Varuthini Ekadashi 2023: Date, Time, Rituals, and Significance
Varuthini Ekadashi, also known as Baruthani Ekadashi, is a Hindu holy fasting day held on the ‘ekadashi’ (eleventh day) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight of the moon) in the ‘Vaishakha’ month of the North Indian calendar. The Hindu lunar calendar is divided into two distinct moon phases. One phase is the waxing Moon, also known as ‘Shukla Paksha,’ in which the Moon grows in size (visually) and brightness daily bit by bit, and the other is the waning Moon, ‘Krishna Paksha,’ in which the Moon’s brightness decreases daily after the Full Moon.
Each phase is 15 days in duration. Ekadashi is the eleventh day of each phase of the Moon, hence there are two Ekadashis per month. The name Ekadashi refers to the eleventh lunar day of each Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha fortnight.
Varuthini Ekadashi Date 2023
Sunday, April 16 2023
Rituals on Varuthini Ekadashi
- Varuthini Ekadashi is observed in the same manner as previous Ekadashi days, with Lord Vishnu being worshipped. Lord Vamana’s sixth incarnation is revered on this occasion.
- Devotees make specific preparations for the day, during which they must adhere to certain regulations in order for the event to be beneficial for them and everyone else.
- During the night, the entire family sings devotional songs and joins in the festivities.
- On this day, certain behaviours, like shaving the head, gambling, and putting oil to the body, should be avoided.
- On Varuthini Ekadashi, devotees typically maintain a fast, and those who consume food only once are recommended not to consume black gramme, chickpea, honey, paan leaves, or spinach.
- It is said that if worshippers observe all Varuthini Ekadashi rituals with utmost sincerity, their families will be safeguarded from all evil.
Significance of Varuthini Ekadashi
The ‘Bhavishya Purana’ mentions the glory of Varuthini Ekadashi in the form of a discourse between Dharam Raja Yudhisthira and Lord Sri Krishna. According to Hindu mythology, the advantages of Varuthini Ekadashi are equivalent to donating gold at Kurukshetra on the day of a solar eclipse or making any other type of sacrifice on the designated days. The observer of the vrat will be liberated from all sins as well as the endless cycle of reincarnation.
Additionally, in Hindu mythology, ‘Kanyadaan’ (giving away daughters) is regarded as the greatest ‘daan,’ and the significance of Varuthini Ekadashi is akin to giving 100 ‘Kanyadaan’. Varuthini Ekadashi is a significant Hindu ekadashi observance that provides various blessings to its observer.