About Prabodhini Ekadashi
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- 🙏 Deity: Lord Vishnu (Shayana and Jagrat forms)
- 📅 Prabodhini Ekadashi 2026 date:
- ⏳ Duration: 1 day (fast from Dashami sunset to Dwadashi sunrise)
- 🌙 Lunar month: Kartik
- 🗺️ Celebrated in: Pan-India; especially Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura-Vrindavan
Prabodhini Ekadashi, also known as Dev Uthani Ekadashi or Devotthan Ekadashi, is one of the most celebrated Ekadashi observances in the Vaishnava tradition. Observed on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi — the eleventh day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kartik — this sacred day marks the moment when Lord Vishnu awakens from his four-month cosmic sleep known as Yoganidra or Chaturmas nidra.
According to Hindu cosmological tradition, Lord Vishnu reclines on the serpent Shesha in the celestial ocean of milk (Kshirasagara) and enters a deep meditative sleep on Ashadi Ekadashi (Devshayani Ekadashi) at the onset of the monsoon season. During these four months of Chaturmas, religious auspicious ceremonies including weddings, sacred thread ceremonies, and housewarmings are traditionally avoided. The earth is considered to be under the care of Lord Shiva during Vishnu's rest. When Vishnu awakens on Prabodhini Ekadashi, the cosmic order is restored, and the auspicious season for all celebrations recommences.
The night of Prabodhini Ekadashi is also the occasion for Tulsi Vivah — the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant (Holy Basil) to Lord Vishnu (represented by a Shaligram stone or an image of Krishna). This beautiful ritual is performed at homes and temples across India, especially in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, where it is celebrated with great ceremony. The Tulsi Vivah marks the formal opening of the marriage season. Prabodhini Ekadashi is considered the second most important Ekadashi in the Vaishnava calendar, surpassed only by Vaikunta Ekadashi in terms of spiritual merit.
Significance of Prabodhini Ekadashi
Prabodhini Ekadashi holds extraordinary significance across multiple dimensions of Hindu spiritual and social life:
Deities worshipped on Prabodhini Ekadashi
Follow the links to explore each deity’s mantras, stories, and temples on Temples.bio.
Lord Vishnu
Primary deity — awakens from Yoganidra on this Ekadashi
The Preserver of the Universe — the all-pervading Supreme Being who descends to Earth in divine avatars whenever righteousness declines and evil rises.
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Lord Krishna
Worshipped as Vishnu's avatar, especially in Mathura-Vrindavan celebrations
The Preserver of the Universe — the all-pervading Supreme Being who descends to Earth in divine avatars whenever righteousness declines and evil rises.
View deity →Prabodhini Ekadashi is entirely dedicated to Lord Vishnu — the supreme preserver and sustainer of the cosmos in the Hindu Trinity. Vishnu's awakening from Yoganidra is the central event of the day. He is worshipped in his Shayana (reclining) form on Shesha, the thousand-headed serpent, and also as the fully awakened lord standing with conch, disc, mace, and lotus.
Tulsi Devi — the Holy Basil plant — is the other central figure of Prabodhini Ekadashi. Tulsi is considered an incarnation of Vrinda Devi, a devoted consort of Vishnu. The Tulsi Vivah celebrates her union with Vishnu, recognizing her as the most sacred plant in Vaishnavism — present in every act of Vishnu worship. The Shaligram — a fossilized ammonite stone from the Gandaki river in Nepal — represents Vishnu in his formless, eternal aspect during the Tulsi Vivah ceremony.
Lord Krishna, as an avatar of Vishnu, is also prominently worshipped on this day, especially in Vrindavan and Mathura where the Prabodhini Ekadashi celebrations are particularly magnificent, with the temples decorated as if for a royal wedding.
How to celebrate Prabodhini Ekadashi 2026
Step 1: Wake before sunrise (Brahma muhurta), bathe with clean water, and wear clean white or yellow clothing — colors sacred to Vishnu.
Step 2: Observe a strict fast — the Ekadashi fast prohibits grains, beans, and rice. Devotees may take fruits, milk, and specific permitted foods or observe complete nirjala (waterless) fast.
Step 3: Set up a puja altar with an image or idol of Lord Vishnu or Shaligram, and the Tulsi plant — both beautifully decorated with flowers and garlands.
Step 4: Perform Panchamrit Abhishek on the Shaligram — bathe the sacred stone with milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar, then with pure water, chanting Vishnu Sahasranama.
Step 5: Offer sixteen forms of worship (Shodashopachara) to Lord Vishnu with Tulsi leaves — Vishnu puja without Tulsi is considered incomplete.
Step 6: Recite or listen to the Prabodhini Ekadashi Vrat Katha (the narrative of why this Ekadashi was instituted) from the Padma Purana or Skanda Purana.
Step 7: Perform Tulsi Vivah in the evening — decorate the Tulsi plant as a bride, the Shaligram as the groom; perform the wedding ceremony with mantras, seven circumambulations, and the sacred fire if possible.
Step 8: Sing Vishnu bhajans and kirtans through the night — especially songs of Vishnu's awakening and the Tulsi Vivah.
Step 9: Donate food, clothing, or money to Brahmins and the needy on this day — dana (charity) on Kartik Ekadashi yields merit equivalent to performing the Ashwamedha yajna.
Step 10: Break the fast on Dwadashi (the twelfth day) with panchamrit, Tulsi leaves, and then regular food after completing morning puja.
Rituals & regional traditions
Spiritual benefits
Mantras & sacred chants
Dev Uthani Mantra:
Sanskrit: उत्तिष्ठ उत्तिष्ठ गोविन्द त्यज निद्रां जगत्पते। त्वयि सुप्ते जगन्नाथ जगत् सुप्तं भवेदिदम्॥
(Uttishtha Uttishtha Govinda Tyaja Nidram Jagatpate, Tvayi Supte Jagannatha Jagat Suptam Bhaved Idam)
Meaning: "Arise, arise, O Govinda! Give up sleep, O Lord of the Universe. When you sleep, O Jagannatha, the entire world sleeps. Now awaken and awaken the world." This mantra is chanted at brahma muhurta on Prabodhini Ekadashi to ritually awaken Lord Vishnu.
Tulsi Vivah Mantra:
Sanskrit: ॐ तुलस्यै नमः। श्री कृष्णप्रियायै नमः। (Om Tulasyai Namah, Sri Krishna Priyayai Namah)
Meaning: "I bow to Tulsi Devi, I bow to the beloved of Lord Krishna." This mantra is chanted while performing circumambulations of Tulsi during the wedding ceremony, honoring her as Vishnu's eternal consort.
Ekadashi Vishnu Mantra:
Sanskrit: ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya)
Meaning: "I bow to Lord Vasudeva (Vishnu), the all-pervading divine reality." The twelve-syllable Dwadasakshara mantra of Vishnu, chanted 108 times on every Ekadashi and especially on Prabodhini Ekadashi to awaken Vishnu's presence within oneself.
Prabodhini Ekadashi 2026 — FAQs
Prabodhini Ekadashi 2026 (Dev Uthani Ekadashi) falls on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. It is observed on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi — the eleventh day of the bright fortnight in the Hindu month of Kartik.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi (Prabodhini Ekadashi or Devotthan Ekadashi) marks the day Lord Vishnu awakens from his four-month Yoganidra (cosmic sleep) that began on Ashadi Ekadashi. This ends Chaturmas and reopens the auspicious season for weddings and religious ceremonies.
Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial wedding of the Tulsi plant (Holy Basil) to Lord Vishnu (represented by a Shaligram stone). It is performed on Prabodhini Ekadashi evening with full wedding rituals — fire, seven circumambulations, and mantras. It marks the opening of the Hindu wedding season.
The Prabodhini Ekadashi vrat katha from the Padma Purana narrates how a king named Mandata was told by the sage Vashishtha that observing this Ekadashi with full devotion grants merit exceeding all yajnas, tirthas, and donations combined, as Vishnu awakens to bestow blessings on this supreme day.
No, Hindu weddings are traditionally not performed during Chaturmas (the four months from Ashadi Ekadashi to Prabodhini Ekadashi) when Lord Vishnu is in Yoganidra. Marriages resume only after Prabodhini Ekadashi when Vishnu awakens. This is why wedding season begins immediately after this Ekadashi.
On Prabodhini Ekadashi fast, grains, rice, wheat, lentils, and beans are strictly prohibited. Permitted foods include fruits, milk, curd, ghee, sendha namak (rock salt), potatoes, sabudana (tapioca), and specific Ekadashi foods. Strict devotees observe nirjala fast (no food or water).
Tulsi (Holy Basil) is the most sacred plant in Vaishnavism. No offering to Vishnu is complete without a Tulsi leaf. She is considered an incarnation of Vrinda Devi, Vishnu's eternal consort. Daily circumambulation of Tulsi is a standard Vaishnava practice that cleanses sins and bestows divine blessings.
Chaturmas literally means four months — the period from Ashadi Ekadashi (July) to Prabodhini Ekadashi (October-November) during which Lord Vishnu sleeps. Ascetics stay in one place, and auspicious rituals are minimized. Chaturmas 2026 ends on December 1, 2026, with Prabodhini Ekadashi.
