Date and Time of Sat-tila Ekadasi in Mumbai
This year Sat-tila Ekadasi tithi begins on 13 Jan 2026 at 03:21 PM (which is after sunrise time 07:14 AM on 13 Jan 2026) and ends on 14 Jan 2026, 05:55 PM (which is after sunrise time 07:15AM on 14 Jan 2026). Thus Sat-tila Ekadasi fast will be observed on from 14 Jan 2026 07:15 AM to 15 Jan 2026 7:14 AM and Ekadasi fast needs to be broken on 15 Jan 2026 from 07:15 AM to 10:56 AM.
Click here to know more about Ekadasi Fasting Days Calculation Principles
1. Dālbhya Ṛṣi Inquires About Deliverance from Sin
Śrī Dālbhya Ṛṣi said to Palastya Muni,
“When the spirit soul comes in contact with the material energy, he immediately begins to perform sinful activities… Kindly inform me how, by giving even a little in charity, one may be easily released from the reactions of his sins.”
2. Pulastya Muni Declares the Confidential Nature of the Topic
Pulastya Muni replied,
“Oh fortunate one, you have asked me an important and confidential question, which not even Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, or Indra has ever asked. Please listen very carefully to my answer.”
3. Spiritual Discipline at the Beginning of the Month of Māgha
“With the arrival of the month of Māgha (January–February), one should bathe, carefully control his senses by giving up lust, anger, pride, jealousy, faultfinding, and greed, and meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.”
4. Preparation of the Sacred Sesame and Cow-Dung Offerings
“One should then gather up some cow dung before it touches the ground and, after mixing it with sesame seeds and cotton, form 108 balls… when the constellation of Pūrvāṣāḍhā nakṣatra arrives.”
5. Vow and Worship on Ekādaśī Day
“After bathing, the person who intends to observe Ekādaśī should worship the Supreme Lord… promise to observe the Ekādaśī fast… remain awake overnight and perform a homa (fire sacrifice).”
6. Arati and Devotional Offerings to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
“Then the devotee should perform an ārati ceremony for the pleasure of the Lord… offering sandalwood paste, incense, camphor, a bright ghee lamp, and delicious food preparations.”
7. Offering the 108 Sesame Balls into the Sacred Fire
“Next the devotee should offer the 108 balls of cow dung, sesame seeds, and cotton wool into the sacred fire whilst chanting such holy names of the Lord as Purusha-sūkta.”
8. Observance of the Ekādaśī Vrata
“Throughout the whole day and night he should also observe the standard Ekādaśī vrata, fasting from all kinds of grains and beans.”
9. Prescribed Food Offerings on Sat-tilā Ekādaśī
“On this occasion one should offer the Lord pumpkin, coconut, and guava. If these items are unavailable, betel nut may be substituted.”
10. A Heartfelt Prayer to Lord Janārdana
“The devotee should pray to Lord Śrī Janārdana, the benefactor of all living beings, in this way:
‘Oh Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, You are the most merciful Personality of Godhead…’”
11. Charity and Service to Qualified Brāhmaṇas
“The devotee should then try to please a qualified brāhmaṇa with a warm welcome, a pot full of water, umbrella, shoes, and clothes… and offer him a pot full of sesame seeds.”
12. Special Significance of Black and White Sesame Seeds
“Oh exalted Dālbhya Muni, black sesame seeds are especially suitable for worship and fire sacrifices, while white or brown ones are meant to be eaten by qualified brāhmaṇas.”
13. Heavenly Results of Donating Sesame Seeds
“One who can arrange to give both kinds of sesame seeds on this Sat-tilā Ekādaśī day will be promoted to the heavenly planets for thousands of years.”
14. The Six Sacred Uses of Sesame Seeds (Sat-tilā)
“On this Ekādaśī a faithful person should:
(1) bathe in sesame water,
(2) rub sesame paste on the body,
(3) offer sesame into fire,
(4) eat sesame,
(5) donate sesame,
(6) accept sesame in charity.”
15. Why This Ekādaśī Is Called Sat-tilā
“These six ways of using sesame seeds purify one spiritually; therefore it is called Sat-tilā Ekādaśī.”
16. Nārada Muni’s Question to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
“The great Devarṣi Nārada once asked Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, ‘Kindly tell me the result obtained by observing Sat-tilā Ekādaśī.’”
17. The Story of the Pious Old Brāhmaṇī
“Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa replied… Long ago there lived an old brāhmaṇī who worshipped Me daily and fasted faithfully.”
18. Her Austerities and Charitable Activities
“She gave charity to brāhmaṇas and maidens and even planned to give away her house, yet she never gave food.”
19. The Supreme Lord Tests Her Charity
“I came down disguised as a follower of Lord Śiva… when I begged for alms, she angrily threw mud into My pot.”
20. Result of Incomplete Charity in the Spiritual World
“She reached the spiritual world, but her house was empty—without food, wealth, or furniture.”
21. The Lord’s Instruction About Sat-tilā Ekādaśī
“I told her not to open her door until the wives of the devas explained the glories of Sat-tilā Ekādaśī.”
22. Hearing the Glories from the Devas’ Wives
“One of the wives later explained the sublime nature of this Ekādaśī.”
23. Proper Observance Grants Both Bhukti and Mukti
“From then on the lady observed Sat-tilā Ekādaśī properly and obtained both material enjoyment and liberation.”
24. Transformation into a Spiritual Form
“Her body became sac-cid-ānanda, and her home shone with gold, jewels, and abundance.”
25. The Proper Mood for Observing Ekādaśī
“One should not observe Ekādaśī with greed, but donate sesame seeds, food, and clothes selflessly.”
26. Pulastya Muni’s Final Assurance
“Oh Dālbhya Muni, one who properly observes Sat-tilā Ekādaśī becomes free from all poverty and sinful reactions and goes back to Godhead.”
27. Conclusion
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Māgha-kṛṣṇa Ekādaśī, Sat-tilā Ekādaśī, from the Bhaviṣya-uttara Purāṇa of Śrīla Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa.
