Amalaki vrata Ekadashi
Fasting day
From grains and beans, from sunrise
Break the fast ·
7:14 – 10:30 AM
Break the fast after the first quarter of Dvadashi has passed and before a third of the day has passed.
What is Amalaki Vrata Ekadashi?
Amalaki Vrata Ekadashi falls in the bright fortnight of Phalguna (February and March). Devotees worship the amalaki tree on this day, and the Ekadashi is named after it. In English the tree is known as the Indian gooseberry. In 2027 the fast is on Thursday, 18 March.
Significance
The Brahmanda Purana records how Vasishtha Muni described the glories of this day to King Mandhata. In the kingdom of Vaidisha, King Chitraratha and his citizens fasted and worshipped Lord Parashurama and the amalaki tree through the night. A hunter who lived by killing animals hid nearby, watching the worship and hearing the glories of the Lord. In his next life he was born as King Vasuratha. Once, as he lay asleep, tribesmen attacked him, and a voice from the sky told him that Lord Keshava alone protects those who take shelter of Him.
The hunter stayed awake only by chance, yet he gained so much; such is the fruit of fasting on this Ekadashi and hearing the Lord's glories. A Srimad-Bhagavatam purport gives the purpose of the vow:
To observe Ekādaśī-vrata and Dvādaśī-vrata means to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.4.29, purport
How to observe it
As King Chitraratha did, devotees offer water and worship to an amalaki tree; where there is none, they worship Tulasi with lamps. They avoid grains and beans and spend the day hearing and chanting about Krishna. At Kurukshetra, the fast is broken on Friday, 19 March, between 7:14 AM and 10:30 AM.
Questions
When is Amalaki Ekadashi in 2027?
Amalaki Vrata Ekadashi is on Thursday, 18 March 2027. Devotees fast that day and break the fast on Friday, 19 March.
What time should I break the Amalaki Ekadashi fast in Kurukshetra?
Break the fast on Friday, 19 March 2027, between 7:14 AM and 10:30 AM IST. The window opens once a quarter of the tithi has passed and closes when one third of the daylight is over.
Why is the amalaki tree worshipped on this Ekadashi?
Devotees follow the example of King Chitraratha, who worshipped the amalaki tree and Lord Parashurama on this day, as the Brahmanda Purana describes. The Purana praises the tree as able to destroy all sinful reactions.
What should I avoid eating on Amalaki Ekadashi?
Do not eat grains or beans. Srila Prabhupada asked his followers to keep this one restriction on Ekadashi, and he encouraged them to chant and hear about Krishna more.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Fasting day
- Break fast
- · 7:14–10:30 AM
- Fast from
- Grains and beans
- Purana
- Brahmanda Purana
- Told by
- Vasishtha Muni to King Mandhata
- Tree worshipped
- Amalaki, or Tulasi if there is none
Seva for this day
Feed devotees and visitors on this holy day, or begin the Bhagavad-gita course with us.