Shattila Ekadashi

Story of Shattila Ekadashi (Vrat Katha)

A devout woman kept many fasts but never gave food to anyone. To teach her, Lord Vishnu came to her door as a beggar. In irritation she threw a lump of clay into his bowl. Later in heaven she received a beautiful house, but there was nothing to eat in it. Celestial women told her to keep Shattila Ekadashi and use sesame (til) in six ways. She did so, and her house filled with food. The story says that vrat is complete only when it is joined with charity.

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

Significance of Shattila Ekadashi

Shat-tila means six uses of sesame: bathing with sesame paste, applying it, offering it in havan, offering it in tarpan, eating it and giving it in charity. It falls in the cold month of Magha, when sesame warms the body.

The tradition says that keeping Shattila Ekadashi gives prosperity, health and the merit of charity with sesame. It falls in Magha Krishna Paksha (Purnimanta) · Pausha Krishna Paksha (Amanta) and is kept with the worship of Lord Vishnu.

How to keep Shattila 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.