Mokshada Ekadashi 2026: Date, Parana Time, Vrat Katha & Gita Jayanti

Mokshada Ekadashi falls on the 11th day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha (Agrahayana). As the name implies (*Moksha* = Liberation, *Da* = Giver), observing this sacred Vrat destroys all sins and grants liberation to the soul.

This day is doubly auspicious because it is also celebrated as Gita Jayanti. It was on this specific Tithi, over 5,000 years ago, that Lord Krishna delivered the divine knowledge of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

In 2026, Mokshada Ekadashi falls on a Saturday.

Significance: The Day of Liberation

Lord Krishna told King Yudhishthira that this Ekadashi is dear to him. It is believed that the merit obtained from this fast can be transferred to deceased ancestors (who did not attain Moksha) to release them from hellish planets and grant them entry into Vaikuntha.
Furthermore, reciting or hearing the Bhagavad Gita on this day is considered the highest form of worship.

Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha (King Vaikhanasa)

The legend tells of a compassionate King named Vaikhanasa who ruled the city of Champaka Nagar. He treated his subjects like his own children. One night, the King had a terrifying dream in which he saw his father suffering in a hellish realm (Naraka), begging for help.

Distressed, the King consulted the learned Brahmins, who directed him to the ashram of Parvata Muni, a sage who could see the past, present, and future. The Sage meditated and revealed that in his previous life, the King’s father had committed a sin by quarreling with his wife and forcing himself upon her during her menstrual cycle, ignoring her pleas. This sin led him to hell.

Parvata Muni advised King Vaikhanasa to observe the Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat with his family and transfer the merit (Punya) to his father. The King followed the instructions faithfully. As soon as he offered the merit to his father’s soul, flowers showered from the sky. His father was instantly liberated from hell and ascended to heaven, blessing his son.

Puja Vidhi for Mokshada Ekadashi

1. Morning Ritual: Wake up early, take a bath, and wear clean clothes.
2. Krishna-Arjuna Worship: Worship Lord Krishna and Arjuna. If you have a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, wrap it in a new cloth and worship it with flowers and sandalwood paste.
3. Gita Path: Reading the Bhagavad Gita (at least Chapter 11 or 12) is mandatory and highly auspicious on this day.
4. Fast & Jagran: Observe a strict fast (or fruit diet) and stay awake at night singing Bhajans.
5. Parana: Break the fast the next morning (Dwadashi) after feeding a Brahmin.

Frequently Asked Questions