The Ekadashi fast is broken on Dwadashi, before Dwadashi ends. Kalaprakasika insists on it, “however short the duration of that Thithi may be.” When Dwadashi is very short, Ahnika Grantham calls it an alpa dvadashi: the breaking of the fast must be done at or before sunrise, and the day's duties are compressed. For the date itself, the printed almanac of your tradition decides. A book's rule explains a date; it does not overrule the almanac.
☕ The fast day, then the breaking
First the fast day. If any Dasami is present at arunodaya, there is no fast that day (Kalaprakasika (tr. N. P. Subramania Iyer, 1917), ch. XLV, pp. 241–242). An Ekadashi present two muhurtham (96 minutes) before sunrise is the full one, Sampoorna Ekadashi: “Grahasthas should fast on this day.”
When a Dwadashi touches both the Ekadashi day and the Trayodashi day, the fast is kept on the day that is wholly Dwadashi, and broken on the Trayodashi day, when Dwadashi ends.
Then the breaking, parana. It is done on the next day, before Dwadashi ends, however short Dwadashi is. “If the duration of the said Thithi be very short, the daily midday religious services may be done along with those of the morning.”
Ahnika Grantham names the case: an alpa dvadashi, and a maha alpa dvadashi when it is shorter still (Ahnika Grantham, Vol. 1 (Sri Ahobila Mutt), pp. 285–286). The parana is then done at or before sunrise, and the day's order of duties is compressed to fit.
At a glance
- Dasami at arunodaya: no fast that day.
- Ekadashi from 96 minutes before sunrise: the full Ekadashi.
- Dwadashi over both the Ekadashi and Trayodashi days: fast on the wholly Dwadashi day.
- Break the fast before Dwadashi ends.
- In doubt: “In all cases of uncertainty as to the exact day for fasting, it is better to abstain from food on Dhwadhasi day and breakfast on the next.”
- What Nava does: Nava gives the fast days, Smartha Ekadashi and Sri Vaishnava Ekadashi. It gives no parana time and does not flag a short Dwadashi.
- Nava does not compute this rule. This page explains it as the books give it.
Frequently asked questions
When do I break the Ekadashi fast?
On Dwadashi, before it ends. If Dwadashi is very short, at or before sunrise. Your almanac gives the exact time.
Does Nava show the parana time?
No. Nava gives the Ekadashi days; for the time to break the fast, use your almanac.
What is a Sampoorna Ekadashi?
An Ekadashi already present two muhurtham (96 minutes) before sunrise. Kalaprakasika names it the full Ekadashi.
Deep dive: a short Dwadashi
Sunrise 06:00 on the day after the fast.
⏳ Two Dwadashis
- Dwadashi runs until 10:30. The fast is broken in the morning, any time before 10:30.
- Dwadashi ends at 06:05, just after sunrise. This is the short Dwadashi the books warn of: the parana is done right at sunrise, before 06:05, and the midday duties are done with the morning ones.
🔗 Read first
This page builds on Ekadashi fasting, which explains the fast itself.