Padmini Ekadashi 2023

Rare bright-fortnight Ekadashi occurring only in Adhika Masa; its vrata katha tells of Queen Padmini's devotion to Vishnu.

Padmini Ekadashi is the bright-fortnight Ekadashi of Adhika Masa, the extra lunar month inserted periodically to keep the Hindu lunisolar year aligned with the seasons. It is not one of the ordinary twelve monthly bright Ekadashis: it appears only when an intercalary month occurs. Vaishnava devotees regard the extra month, often called Purushottam Masa, as especially suitable for remembrance of Vishnu, disciplined worship and charity. The vrata traditionally includes prayer, restraint in food and conduct, and breaking the fast at the appropriate Dvadashi time.

A popular vrata katha tells of King Kritavirya and Queen Padmini, who longed for a child. After extended austerities the queen sought guidance from the revered Anasuya, who explained the special Ekadashi of the additional month. Padmini performed the observance with devotion and the story credits Vishnu's blessing with the birth of their son Kartavirya Arjuna. This is a devotional narrative from vrata tradition, not an independently verifiable dynastic history.

The lesson is perseverance and humility rather than a promise that a fast guarantees children or wealth. The lunar month must be explicitly marked adhika when scheduling this observance; merely matching a Shukla Ekadashi in an ordinary month would create false dates.

Highlights devotion and patience in the intercalary Purushottam month; not a regular monthly Ekadashi.

Vishnu worship, vrata katha, voluntary fasting, charity and Dvadashi parana following the local Vaishnava calendar.

The bright fortnight of an adhika month, so it comes about once in three years and there is no fixed month for it. Those who keep the twenty-four keep this as a twenty-fifth when it comes.

Vaishnava communities in India; occurs only on Adhika Shukla Ekadashi, with local sunrise and parana rules.