Kamika Ekadashi 2026: Date, Shubh Muhurat, Paran Time, Vrat Katha & Mantra
Kamika Ekadashi is one of the most spiritually rewarding fasts (vrat) of the year, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It falls in the Krishna Paksha (waning phase) of the Shravana (Sawan) month and is believed to wash away even the gravest sins and bless the devotee with peace, protection and prosperity. The scriptures praise offering a single tulsi leaf to Lord Vishnu on this day as more meritorious than a bath in all the holy tirthas. Here is your complete guide to Kamika Ekadashi 2026 — the date, shubh muhurat, paran timing, vrat vidhi, the vrat katha, and Lord Vishnu’s mantra and aarti.
Kamika Ekadashi 2026: date & tithi
According to the Vedic Panchang, the Shravana Krishna Ekadashi tithi in 2026 is as follows:
| Ekadashi vrat date | Sunday, 9 August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Ekadashi tithi begins | Saturday, 8 August 2026 at 02:00 PM |
| Ekadashi tithi ends | Sunday, 9 August 2026 at 11:05 AM |
| Paran (fast-breaking) | Monday, 10 August 2026, 05:47 AM to 08:01 AM |
Since the Ekadashi tithi prevails at sunrise on 9 August (udaya-vyapini), the fast is kept on Sunday, 9 August 2026 by householders and Vaishnava devotees alike.
Kamika Ekadashi 2026 shubh muhurat (9 August)
- Brahma Muhurat: 04:11 AM to 04:59 AM
- Abhijit Muhurat: 11:59 AM to 12:53 PM
- Sunrise / Sunset: 05:47 AM / 07:05 PM
These windows (standard North-India panchang for Delhi) are considered especially auspicious for Vishnu puja, japa and meditation. Timings shift by a few minutes for other cities.
Kamika Ekadashi paran (vrat-breaking) time
The fast is broken the next day (Dwadashi) within the prescribed paran window. For Kamika Ekadashi 2026, the paran time is Monday, 10 August 2026, from 05:47 AM to 08:01 AM — the Dwadashi tithi ends at 08:01 AM, so complete the paran before then. Offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, then break the fast, ideally after giving food or dakshina to a Brahmin or someone in need.
Significance of Kamika Ekadashi
The glory (mahatmya) of Kamika Ekadashi was narrated by Lord Krishna to Yudhishthira, and earlier by Brahma to sage Narada. It is said that whoever worships Lord Vishnu (Shri Hari) on this day with faith is freed from the burden of past sins — even the grave sin of harming a Brahmin — and need not fear Yama, the lord of death. Lighting a ghee lamp before the Lord and offering tulsi on Kamika Ekadashi is described as bringing immense, lasting merit.
Kamika Ekadashi vrat vidhi (how to observe)
- Wake during the Brahma Muhurat, bathe, and take a sankalpa (solemn vow) to keep the fast.
- Clean the puja space, place an idol or image of Lord Vishnu, and light a ghee lamp (diya).
- Worship Lord Vishnu with tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, sandalwood, incense, fruits and panchamrit — yellow offerings are especially dear to Him.
- Chant the Vishnu mantras and read or listen to the Kamika Ekadashi vrat katha.
- Keep the fast — nirjala (without water) if your health permits, or phalahar (fruits and milk) otherwise. Avoid rice, grains, onion and garlic.
- Spend the evening in bhajan and kirtan, and perform the aarti of Lord Vishnu.
- Break the fast (paran) the next day within the paran window, after charity and prayer.
Kamika Ekadashi vrat katha
In a certain village there once lived a proud kshatriya (warrior) who was quick to anger. One day, in a quarrel with a Brahmin, the warrior struck him down and the Brahmin died. Stricken with remorse, the warrior wished to perform the funeral rites, but the other Brahmins refused to attend, saying he was stained by the terrible sin of brahma-hatya (the killing of a Brahmin).
Desperate to atone, the warrior approached a wise sage and begged for a way to be cleansed. The sage told him: “Observe the Kamika Ekadashi that falls in the dark fortnight of Shravana. Worship Lord Vishnu with a true heart, offer Him tulsi, and keep the fast with devotion — and by His grace you will be freed of this sin.”
The warrior kept the Kamika Ekadashi vrat exactly as instructed. That night, Lord Vishnu appeared to him in a dream and declared that his sin was washed away. Freed of his burden, the warrior lived thereafter in devotion. Since then, Kamika Ekadashi has been revered as the fast that removes even the gravest sins and grants the grace of Shri Hari.
Lord Vishnu mantras for Kamika Ekadashi
Chant these mantras during your puja and japa:
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय॥
ॐ नमो नारायणाय॥
ॐ नारायणाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि। तन्नो विष्णुः प्रचोदयात्॥
शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशम्।
विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम्॥
Lord Vishnu aarti — Om Jai Jagdish Hare
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे।
भक्त जनों के संकट, क्षण में दूर करे॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
जो ध्यावै फल पावै, दुख बिनसे मन का।
सुख-सम्पत्ति घर आवै, कष्ट मिटे तन का॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
मात-पिता तुम मेरे, शरण गहूँ किसकी।
तुम बिनु और न दूजा, आस करूँ जिसकी॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
तुम पूरन परमात्मा, तुम अन्तर्यामी।
पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, तुम सबके स्वामी॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
दीनबन्धु दुखहर्ता, तुम ठाकुर मेरे।
अपने हाथ उठाओ, द्वार पड़ा तेरे॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
तन-मन-धन सब कुछ है तेरा।
तेरा तुझको अर्पण, क्या लागे मेरा॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥
Kamika Ekadashi 2026: FAQs
When is Kamika Ekadashi in 2026?
Kamika Ekadashi 2026 is on Sunday, 9 August. The Ekadashi tithi runs from 02:00 PM on 8 August to 11:05 AM on 9 August.
What is the paran (fast-breaking) time?
The paran is on Monday, 10 August 2026, between 05:47 AM and 08:01 AM (before the Dwadashi tithi ends).
Which deity is worshipped on Kamika Ekadashi?
Lord Vishnu (Shri Hari) is worshipped; tulsi leaves and yellow offerings are considered especially dear to Him.
Why is Kamika Ekadashi important?
It is believed to remove even grave sins, protect from the fear of death, and bless the devotee with peace and prosperity by the grace of Lord Vishnu.
May the grace of Lord Vishnu bless you this Kamika Ekadashi. For a personalised auspicious muhurat, remedies or guidance based on your own birth chart, you can talk to an astrologer on Astro Logics, explore our spiritual library of aartis, chalisas and mantras, or find puja essentials in the divine store.
Note: This article is based on the Vedic Panchang, traditional beliefs and astrological calculations. Dates and muhurat timings follow the standard North-India panchang (Delhi) and can vary by city and calendar tradition (Purnimanta / Amanta) — please confirm with your local panchang or a learned pandit before observing the vrat.
