Aja Ekadashi 2025: Significance, Rituals, and Fasting Benefits
By: Future Point | 25-Jul-2025
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Aja Ekadashi is celebrated on the Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month. This is a very sacred and virtuous fast dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is believed that by observing the fast of Aja Ekadashi, all the sins of a person are destroyed and he attains salvation. "Aja" means one who is not born, that is, the immortal soul. This fast is considered very fruitful, especially for those who wish to be free from the bondages of their karma and to progress spiritually. The glory of this fast is described in many texts, including Brahmavaivarta Purana.
- Date: Tuesday, 19 August 2025
- Ekadashi Tithi Begins: 07:25 PM on 18 August 2025
- Ekadashi Tithi Ends: 04:49 PM on 19 August 2025
- Parana (Fast breaking) Date: 20 August 2025 (Wednesday)
- Parana Time: 06:08 AM to 08:38 AM
Muhurta for Aja Ekadashi Puja
Ideal Puja Time (Pratahkal):
Before 11:00 AM on 19 August 2025
After sunrise, until tithi ends at 04:49 PM
Dwadashi Parana Muhurat:
20 August 2025, between 06:08 AM and 08:38 AM
Significance of Aja Ekadashi
Spiritual Meaning: This Ekadashi has the power to absolve even the gravest sins (maha-pap) and grant freedom from repeated cycles of rebirth (moksha). It is associated with Lord Vishnu and also honors Pitra (ancestors) before Pitru Paksha.
Katha of Aja Ekadashi Vrat
The ancestor of Shri Ram Ji and Chakravarti King Harishchandra was famous for his truthfulness and honesty. To test his truthfulness and honesty, the Gods sent Rishi Vishwamitra to him. Rishi Vishwamitra came to his court and asked for his entire kingdom. King Harishchandra had seen in his dream that he had donated his kingdom to Rishi Vishwamitra. The king followed the Satyanth Vrat and handed over the entire kingdom to Rishi Vishwamitra and went to Kashi.
After spending some time, when he could not see the plight of his child and wife, he decided to sell himself so that his family could live well. But one has to suffer the consequences of
past deeds. When he went to be sold as a slave, an old man proposed to take his wife as a maid to take care of the children of his house. He also proposed that he would take care of the child as well. Happy that his family would not suffer like him, he agreed to this. He sold himself to a Chandal and became his slave. He started working as a shroud collector for the Chandal, but he never left his truth. After many years, he started looking for a way to get free from this lowly deed. He was thinking about getting freedom when Gautam Rishi came to him. King Harishchandra greeted him and told him his sad story.
Maharishi Gautam became very sad after listening to King Harishchandra's sad story and asked him to observe the fast of Aja Ekadashi and stay awake the whole night. He also told the king that all his sins would be destroyed by this. Maharishi Gautam disappeared after saying this. When Aja Ekadashi came, King Harishchandra observed the fast and stayed awake the whole night as per the instructions of Maharishi. After some time, his son was bitten by a snake while playing, due to which he died. When his wife came to perform the last rites of her son, the king asked for a shroud from her for the last rites. In lieu of not getting the shroud, he refused to perform the last rites. The wife tried to convince him in every way but everything was in vain because he was a slave at that time and his job was to get the shroud and perform the last rites.
After this, King Harishchandra's wife took out some coins tied to her pallu and requested the Chandal to buy it so that she could get the shroud and her son's last rites could be performed. After taking the shroud, as soon as the king proceeded for the funeral pyre, all the sins of the king were destroyed due to the effect of his Aja Ekadashi fast and drums started playing in heaven and flowers started raining on him. All the gods were standing in front of him with folded hands. After this, his son became alive and his wife was adorned with royal clothes.
Due to the effect of Aja Ekadashi fast, all the illusions created by the sage ended and in the end Harishchandra went to heaven along with his family. All the sins of the people who observe this fast according to the rules and stay awake the whole night are destroyed and in the end they attain heaven.
Astrological Importance of Aja Ekadashi
Occurs during the waning phase of the Moon (Krishna Paksha) in the sacred month of Bhadrapada.
Highly effective for:
- Removing Pitru Dosha
- Cleansing Saturn and Rahu afflictions
- Improving Moon and Ketu-related karmas
Very auspicious for Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio, and Libra ascendants, or those undergoing Sade Sati or Kaal Sarp Dosh.
Benefits of Observing Aja Ekadashi Vrat
- Frees from past-life sins and heavy karmic debts.
- Blesses one with inner strength, mental clarity, and spiritual evolution.
- Ideal for those seeking: Peace in family life, Career breakthroughs, and Freedom from financial burdens
- Boosts devotion, intuition, and removes illusions caused by ego or materialism.
- Helpful in overcoming legal issues, conflicts, or false allegations.
Aja Ekadashi Vrat Vidhi (Fasting Procedure)
On Dashami (18 August 2025 – Monday Evening):
- Eat a light, satvik dinner before 7 PM.
- Avoid grains, onion, garlic, meat, and alcohol.
- Mentally take the sankalp (vow) for observing Ekadashi vrat.
On Ekadashi Day (19 August 2025 – Tuesday):
- Wake up early during Brahma Muhurta (around 4:30 AM).
- Take a bath with Ganga water or tulsi leaves for purification.
- Offer prayers to Lord Vishnu (especially as Vasudeva or Hari).
- Decorate the altar with yellow flowers, tulsi, ghee lamp, conch, and dhoop.
- Chant:
“Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”
Vishnu Sahasranama
Aja Ekadashi Vrat Katha
- Maintain nirjala vrat (no water) or phalahar vrat (fruits, milk), depending on your health.
- Avoid lying or sleeping during the day. Engage in bhajans, mantras, and silence.
- In the evening, perform aarti with a ghee diya and recite the Narayan Kavach.
On Dwadashi (20 August 2025 – Wednesday):
- Break your fast between 6:08 AM and 8:38 AM after bath and Vishnu Puja.
- Donate food, clothes, ghee, and dakshina to Brahmins, cows, or needy people.
Powerful Remedies on Aja Ekadashi
For Karmic Cleansing & Moksha:
- Chant Vishnu Sahasranama or Gopal Stotra at dawn and dusk.
- Offer 100 tulsi leaves to Lord Vishnu with each chant of “Om Namo Narayanaya”.
For Financial & Legal Problems:
- Offer 5 yellow sweets and jaggery to Lord Vishnu with a prayer for relief from debt, loans, or court cases.
For Ancestor Peace (Pitru Shanti):
- Light a cow ghee lamp in the south direction during sandhya (sunset), and chant:
“Om Namo Bhagavate Raghunayakaya Pitrunam Moksham Dehi Swaha”
For Family Harmony:
- Feed 7 Brahmins or needy children on Dwadashi with khichdi, kheer, or puri-sabzi.
- Avoid anger, lying, or arguments during Ekadashi.
Conclusion
Aja Ekadashi on 19th August 2025 offers a rare cosmic window for inner purification, freedom from misfortune, and ancestral grace. Fasting with devotion, reading the vrat katha, and following the prescribed remedies can help remove even the most stubborn obstacles from your life, material or spiritual.