anger and gossip.
• Night: stay awake with bhajans, kirtan or the Vishnu Sahasranama.
• Dwadashi: after bath and puja, give charity to someone in need and break the fast at parana time.

For the full rules, food list and parana details, read our complete Ekadashi vrat guide.