Nirjala Ekadashi 2024: Story and Significance

As per the Hindu faith, there are certain days that are spiritually charged and a vrat or fast ritual is carried out by devotees on those days. The aim of the vrat rituals is to please the deity associated and get His/Her blessings to ward off the negative karmas that we carry along from our past lives and steer towards bliss, success & prosperity.

What is an Ekadashi?

According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, Ekadashi is the 11th ‘Tithi’ (Date) during the ‘Shukla Paksha’ and the ‘Krishna Paksha’ of a month. It must be noted that the Shukla Paksha is the waxing phase of the Moon whereas the Krishna Paksha is the waning phase of the Moon).

There are a total of 24 Ekadashis in a year and every Ekadashi is a time period which opens up the cosmic doorway for receiving the blessings & grace of Lord Vishnu.

Devotees keep a vrat or fast on Ekadashi and pray to Lord Vishnu to get His blessings for leading a life that is full of contentment, devotion & prosperity. The holy scriptures say that one who keeps vrats on all Ekadashis attains ‘Moksha’ or salvation and gets freed from the cycle of birth & death.

Nirjala Ekadashi is one of the 24 Ekadashis that occur in a year and is the most significant of all. While observing an Ekadashi Vrat is not restricted for anyone but Hindus who follow the sect of Vaishnavism are primarily the ones who keep an Ekadashi Vrat.

Since Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat is the most difficult to observe as it requires a devotee to completely abstain from food as well as water, it is generally observed by devout Vaishnavites. The word Nirjala Ekadashi literally means- ‘The Ekadashi without Water’.

An Interesting Story Linked With Nirjala Ekadashi 2024

Among the many holy scriptures in Hinduism, there are 18 ‘Puranas’ and as per the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, the 2nd Pandava- Bhima or Bhimsen was known for his immense physical strength and his big appetite. He was a voracious eater and could not remain hungry for long. All his 4 brothers and everyone around him used to keep a vrat or fast on all the 24 Ekadashis every year. But, Bhima could never keep an Ekadashi Vrat and that always left him embarrassed.

One day Bhima went to Sage Ved Vyaas and requested a solution for his inability to observe vrats on Ekadashis. Sage Vyaas being an elder of his family, told him that he should keep a vrat on only 1 out of the 24 Ekadashis and he will get the blessings of Lord Vishnu and the auspicious results of keeping all 24 Ekadashi Vrats.

However, Sage Vyaas told him to observe the Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat that requires a devotee to give up on both food as well as water during the complete 24 hour period of the Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat.

Upon getting the instructions & blessings from Sage Ved Vyasa, Bhima mustered courage and observed the Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat with full devotion and from thereon, the Nirjala Ekadashi also became famous as “Bhimsen Ekadashi”.

Significance of Nirjala Ekadashi

In India Nirjala Ekadashi occurs during scorching summers in the month of Jyestha. Therefore, a person who keeps the Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat gets the auspicious results of keeping vrats on all 24 Ekadashis. The reason being this vrat is extremely difficult for most of the people as they have to spend 24 hours without any food and water. A person undoubtedly pleases Lord Vishnu by strictly observing the Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat.

Nirjala Ekadashi 2024 Timings

Date: 18th June 2024
Thiti: Tuesday
Ekdashi Start: 17 June 2024 at 01:07 
Ekadashi End: 18 June 2024 at 01:45

Guidelines to observe the Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat or Fast

For those who cannot observe a vrat or fast on all 24 Ekadashis in a year and want the auspicious benefits of all of them should observe the Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat or Fast.

Devotees can follow the below mentioned in-general Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat  guidelines:

• On the evening prior to the Ekadashi tithi (date) i.e the 10th Tithi, perform a ‘Sandhya Vandan’ (evening prayer) to Lord Vishnu and have dinner that excludes rice. 
• Next day, take a bath before Sunrise and begin your Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat by worshiping Lord Vishnu.
• Observe strict fast without food & water till the Sunrise of next day i.e a total period of 24 hours.  
• During the period of Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat, listen to the ‘Katha’ or story that tells about the various ‘Leelas’ (divine activities) that Lord Vishnu performed for His devotees.
• Chant Lord Vishnu’s mantra and sing ‘Bhajans’ (Hymns).    
• Next morning at Sunrise, complete your Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat by performing Lord Vishnu’s Puja (worship) devotees alongside offering Tulsi leaves, fruits and sweets to the deity.

However, in case you have a busy schedule or are simply not able to observe this extremely strict Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat, then you can simply get a Satya Narayan Puja being performed in your name on Nirjala Ekadashi and please Lord Vishnu on this incredibly powerful & spiritually charged occasion.

Whether a person is going through a rough financial patch or working & aspiring to achieve financial abundance in life, this Puja has the potential of propelling that person towards financial independence & opulence.

Furthermore, the Satya Narayan Puja performed on a Nirjala Ekadashi, wards off the malefic karmas from our past lives that are slated to create problems in our lives, in the times to come.

Future Point offers an opportunity to book the Satya Narayan Puja and get it performed in your name by a learned Brahmin priest, strictly in accordance with all the Vedic rules & rituals.

So, what are you waiting for?

Get the blessings of Lord Vishnu on this Nirjala Ekadashi 2024 and invite unparalleled bliss, joy, success & prosperity in your life!