Devshayani Ekadashi is the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Ashadh. On it Vishnu is laid to sleep on Sheshnag in the ocean of milk, and he will not be woken until Devuthani Ekadashi in Kartik. The four months between are Chaturmas: no weddings, no housewarmings, no sacred-thread ceremonies are held in the north until he wakes.
The story
The Puranas link the sleep to King Bali. Having taken the three worlds from him as the dwarf Vamana, Vishnu granted Bali a boon, and Bali asked the god to stay at his door in the netherworld. Vishnu spends these four months there.
Another story tells of King Mandhata, whose kingdom suffered three years of drought until the sage Angiras advised him to keep this Ekadashi; the rains came. The fast is still bound up with the arrival of the monsoon.
सुप्ते त्वयि जगन्नाथ जगत्सुप्तं भवेदिदम् । विबुद्धे त्वयि बुध्येत जगत्सर्वं चराचरम् ॥
When you sleep, Lord of the world, this whole world sleeps; when you wake, all that moves and does not move wakes with you
Said as the image is laid to rest
How it is kept
- The fastNo grain or pulses; fruit, milk and roots for those who do not fast completely. It is broken on Dwadashi morning.
- Putting the god to bedThe image of Vishnu is bathed, dressed in yellow and laid on a bed with a prayer for his rest.
- Chaturmas vowsMany give up one thing for the four months: greens in Shravan, curd in Bhadrapad, milk in Ashwin, pulses in Kartik.
- TulsiThe tulsi plant is worshipped, and its leaves are not plucked on Ekadashi.
Why this date
Devshayani Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of Ashadh. The fast falls on the day Ekadashi is present at sunrise, arranged so that it is broken while Dwadashi lasts.
Devshayani Ekadashi in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday | |
| 2027 | Wednesday | |
| 2028 | Sunday | |
| 2029 | Saturday | |
| 2030 | Thursday | |
| 2031 | Tuesday |
More North Indian festivals
18 JulyGuru Purnimaगुरु पूर्णिमा
17 AugustRaksha Bandhanरक्षा बंधन
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaअक्षय तृतीया
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiहनुमान जयंती
15 AprilRam Navamiराम नवमी
24 AugustKrishna Janmashtamiश्री कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
Where to see Devshayani Ekadashi
In North India
- Dwarkadhish Temple, MathuraUttar PradeshKrishna's city marks the start of the monsoon season of swings and Jhulan that follows.
- BadrinathUttarakhandVishnu's Himalayan seat, open only in the summer months.
- Vishnupad Temple, GayaBiharBuilt over a footprint of Vishnu in rock.
Across India
- PandharpurMaharashtraAshadhi Ekadashi: the Wari pilgrimage on foot reaches Vithoba after three weeks on the road.
- PuriOdishaThe three deities, still on their chariots, are dressed in gold.
- SrirangamTamil NaduThe great temple of the sleeping Vishnu.