Nirjala Ekadashi – All you need to know about the auspicious day

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Among the 24 Ekadashis in the annual Hindu Calendar, the Nirajala Ekadashi is the most significant. This day falls on the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month and coincides with May or June in the Gregorian calendar.

On this people observe fast and do not even consume a drop of water. Nirjala literally means ‘without water’. Devotees usually fast on all the 24 Ekadashis and some consume only food preparations ideal for vratas.

And those who are not in a position to fast on all the 24 occasions can observe vrata on this day. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Ekadashis are very important days in the calendar. Ekadashi means the eleventh day of a fortnight.

This year, Nirjala Ekadashi is being celebrated on June 5.  According to drikpanchang.com, the Tithi began at 8:03 AM on June 4 and ended at 9:42 AM today.

The Parana Time (ideal time to break the fast) is on June 6 between 8:03 AM to 8:41 AM.

The Nirjala Ekadashi is also known as Bheemaseni Ekadashi, named after Bheema of the Mahabharata. The second son of Kunti and King Pandu, Bheema loved to eat. He could never observe fast and control his hunger. Miffed with himself for dishonouring Lord Vishnu, Bheema met Maharishi Vyasa to seek solution to this problem. And after meeting the sage, Bheema started observing Nirjala Ekadashi. He was told that by fasting on this day alone, he would derive the benefits of all the other Ekadashis.