Parsva Ekadashi 2026 Date

About Parsva Ekadashi

Parsva — 'side' — names the day Vishnu turns over in his four-month cosmic sleep, rolling from his left flank to his right on the serpent Shesha. It falls in Bhadrapada Shukla, the midpoint of Chaturmasya, and is the one Ekadashi devoted to Vamana, his dwarf-brahmin avatar.

The Bhavishyottara Purana tells the story behind the turn. King Bali — a generous demon king and great-grandson of Prahlada — had defeated Indra and seized the three worlds. The gods appealed to Vishnu, who came as Vamana, a dwarf brahmin, and asked Bali for just three paces of land. Once Bali promised, Vamana grew vast: one step covered the earth, the second the heavens, and the third pressed Bali's head down into Patala, the netherworld. Pleased by Bali's word, Vishnu promised to stay with him forever. Krishna explains to Yudhishthira that this is why Vishnu 'turns' on this day — one form of him rests beside Bali in Patala, the other on Shesha. Devotees worship the Vamana image, offer curd mixed with rice and a piece of silver, and keep an all-night vigil. The merit is said to equal an Ashvamedha — a royal horse sacrifice.