Amalaki Ekadashi occurs during the 11th waxing phase of the moon in the hindu month of Phalguna (Feb-March).
The Amla tree (Indian Gooseberry) is worshipped on this day. Tree worship is an integral part of Vedic Rituals. The Amla tree is considered as one of the most favorite trees of Lord Vishnu. It is said that Goddess Lakshmi resides in that tree.
Amalaki Ekadashi Dates
| Year | Dates |
| 2022 | Mar 13/14, 2022 |
| 2023 | Mar 02/03, 2023 |
| 2024 | Mar 20/21, 2024 |
| 2025 | Mar 09/10, 2025 |
| 2026 | Feb 27/28, 2026 |
| 2027 | Mar 18/19, 2027 |
| 2028 | Mar 07/08, 2028 |
| 2029 | Feb 24/25, 2029 |
| 2030 | Mar 15/16, 2030 |
Adi Shankaracharya’s Kanakadhara Stotram
One day, as a young boy, he was on bhiksha for alms to prepare his lunch and happened upon the doorstep of a very poor Brahmin lady. Having nothing edible in her home, the lady frantically searched her house, only to find a single amla fruit which she then hesitantly offered to Sankara.
Sankara was so moved by the incredible kindness and selflessness of this woman that he burst forth into poetry and sang 21 stanzas in praise of Goddess Lakshmi. Pleased by the beauty and power of the hymn, the Goddess appeared before him and asked him why he had remembered her.
Sankara pleaded with the Goddess to reverse the fortunes of this lady’s family by granting her riches. At first, Goddess Lakshmi refused to do so, saying that the lady had not been charitable in her previous birth and was bound by the laws of karma to have a fate bound to poverty in her current birth.
Sankara implored the Goddess that the lady’s act of absolute selflessness should absolve her of her sins of the past and that Lakshmi was the only one capable of changing the fate of someone by erasing or changing the writings of the future made by Lord Brahma. Goddess Lakshmi was so pleased that she instantly showered the lady’s house with goose berries made of pure gold.
Legend of Amlaki Ekadashi
There lived a King named Chitrasena He and his subjects regularly observed the Amalaki Ekadashi fast. During one of his hunting trips, Chitrasena lost his way in the forest and was captured by the wild tribals (demons) who attacked him with weapons. Though he remained physically unharmed, the king fell unconscious as more tribals or demons surrounded him. A divine power in the form of a light emerged from his body and destroyed his attackers and then vanished. On regaining consciousness, Chitrasena was stunned to see all the attackers killed. A divine voice announced that this was due to the observance of the Ekadashi vrata. Following this incident, the vrata/became popular in the kingdom, which led to peace and harmony.
