Shatilla Ekadashi 2025 | Time | Importance & Rituals

What is Shatilla Ekadashi, and why and when is it celebrated? 

By Intimate Viewpoint

Shatilla Ekadashi is one of the 24 Ekadashis. It is also called 'Tilda' Ekadashi and 'Magh-Krishna' Ekadashi. The name 'Shatilla' came from the sesame seeds or 'Til' which is traditionally used on this Ekadashi. 'Shat' is referred to as 'six' and 'Tila' is to sesame seeds. 

It is celebrated on the 11th day of Krishna Paksha (Waning moon) in the month of Magha in the lunar calendar (January to February) in the Gregorian calendar. In 2025 it will be celebrated on the 25th of January i.e.Saturday.

Importance and rituals

Lord Vishnu or Krishna is worshipped on this Ekadashi. 'Til' or the Sesame seeds are mandatory on this Ekadashi because it is believed that the Sesame seeds came out of Lord Vishnu's sweat during Samudra Manthan. Hence it is either used by the devotees as Ubtan or paste to take a bath on this auspicious day or some seeds are added to the bath water. Sesame seeds are also mandatory in Pooja Samagri (worship material) on this specific day. 

The importance of Shattila Ekadashi 

Shattila Ekadashi Vrat fast becomes fruitful if anyone does it with complete faith and devotion. The rituals and rules are also mandatory for obtaining a good result. Lord Vishnu blessed his devotees with good health, wealth, and prosperity if he became pleased with his devotees. Charity is also an important part of this Ekadashi. Donating food, clothes, money, and essential things to the needy and Brahmins brings an abundance of wealth and food into the house, and the devotee becomes free from poverty, and mental, physical, and social disturbance.

On Shattila Ekadashi 'Til' Or sesame seeds are used in such ways to complete the rituals.

* Eating foods or sweets which contain sesame seeds.

* Bathing with 'Til' water (add some sesame seeds in the bath water).

* Applying a paste of 'Til' or sesame seeds on the body.

* Offering sesame seeds in the fire.

* Drinking water by adding some seeds to it.

* Donating Til or sesame seeds to the Brahmins.

* Worshipping Lord Vishnu or Krishna by offering Til along with other worship materials. 

The Legend of Shattila Ekadashi 

According to the Hindu scripture, the legend of Shattila Ekadashi was told by Shri Krishna to Narada. The story is about a lady who was very kind-hearted and was living a very strict life. She was a big devotee of Lord Vishnu. She used to keep a fast on a regular basis. She also used to observe all fast and did pooja and rituals without any intention of gaining. She also used to give Charity to the needy and Brahmins. She used to donate clothes, money, and other essential things except food. She never gives food to the hungry people nor quenches their hunger, whereas food donating is considered the biggest donation in the world.

Lord Vishnu was watching all these things of that woman from his abode (Baikunth Dham). He thought that the lady was eligible to live in Baikunth Dham. He wanted to test her. He became a beggar and went to the lady and asked for some food. The lady became irritated and threw a lump of mud instead of food in the beggar bowl of Lord Vishnu. The lord picked up the mud and mold a hurt for the lady, where there was no food, nor wealth. The lady became angry and went to the abode of Lord Vishnu in her mortal body. She asked Lord Vishnu, why he punished her in such a way.

Lord Vishnu told her everything. The other gods advised her to go back and observe a first on Ekadashi Day. The lady did all the things according to the advice of God then later after she got all her things back also was replenished with food grains, wealth, and Spiritual wealth. Then at the end of narrating the story Lord Krishna said that the devotees should observe the fast with complete devotion and not gain Garner with other material things.