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Mokshada Ekadashi 2023: Date, Timings, Significance and Rituals

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Dates and Tithi are always considered very important for Ekadashi fasting. As per the Hindu calendar, Ekadashi refers to the eleventh lunar day of the two lunar phases – Krishna Paksa and Shukla Paksha. Thus, there are two Ekadashi days in a month as per the Hindu calendar. Several Hindu devotees worship Lord Vishnu on Ekadashi day. Among all the Ekadashis, Mokshada Ekadashi 2023 is considered to be one of the most fruitful. On the day of Ekadashi, people generally keep a very strict fast from sunrise to sunset.

Fasting can be done fully i.e without consuming anything strictly for the entire day or the devotees can indulge in partial fasting too by consuming only water and fruits. According to Hinduism, people who fast on Ekadashi are believed to get rid of the malefic effects of the planets like Rahu, Ketu, Mangal and Shani. These devotees are blessed with happiness, peace and prosperity and have a beautiful spiritual journey towards Moksha or Salvation.

Do you know Fasting is proven highly beneficial for health scientifically?

What is Mokshada Ekadashi?

Mokshada Ekadashi is a Hindu religious ceremony which is celebrated on the Ekadashi tithi i.e. the 11th day of Shukla Paksha in the lunar month of Margashirsha. According to the Gregorian calendar, this festival is celebrated in the months of November or December. As the name suggests, people observing Mokshada Ekadashi vrat will achieve Moksha or liberation from the repeated cycle of birth and death and will reside in the divine abode of Lord Vishnu i.e. Vaikuntha.

This Ekadashi is celebrated across India with a lot of zeal and energy. Mokshada Ekadashi is also known as ‘Mauna Ekadashi’ since the devotees observe ‘Mauna’ i.e. no talking ritual for the entire day on this occasion. Several states of South India and the adjoining regions of Odisha celebrate this Ekadashi as ‘Baikuntha Ekadashi’. Mokshada Ekadashi is very very significant since it helps the devotees get rid of all their past sins and evil deeds.

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Mokshada Ekadashi 2023: Date and Timings

In the year 2023, Mokshada Ekadashi will be celebrated on Friday, December 22.
Ekadashi Tithi Begins: 08:16 a.m on December 22, 2023
Ekadashi Tithi Ends: 07:11 a.m on December 23, 2023
Parana Tithi (breaking of fast) of Ekadashi: December 23, between 07:11 a.m to 09:15 a.m 

Significance of Mokshada Ekadashi 2023

As per Hindu Mythology, observing the Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat helps the devotees in attaining liberation from the Pitru Doshas and they eventually attain Moksha or salvation. This day is also called Gita Jayanti in some places since this was the day on which Lord Krishna narrated the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna during the epic war of Kurukshetra. That’s why the Vaishnavas or the devotees of Lord Vishnu consider Mokshada Ekadashi very auspicious. 

Devotees of Lord Vishnu also gift the Bhagavad Gita to each other on this day as a mark of their love and respect towards Lord Vishnu. There are several Hindu scriptures that talk about the significance of Mokshada Ekadashi 2023 and reading or listening to these scriptures on this day is again considered very auspicious and beneficial. According to the Vishnu Purana, the benefits of fasting on Mokshada Ekadashi are almost equal to the combined benefits of fasting on 23 other Ekadashi Vrats in the entire year, that is the greatness of Mokshada Ekadashi. 

Devshayani Ekadashi Fasting Procedure and Benefits 

Mokshada Ekadashi 2023 Puja and Fasting Procedure

  • On the day of Mokshada Ekadashi, the devotees should get up at sunrise, take an early bath and wear fresh clothes.
  • Keeping a fast is a very important ritual of Mokshada Ekadashi. This fast includes spending the entire day without eating or drinking anything. It is done for a duration of 24 hours i.e. from the sunrise of Ekadashi tithi to the sunrise of Dwadashi tithi.
  • It’s a famous belief that people who observe this Vrat every year with full devotion will attain Moksha i.e salvation after death.
  • People who are unable to keep a strict fast can go for partial fasting by eating fruits, dairy products and other vegetarian food items. Pregnant women can also observe partial fasting on Mokshada Ekadashi 2023.
  • Devotees should be careful not to consume pulses, grains, rice, onion, and garlic during the Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat.
  • Devotees should install the idol or picture of Lord Vishnu on a clean podium in the puja place, to worship him on this day.
  • The devotees also worship the holy Bhagavad Gita and priests in several temples read out various sermons of the Gita.
  • Observers of the Vrat chant various Mantras of Lord Vishnu during the puja. Then they visit the temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the evening to witness the temple celebrations.
  • It is considered very auspicious to read the Vishnu Sahasranamam, Mukundashtakam and the Bhagavad Gita on the day of Mokshada Ekadashi 2023.

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