Ekadashi Mantras and Vishnu Stotras for the Vrat
A simple, respectful guide to the Vishnu mantras and stotras traditionally chanted on Ekadashi — with meanings and the right occasions to recite them.
A simple, respectful guide to the Vishnu mantras and stotras traditionally chanted on Ekadashi — with meanings and the right occasions to recite them.
Quick answer: On Ekadashi, devotees keep the mind fixed on Bhagavan Vishnu through simple japa and stotras. The most common are Om Namo Narayanaya, the ashtakshari-style Vishnu salutations, the twelve names (Dwadasha-nama), and reverent recitation of the Vishnu Sahasranama. Chant slowly, with a clean body and a calm heart, ideally in the morning and evening.
Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of each fortnight, kept sacred to Bhagavan Vishnu. Beyond fasting and staying awake, the heart of the vrat is remembrance — turning the mind again and again to Narayana through the names and hymns handed down in our tradition. This guide gathers the most widely chanted, public-domain Vishnu mantras and stotras, with their meanings and the occasions on which they are usually recited.
None of these need Sanskrit mastery. What matters is sincerity, a clean body and place, and steady, unhurried repetition. If you are unsure of an unfamiliar verse, it is better to chant a short name you know well than to strain over a longer text.
- Deity: Bhagavan Vishnu (Narayana)
- Occasion: Ekadashi (11th lunar day), twice a month
- Core practice: Japa (mantra repetition) and stotra recitation
- Best times: Brahma-muhurta / sunrise and evening (pradosha)
- Simplest mantra: Om Namo Narayanaya
- Grand text: Vishnu Sahasranama (thousand names)
Om Namo Narayanaya
This is the most beloved and accessible Vishnu mantra, often called the Ashtakshari (eight-syllable) mantra. It simply offers salutations to Narayana — the one who dwells in the hearts of all and in whom all beings rest. It can be repeated softly on a tulasi bead-mala any number of times through the day of Ekadashi.
Because it is short and gentle, it suits beginners, the elderly, and busy householders. Many keep a simple count of rounds, but even continuous inner remembrance while doing daily work is considered fitting for the vrat.
How to chant it
- Sit facing east or toward your home shrine after a bath.
- Light a lamp if you can and place a tulasi leaf before the image of Vishnu.
- Repeat 'Om Namo Narayanaya' slowly, letting each syllable settle in the mind.
- Use a mala if you have one; otherwise keep an easy inward count.
- Close by bowing and asking for devotion, not for material results.
The Dwadasha-nama — Twelve Names of Vishnu
The twelve names of Vishnu (Dwadasha-nama) are a short, powerful string of salutations traditionally recited morning and evening, and especially cherished on Ekadashi. Each name is offered with 'Om ... namah', beginning with Keshava and moving through the well-known forms of the Lord.
| Name | Sense / association |
|---|---|
| Keshava | Lord of beautiful locks; slayer of Keshi |
| Narayana | The refuge and resting-place of all beings |
| Madhava | Consort of Lakshmi; sweetness itself |
| Govinda | Protector of cows, earth and the Vedas |
| Vishnu | The all-pervading one |
| Madhusudana | Vanquisher of the demon Madhu |
| Trivikrama | He who spanned the worlds in three strides |
| Vamana | The dwarf incarnation |
| Sridhara | Bearer of Sri (Lakshmi) on His chest |
| Hrishikesha | Master of the senses |
| Padmanabha | From whose navel the lotus of creation arose |
| Damodara | Bound at the waist by mother Yashoda's love |
Recited together, these twelve names make a compact daily worship (nitya-smarana). On Ekadashi they are a natural centrepiece, easy to memorise and rich in meaning.
The Vishnu Sahasranama — described, with reverence
The Vishnu Sahasranama is the celebrated hymn of the Thousand Names of Vishnu, drawn from the Mahabharata, where the sage Bhishma reveals it to Yudhishthira. Each name is a window into a quality of the Lord — protector, sustainer, imperishable, the innermost self of all. It is one of the most widely recited stotras across India and is especially auspicious on Ekadashi and other Vaishnava days.
Out of respect and to avoid any error, this article does not reproduce the thousand names here. Please recite the Vishnu Sahasranama from a trusted, complete published text or with an experienced teacher, so that the sequence and pronunciation are preserved correctly. Many families begin with the opening dhyana verses and then chant the names, closing with the phala-shruti (the passage on its benefits).
- Learn it first from a reliable printed edition or a qualified teacher.
- Chant unhurriedly; correct pronunciation matters more than speed.
- If the full text is long, recite the dhyana verses and a portion daily, building up over time.
- Keep a tulasi leaf and a lamp before Vishnu while you recite.
Other stotras often chanted on Ekadashi
- Vishnu-shatnama / shorter name-hymns for those short on time.
- Madhurashtakam — a sweet hymn on the loveliness of the Lord (Krishna).
- Achyutashtakam — eight verses praising the unfailing Lord.
- Simple bhajans and the maha-mantra of the divine names for continuous remembrance.
A gentle word on fasting
The vrat is about devotion, not denial for its own sake. Anyone with a medical condition, and those who are pregnant or nursing, elderly, on medication, or generally unwell, should consult a doctor and need not fast; simple remembrance and chanting are enough. There are no guaranteed material outcomes — the fruit of the vrat is a steadier, more devoted mind.
When and how to fit chanting into the day
- Begin at dawn with a bath and a short sankalpa (quiet resolve) to observe the Ekadashi.
- Do morning japa of Om Namo Narayanaya and the twelve names.
- Through the day, keep the inner name alive while doing your work.
- In the evening (pradosha), recite a stotra such as the Vishnu Sahasranama or Madhurashtakam.
- Break the fast the next morning at the correct parana time from your local panchang.
For the exact parana window on your Ekadashi, always confirm from a reliable local panchang, since it depends on your own sunrise and the tithi's end.
Related reading
- linkEkadashi dates 2026urlhttps://hindutone.com/festivals/ekadashi-dates-2026/
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mantra is best for Ekadashi if I am a beginner?
Om Namo Narayanaya is the simplest and most beloved. It is short, gentle, and can be repeated softly all through the day. Sincerity and steady repetition matter more than length.
Can I chant the Vishnu Sahasranama on Ekadashi?
Yes, it is especially auspicious. Recite it from a trusted complete text or with a teacher so the sequence and pronunciation stay correct, ideally in the morning or evening with a lamp and tulasi.
Why doesn't this article print the thousand names?
Out of respect and to avoid any error in a sacred text, we describe the Vishnu Sahasranama rather than reproduce it. Please use a reliable published edition or learn it from a qualified teacher.
What are the twelve names of Vishnu?
The Dwadasha-nama are Keshava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusudana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrishikesha, Padmanabha and Damodara — offered as 'Om ... namah' morning and evening.
Do I need a mala or Sanskrit knowledge to chant?
No. A tulasi mala helps you keep count, but an inward count is fine. Sanskrit mastery is not required; sincerity, a clean body and place, and unhurried repetition are what matter.
When during Ekadashi should I chant?
Traditionally in the early morning around sunrise and again in the evening (pradosha). Beyond that, keep the name alive inwardly while doing your daily work.
Is fasting required to chant these mantras?
No. Chanting is open to everyone. Anyone with a medical condition, or who is pregnant, nursing, elderly, on medication or unwell, should consult a doctor and need not fast; remembrance and chanting are enough.
When do I break the fast after chanting on Ekadashi?
Break it the next morning during the correct parana window, which depends on your local sunrise and the tithi's end. Always confirm the exact time from a reliable local panchang.