Vishnu
Nirjala Ekadashi
The waterless fast — one day whose merit equals all twenty-four Ekadashis.
Tithi: Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi
In the simplest words
The hardest Ekadashi — no food AND no water, sunrise to sunrise. Keeping this one, they say, equals keeping all twenty-four. Health always comes first.
The story & purpose
Of the year's Ekadashis this is the summit — kept without even water, in the fiercest heat of Jyeshtha. Tradition calls it Bhima Ekadashi: Bhima, unable to fast fortnightly, asked Vyasa for one vrat to stand for all, and was given this hardest and most complete of them.
Its outward companion is jal-daan: precisely because the devotee goes thirsty, the day overflows with water given to others — pyaus on roadsides, pots gifted with sweets, water for birds and beasts. Austerity turned outward becomes generosity.
What is done
Nirjala vrat
From sunrise to next sunrise, no food or water — taken up only per one's health; a phalahar or jal fast is honoured too.
Vishnu puja
Tulsi, pushpa, and deepa to Vishnu; the Vishnu Sahasranama or twelve-syllable mantra.
Jal-daan
Water, matkas, sherbet, and fans given — the day's signature charity.
Parana
The fast is broken next morning within the parana window, water first.
Best timings
Sankalpa at sunrise; jagran or extended japa in the evening; parana next morning.
Exact muhurat varies by city and tradition — for the precise hour, consult a local panchang for your location.
Worth knowing
Ekadashi fasting is traditionally said to rest the digestion twice a month — the vrat calendar read as care of the body.
The parana must fall inside the Dwadashi tithi, after its first quarter (Hari Vasara) has passed — which is why panchangs print a parana window for every Ekadashi.
Pyaus set up today often run all summer — one vrat, a season of water.