Shravana Putrada Ekadashi 2026: Date, Parana Time & Vrat Katha

The second Ekadashi of Shravan carries a name that speaks directly to one of the deepest human longings. Shravana Putrada Ekadashi (श्रावण पुत्रदा एकादशी) — also called Pavitra Ekadashi — is observed by couples praying for a child, and by devotees everywhere seeking the purification its second name promises.

Falling in the final week of Sawan, it is the last great Vishnu vrat before the month closes on Shravan Purnima. Here is everything you need to observe it correctly.

Putrada Ekadashi 2026 Date & Parana | तिथि

Note that there are two Putrada Ekadashis in the Hindu year — this one in Shravan, and Pausha Putrada Ekadashi in winter. Both are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and both are kept by those praying for progeny.

The Vrat Katha: King Mahijit | व्रत कथा

In the kingdom of Mahishmati there ruled a righteous king named Mahijit. He governed justly, cared for his subjects, and lived a life without cruelty or excess. Yet he had no son, and as the years passed the absence weighed on him until he could no longer find peace in his own prosperity.

He gathered the learned men of his kingdom and asked them plainly: “I have committed no sin that I know of. Why then am I denied a child?” The sages went into the forest to consult the great rishi Lomasha, who possessed knowledge of past lives.

Rishi Lomasha entered meditation and saw the king's previous birth. In that life Mahijit had been a poor merchant. Once, travelling through a drought-stricken region, he came upon a pond where a cow, desperate with thirst, was drinking. He drove the cow away and drank first himself. That single act of denying water to a thirsty cow — committed in a former life — had ripened into the sorrow of childlessness in this one.

The remedy, said Lomasha, was the Shravana Putrada Ekadashi vrat. He instructed the king, his queen and all the citizens to observe it together with full devotion, keeping the night vigil and worshipping Lord Vishnu.

They did exactly as told. In time a radiant son was born to the king, who grew to become a righteous and beloved ruler. Since then this Ekadashi has been kept by all who long for a child — and by those seeking to soften the weight of past-life karma they cannot even remember.

Puja Vidhi | पूजा विधि

1. Sankalp on Dashami: Eat a simple sattvic meal the evening before and resolve to keep the vrat.
2. Bathe early on Ekadashi and purify the altar with Gangajal.
3. Establish the deity: Place an idol or image of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna. Light a desi ghee diya.
4. Offer Tulsi: A fresh Tulsi leaf is the offering dearest to Sri Hari. Pluck it a day earlier, never on Ekadashi itself.
5. Offer yellow items: Yellow flowers, yellow cloth, chandan and akshat.
6. Chant: Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya on a mala — Vaishnava tradition favours a Tulsi Kanthi Mala (₹359), since Tulsi is dearest of all to Sri Hari — and read the Putrada Ekadashi katha.
7. Night vigil (jagran): Stay awake singing bhajans — considered especially important for this vrat.
8. Parana: Break the fast on 24 August within the prescribed window, after offering panchmeva bhog and donating to the needy. A grain-free Vratam All-in-One Vrat Snacks Combo (₹349) kept ready makes it easy to eat within the narrow parana window.

Fasting Rules | व्रत नियम

Other Vrats Kept for Children's Wellbeing

Putrada Ekadashi is one of several observances kept for progeny and the wellbeing of children. Devotees often keep them together across the year:

• Santan Saptami Vrat Katha eBook — the Uma-Maheshwar vrat for children's wellbeing, observed 18 September 2026 (₹49)
• Mansa Vacha Mahadev Somvar Vrat Katha eBook — the wish-fulfilling Monday vrat (₹49)
• Maha Mrityunjaya Jaap Sankalp Puja — for family health and protection

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Shravana Putrada Ekadashi 2026?
Sunday, 23 August 2026. Parana is on 24 August between about 1:58 PM and 4:29 PM.

Why is it called Putrada Ekadashi?
“Putrada” means giver of a son or child. The vrat is traditionally kept by couples praying for progeny, following the katha of King Mahijit.

Is this vrat only for those wanting children?
No. It is also called Pavitra Ekadashi — the purifying one — and is kept by any devotee seeking to cleanse past karma and gain Lord Vishnu's grace.

Can both husband and wife keep this fast?
Yes, and it is traditionally recommended that they observe it together, as King Mahijit and his queen did.

What is the meaning of the katha?
That consequences carry across lifetimes, and that sincere devotion can soften karma we have no memory of creating. The king's childlessness came from denying water to a thirsty cow in a former birth.

What if I miss the parana window?
Break the fast as soon as you realise, with a sincere apology. Missing parana entirely is considered inauspicious, so set a reminder for 24 August afternoon.

Close Sawan with Sri Hari's Grace

Putrada Ekadashi is the last great Vishnu vrat of Shravan, arriving just before the month closes on Shravan Purnima. Whatever you are praying for this 23 August, bring it to Sri Hari with a Tulsi leaf and an honest heart — as a king once did, and was answered.