Pausha Putrada Ekadashi 2027: Date, Vrat Katha, Puja Vidhi, Parana and Vaikuntha Ekadashi Link

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Pausha, a sacred fast dedicated to Lord Vishnu and traditionally linked with the wish for children. “Putrada” means “the giver of a son” or, as most devotees understand it today, “the giver of children”. Couples who are hoping for a child keep this fast with faith, and parents keep it to pray for the health, character and future of their children.

There are two Putrada Ekadashis in the year — one in Pausha and one in Shravana. In North India the Pausha one is better known. In South India, when this tithi falls inside Dhanurmasa (the solar month of Margazhi), the same day is also celebrated as Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Mukkoti Ekadashi).

Below: the 2027 date and parana time, the vrat katha of King Suketuman, puja vidhi, the Santan Gopal mantra, fasting rules, the difference from Shravana Putrada and the Vaikuntha Ekadashi link.

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi 2027 Date: Tithi and Parana Time

Quick answer: Pausha Putrada Ekadashi 2027 will be observed by householders (Smarta tradition) on Monday, 18 January 2027 and by Vaishnavas on Tuesday, 19 January 2027. As per the New Delhi panchang, Ekadashi tithi begins at 10:26 AM on 18 January and ends at 7:49 AM on 19 January. The Smarta parana is on the afternoon of 19 January, after Hari Vasara ends (about 1:35 PM to 3:42 PM), and the Vaishnava parana is on the morning of 20 January.

The table above shows the date and parana time for your city for this year and the coming years. Sunrise differs by city, so check your own location.

Smarta and Vaishnava: This time the Ekadashi tithi is split over two days, and 19 January touches three tithis — Ekadashi, Dwadashi and Trayodashi — in a single day (called Trisparsha or Mahadwadashi). So householders fast on 18 January and Vaishnava traditions such as ISKCON fast on 19 January. Some panchangs, going only by the sunrise tithi, list 19 January for everyone (the table above also calculates by sunrise tithi, so it shows 19 January this time), so follow your family tradition or your priest’s advice.

Note that there is no Pausha Putrada Ekadashi in calendar year 2026. The previous one fell at the end of December 2025, and because 2026 has an Adhik (extra) month, the next one moves straight to January 2027.

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Meaning and Other Names

“Putrada” is made of two parts — “putra” (son, child) and “da” (one who gives). So Putrada Ekadashi means “the Ekadashi that grants the blessing of a child”. The old texts use the word “putra”, but devotees today understand it as the blessing of a child, whether son or daughter.

Other names of Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

• Pausha Shukla Ekadashi — the general name based on the tithi.
• Putrada / Putradayini Ekadashi — the giver of children.
• Pushya Shukla Ekadashi — Telugu and Kannada calendars call Pausha “Pushya”.
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi / Mukkoti Ekadashi — in South India, in years when the tithi falls inside Dhanurmasa (Margazhi).

Which month in Purnimanta and Amanta calendars?

North India follows the Purnimanta calendar (the month ends on the full moon), while South and West India follow the Amanta calendar (the month ends on the new moon). The name of the Shukla Paksha is the same in both, so this Ekadashi is Pausha Shukla Ekadashi everywhere.

It usually falls between late December and January. Saphala Ekadashi of Pausha Krishna Paksha comes before it, and Shattila Ekadashi of Magha Krishna Paksha comes after it.

Significance of Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

Pausha Putrada is especially associated with children, the family line and the peace of the ancestors.

Religious significance

In Hindu tradition, children are seen not only as the joy of a family but also as the way the debt to one’s ancestors (pitru rina) is repaid, since children later perform shraddha and tarpan for them. That is why Putrada Ekadashi is linked with the well-being of both the family and the ancestors.

According to tradition, keeping this fast with devotion, worshipping Lord Vishnu or Bal Gopal (child Krishna) and singing the Lord’s names at night bring His grace. In the katha, the Vishvadevas tell the king that his wish will be fulfilled by the grace of Lord Keshava.

Spiritual message

The deeper message of the story is that even when a person, crushed by sorrow, starts thinking of a wrong path, patience, the company of saints and devotion can show the right direction. King Suketuman rejected the thought of ending his life and sought the sages — and that became the turning point of his life.

Mention in the Puranas

According to tradition, the glory of Pausha Putrada Ekadashi is described in the Bhavishya Purana (Bhavishyottara Purana), and the story appears in the collections of Ekadashi mahatmya. In it, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira asks Lord Krishna about the Pausha Shukla Ekadashi, and Krishna tells him the story of King Suketuman (some versions make Arjuna the listener).

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Vrat Katha

Yudhishthira said, “O Keshava, you have told me the glory of Saphala Ekadashi. Now kindly tell me about the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of Pausha — its name, its method and the deity to be worshipped.” Lord Krishna replied, “O King, this Ekadashi is called Putrada, and its presiding deity is Lord Narayana. Listen carefully to its story.”

The story of King Suketuman and Queen Shaibya

Long ago there was a beautiful city called Bhadravati, ruled by King Suketuman. His queen was Shaibya (spelt Shaivya in some texts, and named Champa in a few Hindi retellings). The king was righteous and cared for his people, and he had wealth, elephants, horses, ministers and loyal friends.

Yet the royal couple carried a deep sorrow — they had no child. The queen worried day and night. The king wondered who would offer pinda and tarpan to him and his forefathers after he was gone. The story says that even his ancestors grieved, wondering who would offer them water and pinda in the future.

The king felt that without a child he could repay neither his debt to the ancestors nor to the gods. His kingdom and riches lost all their charm. At one point his grief was so great that he even thought of giving up his life. But he reflected that suicide is a grave sin that would help neither him nor his ancestors, and he let the thought go.

The king in the forest

To calm his mind, the king one day rode alone into a dense forest. He saw elephants walking with their young and peacocks dancing with their families, and every creature with its family deepened his sadness. “I have performed yajnas and fed Brahmins,” he thought, “so why must I suffer like this?” By midday, tormented by hunger and thirst, he began to look for water.

Meeting the Vishvadevas at the lake

Soon he came upon a lovely lake full of lotuses, with swans and cranes gliding on it — some devotional retellings compare it to Manasarovar. Around it stood the hermitages of sages. Just then the king’s right side twitched, which he took as a good omen.

He dismounted, bowed to the sages seated on the shore and sat humbly before them. Pleased, they said, “O King, we are happy with you. Tell us your wish.” The king asked who they were and why they had come. They replied, “We are the Vishvadevas. We have come to bathe in this lake, for the Magha bath begins five days from now. And today is Putrada Ekadashi, which grants a worthy child to those who long for one.”

The king joined his palms and said, “O sages, I too have no child. If you are pleased with me, bless me with one.” The Vishvadevas said, “O King, today is Putrada Ekadashi. Keep its fast properly today itself. By the grace of Lord Keshava and our blessing, you will have a child.”

The fruit of the fast

Following their advice, the king fasted that very day, remembered the Lord throughout, and broke the fast properly on Dwadashi. He bowed again to the Vishvadevas and returned to his city with a glad heart.

By the Lord’s grace, Queen Shaibya soon conceived and, after nine months, gave birth to a radiant son. He grew up to be brave, famous, righteous and a protector of his people. The king and queen were filled with joy, and their ancestors too were satisfied.

At the end Krishna says, “O King, whoever keeps Putrada Ekadashi with faith and discipline receives the joy of children in this world and a good destination in the next. Even reading or hearing this glory brings great merit.” Some versions compare this merit to an Ashvamedha yajna, others to the Agnihotra.

Praying for a Child: Pausha Putrada Ekadashi as an Act of Faith

Because the very name of this Ekadashi is tied to children, many couples keep it with great hope. The fast is entirely a matter of faith, prayer and surrender to God. It should not be seen as a medical treatment or as a guarantee of any result.

The right spirit of the fast

• Do not treat the fast as a “deal” with God. See it as a way to find peace, patience and prayer.
• Husband and wife can take the sankalp, do the puja and hear the katha together, which also strengthens mutual trust and support.
• Pray for a healthy, good-natured child, son or daughter alike. Parents can also fast for their children’s health and future.

Faith alongside medical advice

If having a child is taking time, seeing a qualified gynaecologist or fertility specialist is just as important as fasting and prayer. Faith and modern medicine are not opposed; many families rely on both.

Women undergoing treatment, pregnant women and anyone on medication should avoid strict or waterless fasts; fruit, milk, or simply puja and japa also fulfil the spirit of the vrat.

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Puja Vidhi (Step by Step)

On Putrada Ekadashi, along with Lord Vishnu, worship of His child form — Bal Gopal (Laddu Gopal) — is especially popular. This simple method can be followed at home.

Preparation on Dashami (the day before)

1. Eat sattvic food on Dashami and try to have only one meal, before sunset. Avoid garlic, onion, meat and alcohol.
2. Gather the puja items in advance and resolve in your mind to keep the fast.

Ekadashi morning and sankalp

1. Rise before sunrise, bathe and wear clean (preferably yellow) clothes. It is mid-winter, so you may bathe in warm water mixed with a little Ganga jal.
2. Offer water to the Sun God. Sun worship is considered special in the month of Pausha.
3. Holding water, rice grains and a flower, take the sankalp: “I (name, gotra) keep the Pausha Putrada Ekadashi fast today for the pleasure of Lord Vishnu and for the blessing of children / the well-being of my family. O Lord, help me complete it.” Then release the water on the ground.

Worship of Lord Vishnu and Bal Gopal

1. Facing east or north, spread a yellow cloth on a low stool and place an image of Lord Vishnu or Laddu Gopal.
2. First remember Lord Ganesha. Install a kalash if you wish.
3. Bathe the deity with panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar) and then with clean water. Dressing Laddu Gopal in warm clothes for winter is a lovely custom.
4. Offer yellow sandalwood, akshat, yellow flowers and tulsi leaves. Vishnu puja is considered incomplete without tulsi — but pluck the leaves a day earlier.
5. Light incense and a ghee lamp. Offer seasonal fruit, makhan-mishri, panjiri or a fasting sweet.
6. Chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” at least one mala (108 times). If praying for a child, chant the Santan Gopal mantra.
7. Read or listen to the Pausha Putrada Ekadashi vrat katha with your family.
8. End with Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti and Ekadashi Mata Ki Aarti, followed by a prayer for forgiveness of any mistakes.

Evening puja and night vigil

1. In the evening, light the lamp again and do aarti. Also light a lamp near the tulsi plant (touching tulsi or plucking leaves after sunset is avoided).
2. You may recite the Vishnu Sahasranama, Gopal Sahasranama or Santan Gopal Stotra.
3. If possible, keep a night vigil with bhajans. If you cannot stay up all night, sing for a while and then rest.

Dwadashi and parana

1. On Dwadashi, bathe, worship the Lord and offer bhog.
2. Feed a Brahmin, a needy person or children, or donate grain, warm clothes or blankets — very useful in winter.
3. Within the parana window shown in the table, after Hari Vasara ends, break the fast with water or prasad containing a tulsi leaf.

Puja Samagri List

• Image or idol of Lord Vishnu or Laddu Gopal
• Ganga jal and a kalash (optional)
• Panchamrit — milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar
• Yellow sandalwood, roli, akshat (whole rice, only for puja)
• Yellow flowers and a garland
• Tulsi leaves (plucked the day before)
• Seasonal fruit — banana, guava, orange, apple, ber
• Bhog — makhan-mishri, panjiri, dry fruit or a fasting sweet
• Japa mala (a tulsi mala is considered best)
• Grain, blankets, warm clothes or dakshina for charity

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Mantras

Mantras of Lord Vishnu and child Krishna are considered especially fruitful today. Faith matters more than the count.

1. The twelve-syllable mantra

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Meaning: I bow to Lord Vasudeva (Krishna / Vishnu). This twelve-syllable mantra is chanted on every Ekadashi and is considered the simplest and most powerful Vishnu mantra.

2. Santan Gopal mantra

Om Devakisuta Govinda Vasudeva Jagatpate, Dehi Me Tanayam Krishna Tvamaham Sharanam Gatah

Meaning: O son of Devaki, O Govinda, O Vasudeva, Lord of the universe, O Krishna — I have taken refuge in You; bless me with a child. This is the best-known traditional mantra for the wish for children. Learn its bija-mantra forms only from a guru or priest.

3. The eight-syllable mantra

Om Namo Narayanaya

Meaning: I bow to Lord Narayana. In the Sri Vaishnava tradition of South India, especially on Vaikuntha Ekadashi, this mantra is widely chanted.

Pausha Putrada vs Shravana Putrada Ekadashi: The Difference

Many people confuse the two Putrada Ekadashis. Their name and purpose (the wish for children) are similar, but their month, story and regional customs differ. To read about the other one in detail, see our Shravana Putrada Ekadashi article.

Point	Pausha Putrada Ekadashi	Shravana Putrada Ekadashi
Tithi	Pausha Shukla Ekadashi	Shravana Shukla Ekadashi
Gregorian month (approx.)	December – January	July – August
Characters in the katha	King Suketuman, Queen Shaibya, Bhadravati, the Vishvadevas	King Mahijit, Mahishmati, Sage Lomasha
Cause of childlessness (in the story)	Not stated; the Vishvadevas simply prescribe the fast	A past-life sin of stopping a thirsty cow from drinking water
Other names	Vaikuntha / Mukkoti Ekadashi (when in Dhanurmasa)	Pavitra / Pavitropana Ekadashi
Where more popular	Better known in North India	More widely observed in many regions outside North India

Pausha Putrada and Vaikuntha Ekadashi: The South Indian Connection

In South India — especially Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka — Vaikuntha Ekadashi is considered the greatest Ekadashi of the year, and in many years it falls on the same day as Pausha Putrada.

How Vaikuntha Ekadashi is decided (the Dhanurmasa rule)

Vaikuntha Ekadashi is fixed by the solar month, not the lunar month. The period when the Sun is in Sagittarius (Dhanu) — roughly from mid-December to Makar Sankranti — is called Dhanurmasa, or Margazhi in Tamil. The Shukla Ekadashi that falls within Dhanurmasa is Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

• If Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi (Mokshada Ekadashi) falls inside Dhanurmasa, that day is Vaikuntha Ekadashi.
• If Mokshada falls before Dhanu Sankranti, the next Shukla Ekadashi — Pausha Putrada — falls in Dhanurmasa and becomes Vaikuntha Ekadashi.
• If Pausha Putrada falls after Makar Sankranti, it is not Vaikuntha Ekadashi that year.

For example, on 10 January 2025 and again on 30 December 2025, Pausha Putrada Ekadashi was celebrated in the South as Vaikuntha Ekadashi. This time, however, Pausha Putrada falls after Makar Sankranti, so it is not Vaikuntha Ekadashi; in this cycle, Vaikuntha Ekadashi falls on Mokshada Ekadashi in December 2026. In future years the two may coincide again.

Vaikuntha Dwara darshan at Tirupati (Tirumala)

At the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala, a special passage around the sanctum is called the Vaikuntha Dwaram. It is believed that the gates of Vaikuntha, Lord Vishnu’s abode, open on Vaikuntha Ekadashi, and passing through this gate for darshan brings the Lord’s special blessing. In Telugu regions the day is called Mukkoti Ekadashi.

In recent years, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has kept Vaikuntha Dwara darshan open for ten days from Vaikuntha Ekadashi — for example, 10 to 19 January 2025, and 30 December 2025 to 8 January 2026. Check TTD’s official announcements each year.

What to Eat and Avoid in the Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Fast

The basic rule of the Ekadashi fast is giving up grains. Pausha is the coldest part of winter, so choose fasting foods that give the body warmth and energy.

Foods you can eat

• Seasonal fruit — banana, guava, orange, apple, papaya, ber
• Sweet potato, potato, arbi and pumpkin (with rock salt)
• Kuttu (buckwheat), singhara (water chestnut) and rajgira (amaranth) flour; sabudana and sama rice
• Milk, curd, paneer, ghee and warm milk
• Makhana, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, raisins, dates

Foods to avoid

• Rice and anything made from rice — the most strictly avoided food on Ekadashi
• All grains such as wheat, barley, maize and millet
• Lentils and legumes such as chana, rajma and soybean
• Garlic, onion, meat, fish, eggs, alcohol and tobacco
• Ordinary iodised salt — use rock salt instead

Nirjala fast

In a nirjala fast, both food and water are given up for the whole day. It is the strictest form and only healthy people should attempt it. This time the Smarta parana is in the afternoon of the next day, so the fast may last longer than usual — decide carefully.

Phalahar fast

Most householders keep a phalahar fast, taking fruit, milk and the fasting foods listed above. Drinking water, warm water and milk is not considered a fault.

One meal (ekabhukta)

Those who cannot fast fully may take one fasting meal in the day. This is a good option for the elderly, the unwell and those with low strength. People with diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy, breastfeeding or regular medication should consult their doctor before any strict fast.

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Parana: When and How to Break the Fast

Parana means breaking the fast. Tradition holds that the fast bears full fruit only when parana is done at the right time. Check your city’s time in the table above.

Main parana rules

• Parana is done on the day after Ekadashi, within Dwadashi tithi. Breaking the fast after Dwadashi ends is not considered proper.
• Do not break the fast during Hari Vasara (the first quarter of Dwadashi tithi). Wait for it to end.
• Early morning is the preferred time. Midday is generally avoided, but if morning is not possible, parana may be done after midday.

Why is the parana in the afternoon this time?

In this cycle, Ekadashi tithi ends on the morning of 19 January and Dwadashi begins at the same time. The first quarter of Dwadashi (Hari Vasara) lasts until about midday, so those keeping the Smarta fast break it on the afternoon of 19 January after Hari Vasara ends. In the Vaishnava tradition, the fast is on 19 January and parana is on the morning of 20 January. See the table for exact times.

How to do parana

1. Bathe, worship Lord Vishnu and offer bhog.
2. First take water or prasad with a tulsi leaf.
3. Then eat a simple sattvic meal. Eating rice on Dwadashi is considered auspicious, but avoid very heavy or fried food at once.

Do’s and Don’ts on Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

Do’s

• Rise early, bathe and worship Lord Vishnu or Bal Gopal.
• Take the sankalp, hear the katha and do aarti together as a couple.
• Chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” or the Santan Gopal mantra.
• Donate blankets, woollens, grain or jaggery, keeping the winter in mind.
• Give food, fruit or study material to children — a lovely way to serve the Lord in His child form.

Don’ts

• Do not eat rice, grains or lentils.
• Do not pluck tulsi leaves on Ekadashi — pick them a day earlier.
• Avoid anger, lies, gossip, harsh words and quarrels.
• Never taunt or blame any couple about children — this is a fast of compassion.
• Do not break the fast during Hari Vasara or after Dwadashi ends.
• Do not force a nirjala fast at the cost of your health.

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Myths vs Reality

Myth: Keeping the Putrada Ekadashi fast guarantees a child.

Reality: Tradition links this fast with the wish for children, and the katha reflects that faith. But it is a matter of prayer and devotion, not a medical treatment or a guarantee. For any health issue related to conceiving, a doctor’s advice is essential, and the fast can be a source of faith and strength alongside it.

Myth: This fast is only for wishing for a son.

Reality: The old texts use the word “putra” because that was the language of the time. Today devotees see it as a prayer for children — sons and daughters alike. Discriminating between them is neither the message of dharma nor right for today’s society.

Myth: Only the wife should keep the fast.

Reality: In the katha, it was King Suketuman himself who fasted. Either spouse, or both, may keep it. Having a child is not the responsibility of the woman alone, so praying together is considered most beautiful.

Myth: Without a nirjala fast, the vrat bears no fruit.

Reality: Tradition gives options such as phalahar and one meal, according to the body’s capacity. The Lord looks at the heart. Especially in winter, choose the form of fast that suits your health.

Myth: Pausha Putrada Ekadashi is always Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

Reality: Vaikuntha Ekadashi is decided by the solar month of Dhanu. In some years it falls on Mokshada, in some on Pausha Putrada, and some calendar years have none at all. This time Pausha Putrada falls after Makar Sankranti, so it is not Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

Benefits of Pausha Putrada Ekadashi (Religious Beliefs)

These benefits are matters of faith, not promises of any fixed result.

• Blessing of children: It is believed that the Lord’s grace rests on couples who keep this fast with faith.
• Well-being of children: Parents’ prayers are believed to bless their children’s health, intelligence and character.
• Peace of the ancestors: According to the katha, the ancestors are satisfied when the family line continues.
• Peace of mind and patience: Fasting, japa and kirtan steady the mind, which helps greatly during a hard time of waiting.
• Hope of liberation: The phalashruti says this fast also leads to a good destination in the next world.

Related Ekadashis and Readings

Just before Pausha Putrada comes Saphala Ekadashi of Pausha Krishna Paksha — after hearing its story, Yudhishthira asked about Putrada Ekadashi. After it comes Shattila Ekadashi of Magha Krishna Paksha, known for the six uses of sesame. For the year’s other Putrada Ekadashi, read Shravana Putrada Ekadashi, and for all Ekadashi dates visit our Ekadashi Kab Hai page.

For the day’s worship, also read Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti, Ekadashi Mata Ki Aarti and Tulsi Mata Ki Aarti. Check the Daily Panchang for each day’s tithi, and download all aartis together in our Aarti Sangrah PDF.

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi reminds us that even in life’s deepest sorrow, patience, the company of the wise and trust in God can open a new path. Keep the fast with faith, pray for your family and children, and help someone in need. May Bal Gopal always fill your home with joy. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

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