Sarvasammata Padmini Ekadashi

Sarvasammata Padmini Ekadashi falls on the 11th day of the bright fortnight in Chaitra month (March-April). This Ekadashi is considered one of the most important and universally acknowledged ('sarvasammata') by all spiritual authorities, granting the highest spiritual merit.

The Padma Purana declares that among all Ekadashis, Padmini is the most exalted, for it grants liberation to even the most fallen souls. The Purana tells of a woman named Padmini who lived a life of poverty and suffering but never lost her faith in Lord Vishnu. She observed this Ekadashi with whatever offerings she could gather -- a handful of rice, a few flowers, and pure devotion. The Lord appeared before her, touched her feet to the lotus (padma) of divine grace, and she was granted an eternal abode in Vaikuntha. The name 'Padmini' itself means 'lotus-footed,' symbolising the tender grace of the Lord towards his devotees.

In Odisha, Sarvasammata Padmini Ekadashi is observed with great reverence. Devotees fast without grains, perform elaborate Vishnu puja, and spend the day in deep meditation. The fast is broken on Dwadashi after offering food to Brahmins and the needy. It is believed that this Ekadashi grants the merit of all other Ekadashis combined, making it the supreme observance for those seeking liberation from the cycle of birth and death.