Varuthini Ekadashi 2027: Date, Vrat Katha, Puja Vidhi, Parana, Daan and Vallabhacharya Jayanti

Varuthini Ekadashi (वरुथिनी एकादशी) is the Ekadashi of the waning fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Vaishakha, kept with special worship of Lord Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) avatar. The word “Varuthini” carries the sense of armour or protection. According to tradition, whoever keeps this fast with faith is shielded by the Lord from suffering and misfortune.

The best-known story of this Ekadashi belongs to King Mandhata. While he was doing penance on the banks of the Narmada, a bear attacked him. Lord Vishnu saved his life and told him to go to Mathura and keep this fast while worshipping the Varaha form, after which the king’s body was made whole again.

The day has one more distinction. It is also celebrated as the birth anniversary (Jayanti) of Shri Vallabhacharya, the founder of the Pushti Marg. In this guide you will find the date, parana time, the full vrat katha, puja vidhi, mantras, the importance of charity, the rules from Dashami to Dwadashi and some common misunderstandings about the fast.

Varuthini Ekadashi 2027 Date: Tithi and Parana Time

Quick answer: Varuthini Ekadashi 2026 (13 April) has already passed. The next Varuthini Ekadashi falls on Sunday, 2 May 2027. As per the New Delhi panchang, Ekadashi tithi begins at 6:53 PM on 1 May and ends at 7:51 PM on 2 May, and parana can be done on 3 May between about 5:39 AM and 8:19 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.

Varuthini Ekadashi Meaning and Other Names

In Sanskrit, “varutha” means armour, a shield or a protective cover. “Varuthini” comes from it and means “she who protects like armour”. The belief is that this fast builds a protective shield of merit around the devotee, guarding against sin, fear, illness and bad fortune.

Other names of Varuthini Ekadashi

• Varoothini Ekadashi: the same name written with a long “oo” (वरूथिनी). Both spellings are accepted.
• Baruthini or Baruthani Ekadashi: a common North Indian form, since “va” is often spoken as “ba”.
• Vaishakha Krishna Ekadashi: the name by tithi used in panchangs.
• The Ekadashi of Vallabhacharya Jayanti: followers of the Pushti Marg know the day as the appearance day of their acharya.

Month in the Purnimanta and Amanta calendars

In the Purnimanta calendar used across North India, the month ends on the full moon, so this is Vaishakha Krishna Ekadashi. In the Amanta calendar used in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the month ends on the new moon, so the same day is called Chaitra Krishna Ekadashi.

The date is the same in both systems; only the month name changes. On the Gregorian calendar it usually falls in April or May. It is the second Ekadashi after the Hindu new year (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), coming after Kamada Ekadashi and before Mohini Ekadashi.

Significance of Varuthini Ekadashi

Religious significance

According to tradition, Lord Krishna himself described the glory of this Ekadashi to King Yudhishthira. He said it brings good fortune, destroys all sins and finally leads to liberation (moksha). The merit of Varuthini Ekadashi is said to equal that of ten thousand years of austerity.

The mahatmya also compares the fast to giving gold in charity at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse. Whoever reads or hears the katha with faith is believed to gain merit equal to donating a thousand cows.

This Ekadashi is special for the worship of Lord Vishnu’s Varaha avatar. In the katha, the Lord told King Mandhata to worship the image of his Varaha form. Varaha is the form in which Vishnu slew the demon Hiranyaksha and lifted the sunken earth on his tusks to set it back in place, which is why he is worshipped as protector and rescuer.

Spiritual message

The deepest lesson of the Varuthini katha is patience and non-violence. Even as the bear chewed his foot, King Mandhata did not lose his temper or raise a weapon. He only called on the Lord. The story teaches us to keep the mind steady in God in a crisis instead of panicking.

The second lesson is about karma. The Lord explained that the king’s suffering came from an offence in a past life. Rather than resenting hardship, we can treat it as a chance to grow.

Mention in the Puranas

By tradition, the glory of Varuthini Ekadashi appears in the Bhavishyottara Purana as a conversation between Krishna and Yudhishthira. Several Vaishnava organisations, including ISKCON, connect it with the Padma Purana. The essence of the story is the same in both.

Two kings are named in the mahatmya as having benefited from this fast. The first is King Mandhata, whose story follows. The second is King Dhundhumara of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who suffered under a curse of Lord Shiva and, by tradition, was freed from it by keeping Varuthini Ekadashi.

Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat Katha: The Story of King Mandhata

Yudhishthira’s question

Once King Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna, “O Vasudeva, what is the name of the Ekadashi that falls in the dark fortnight of Vaishakha? How is it observed, and what is its fruit? Please tell me in detail.”

Krishna replied happily, “O King, this Ekadashi is called Varuthini. It grants good fortune, destroys all sins and finally gives liberation. Whoever keeps it finds happiness in this world and the next. Let me tell you an ancient story about it.”

The generous King Mandhata of the Narmada

Long ago, King Mandhata ruled on the banks of the river Narmada. He was generous, righteous and given to penance, and his people loved him. Along with ruling his kingdom, he spent much of his time in devotion and austerity.

One day the king went into the forest to do penance and became completely absorbed in meditation. Just then a wild bear came by.

The bear’s attack and the king’s patience

The bear seized the meditating king by the foot and began to chew it. Then it started dragging him deeper into the forest. Even in such pain, King Mandhata did not give in to anger. He was in the middle of his penance and considered violence wrong at such a time, so he did not strike the bear.

Instead, he called out to Lord Vishnu with a pained heart, “O Narayana, friend of the helpless, protect me!” Hearing his devotee’s cry, Lord Vishnu appeared at once. He killed the bear with his Sudarshan Chakra and saved the king’s life.

Lord Vishnu’s instruction

The bear was dead, but it had already eaten the king’s foot. Having lost his foot, King Mandhata was deeply sad. Seeing this, Lord Vishnu said lovingly, “My child, do not grieve. What you have suffered is the result of an offence committed in a past life.”

The Lord continued, “Go to Mathura. There, keep the fast of Varuthini Ekadashi of Vaishakha Krishna Paksha and worship the image of my Varaha avatar with devotion. By the power of this fast, your body will become whole and beautiful again.” Saying this, the Lord vanished.

The fast at Mathura and the king’s restoration

King Mandhata obeyed and went to Mathura. He kept Varuthini Ekadashi with full faith and discipline. He fasted through the day, worshipped the image of Lord Varaha and stayed awake at night remembering the Lord.

By the power of the fast, the king’s lost foot was restored and his body became healthy and handsome as before. He spent the rest of his life in righteousness and devotion. According to tradition, by the merit of this fast he reached a higher realm at the end of his life.

The fruit of the story

Krishna told Yudhishthira, “O King, anyone troubled by fear or suffering should keep Varuthini Ekadashi and remember Lord Vishnu. Whoever reads or hears this story with faith gains merit equal to the gift of a thousand cows.”

Variations in the story: Most Hindi tellings follow this version. Some do not name the Sudarshan Chakra and just say “chakra”. Some say the bear “injured” rather than “ate” the foot. Some end with the king reaching Svarga (heaven), others Vaikuntha. ISKCON’s English telling of the mahatmya does not include the bear episode at all; it only says that King Mandhata was liberated by this fast.

Varuthini Ekadashi Puja Vidhi (Step by Step)

This simple method suits home worship. Where your family or guru differs, follow them.

Dashami (the day before)

1. On Dashami, eat a single simple sattvik meal before sunset. Tradition calls this “havishyanna”: plain food without oil or spices.
2. The Varuthini mahatmya lists special rules for Dashami: do not eat from a bell-metal (kansa) plate, avoid meat, masoor dal, chickpeas, kodo millet, leafy greens and honey, do not eat food from another person’s house and do not eat twice.
3. Observe celibacy on Dashami night and keep the next day’s fast in mind.
4. Clean the puja space and gather the puja samagri a day in advance.

Ekadashi morning and sankalp

1. Wake before sunrise, in Brahma Muhurta, and bathe. Add a little Ganga jal to the water if you have it.
2. Wear clean clothes, yellow if possible, as yellow is considered dear to Lord Vishnu.
3. Offer water to the Sun.
4. Take water, akshat and a flower in your hand and make the sankalp: “I (your name and gotra) will keep the Varuthini Ekadashi fast today for the pleasure of Lord Vishnu, as per my capacity (nirjala / phalahar / one meal).” Then let the water fall to the ground.

Worship of Lord Vishnu and Lord Varaha

1. Spread a yellow cloth on a low stool (chowki) and place an image or picture of Lord Vishnu on it. If you have a picture or murti of the Varaha avatar, place it too. If not, meditate on the Varaha form during Vishnu puja.
2. Keep a water-filled kalash nearby and light a ghee lamp.
3. Bathe the Lord with Ganga jal or panchamrit, then with clean water.
4. Offer sandalwood, roli, akshat, yellow flowers and tulsi leaves. Pick the tulsi a day earlier, as plucking tulsi on Ekadashi is traditionally avoided.
5. Show incense and the lamp, and offer seasonal fruit, mishri or panchamrit as bhog.
6. Chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” at least 108 times.
7. Read the Varuthini Ekadashi vrat katha, or listen to it with your family.
8. End with the Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti and the Ekadashi Mata Ki Aarti.

Evening puja and night vigil

1. Avoid daytime sleep. Read the Vishnu Sahasranama or the Gita when you can.
2. At dusk, light a lamp near the tulsi plant (without plucking it) and do aarti again.
3. Keep a night vigil (jagran) with bhajans and kirtan, as King Mandhata and King Dhundhumara did. If a full night is hard, stay up at least until midnight, keeping your health in mind.

Dwadashi and parana

1. On Dwadashi morning, bathe and worship Lord Vishnu.
2. If you can, feed a Brahmin, a person in need or a cow, and give charity as you are able.
3. Within the parana time shown in the table above, break the fast with water or prasad with a tulsi leaf.
4. The mahatmya says to keep the Dashami rules on Dwadashi as well, and to avoid hard physical labour, oil massage and shaving or haircuts.

Puja Samagri List

• Image or picture of Lord Vishnu (and of the Varaha avatar if available)
• A chowki and a yellow cloth
• A kalash filled with water, mango leaves
• Ganga jal and panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)
• Ghee lamp, cotton wicks, matches
• Dhoop or incense sticks
• Sandalwood, roli, kumkum, turmeric
• Akshat (unbroken rice, for worship only)
• Yellow flowers and a garland
• Tulsi leaves (picked a day earlier)
• Seasonal fruit, mishri, dry fruits
• Betel leaf, supari, cloves, cardamom (as offerings)
• Vrat katha and aarti book
• Grain, clothes, books or dakshina for charity

Varuthini Ekadashi Mantras

Faith and focus matter more than perfect pronunciation. Chant any one or more of these as you are able. Using a tulsi mala is considered auspicious.

1. Dwadashakshar mantra

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya (ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय)

Meaning: I bow to Lord Vasudeva (Vishnu). This twelve-syllable mantra is the one most widely chanted on Ekadashi; 108 repetitions are considered auspicious.

2. Ashtakshar Narayana mantra

Om Namo Narayanaya (ॐ नमो नारायणाय)

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

3. Varaha mantra

Om Varahaya Namah (ॐ वराहाय नमः)

Meaning: Salutations to Lord Varaha. Since worship of the Varaha avatar is special on Varuthini Ekadashi, say this short mantra while offering flowers and tulsi to Lord Varaha.

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, who is peaceful in form, rests on the serpent Shesha, has a lotus at his navel, is lord of the gods and the support of the universe, vast as the sky, dark as a rain cloud and beautiful in form; 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 worlds.

Importance of Charity (Daan) on Varuthini Ekadashi

The Varuthini mahatmya gives special weight to charity and compares different gifts. By tradition, giving an elephant is greater than giving a horse, land is greater still, then sesame, then gold, and the gift of food grain (anna daan) is greater than all of these.

Anna daan: the greatest material gift

According to the mahatmya, food is placed so high because it satisfies the gods, the ancestors (pitars) and human beings alike. Feeding the hungry is like giving life. Some versions place kanyadaan and the gift of cows on a par with anna daan.

You could support a temple bhandara or feed someone who is hungry. Those fasting do not eat grain, but they can still give it; many do so on Dwadashi morning.

Vidya daan: the highest gift

The mahatmya gives the highest place to the gift of knowledge. Teaching someone who lacks knowledge, educating a child, or guiding someone to the right path is considered greater than every material gift. Tradition says that whoever keeps Varuthini Ekadashi gains the merit of all these gifts.

Today vidya daan can be as simple as paying a child’s school fees, teaching someone for free or sharing religious books.

Give within your means and with respect, never for show. The merit of charity is a matter of belief; what truly matters is helping someone in need with compassion.

Vallabhacharya Jayanti and Varuthini Ekadashi

Varuthini Ekadashi is also observed as Shri Vallabhacharya Jayanti. Shri Vallabhacharya founded the Pushti Marg and taught the Shuddhadvaita (pure non-dualism) philosophy. He is believed to have appeared in 1479 CE on Vaishakha Krishna Ekadashi (Chaitra Krishna Ekadashi in the Amanta calendar).

His father was Shri Lakshmana Bhatta and his mother Illamma Garu. According to tradition he was born at Champaranya, near present-day Raipur in Chhattisgarh, while his family was travelling. Some sources link his birth to Kashi (Varanasi), where the family lived.

Vallabhacharya taught loving devotion to Lord Krishna as “pushti”, a path resting on the Lord’s grace. The great poet Surdas is regarded as his famous disciple. In Pushti Marg temples and havelis, especially those devoted to the service of Shrinathji, the day is celebrated as a major festival.

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

On Ekadashi, grains, meaning rice, wheat, pulses and most cereals, are not eaten. Food rules vary a little by family and region, so follow your own tradition.

What you can eat

• Seasonal fruit: banana, apple, papaya, muskmelon, watermelon, grapes (juicy fruits suit the April-May heat)
• Milk, curd, buttermilk, paneer, makhana
• Dry fruits and peanuts
• Kuttu (buckwheat), singhara (water chestnut) and rajgira (amaranth) flour
• Sabudana, sama rice (barnyard millet)
• Potato, sweet potato, arbi, pumpkin, bottle gourd
• Sendha namak (rock salt), black pepper, cumin
• Coconut water, lemon water, fruit juice

What to avoid

• Rice and anything made from rice (the main Ekadashi restriction)
• Wheat, barley, maize and ordinary flour
• All pulses, especially masoor and chana (named specifically in the Varuthini mahatmya)
• Onion, garlic, meat, fish, eggs and alcohol
• Ordinary (iodised) salt
• Honey (listed as forbidden on Dashami and Dwadashi in the Varuthini mahatmya; many avoid it on Ekadashi too)
• Paan and supari (forbidden on Ekadashi in the mahatmya)
• Brinjal and some leafy greens (avoided in many families)

Nirjala fast

In a nirjala fast, neither food nor water is taken through the day. It is the strictest form. April and May are hot, so a waterless fast carries a real risk of dehydration. Keep it only if you are healthy and know your limits.

Phalahar fast

Most householders keep a phalahar fast: fruit, milk and fasting foods through the day, but no grain. In the summer heat this is the most balanced choice. Keep drinking water, coconut water and buttermilk.

One meal (Ekabhukta)

Those who cannot manage phalahar can eat one simple grain-free meal, such as sabudana khichdi or kuttu roti with potato sabzi.

Health caution: If you have diabetes, blood pressure, kidney or heart problems, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are elderly or take regular medicines, please consult your doctor before a strict fast. You can choose phalahar or a single meal instead, and do not stop your medicines. The Lord values devotion, not hardship to the body.

Varuthini Ekadashi Parana: When and How to Break the Fast

Parana means breaking the fast. An Ekadashi fast is broken the next day, on Dwadashi tithi, after sunrise. Doing parana at the right time is considered an essential part of the vrat.

• Within Dwadashi: parana should be done before Dwadashi tithi ends. Breaking the fast after Dwadashi is considered a fault.
• Avoid Hari Vasara: the first quarter of Dwadashi tithi is called Hari Vasara. Parana is not done during it; wait until it ends.
• Morning is best: parana is ideally done in the early morning (pratahkal). Breaking the fast at midday (madhyahna) is avoided unless there is no other option.
• Smarta and Vaishnava: in some years the Smarta and Vaishnava (ISKCON) dates and parana windows differ, and the Vaishnava window is sometimes a little longer. Follow your own tradition.

The correct parana time for your city is shown in the table above.

How to do parana

1. On Dwadashi morning, bathe, bow to Lord Vishnu and light a lamp.
2. Offer bhog to the Lord with a tulsi leaf on it.
3. First take a little water or charanamrit with a tulsi leaf.
4. Then eat a light sattvik meal. Many break the fast with rice, since rice is avoided on Ekadashi and the vrat is completed with it on Dwadashi.
5. Before or after parana, feed and give to a Brahmin or someone in need.
6. After a long fast, do not eat heavy, fried food straight away. Eat slowly.

Do’s and Don’ts on Varuthini Ekadashi

Do’s

• Wake early, bathe and take the sankalp.
• Worship Lord Vishnu and the Varaha avatar with devotion.
• Read or listen to the vrat katha.
• Chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”.
• Recite the Vishnu Sahasranama or read the Bhagavad Gita.
• Give anna daan and vidya daan as you are able.
• In the summer heat, setting up water or sherbet for passers-by is a fine form of service.
• Speak calmly, kindly and truthfully.

Don’ts

• Do not eat rice, grain, pulses, meat, onion, garlic or alcohol.
• Do not eat from bell-metal (kansa) plates on Dashami and Dwadashi (a rule specific to the Varuthini mahatmya).
• Do not eat food from another’s house, and do not eat twice on Dashami.
• Do not gamble or sleep in the daytime.
• Avoid anger, lies, gossip, backbiting and insulting anyone.
• Avoid paan and supari.
• Do not pluck tulsi leaves on Ekadashi.
• Do not harm any creature. Keep the spirit of non-violence, like King Mandhata.
• Do not cut hair, nails or shave (the mahatmya also forbids shaving on Dwadashi).

A note on brushing teeth: the mahatmya lists brushing teeth (datun) among things to avoid on Ekadashi. Many families simply rinse the mouth with water on this day. It is a matter of tradition; decide with your family or guru while keeping basic hygiene.

Varuthini Ekadashi Myths vs Reality

Myth: Keeping Varuthini Ekadashi automatically cures every illness or injury.

Reality: King Mandhata’s story is a story of faith and divine grace. Tradition holds that the fast gives the mind strength and peace. But illness and injury need proper medical treatment. Fasting and prayer can go alongside treatment, not replace it.

Myth: Without an image of Lord Varaha, the puja is incomplete.

Reality: The katha asks the king to worship a Varaha image, so the Varaha form has special importance. But if you do not have one, worshipping Lord Vishnu in any form while meditating on Varaha and chanting “Om Varahaya Namah” is considered enough. The Lord looks at the heart.

Myth: If you do not keep a nirjala fast, you get no merit at all.

Reality: The scriptures allow you to fast as per your capacity. A phalahar or one-meal fast kept with full devotion is accepted. In the summer heat a waterless fast can harm health, so choose wisely.

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

Reality: An honest mistake is not considered a sin. Ask the Lord’s forgiveness, chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” and complete the rest of the day with discipline. Ekadashi is a fast of devotion, not of fear.

Myth: On Ekadashi you must not cook or give grain to anyone.

Reality: The person fasting does not eat grain, but the Varuthini mahatmya actually calls the gift of food the greatest material gift. Cooking for family members who are not fasting and feeding the hungry are seen as meritorious.

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

Reality: Ekadashi is a spiritual practice, not a medical treatment, and big health claims about it are not backed by firm evidence. Strict fasting can be risky with diabetes, pregnancy, old age or medication, so consult a doctor.

Benefits of Varuthini Ekadashi (as per Religious Belief)

These are religious beliefs drawn from tradition, not guarantees.

• A shield of protection: true to its name, the fast is believed to act like armour against sin, fear and misfortune.
• Removal of sins: keeping the fast with faith is believed to lessen the effect of past wrongs.
• Good fortune: Krishna called it the Ekadashi that grants saubhagya.
• Merit of austerity and charity: the mahatmya equates its fruit with ten thousand years of penance and with many great gifts.
• Relief from suffering and fear: the stories of Mandhata and Dhundhumara make it a fast associated with relief from suffering and curses.
• Peace and self-control: fasting, chanting and vigil steady the mind and build discipline.
• A step towards liberation: tradition describes it as a fast that leads towards Lord Vishnu’s abode.

Related Ekadashis and Readings

Just before Varuthini comes Kamada Ekadashi of Chaitra Shukla, the first Ekadashi of the Hindu new year, believed to fulfil wishes. After Varuthini comes Mohini Ekadashi of Vaishakha Shukla, linked to Lord Vishnu’s Mohini avatar. See all Ekadashi dates of the year on our Ekadashi Kab Hai page.

For the puja, also read the Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti, Ekadashi Mata Ki Aarti and Tulsi Mata Ki Aarti. Check the day’s tithi and auspicious timings in our Daily Panchang. For all aartis in one place, download the Aarti Sangrah PDF.

Varuthini Ekadashi reminds us that however great the danger, the Lord becomes a shield for anyone who calls on him with patience. On this day, remember Lord Varaha, feed someone who is hungry, light a lamp of knowledge for someone and keep your mind free of anger. May Shri Hari bless you and your whole family. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

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