Apara Ekadashi Date 2027: Vrat Katha, Puja Vidhi, Parana, Achala and Bhadrakali Ekadashi

Apara Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the Krishna Paksha (waning fortnight) of Jyeshtha month, also known as Achala Ekadashi. On this day devotees worship Lord Vishnu in his Trivikrama form. “Apara” carries the sense of “boundless”, and by tradition the merit of this fast is described as boundless too.

Its best-known katha is about the righteous King Mahidhwaj, who was murdered by his jealous younger brother Vajradhwaj and buried under a peepal tree. Because of this untimely death the king became a restless spirit. The sage Dhaumya kept the Apara Ekadashi fast himself, offered its merit to the king, and freed him.

On this page you will find the date and parana time, the full vrat katha, a step-by-step puja vidhi, the samagri list, verified mantras, fasting rules, the link with Bhadrakali Ekadashi in Punjab and Jalakrida Ekadashi in Odisha, summer charity, and answers to common myths.

Apara Ekadashi Date 2027: Tithi and Parana Time

Quick answer: Apara Ekadashi 2026 (13 May) has already passed. The next Apara Ekadashi falls on Tuesday, 1 June 2027. As per the New Delhi panchang, Ekadashi tithi begins at 10:02 AM on 31 May and ends at 9:39 AM on 1 June, and parana can be done on 2 June between about 5:24 AM and 8:10 AM.

Check the table above for the exact fasting date and parana time in your city, since timings change with local sunrise. In 2027 the Smarta (householder) and Vaishnava (ISKCON and others) traditions fast on the same day. In years when the two dates differ, the table shows that too.

One practical note: in 2027 Dwadashi tithi ends early on the parana morning, so the window to break the fast is short. Set an alarm the night before.

Apara Ekadashi Meaning and Other Names

In Sanskrit, “apaar” means that which has no far shore, that is, limitless. The name Apara comes from this idea. In the katha, Lord Krishna tells Yudhishthira that this Ekadashi gives boundless wealth and merit, and that whoever keeps it becomes renowned in the world. That is why it is called the Ekadashi of “apaar punya”, boundless merit.

“Boundless merit” is not a bargain. The idea is that even a small fast kept sincerely can bear great fruit by the Lord’s grace.

Other names of Apara Ekadashi

• Achala Ekadashi: In the katha, Krishna gives two names for this day, Apara and Achala. “Achala” means unmoving or steady, and the belief is that the merit of this fast stays firm.
• Bhadrakali Ekadashi: In Punjab, Haryana and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the same tithi is observed with worship of Goddess Bhadrakali. It is a major festival for the Saraswat Brahmin community.
• Jalakrida Ekadashi: In Odisha the same Ekadashi is observed as Jalakrida Ekadashi, dedicated to Lord Jagannath of Puri.
• Vaishakh Vadi Ekadashi: In Gujarat, Maharashtra and South India it is called Vaishakh Krishna (Vadi) Ekadashi because of the Amanta calendar.

Month in the Purnimanta and Amanta calendars

North India follows the Purnimanta calendar, where a month ends on Purnima. Here Apara Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Krishna Paksha. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana follow the Amanta calendar, where a month ends on Amavasya, so the same Ekadashi falls in Vaishakh Krishna Paksha.

The month name differs but the day is the same. In the Gregorian calendar it usually falls in May or June. Mohini Ekadashi of Vaishakh Shukla comes before it, and Nirjala Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Shukla comes after it.

Significance of Apara Ekadashi

Religious significance

Apara Ekadashi is known as an Ekadashi that destroys sins. The mahatmya says the fast can free a person even from grave sins such as brahmahatya, and from faults like slander, false testimony, lying, cheating in weights, writing or reading false scriptures, and posing as a fake astrologer or physician.

Two special cases are mentioned. A kshatriya who flees from battle, and a disciple who speaks ill of his guru, are also said to be freed of their fault if they keep this fast with repentance. In other words, this Ekadashi opens a door to correction for those who have erred.

The prescribed deity is Lord Vishnu as Trivikrama, the cosmic form of Vamana who measured the three worlds in three strides. In some places devotees worship Vamana on this day.

Spiritual message

The central message of the katha is compassion. Sage Dhaumya had no relation to King Mahidhwaj, yet he fasted for a suffering soul and gave away his own merit. True devotion is not only for oneself but for the welfare of others.

The second message is about jealousy. Vajradhwaj’s envy drove him to kill his own brother. This Ekadashi is a chance to notice the envy, anger and deceit hidden in our own minds and let them go.

The third message is truthfulness. Most of the faults in the mahatmya are about lies and cheating. So the day is not only a fast from food, but also a fast from falsehood.

Mention in the Puranas

By tradition, the glory of Apara Ekadashi is found in the Brahmanda Purana, as a dialogue between Lord Krishna and King Yudhishthira. ISKCON and Swaminarayan sources also name this Purana.

The mahatmya compares the merit of this fast to many great pilgrimages and gifts: bathing at Pushkar on Kartik Purnima, bathing at Prayag in Magha at Makar Sankranti, worshipping Shiva at Kashi on Shivaratri, offering pinda at Gaya, bathing in the Gautami (Godavari) when Jupiter is in Leo, darshan of Kedarnath and Badrinath, bathing at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse, and giving gold and cows. The belief is that Apara Ekadashi equals all of these.

The katha also gives four images for the fast: an axe for the tree of sin, a fire for the fuel of sin, the sun for the darkness of sin, and a lion before the deer of sin.

Apara Ekadashi Vrat Katha: The Story of King Mahidhwaj

Yudhishthira’s question

Once Dharmaraj Yudhishthira humbly asked Lord Krishna, “O Janardana, what is the name of the Ekadashi in the dark fortnight of Jyeshtha? What is its story, how is it observed, and what fruit does it give?”

Krishna replied, “O King, this Ekadashi is known by two names, Apara and Achala. It gives boundless wealth and merit, and one who keeps it gains fame in the world. On this day Lord Trivikrama is worshipped.” He then described its glory and told an ancient story.

The righteous King Mahidhwaj

Long ago there lived a king named Mahidhwaj. He was righteous, just and caring towards his people. His subjects were happy and his fame spread far and wide.

He had a younger brother named Vajradhwaj, who was his opposite in every way: cruel, unrighteous and unjust. Seeing his elder brother’s fame and the people’s love for him, Vajradhwaj burned with jealousy and kept looking for a way to remove him.

The terrible fruit of jealousy

One night Vajradhwaj found his chance and killed his elder brother. To hide his crime, he carried the body to a forest and buried it under a peepal tree.

The king had died suddenly and unjustly. The scriptures call such a death akaal mrityu, an untimely death. Because of it the king’s soul found no peace, and he became a preta, a restless spirit, living in that same peepal tree.

The spirit in the peepal tree

The spirit-king lived in great sorrow. His restless soul began troubling travellers on that path, and people grew afraid to pass that way. For a long time he could find no way out.

The arrival of Rishi Dhaumya

One day the great sage Dhaumya passed along that road and saw the spirit in the tree. With his inner vision and the power of his tapas, the sage learned its whole past. He understood that this was no ordinary ghost but the righteous King Mahidhwaj, murdered by his own brother.

The sage brought the spirit down from the tree, calmed him, and taught him about the world beyond, so that his mind could become steady. His heart filled with compassion for the king.

The sage’s fast and the gift of merit

To free the king, Rishi Dhaumya kept the Apara Ekadashi fast himself. He worshipped Lord Vishnu with full ritual, fasted, and remembered the Lord through the day.

On Dwadashi, when the fast was complete, the sage took a formal resolve and offered the entire merit of the fast to the spirit of King Mahidhwaj, praying that the king be freed from his suffering.

The king’s liberation

The merit worked at once. King Mahidhwaj was freed from the preta form and received a divine body. With folded hands he bowed to Rishi Dhaumya and thanked him.

Then the king rose to Svarga in the Pushpak Vimana, a celestial chariot. Some tellings say he went to Vaikuntha. Either way the meaning is the same: through the merit of Apara Ekadashi, a suffering soul found peace and a higher realm.

The fruit of the story

At the end Krishna told Yudhishthira, “O King, I have told this for the good of all. Whoever keeps Apara Ekadashi is freed from sin, and whoever reads or hears this story with faith is also freed from sin.”

In some Vaishnava traditions such as ISKCON, the Apara Ekadashi mahatmya is read only as Krishna’s teaching, without this story. In North Indian tradition, the story of King Mahidhwaj is what families usually hear on the day. Some sources spell the king’s name Mahadhwaj.

Apara Ekadashi Puja Vidhi (Step by Step)

The following method is easy to follow at home. If your family tradition or guru says otherwise, follow that.

Dashami (the day before)

1. Eat one simple sattvik meal before sunset. Avoid onion, garlic, meat, alcohol and heavy, oily food.
2. Keep celibacy on Dashami night and hold the resolve for the next day’s fast in your mind.
3. Clean the puja area and gather the samagri in advance.
4. Pick tulsi leaves on Dashami, since plucking tulsi on Ekadashi is traditionally avoided.

Ekadashi morning and sankalp

1. Wake up before sunrise, in Brahma muhurta, and bathe. Add a little Gangajal to the water if you can.
2. Wear clean clothes, yellow if possible, as yellow is dear to Lord Vishnu.
3. Offer water to the Sun.
4. Holding water, akshat and a flower, take the sankalp: “I (name, gotra) will keep the Apara Ekadashi fast today for the pleasure of Lord Trivikrama, as per my ability (nirjala / phalahar / one meal).” Then release the water on the ground.
5. You may add a resolve to stay away from lies, gossip and deceit today, which fits the spirit of this Ekadashi.

Worship of Lord Vishnu (Trivikrama)

1. Spread a yellow cloth on a low stool and place an image of Lord Vishnu on it. Add a picture of Vamana or Trivikrama if you have one; if not, meditate on the Trivikrama form during the puja.
2. Place a water-filled kalash beside it and light a ghee lamp.
3. Bathe the deity with Gangajal or panchamrit, then clean water.
4. Offer yellow sandalwood, roli, akshat, yellow flowers and tulsi leaves.
5. Show incense and the lamp, and offer seasonal fruit (mango, melon), mishri or panchamrit, always with a tulsi leaf.
6. Chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” at least 108 times.
7. Read or listen to the Apara Ekadashi vrat katha with your family.
8. End with Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti and Ekadashi Mata Ki Aarti.

Peepal puja (optional)

1. The peepal tree appears in the katha and is considered an abode of Lord Vishnu, so many families offer water to a peepal on this day.
2. In the evening, light a ghee or sesame-oil lamp under the peepal and walk around it.
3. You may pray for the peace of your ancestors and departed loved ones. This is a traditional sentiment, not a compulsory rule.

Day, evening and night vigil

1. Avoid sleeping during the day. Read the Vishnu Sahasranama, the Gita or stories of the Lord.
2. In the evening, light a lamp near the tulsi plant (do not touch or pluck it) and do the aarti again.
3. Tradition values a night vigil with bhajan, kirtan or naam jap. If staying up all night is hard, spend some time in remembrance and then rest. Keep your health in mind.

Dwadashi and parana

1. Wake early on Dwadashi, bathe and worship Lord Vishnu.
2. If you can, feed a Brahmin, a needy person or a cow and give charity. As it is summer, giving water, an umbrella, footwear or a hand fan is considered especially good.
3. Break the fast within the parana time shown in the table above, starting with water or prasad with a tulsi leaf.

Puja Samagri List

• Image or picture of Lord Vishnu (and of Vamana / Trivikrama if available)
• Wooden stool and yellow cloth
• Copper or brass kalash filled with water
• Gangajal and panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)
• Ghee lamp, cotton wicks and matches
• Incense and camphor
• Yellow sandalwood, roli, turmeric and akshat (whole rice, only for the puja)
• Yellow flowers and a garland
• Tulsi leaves (picked on Dashami)
• Seasonal fruit such as mango, banana and melon
• Mishri, dry fruits or home-made phalahari bhog
• Betel leaves, betel nut, cloves and cardamom
• Yellow cloth or sacred thread to offer the Lord
• Water pot and lamp for the peepal puja
• Items for charity: grain, a water pot, an umbrella or footwear (as per ability)
• The vrat katha book or this page

Apara Ekadashi Mantras

A tulsi mala is best for japa. Chant calmly and clearly. Feeling matters more than numbers.

1. Dwadashakshar mantra

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya)

Meaning: I bow to Lord Vasudeva (Krishna / Vishnu). This twelve-syllable mantra is the one most chanted on Ekadashi. Chant it at least 108 times.

2. Ashtakshar Narayana mantra

ॐ नमो नारायणाय (Om Namo Narayanaya)

Meaning: I bow to Lord Narayana. This short eight-syllable mantra can be repeated silently through the day.

3. Vishnu Gayatri mantra

ॐ नारायणाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि। तन्नो विष्णुः प्रचोदयात्॥ (Om Narayanaya Vidmahe Vasudevaya Dhimahi, Tanno Vishnuh Prachodayat)

Meaning: May we know Narayana and meditate on Vasudeva; may Vishnu inspire and guide our understanding. It suits Apara Ekadashi, a day for resolving to walk the right path.

4. Vishnu dhyana shloka

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं, विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम्। लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यं, वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम्॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Vishnu, whose form is serene, who rests on the serpent Shesha, from whose navel the lotus rises, the lord of the gods, the support of the universe, vast as the sky, dark as a rain cloud, with graceful limbs; the beloved of Lakshmi, lotus-eyed, reached by yogis in meditation, the remover of the fear of worldly life and the one Lord of all the worlds.

Trivikrama Puja: Vishnu’s Cosmic Form on Apara Ekadashi

In his Vamana avatar, Lord Vishnu asked King Bali for three steps of land. He then grew into a cosmic form and covered the earth and the sky in two strides, and Bali offered his own head for the third. This cosmic form is called Trivikrama, “the one of three great strides”.

Worshipping Trivikrama on Apara Ekadashi reflects the idea that the Lord’s power is boundless, just as the name of the day speaks of boundless merit. Before the One who measured the three worlds, even a great fault is small. With this faith devotees ask forgiveness for their mistakes.

No special ritual is needed at home: during the normal Vishnu puja, simply meditate on his cosmic form.

Bhadrakali Ekadashi and Jalakrida Ekadashi

In Punjab, Haryana and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the same day is kept as Bhadrakali Ekadashi, with worship of Goddess Bhadrakali, a benevolent form of Kali. It is an important festival for Saraswat Brahmins. Families who observe it follow their own kul tradition, and many also keep the Vishnu Ekadashi puja. Ask the elders of your family about your custom.

In Odisha the same Ekadashi is called Jalakrida Ekadashi and is dedicated to Lord Jagannath of Puri, where it is a very popular vrat. The name recalls the Lord’s water pastimes in the heat of Jyeshtha.

Charity on Apara Ekadashi: Seva in the Summer Heat

Apara Ekadashi comes in the peak heat of Jyeshtha, so gifts that bring relief from heat are especially valued. The mahatmya compares the fast to giving gold and cows, but anyone can honour that spirit with small gifts.

• Water: set up a water stall, give cool water to passers-by, or donate a clay pot.
• Umbrellas and footwear: for people who work in the sun.
• Food: feed someone in need on Dwadashi. You do not eat grain on Ekadashi, but you may give it to others.
• Fruit: share seasonal fruit like mango, melon or watermelon.
• Water for birds and animals: keep a bowl of water on your roof or in your yard.

Apara Ekadashi Fasting Rules: What to Eat and What to Avoid

The core rule of Ekadashi is giving up grain. In most traditions rice and all cereals are avoided. Choose the type of fast that suits your health.

What you can eat

• Seasonal fruit: mango, banana, melon, watermelon, papaya, apple
• Milk, curd, buttermilk, butter and paneer
• Sabudana khichdi or kheer
• Kuttu (buckwheat) and singhara (water chestnut) flour rotis or puris
• Potato, sweet potato, arbi and pumpkin
• Makhana, peanuts, almonds, cashews and raisins
• Rock salt (sendha namak), black pepper and cumin
• Coconut water, lemon water and plenty of water

What to avoid

• Rice and anything made from rice
• Wheat, barley, maize and other grains
• Lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans and all pulses
• Onion and garlic
• Meat, fish, eggs and alcohol
• Regular iodised salt (use rock salt instead)
• Brinjal, and in some traditions leafy greens
• Packaged “fasting snacks” that may contain grain

Nirjala fast

A nirjala fast means no food and no water for the whole day. It is the hardest form, and in Jyeshtha heat it can cause dehydration. Only fully healthy people should attempt it. People with diabetes, blood pressure or kidney problems, pregnant women and anyone on regular medicines should consult a doctor first.

Phalahar fast

This is the most common form: grains are dropped, and fruit, milk, sabudana and kuttu are eaten along with water. In summer it is a safe and balanced choice for most people.

One meal (Ekabhukta)

Those who cannot fast all day may eat one phalahari meal. Elderly people, children and those with weak health can follow this form. The scriptures allow fasting according to one’s ability.

Apara Ekadashi Parana: When and How to Break the Fast

The Ekadashi fast is complete only when it is broken at the right time on Dwadashi. See the table above for your city’s parana time.

• Within Dwadashi: break the fast after sunrise and before Dwadashi tithi ends. Parana after Dwadashi is considered a fault.
• Not during Hari Vasara: the first quarter of Dwadashi is called Hari Vasara, and parana is not done then. The table’s parana time already accounts for this.
• Morning is best: early morning is ideal; avoid breaking the fast at midday.
• Smarta and Vaishnava: the two traditions sometimes differ on the date or parana window. In 2027 both fast on the same day, though the ISKCON parana end time may differ slightly. Follow your own tradition.

How to do parana

1. Bathe, bow to Lord Vishnu and offer bhog.
2. First take water or charanamrit with a tulsi leaf.
3. Then eat a light sattvik meal. Breaking the fast with rice on Dwadashi is considered auspicious.
4. Feed or give to someone in need before or with your meal.
5. Avoid very heavy or fried food straight after a long fast.

Do’s and Don’ts on Apara Ekadashi

Do’s

• Rise early, bathe and worship Lord Vishnu as Trivikrama.
• Make a special effort to speak the truth all day.
• Read or listen to the vrat katha.
• Chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”.
• Light lamps near the peepal and tulsi.
• Give water to the thirsty and items that ease the heat.
• Pray for the peace of departed family members.
• Ask for or offer forgiveness where there is ill feeling.
• Do parana on time on Dwadashi.

Don’ts

• Do not eat rice, grains, pulses, onion, garlic or non-vegetarian food.
• Do not lie, gossip or speak ill of others.
• Do not cheat, give short weight or give false advice.
• Avoid anger, envy and harsh words.
• Do not pluck tulsi leaves on Ekadashi.
• Avoid sleeping during the day.
• Do not insult elders, teachers or parents.
• Do not keep a harsh fast at the cost of your health.

Apara Ekadashi Myths vs Reality

Myth: Keeping Apara Ekadashi gives licence to keep doing wrong.

Reality: The mahatmya speaks of freedom from sin together with repentance and correction. Using the fast as cover for continued wrongdoing goes against its spirit. Real atonement is admitting the mistake and not repeating it.

Myth: Going near a peepal tree on Ekadashi invites ghosts.

Reality: In the katha the peepal is simply where the king’s body was buried. Hindu tradition regards the peepal as an abode of Vishnu, and its worship is auspicious. The story’s message is compassion and liberation, not fear.

Myth: Fasting for someone else reduces your own merit.

Reality: The story of Rishi Dhaumya teaches the opposite. Fasting for others and offering one’s merit is held in high regard. Praying for others is one of the most beautiful forms of devotion.

Myth: Without a nirjala fast there is no merit at all.

Reality: Fasting according to one’s ability is allowed. A phalahar or one-meal fast is a complete fast. The Lord sees the devotion, not the hardship, and a waterless fast in summer can harm health.

Myth: If you accidentally eat something, the fast is ruined and bad luck follows.

Reality: There is no need for fear over an honest mistake. Ask the Lord’s forgiveness, keep the rules for the rest of the day and complete the puja. Tradition does not speak of bad omens here.

Myth: Fasting “detoxes” the body, so everyone should keep a strict fast.

Reality: The purpose of Ekadashi is spiritual: restraint, devotion and a clearer mind. It is not a medical treatment. The sick, elderly, pregnant women and anyone on regular medicines should consult a doctor and may keep a light fast or simply do puja, japa and katha.

Benefits of Apara Ekadashi (as per Religious Belief)

The benefits below come from religious belief and the katha. Please see them through the eyes of faith, not as guarantees.

• Freedom from sin: believed to remove faults, especially those of lying, slander and deceit.
• Boundless merit: the mahatmya compares its merit to great pilgrimages and gifts of gold and cows.
• Good name: the katha says one who keeps it becomes renowned.
• Peace for departed souls: based on Rishi Dhaumya’s story, the merit of the fast is believed to be offerable for departed loved ones.
• Purity of mind: a day of restraint helps reduce envy, anger and greed.
• Vishnu Loka: per the mahatmya, one who keeps the fast with worship of Trivikrama attains the abode of Vishnu.

Related Ekadashis and Readings

Before Apara comes Mohini Ekadashi of Vaishakh Shukla, linked with Vishnu’s Mohini avatar. After it comes Nirjala Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Shukla, also called Bhimseni Ekadashi and considered the hardest Ekadashi of the year. See all Ekadashi dates for the year on our Ekadashi Kab Hai page.

For the day’s puja, also read Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti, Ekadashi Mata Ki Aarti and Tulsi Mata Ki Aarti. For daily tithi and muhurat, see the Daily Panchang, and download all aartis together from the Aarti Sangrah PDF.

Apara Ekadashi reminds us that the Lord’s grace is boundless and that even a small sincere effort can bear great fruit. On this day, resolve to speak the truth, give water to someone thirsty, remember your departed loved ones and clear your heart of envy. May Lord Trivikrama bless you and your whole family. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

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