Prathama Ekadashi, the "first Ekadashi", is the eleventh day of the bright half of Ashadha, when Vishnu goes to sleep and Chaturmasa begins. For the Madhva community of Karnataka it is the day of Tapta Mudra Dharana: at Udupi and at every Madhva matha, the heads of the monasteries press heated metal seals of the conch and the discus on the arms and chest of devotees who queue for it.
The story
The seals are heated in the fire of the Sudarshana homa. Wearing the emblems of Vishnu marks a person as his, and the mild branding is also held to guard the body through the diseases of the rainy season.
Madhva practice keeps every Ekadashi as a total fast, with not even water taken, and Udupi serves no meals on that day.
How it is kept
- Nirjala upavasaThe strictest fast of the fortnight.
- Mudra dharanaThe stamping of the seals by the swamiji.
- Chaturmasa sankalpaThe swamis take their vow to stay in one place for the season.
- ParaneThe fast is broken early on Dwadashi.
Why this date
Prathama Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the bright half of Ashadha, on the day it is present at sunrise, placed so that the fast is broken during Dwadashi.
Prathama Ekadashi in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday | |
| 2027 | Wednesday | |
| 2028 | Sunday | |
| 2029 | Saturday | |
| 2030 | Thursday | |
| 2031 | Tuesday |
More Kannada festivals
18 JulyGuru Purnimaಗುರು ಪೂರ್ಣಿಮೆ
13 AugustVaramahalakshmi Vrataವರಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ವ್ರತ
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaಅಕ್ಷಯ ತೃತೀಯ
20 AprilHanuma Jayantiಹನುಮ ಜಯಂತಿ
15 AprilSri Rama Navamiಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮ ನವಮಿ
17 AugustNoola Hunnimeನೂಲ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ
Where to see Prathama Ekadashi
In Karnataka
- Sri Krishna Matha, UdupiKarnatakaThe swamis of the eight mathas give the mudra to thousands.
- Vittala Temple, HampiKarnatakaThe ruined temple of the god whom Kannada saints call Kannada Vitthala.
- Ranganathaswamy Temple, SrirangapatnaKarnatakaVishnu asleep on an island in the Kaveri.
Across India
- PandharpurMaharashtraAshadhi Ekadashi; many pilgrims come from north Karnataka.
- MantralayamAndhra PradeshThe seat of Raghavendra Swami, just over the Tungabhadra.
- SrirangamTamil NaduThe largest temple of the sleeping Vishnu.