Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comJaya Ekadashi
Jaya Ekadashi is observed on Magh Shukla Ekadashi. According to the Padma Purana, it is the Ekadashi that removes even the sin of killing a brahmin and frees one from the state of a pishacha.
This Ekadashi falls three days after Bhishma Ashtami and four days before Magh Purnima. In 2028 the Smarta fast is on 6 February and the Vaishnava fast on 7 February.
Significance of Jaya Ekadashi
In the Padma Purana, Lord Krishna tells Yudhishthira that Jaya Ekadashi of Magh's bright fortnight is holy, destroys sin and grants wishes and liberation, removes the sin of killing a brahmin and ends the pishacha state. Those who keep its vow do not become ghosts, and no tithi is greater at destroying sin.
According to the katha, while singing in Indra's court the Gandharvas Malyavan and Pushpavati became infatuated with each other and lost the rhythm. Taking this as an insult, Indra cursed them to go to the mortal world as pishachas, husband and wife. Wandering in the Himalayan snow, shivering with cold, they forgot even that they had been Gandharvas.
By chance, on the day of Jaya Ekadashi, grief and cold kept them from eating or drinking, and they stayed awake all night beside a pipal tree. By this unintended fast, on Dwadashi, through Lord Vishnu's grace, they were freed of the pishacha state and returned to heaven in a celestial chariot, where Indra called them worthy of reverence.
How Jaya Ekadashi Is Celebrated
Devotees bathe in the morning, take the vow, worship Lord Vishnu and hear the Jaya Ekadashi katha. The fast is kept without water, with water only or with fruit, as one is able.
In the katha it was the night vigil that freed the Gandharvas, so an all-night vigil with bhajan and kirtan has special importance on this Ekadashi. The next day, on Dwadashi, alms are given and the fast is broken within the prescribed parana muhurat.
Jaya Ekadashi Puja Vidhi
Eat a simple sattvic meal on Dashami, and on Ekadashi bathe in the morning and take the vow of fasting. Worship Lord Vishnu, hear the Jaya Ekadashi katha, keep vigil all night, and the next day, on Dwadashi, give alms and break the fast within the parana muhurat.
About Jaya Ekadashi
Jaya Ekadashi is the vow kept on Magh Shukla Ekadashi for release from sins such as killing a brahmin and from the pishacha state. This page gives its date, the vidhi of the fast and a summary of the Padma Purana's story of the Gandharvas Malyavan and Pushpavati.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Jaya Ekadashi in 2027?
Jaya Ekadashi falls on Wednesday, 17 February 2027. The parana time will be added here as the date approaches.
Why is Jaya Ekadashi observed?
According to the Padma Purana, this vow removes the sin of killing a brahmin and frees one from the pishacha state. It was by this vow that the Gandharvas Malyavan and Pushpavati, made pishachas by Indra's curse, were set free.
Why keep a night vigil on Jaya Ekadashi?
In the katha, Malyavan and Pushpavati could not sleep all through the night of Jaya because of the cold, and Lord Krishna says that it was this night vigil, together with the fast, that made him resolve on their release. So the vigil has special importance on this Ekadashi.