Papankusha Ekadashi

Papankusha Ekadashi is presented in the Ekadashi-mahatmya as a day for consciously turning away from harmful habits and toward Vishnu. Krishna explains its importance to Arjuna after the Navratri season and praises worship of Padmanabha Vishnu, fasting, charity and remembrance of the divine name. The traditional account is chiefly a discourse on the fruits of righteous conduct rather than one central dramatic legend. It stresses that spiritual practice should be accompanied by compassion: food, water, land or other useful gifts given according to one’s means are repeatedly praised. The name combines papa, wrongdoing, with ankusha, a controlling goad, suggesting mastery over tendencies that lead the mind astray. Devotees observe the day by avoiding grains, worshipping Vishnu, chanting, reading sacred texts, giving charity and breaking the fast on Dwadashi at the prescribed time.

Ankusha is the goad an elephant is steered with, and the name makes the fast a goad against wrongdoing. Aso sud, in the days after Navratri.

Aso's bright fortnight, in the days after Navratri. Papankusha is the goad that holds wrongdoing back.