Parama Ekadashi 2026

Rare dark-fortnight Ekadashi of Adhika Masa; the story of Sumedha and Pavitra teaches generosity amid hardship.

Parama Ekadashi belongs to the dark fortnight of Adhika Masa, the intercalary month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It is paired with Padmini Ekadashi, which falls in the bright fortnight of that same extra month. Because Adhika Masa does not occur every year, neither observance should be generated from the ordinary recurring monthly Ekadashi rules. Devotees of Vishnu use the day for prayer, self-restraint, charity and reflection on the purpose of Purushottam Masa.

The traditional katha describes a poor but generous Brahmin named Sumedha and his wife Pavitra. Despite hardship, they continue to welcome guests and practise hospitality. When Sumedha considers leaving home in search of money, Pavitra encourages steadiness in their ethical duties. The visiting sage Kaundinya teaches them the observance of Parama Ekadashi and related discipline during the extra month. According to the devotional account, their circumstances improve through divine grace.

The story does not establish a guaranteed material reward for fasting. Its enduring emphasis is that compassion and hospitality remain possible even when resources are scarce. Observance details, including fasting and Dvadashi parana, should be checked against the local Vaishnava calendar, and any date engine must test for the extra month explicitly.

Honours Vishnu through self-restraint and hospitality during the extra lunar month; not an ordinary monthly fast.

Vishnu puja, reading Sumedha-Pavitra katha, charity, suitable fasting and Dvadashi parana.

The dark fortnight of an adhika month - the rarest fast in the calendar, and the one most people will keep two or three times in a life.

Vaishnava practice in Adhika Krishna Ekadashi only; verify the intercalary month and local parana.