Mohini Ekadashi Vrat Katha: Complete Katha, What To Know About Fasting And Puja Rituals

Mohini Ekadashi is a day of significance in our Hindi calendar. It falls on the Ekadashi Tithi, which is the 11th lunar day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaishakha. The day is observed by followers of Lord Vishnu.

Ekadashi tithi began yesterday around 10.19 AM and will end today at 12.29 PM. Those observing fast will end their fast on 9th May, 2025 between 5.35 AM to 8.17 AM. The ritual of breaking fast is called Parana. It is believed that breaking the fast outside of the parana is inauspicious and improper.

Mohini Ekadashi is named after the ‘Mohini’ avatar of Lord Vishnu. Vishnu took the form of an enchantress during the Samudra Manthan to distribute the amrit.

In his kingdom lived a wealthy and generous merchant named Dhanpal. He had lots of gold and used his wealth to serve others. He built wells, gardens, and helped the poor. Most importantly, he was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Dhanpal had five sons but his youngest son was very sinful. He never worshiped the Lord and spent his time in bad company, especially with a prostitute.

One day, Dhanpal saw his son behaving shamefully and, out of sorrow, expelled him from the house. Everyone in the town also rejected him. He wasted all his money and was eventually left alone, even by the prostitute. Hungry and poor, he began stealing to survive. Though the king initially spared him out of respect for Dhanpal, he continued his sinful ways. Eventually, he was beaten and thrown out of the kingdom.

Homeless and starving, he wandered into the forest. There, to fill his belly, he even started killing animals. He was filled with pain, guilt and frustration. By the mercy of the Lord, one day he reached the ashram of Sage Kauntinya. Just as the sage was finishing his bath, a few drops of his holy bathwater touched the young man. Immediately, the sinful boy felt a change in his heart. He realised how wrong his life had been and began to regret his actions deeply. He fell at the sage’s feet and begged, “O great saint, I have wasted my life in sin. Please tell me how I can be free from this suffering!”

Sage Kauntinya, full of compassion, said, “My dear child, observe the fast of Mohini Ekadashi, which falls in the Shukla Paksha of the month of Vaisakha. If you follow this Ekadashi sincerely, all your sins from this and many past lives will be destroyed.” The boy followed the Ekadashi fast with full faith. Over time, he became pure at heart, devoted to Lord Vishnu, and finally attained liberation.

On the day of Ekadashi, take a ritual bath in the morning and make a vow to observe the fast. Observe a strict fast throughout the day, either without water (nirjal) or by consuming only fruits (phalahar). Worship Lord Vishnu with devotion and offer Tulsi leaves to him. Stay awake through the night, engaging in bhajans and kirtans. On the next day, Dwadashi, conclude the fast by offering food and charity (dakshina) to a Brahmin.

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