Parshva Ekadashi

Parshva (Pārśva) is the ekadashi of shukla paksha in the sixth lunar month, Bhadrapada (August-September). The name comes from the Sanskrit "pārśva" — "side," "flank": tradition calls this day the moment when the sleeping Vishnu turns onto his other side. It is the midpoint of the four-month "sleep of the gods," which Shayani opens and Prabodhini closes.

Place in the system

Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi of the lunar month. Parshva falls eleventh in the bright half of Bhadrapada, exactly at the midpoint of Chaturmasya — between Shayani, which opens the four-month period, and Prabodhini, which closes it.

The image of turning onto the other side points to the midpoint of a long vow: the first impulse has already passed, the end is still far off, and here it matters not to leave what was begun halfway through.

Practical meaning

The Parshva fast is favorable for continuing the vows taken for Chaturmasya, for spiritual effort, for strengthening practices already begun. Tradition connects this day with a check at the midpoint of the path: what was begun on Shayani either strengthens here or weakens.

The Parshva background works through continuation. This is not a day for a new beginning — it is a day on which it matters to hold the course taken, without turning aside at the midpoint.

In daily practice

Parshva is a day for checking a vow you have taken. If on Shayani you promised yourself something — a fast, a daily prayer, giving up a habit — this is a good day to honestly assess whether the promise is holding, and to reinforce it if needed.

Parshva also suits continuing spiritual practice: what was begun two months ago, on Shayani, gets a fresh impulse here.

Parshva also suits the ordinary ekadashi fast: fruit, milk, water, light food. The fast here is not a push forward but a confirmation of the course already taken.

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