2026 Papankusha Ekadashi
22 Oct, 2026
Thursday
2026 Papankusha Ekadashi on
(22-10-2026)
Muhurtas Details
Tithi Begin Time:
Tithi End Time:
Nakshatra, Muhurat (Start Time):
Nakshatra, Muhurat (End Time):
Ekadashi Parana Time:
Parana Time: 05:45 to 08:00 AM, 23, October 2026, Friday
When is Papankusha Ekadashi(पापांकुशा एकादशी)
There are two Ekadashis come in every month, one in Shukla Paksha and one in Krishna Paksha. Similarly, there are two Ekadashis come in the month of September, which is known as Indira Ekadashi in Krishna Paksha and Papankusha Ekadashi in Shukla Paksha.
Papankusha Ekadashi which occurs in Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month. It is famous by the name of 'Papankusha'. The term “Papankusha“ means Papa+Ankusha, one who frees from all the sins and the the destroyer of all sins. On that day, to achieve all the desires, devotee should worship Lord Vasudev, the one who grants heaven and salvation to human beings in later part of the life. The result that Jitendriya Muni achieves by doing rigorous penance for a long time, he gets it only by paying obeisance to Lord Vishnu on the day of Papankusha Ekadashi.
The Significance of Papankusha Ekadashi
This Ekadashi grants heaven and salvation, makes the body healthy and gives beautiful women, wealth and friends.
Sri Krishna Says to Yudhisthira, Rajan! By fasting during the day and staying awake at night on Ekadashi, one automatically reaches Vishnu Dham.
Again Lord Krishna says, Rajendra! That man saves ten generations from his mother's side and ten from his father's side. People observing Ekadashi fast go to the abode of Lord Vishnu wearing a divine form, having four arms, adorned with a necklace with Garuda flag and wearing a Pitambara (yellow clothes).
Anyone should be determined to avoid sins. Meditation and remembrance of Lord Vishnu in any form is soothing and destroyer of sins, but remembrance and kirtan of the Lord Vishnu on the day of Papankusha Ekadashi quenches all the troubles and sins in the life.
Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat Katha
Yudhisthira asks Lord Krishna, Hey Vasudeva! Please share the significance of Papankusha Ekadashi, I am extremely interested to know that.
Lord Krishna says, In ancient times, a hunter named as “Krodhan” lived on Vindhya Mountain, he was very cruel and unsocial. His whole life was spent in sinful activities like violence, illegal way earning, drinking and wrong association as well as not a social human being.
When his last time came, Yamraj's messenger came to take the fowler and Yamadoot told the fowler that tomorrow is the last day of your life, we will come to take you tomorrow. Hearing this, the fowler became very frightened and reached Maharishi Angira's ashram and fell at the feet of Maharishi Angira and started praying, Hey Rishivar! I have committed sinful acts throughout my life.
Please tell me some solution by which all my sins can be erased and I can attain the salvation. On his request, Maharishi Angira asked him to observe a ritual fast on Papankusha Ekadashi in the Shukla Paksha of Ashwin Month.
As per the advice of Maharishi Angira, the fowler observed this fast and got rid of all the sins he had committed and with the power of this fast and worship, by the grace of God, he went to Vishnu Lok. When Yamraj's Yamdoot saw this miracle, he returned back to Yamlok without taking the fowler.
This story is written in our holy scriptures Vishnu Puran that whoever worships and do Ekadashi Fasts, they will be blessed by Shri Vishnu and does not go close to Yamraj and their associates. This is because, Yamraj and his associates don’t have power to touch them to Vishnu devotees.
When Will Papankusha Ekadashi be held in 2026?
Papankusha Ekadashi falls on the date of 22 October, Thursday 2026.
Frequent Asked Questions(FAQs)
According to the Hindu calendar, Ekadashi occurs twice every month, marking the 11th lunar day of both the “Shukla Paksha” (waxing phase) and the “Krishna Paksha” (waning phase) as per Moon’s transition. It is a sacred day dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On thi
Observing the Ekadashi fast leads to mental purification, the eradication of sins both known and unknown and, ultimately, the attainment of salvation.
One should wake up early in the morning, perform one's cleansings, and wear clean clothes. Thereafter, one should worship Lord Lakshmi Narayan using incense, lamps, flowers, food offerings (Naivedya), and other ritual items. There are three prescribed
One should wake up early in the morning, perform one's cleansings, and wear clean clothes. Thereafter, one should worship Lord Lakshmi Narayan using incense, lamps, flowers, food offerings (Naivedya), and other ritual items. There are three prescribed methods for observing the Ekadashi fast:
1) Sajala: This entails observing a fast throughout the entire day by consuming only water, and breaking the fast by performing Parana on the following day after sunrise.
2) Safala: This involves a fruit-based diet; one may consume a meal consisting of fruits called Phalahar once, after sunset. The fast is then broken on the following day after sunrise during the Parana period.
3)Nirjala: This involves observing a fast without consuming either water or food; this is considered a very rigorous form of fasting. The fast is subsequently broken on the following day after sunrise during the Parana period.
According to the Hindu calendar, Ekadashi occurs twice every month, marking the 11th lunar day of both the “Shukla Paksha” (waxing phase) and the “Krishna Paksha” (waning phase) as per Moon’s transition. It is a sacred day dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On this day, devotees worship Lord Vishnu by observing a fast, either by abstaining completely from food or by surviving solely on a fruit-based diet. It is believed that observing the Ekadashi fast invokes the divine grace of Lord Vishnu.
Nirjala Ekadashi is observed on the Ekadashi of the “Shukla Paksha” (waxing phase of the moon) during the month of “Jyeshtha Month” to seek the grace of Lord Vishnu and to attain the spiritual merits of all the Ekadashi observed throughout the year. It is considered the most rigorous of fasts, requiring one to abstain completely from both food and water. Subsequently, the fast must be broken the following day during the designated “Parana” period. According to mythological legends, Bhimasena observed this fast; hence, it is also known as 'Bhimseni Ekadashi'.
There is two Ekadashi occur in a month. Thus, the total of 24 Ekadashi come across in 12 months.
Nirjala Ekadashi is the most difficult one. This is because, during all other Ekadashi, you can observe the fast by consuming fruits or drinking water; however, on Nirjala Ekadashi, the fast is observed without consuming any food or water.
There is four most like Ekadashi Nirjala Ekadashi, Amalaki Ekadashi, Devshayani Ekadashi, and Dev Uthani Ekadashi.
Saphala Ekadashi is observed for the sake of success.
If you fall asleep during the day while observing a fast, your fast is considered broken. Whether it is an Ekadashi fast or a Navratri fast.
You may observe it for as many years as you wish. However, according to the “Vishnu Purana”, observing the Ekadashi Fast for at least 11 years is considered meritorious.