Ekadashi — the eleventh day of each lunar fortnight — stands as the single most important vrata (sacred observance) in the Madhwa Vaishnava tradition. Shri Madhwacharya declared Ekadashi fasting mandatory for every grihastha (householder) and sanyasi alike, placing it above all other vratas in spiritual merit. The Krishnamruta…
Posts published in “Festivals and Calendar”
Of the twelve months in the Hindu calendar, Kartika Masa (October–November) holds the highest spiritual position for Vaishnavas. The Padma Purana devotes hundreds of verses to the glory of this month, declaring: “Just as Vishnu is the greatest among deities, Ganga among rivers, and Tulasi among plants, so…
If Ekadashi is the foundation of Vaishnava fasting, then Dwadashi — the twelfth day of the lunar fortnight — is its essential counterpart. In the Madhwa tradition, the rules governing Dwadashi Parane (the breaking of the Ekadashi fast) are just as precise and binding as the rules of…
The Hindu Vaishnava calendar is a living rhythm of worship — a continuous cycle of Ekadashis, Jayantis (birth anniversaries of Lord Vishnu’s avataras and revered Acharyas), seasonal festivals, and temple celebrations that keep the devotee anchored to the Divine throughout the year. For followers of the Madhwa sampradaya,…