Papankusha Ekadashi Date 2027: Vrat Katha, Puja Vidhi, Parana, Mantras and Worship of Lord Padmanabha

Papankusha Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of Ashwin Shukla Paksha, the bright fortnight of the month of Ashwin, when devotees fast and worship Lord Vishnu in his Padmanabha form. It comes right after Dussehra (Vijayadashami), so for many families it is the next step of devotion after Navratri and the festival of victory. ISKCON and several calendars call it Pashankusha Ekadashi.

The name means “a goad on sin”. Just as a mahout uses the ankusha to turn a mighty elephant in the right direction, this fast is believed to pull the mind back from wrongdoing and turn it towards God. Its katha tells of Krodhana, a cruel hunter of the Vindhya mountains, who learned of this vrat from Rishi Angira at the very end of his life.

By tradition, the fast lightens the burden of a lifetime of sins and also benefits one’s ancestors. This guide covers the Papankusha Ekadashi date and parana time, the full vrat katha, the Padmanabha puja vidhi, mantras, fasting rules, daan, and how the day links Dussehra with Sharad Purnima.

When is Papankusha Ekadashi in 2027? Date, Tithi and Parana Time

Quick answer: Papankusha Ekadashi 2026 (22 October) has passed. The next Papankusha Ekadashi is on Monday, 11 October 2027. As per the New Delhi panchang, the Ekadashi tithi runs from about 11:40 AM on 10 October 2027 to about 2:08 PM on 11 October, and parana is on the morning of 12 October 2027 (roughly 6:19 AM to 8:38 AM in New Delhi). Check the exact parana time for your city in the table below.

When the Ekadashi tithi spreads over two days, Smarta (householder) devotees fast on the first day and Vaishnava devotees on the second. If the table shows two days for any year, follow your own tradition.

Meaning of Papankusha Ekadashi and Its Other Names

“A goad on sin”: what the name means

The name joins two words: papa (sin) and ankusha (the hooked iron goad used to guide an elephant). An elephant is far stronger than its mahout, yet a touch of the ankusha makes it stop and turn.

The human mind often behaves like an elephant in rut, chasing anger, greed and habit. Papankusha Ekadashi is believed to act as the goad on that mind. It is meant both to soften the results of past wrongs and to stop us from adding new ones.

Other names

• Pashankusha Ekadashi: the name used by ISKCON and many panchangs. “Pasha” means a noose or bond, so the name suggests a fast that cuts the bonds of sin.
• Ashwin Shukla Ekadashi: the name by month and fortnight.
• Papakunsha / Papankusa: alternate spellings of the same Ekadashi.

Which month: Purnimanta and Amanta calendars

The North Indian Purnimanta calendar and the Amanta calendar differ only in naming the month of the Krishna Paksha. In the Shukla Paksha both use the same month, so Papankusha Ekadashi is Ashwin Shukla Ekadashi in both. It usually falls between late September and October.

In the Vaishnava calendar each month is named after a form of the Lord, and Ashwin is the month of Padmanabha. That is why Lord Padmanabha is worshipped on this Ekadashi.

Significance of Papankusha Ekadashi

Religious significance

By tradition, Lord Krishna said that anyone who worships Lord Vishnu on this Ekadashi does not have to face the torments of Yama. The fast is described as destroying all sins and giving imperishable merit.

The katha compares its fruit to a thousand Ashvamedha and a hundred Rajasuya yajnas, and says even all of those together do not equal one-sixteenth of the Ekadashi fast. Such comparisons are the Puranic way of saying that sincere fasting and devotion stand above the grandest rituals.

The merit is also believed to reach one’s ancestors. ISKCON’s account speaks of ten generations each on the mother’s and father’s side, while some Hindi tellings add ten generations of the spouse’s family.

Spiritual message

The biggest lesson of Papankusha Ekadashi is that it is never too late to change. Krodhana spent his whole life in violence, yet when he admitted his wrongs and sought shelter, a way opened for him. The story gives hope to anyone weighed down by the past.

The second lesson is the goad itself. One day of fasting is not enough on its own; the real ankusha must be applied daily to anger, harsh words and greed. Fittingly, the hunter’s name, Krodhana, means “the angry one”.

The third lesson is harmony. The katha warns that a Vishnu devotee who insults Shiva, or a Shiva devotee who insults Vishnu, loses the merit of devotion. This Ekadashi teaches respect for every form of the Divine.

Mention in the Puranas

By tradition, the glory of Papankusha Ekadashi is told in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, where Lord Krishna answers King Yudhishthira. Most Ekadashi katha collections and ISKCON accounts give this source.

Some writers link the teaching to the Padma Purana, and in a few tellings Krishna narrates it to Arjuna. The heart of the story is the same in all of them; only the listener and the scripture named differ.

Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat Katha

Yudhishthira’s question

King Yudhishthira once asked Lord Krishna, “O Madhusudana, what is the name of the Ekadashi in the bright fortnight of Ashwin? What is its method, and what fruit does its fast bring? Please tell me in detail.”

Krishna describes the glory of the fast

Krishna replied, “O King, this Ekadashi is called Papankusha, and it removes all sins. On this day one should worship Lord Padmanabha to gain one’s wishes. Even a single sincere bow to Lord Vishnu gives the fruit of hard penance and saves a person from the punishments of Yama.”

He continued, “Whoever fasts on this day, keeps the night vigil and, as far as he can, gives land, cows, food, water, clothes, footwear and umbrellas, does not have to face Yamaraja. Now hear an ancient story that shows the power of this vrat.”

Krodhana, the hunter of the Vindhyas

Long ago, a fowler named Krodhana lived on the Vindhya mountains. He was as fierce as his name. He killed birds and animals without mercy, and his life was spent in robbery, drinking, lying and bad company.

He never showed kindness, never took God’s name and never did a single good deed. In this way his whole life slipped by in sin, and old age arrived.

The warning of Yama’s messengers

When the end of his life drew near, Yamaraja sent his messengers. They told Krodhana, “Tomorrow is the last day of your life. We will come to take you, and you must face the fruit of your deeds.”

For the first time, Krodhana’s hard heart trembled. Every sin he had committed came back to him, and he felt that nothing could now save him from hell. Gripped by fear, he wandered restlessly through the forest.

Shelter with Rishi Angira

He reached the hermitage of the great sage Angira, who lived in penance in that forest. Krodhana fell at the sage’s feet and wept: “O sage, I have done nothing but sin all my life, and tomorrow I must die. Is there any way for a sinner like me to escape hell?”

Angira saw that the hunter’s remorse was real, and he felt compassion. He said, “Do not fear, my son. Tomorrow is Papankusha Ekadashi of Ashwin Shukla Paksha. Keep its fast properly, worship Lord Vishnu and remember His name. This vrat is like a goad on the elephant of sin. By its power your sins will be destroyed.”

The fast and the night vigil

Krodhana followed the sage’s words with his whole heart. He spent the day remembering and worshipping Lord Vishnu and stayed awake through the night chanting His name. For the first time in his life, his mind turned from violence to devotion.

Krodhana’s deliverance

By the merit of the fast, all his sins were destroyed. When Yama’s messengers came, they found no burden of sin on him, and they returned empty-handed. By the Lord’s grace, Krodhana reached Vishnuloka (Vaikuntha).

ISKCON’s account adds that he took a divine four-armed form, wearing yellow silk and a garland, and rode on Garuda to Vishnuloka. In some tellings, Vishnu’s own attendants come for him instead of Yama’s messengers.

Variants of the story

In some traditions there is no warning visit; the old Krodhana goes to Angira on his own, out of fear of death and Yama. In others he meets the sage by chance in the forest. Some short readings based on the Brahma Vaivarta Purana give only the glory of the fast, without the hunter’s story. The core teaching is the same in all of them: sincere repentance and surrender to the Lord.

The fruit of the katha

Krishna told Yudhishthira, “O King, whoever keeps Papankusha Ekadashi gains a healthy body, a worthy spouse, wealth, and finally heaven and the abode of Hari.” By tradition, reading or hearing this katha with faith also gives a share of the merit, so families often read it together after the puja.

Papankusha Ekadashi Puja Vidhi (Step by Step)

Dashami (the day before)

1. Eat a simple sattvic meal at midday. Some panchangs also advise avoiding wheat, barley, rice, gram, masoor, urad and moong on Dashami; follow this as far as you can.
2. Take no grain after sunset. Avoid onion, garlic, meat and alcohol, and observe celibacy.
3. After the Dussehra celebrations, clean the house and puja space so the Ekadashi puja can be done with a calm mind.

Ekadashi morning and sankalp

1. Wake in Brahma muhurta and bathe, adding a little Gangajal to the water if you have it. Wear clean clothes, preferably yellow.
2. Hold water, akshat and a flower and take the sankalp: “Today I will keep the Papankusha Ekadashi fast to please Lord Padmanabha and for the cleansing of my sins.” State whether you will keep a nirjala, phalahar or one-meal fast.
3. Along with the sankalp, resolve to keep away from anger, harsh words and lies today. That is the real ankusha of this vrat.

Worship of Lord Padmanabha

1. Spread a yellow or white cloth on a small platform and place an image of Lord Vishnu reclining on Shesha, with a lotus rising from His navel. This is the Padmanabha form.
2. Set up a kalash of water beside it, with mango or peepal leaves at the mouth and a coconut on top.
3. Bathe the Lord with Gangajal (or sprinkle water), then offer yellow sandalwood, akshat, yellow flowers and, if available, a lotus.
4. Offer tulsi leaves, picked the day before, since tulsi is not plucked on Ekadashi.
5. Light a ghee lamp and incense. Offer fruit, sweets, panchamrit and bhog with tulsi.
6. Chant the Vishnu Sahasranama or the mantras below, then read or listen to the vrat katha.
7. End with the Om Jai Jagdish Hare and Ekadashi Mata aartis, and ask forgiveness for any mistakes.

During the day and evening

1. Avoid sleeping during the day. Read the Bhagavad Gita or Vishnu Sahasranama, or sing bhajans.
2. In the evening, light the lamp again and do aarti. Place a ghee lamp near the tulsi plant too.
3. Decide on a daan according to your means, to be completed on Dwadashi.

Night jagran

1. Krodhana stayed awake all night chanting, so the vigil has special importance on this Ekadashi.
2. Sing kirtan with the family, chant the Lord’s names or read the katha. If your health does not allow a full night, a few hours of devoted jagran is enough.

Dwadashi and parana

1. On Dwadashi morning, bathe and worship Lord Vishnu.
2. Feed a Brahmin, someone in need or a cow, and give dakshina or daan.
3. Then break the fast within the parana window with water or prasad containing a tulsi leaf. See the table above for the timing.

Puja Samagri List

• Image of Lord Vishnu in the Padmanabha form (reclining on Shesha, lotus from the navel)
• Small platform with a yellow or white cloth
• Kalash, mango or peepal leaves, coconut
• Gangajal and clean water
• Yellow sandalwood, roli, akshat (whole rice, for worship only)
• Yellow flowers, lotus (if available), garland
• Tulsi leaves, picked the day before
• Ghee lamp, cotton wicks, incense, camphor
• Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)
• Seasonal fruit, bananas, sweets or kheer for bhog
• Betel leaf, betel nut, cloves, cardamom
• Yellow cloth to offer the Lord
• Tulsi mala for japa
• Vrat katha book, Vishnu Sahasranama, aarti book
• Food, clothes, footwear, an umbrella or money for daan

Papankusha Ekadashi Mantras

Faith and focus matter most in japa. Chant one or more of these as you like; 108 repetitions on a tulsi mala are considered auspicious.

1. Dvadashakshara mantra

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय॥ (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya)

Meaning: Salutations to Lord Vasudeva, who dwells within all beings. This twelve-syllable mantra is the most widely chanted mantra on every Ekadashi.

2. Vishnu moola mantra

ॐ नमो नारायणाय॥ (Om Namo Narayanaya)

Meaning: Salutations to Lord Narayana, who sustains all creation. It is short enough to repeat 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: We contemplate Narayana and meditate on Vasudeva; may Lord Vishnu guide our intellect. It suits the “goad on the mind” spirit of this day.

4. Vishnu dhyana shloka (Padmanabha vandana)

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

Meaning: I bow to Lord Vishnu, who is serene, who rests on the serpent Shesha, from whose navel the lotus rises (Padmanabha), the lord of the gods and support of the universe, vast as the sky and dark as a rain cloud, the beloved of Lakshmi with lotus eyes, reached by yogis in meditation, the remover of the fear of worldly existence and the one lord of all worlds. Because it names Padmanabha, this shloka is especially recited on this Ekadashi.

5. Padmanabha nama mantra

ॐ पद्मनाभाय नमः॥ (Om Padmanabhaya Namah)

Meaning: Salutations to Lord Padmanabha, the lotus-naveled one. Padmanabha is also one of the names in the Vishnu Sahasranama, and many devotees repeat this name-mantra through the day.

The katha itself gives no secret mantra. Its message is that sincerely taking the Lord’s name is the greatest practice, so these well-known Vishnu mantras are the ones chanted on this day.

Worship of Lord Padmanabha: Form and Meaning

“Padmanabha” means the one with a lotus (padma) at His navel. In this form Lord Vishnu reclines on Shesha in the ocean of milk; a lotus rises from His navel, and on it sits Brahma, the creator.

The image shows that all creation springs from the Lord and rests in Him. Worshipping this form on Papankusha Ekadashi is a way of reconnecting our lives with that source.

The famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is dedicated to this form. If you do not have a picture of the reclining Vishnu at home, you can worship any image of Vishnu or Krishna with the Padmanabha bhava. The Lord is pleased by feeling, not by the picture.

Dussehra, Papankusha Ekadashi and Sharad Purnima

Papankusha Ekadashi follows Vijayadashami (Dussehra) closely. Depending on the panchang it falls on the day after Dussehra, or a day later when tithis shift. Dussehra celebrates the outer victory of good over evil; Papankusha Ekadashi is the chance to take that victory inward, over our own anger, greed and pride.

Many devotees fast for all nine days of Navratri. A strict fast right after Dussehra can then be hard on the body. If you kept the Navratri fasts, a phalahar or one-meal fast is the sensible choice, and if you feel weak, consult a doctor.

About four days after Papankusha Ekadashi comes Ashwin Purnima, or Sharad Purnima, when kheer is kept in the moonlight and many stay awake at night. Then begins Kartik, called Damodara month in the Vaishnava tradition. Dussehra, Papankusha Ekadashi, Sharad Purnima and the start of Kartik form a ladder of devotion, one step after another.

Daan on Papankusha Ekadashi

In the katha Krishna praises giving on this day, and by belief one who gives according to their means need not fear Yama. Give to truly help someone, not for show.

• Anna daan: feed the hungry or donate grain and rations (you may donate grain on Ekadashi; just do not eat it yourself).
• Jal daan: set up a water stall or give water to travellers. The katha also praises building ponds, gardens and rest houses.
• Clothes, footwear and umbrellas: useful gifts for the poor as the season changes.
• Gau seva: feed a cow green fodder or jaggery.
• Land and cows: named in the scriptures; today, supporting a gaushala or service organisation within your means carries the same spirit.

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

What you can eat

• Seasonal fruit: banana, apple, papaya, pomegranate, guava
• Milk, curd, buttermilk, paneer, makhana
• Sabudana, singhara flour, kuttu flour, rajgira, sama rice (vrat rice)
• Potato, sweet potato, arbi, raw banana
• Peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, raisins
• Rock salt (sendha namak), black pepper, cumin, green chilli, ginger
• Coconut water, lemon water, plain water

What to avoid

• Rice and anything made from rice (the first thing forbidden on Ekadashi)
• All grains: wheat, barley, maize, millet
• Pulses: masoor, urad, moong, chana, arhar
• Onion, garlic, meat, fish, eggs, alcohol, tobacco
• Regular table salt, turmeric and garam masala, if your tradition forbids them
• Packaged “vrat snacks” that may contain grain, onion or garlic

Nirjala fast

A nirjala fast means no food and no water from Ekadashi sunrise until parana on Dwadashi. It is the hardest form and only for people in good health. Do not keep it if you have diabetes, high or low blood pressure or kidney disease, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are elderly or take regular medicines; consult your doctor first.

Phalahar fast

In a phalahar fast you give up grains and eat fruit, milk, nuts and permitted foods. Most householders keep this form, and ISKCON and many Vaishnava traditions also recommend a simple grain-free diet. After the Navratri fasts it is also kinder on the body.

Ek samay (one meal)

Those who cannot fast all day can take one sattvic vrat meal, such as sabudana khichdi or kuttu puri with potato. Children, the elderly, the sick and people doing heavy work can keep the vrat with faith in this way.

Papankusha Ekadashi Parana: When and How to Break the Fast

Parana means breaking the fast. It is done the next day, on Dwadashi tithi, after sunrise and before Dwadashi ends. Breaking the fast after Dwadashi is over is not considered proper.

Hari Vasara: the first quarter of Dwadashi tithi is called Hari Vasara, and parana is not done during it. If Hari Vasara is running in the morning, wait for it to end. Early morning (pratahkal) is the best time for parana; midday (madhyahna) is best avoided.

Smarta and Vaishnava: when Ekadashi spans two days, Smartas fast on the first and Vaishnavas on the second, so their parana days differ. Check the parana time for the day you fasted.

The exact parana time changes with sunrise in each city. See the table above on this page for your city.

How to do parana

1. On Dwadashi morning, bathe and worship Lord Vishnu with bhog.
2. Feed a Brahmin, someone in need or a cow, and give daan.
3. First take a little water or prasad with a tulsi leaf.
4. Then eat a light sattvic meal. Avoid heavy fried food straight after a long fast.

Papankusha Ekadashi Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Bathe, take the sankalp and worship Lord Padmanabha.
• Offer tulsi and light a lamp near the tulsi plant.
• Read or hear the katha; recite the Vishnu Sahasranama or Gita.
• Give food, water, clothes, footwear or an umbrella according to your means.
• Silently forgive those you are at odds with, and mend ties if you can.
• Chant or sing kirtan at night.
• Speak calmly, kindly and truthfully.

Don’ts

• Do not eat rice or grains.
• Avoid anger, quarrels and harsh words. This is the vrat of Krodhana’s story, so mastering anger matters most.
• Do not harm any living being; stay away from violence and hunting.
• Do not pluck tulsi leaves on Ekadashi.
• Avoid sleeping during the day.
• Do not gossip, lie or insult any form of God, whether Shiva or Vishnu.
• Stay away from alcohol, tobacco and all intoxicants.

Papankusha Ekadashi Myths and Facts (Myth vs Reality)

Myth: Once you keep Papankusha Ekadashi, you can do anything wrong and the sins will keep getting erased.

Reality: Ankusha means restraint. In the katha, Krodhana’s deliverance comes with true remorse and a changed life. Tradition sees the vrat as a push to stop wrongdoing, not a licence for it.

Myth: The fast is pointless for someone who has sinned a lot.

Reality: The story says the opposite. Krodhana spent his life in violence, yet Rishi Angira did not turn him away. The message of this Ekadashi is that a sincere new start is possible at any time.

Myth: Without a nirjala fast there is no merit.

Reality: The scriptures allow nirjala, phalahar and one-meal fasts. In the katha Krishna praises even a single sincere bow to the Lord. Choosing a fast that suits your health is right.

Myth: If the fast breaks by mistake, it is a terrible omen.

Reality: If the fast breaks unknowingly or for health reasons, there is no need to fear. Ask the Lord’s forgiveness, keep restraint for the rest of the day and chant His name. Tradition puts bhava above everything.

Myth: After nine days of Navratri fasting, you must still keep a nirjala fast on this Ekadashi.

Reality: There is no such rule. Back-to-back fasting can weaken the body, so choose phalahar or one meal. With diabetes, pregnancy, old age or regular medicines, do not keep a strict fast without your doctor’s advice.

Benefits of Papankusha Ekadashi (Religious Beliefs)

According to tradition and the katha, the following fruits are believed to come from this vrat. Read them as matters of faith, not guarantees.

• Relief from the effects of known and unknown sins, and a purified mind
• Freedom from the fear of Yama and, finally, Vishnuloka, as believed
• Welfare of ancestors and of generations on both sides of the family
• Blessings of good health, a worthy spouse, wealth and prosperity
• Inspiration to control anger and bad habits, and greater self-discipline
• Help to those in need through daan and seva, and contentment of mind
• A home filled with devotion and peace through shared puja, katha and kirtan

Related Ekadashi and Readings

Before Papankusha comes Indira Ekadashi in Ashwin Krishna Paksha (Pitru Paksha), linked to the liberation of ancestors. After it comes Rama Ekadashi in Kartik Krishna Paksha, a few days before Diwali. For every Ekadashi date of the year, see our Ekadashi Kab Hai page.

During the puja you can sing the Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti, Ekadashi Mata Ki Aarti and Tulsi Mata Ki Aarti. For the Kartik festivals that follow, see the Kartik Purnima Puja Vidhi. Check the Daily Panchang for each day’s tithi, and download the Aarti Sangrah PDF for all aartis.

Papankusha Ekadashi reminds us that however strong the elephant of the mind may be, the goad of devotion can bring it back to the right path. Like Krodhana, take shelter in the Lord with a sincere heart, keep anger in check and observe this vrat with faith, as far as your health allows. May Lord Padmanabha fill your life with peace, wisdom and devotion. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

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