Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat 2025 – Date, Parana Time, Puja Vidhi, Mantras & Significance

Papankusha Ekadashi, observed in Ashwin Shukla Paksha, is revered as a powerful vrata dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Padmanabha form. The very name Pāpāṅkuśa means the “goad that pierces sins,” symbolizing a spiritual discipline that breaks the momentum of past misdeeds and points the mind towards moksha (liberation). Scriptures extol this Ekadashi as a purifier of mind and conduct—an occasion to realign life with satya (truth), ahimsa (non‑injury), and bhakti (devotion). Devotees fast, perform satvik worship, chant Vishnu‐mantras, read/listen to the vrat‑katha, and offer charity.

Key idea: The vrata is not only about abstention from food; it is about intentional living for one full lunar day—restraining the senses, guarding speech, practicing compassion, and centering the mind on the Lord.

Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat 2025: Date, Tithi & Parana (IST)

Timings below are for India (IST) as provided in the brief. Always check your local panchang if you live outside India.

Ekadashi Date: Friday, 3 October 2025
Ekadashi Tithi Begins: 02 October 2025, 07:10 PM
Ekadashi Tithi Ends: 03 October 2025, 06:32 PM
Parana (Break‑Fast) Window:Saturday, 04 October 2025, 06:16 AM – 08:37 AM
- (Note: Avoid breaking during Hari‑Vasara; prefer early morning within the window.)

Quick Reference Table (IST)

Event	Date	Time
Ekadashi Tithi Starts	02 Oct 2025	07:10 PM
Ekadashi Tithi Ends	03 Oct 2025	06:32 PM
Parana (Vrat‑break)	04 Oct 2025	06:16 AM – 08:37 AM

Spiritual Significance & Meaning

Padmanabha’s grace: This Ekadashi is associated with Lord Padmanabha (Vishnu)—the sustainer whose lotus‑navel births the cosmic order. Worship on this day is said to dissolve papa (sins) and accumulate punya (merit), preparing the seeker for inner freedom.
Karmic reset: Fasting with mantra‑japa, charity, and scriptural reflection weakens old tendencies (vasanas), re‑educates the palate and mind, and cultivates sattva (clarity).
Gateway to devotion: Observance encourages daily practices—dama (sense‑discipline), dana (charity), daya (compassion), and nama‑smarana (remembering the Lord’s name)—that extend beyond a single day.

Customs, Rituals & Traditions

Sankalp at dawn: After purification bath, take a resolve to observe the fast, worship Vishnu/Padmanabha, speak truth, avoid harm, and offer charity.
Altar & offerings: Place an image/shaligram of Vishnu with Tulsi leaves, incense, lamp, seasonal flowers, and satvik naivedya (Ekadashi‑friendly).
Scriptural reading: Read/listen to the Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat‑Katha and a selection from Vishnu Sahasranama or Bhagavad‑Gita.
Charity (dāna): Offer food, clothing, or donations to the needy, cows, and Brahmins; feed birds/animals.
Night vigil (jāgran): Many devotees engage in evening kirtan, bhajans, and quiet japa till late night.

What to Eat & Avoid During the Fast (Satvik Guidelines)

Allowed (commonly observed):
Fruits, milk/curd, nuts, coconut water, sabudana preparations, sama/vrat‑ke‑chawal (little millet/barnyard millet), singhada (water chestnut) flour items, shakarkandi (sweet potato), potatoes, rock salt, mild spices like cumin/black pepper; ghee for simple tempering. Hydrate well.

Avoid:
All grains and pulses (wheat, rice, dal, barley, beans), corn, oats; onion, garlic; meat, eggs, alcohol; overly spicy/processed foods. (Those with medical needs may adapt—see FAQs.)

Tip: Choose one of the classic fasting modes—Phalahar (fruits), Ksheer‑ahar (milk‑based), Nakta (single satvik meal before sunset), or Jal‑ahar/Nirjala (advanced; only water or no water—attempt only with guidance).

Step‑by‑Step Puja Vidhi (Practical Schedule)

Morning (Brahma‑muhurta to Forenoon)

Snan & Sankalp: Bathe early; wear clean/light clothes. Resolve (sankalp) to observe Papankusha Ekadashi for inner purification and welfare of all beings.
Ghanta–Deepa: Light a diya; ring the bell to mark auspicious beginning.
Ganesha Smaran: Brief prayer to remove obstacles.
Padmanabha Puja: Offer water, tulsi, sandal paste, flowers, incense, lamp, and simple naivedya (Ekadashi‑compliant).
Mantra‑japa: Chant the mantras given below (choose one main mantra and repeat through the day).
Scripture: Read a chapter from Bhagavad‑Gita or recite Vishnu Sahasranama.

Daytime (Noon to Sunset)

Seva & Satsang: Charity, feeding the needy/animals, or silent service at home/temple.
Mindful silence: Avoid gossip/anger; maintain gentle speech.
Meditative walks/japa: Short sessions of mantra‑japa, focusing on breath and name of the Lord.
Optional single meal (Nakta): If following Naktabhojan, take one satvik grain‑free meal before sunset.

Evening & Night

Sandhya Deepam & Aarti: Offer evening lamp and sing a short aarti to Vishnu/Padmanabha.
Katha & Kirtan: Read/listen to the vrat‑katha; sing Vishnu bhajans.
Jāgran (optional): Quiet vigil with mantra‑japa or Sahasranama.

Parana (Breaking the Fast) – Saturday, 04 Oct 2025

Window: 06:16 AM – 08:37 AM (IST). Break after Hari‑Vasara ends and within Dwadashi.
How: Offer water/naivedya to the Lord; sip water; eat a light satvik meal (kheer, fruits, farali poha/sabudana khichdi), and offer dakshina/annadanam as per capacity.

Benefits of Observing Papankusha Ekadashi

Karmic cleansing: Reduces the burden of past misdeeds; nurtures a fresh inner orientation.
Clarity & restraint: Strengthens willpower, moderates craving, enhances sattva and mental focus.
Devotional momentum: Regular Ekadashi practice deepens faith and steadies daily sadhana (japa, svadhyaya, seva).
Social harmony: Charity and truthfulness cultivate empathy and non‑violence in daily life.

Vrat‑Katha (Mythological Note)

In the Padma Purana (Uttara‑Khanda), Lord Krishna explains to Yudhishthira the glory of Papankusha Ekadashi: whoever observes this vrata with devotion—worshipping Padmanabha Vishnu, chanting His names, and giving in charity—does not fall under the harsh jurisdiction of Yama. The vrata acts like an ankusha (goad) that checks the herd of sinful impulses and steers the soul towards parama gati. The narrative emphasizes that even a single day of concentrated devotion can redirect the arc of one’s life, provided it is coupled with righteous conduct thereafter.

Powerful Mantras (with Transliteration & Meaning)

Vishnu Dwadashakshari Mantra

Sanskrit: ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Hinglish: Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya
Meaning: “I bow to Lord Vasudeva, the indwelling Supreme who sustains all beings.”

Ashtakshari Mantra

Sanskrit: ॐ नमो नारायणाय
Hinglish: Om Namo Nārāyaṇāya
Meaning: “Salutations to Nārāyaṇa, the refuge and goal of all.”

Padbhanabh Dhyan Shloka

Sanskrit: शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं
विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम्।
Hinglish: Śāntākāraṁ bhujaga-śayanaṁ Padmanābhaṁ sureshaṁ;
Viśvādhāraṁ gagana-sadṛśaṁ megha-varṇaṁ śubhāṅgam.
Meaning: “Peace‑embodied, reclining on the serpent, Lord Padmanabha—the Lord of devas; the support of the cosmos, expansive as the sky, cloud‑hued and auspicious.”

How to use: Pick one core mantra (e.g., Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya) and maintain a steady japa count (11, 27, 54, or 108 malas) through the day.

FAQs

1) Can I observe the fast if I have medical conditions (e.g., diabetes)?
Yes—adopt a mild satvik plan (fruits, milk, light farali foods) under medical guidance. The essence is devotion and restraint, not self‑harm.

2) I cannot fast fully. Will partial fasting count?
Yes. Choose Phalahar/Ksheer‑ahar/Nakta honestly. Combine it with japa, truthfulness, and charity; that is spiritually meaningful.

3) Are grains universally avoided on Ekadashi?
Traditionally yes—grains/pulses are avoided to support sattva and simplicity. Regional exceptions exist; follow your parampara or guru.

4) Can women on menstruation observe Ekadashi?
Practices vary by tradition. Many focus on nama‑smarana, charity, and satvik diet and defer formal temple rituals. Follow family/guru guidance with comfort and dignity.

5) What if I miss the Parana window?
Break as soon as possible after the window and certainly within Dwadashi (same day). If missed due to circumstances, offer a sincere prayer of atonement and resume regular discipline from the next Ekādashi.

Papankusha Ekadashi invites us to reset—to soften the ego, lighten the body, and brighten the mind in the radiance of Padmanabha. When observed with humility, mantra, charity, and truthful living, the vrata becomes a turning point: the ankusha that redirects our energies from habit to holiness. May this 3 October 2025 be a day of inner quiet and heartfelt offering; and may the Parana on 4 October open a gentler, more conscious rhythm for the days ahead. Om Namo Nārāyaṇāya.