Aja Ekadashi

Aja (Ajā) is the ekadashi of krishna paksha in the sixth lunar month, Bhadrapada (August-September). The name comes from the Sanskrit "ajā" — "unborn," "unmanifest." Tradition connects the fast on this day with release from the gravest misdeeds and with recovering what was lost.

Place in the system

Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi of the lunar month. Aja falls eleventh in the dark half of Bhadrapada, immediately before Parshva — the ekadashi of shukla paksha in the same month.

"Aja" in the Hindu tradition is the unborn, unmanifest cause of everything; the same word also serves as one of the epithets of the Absolute. The Aja ekadashi is named so because its fast touches the deepest layers of karma, ones hard to reach by ordinary means.

Practical meaning

The Aja fast is favorable for release from the gravest misdeeds and sufferings, for recovering what was lost, for well-being. Tradition connects it with the idea that a sincere fast on this day can untie the most deeply set karmic knots.

The Aja background works through depth. It is a day on which means unavailable on ordinary days come into play.

The fast is kept as on other ekadashis: without grain or legumes, with fruit, milk, and water. The depth here lies not in the fast's severity but in the readiness to honestly face what is old and usually set aside.

In Indian folk practice Aja is a day on which devout Hindus often pray for release from suffering and for well-being.

In daily practice

Aja is a day for deep release. If you feel stuck in something long-standing, this day suits prayer for release.

Aja also suits charity toward those in a hard situation: helping the sick, supporting those in need.

Aja also suits fasting: fruit, milk, water, light food. The fast here is a deep inner cleansing.

How much this day is yours is refined by Tara Bala. Aja sets a background of deep release, and the personal layer shows how far it matches your circumstances today.