Sat-tila Ekadashi
Fasting day
From grains and beans, from sunrise
Break the fast ·
7:12 – 10:48 AM
Break the fast after sunrise and before a third of the day has passed.
What is Sat-tila Ekadashi?
Sat-tila Ekadashi, also spelled Shattila, falls in the dark fortnight of Magha. It takes its name from tila, the sesame seed, which is used in six ways on this day. In 2027 devotees keep the fast on Tuesday, 2 February.
Significance
Its story comes from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana, where Lord Sri Krishna tells Narada Muni about an old brahmani. She fasted and gave generously, yet she never fed the brahmanas or the demigods. Krishna came to her as a beggar, and she threw a lump of mud into His bowl. In the spiritual world that mud became her house, and it stood empty of grain and furniture. The wives of the demigods then taught her the glory of Sat-tila Ekadashi, and her home was filled.
Krishna draws the lesson for Narada Muni:
a person should not ostentatiously observe Ekadasi out of greed, with the hope of attaining wealth dishonestly.
Bhavishya-uttara Purana, Sat-tila Ekadasi narration, Lord Krishna to Narada Muni
How to observe it
The Purana names six uses of tila: bathing in water mixed with sesame, rubbing sesame paste on the body, offering sesame into the sacred fire, eating it, giving it in charity and accepting it as a gift. Sesame is allowed on this one Ekadashi, but grains and beans stay off the plate, as on every Ekadashi. Pumpkin, coconut and guava are among the offerings named for the Lord. At Kurukshetra, break the fast on Wednesday, 3 February 2027, between 7:12 AM and 10:48 AM.
Questions
When is Sat-tila Ekadashi in 2027?
In the Vaishnava calendar for Kurukshetra, Sat-tila Ekadashi falls on Tuesday, 2 February 2027. The fast is broken the next day, Wednesday, 3 February.
What time should I break the Sat-tila Ekadashi fast in Kurukshetra?
Break the fast on Wednesday, 3 February 2027, between 7:12 AM (sunrise) and 10:48 AM (one third of the daylight) at Kurukshetra.
Why is it called Sat-tila Ekadashi?
Sat means six and tila means sesame. The Bhavishya-uttara Purana lists six ways to use sesame on this day: bathing in it, applying its paste, offering it in the fire, eating it, giving it away and accepting it.
Can I eat sesame on Sat-tila Ekadashi?
Yes. Sesame is normally avoided on Ekadashi, but the Ekadashi guidelines on ISKCON Desire Tree say it may be offered and eaten on Sat-tila Ekadashi. Grains and beans are still avoided.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Fasting day
- Break fast
- · 7:12–10:48 AM
- Fast from
- Grains and beans
- Also called
- Trisprisha Ekadashi
Seva for this day
Feed devotees and visitors on this holy day, or begin the Bhagavad-gita course with us.