Dvadashi

Dvadashi (Sanskrit: द्वादशी, romanized: Dvādaśī),^[1] also rendered Dwadashi, is the twelfth lunar day (tithi)^[2] of the shukla (bright) or krishna (dark) fortnight, or Paksha, of every lunar month in the Hindu calendar.^[3]

Dwadashi is regarded to be suitable for the veneration of the sacred tulasi tree and the worship of Vishnu. It marks the end of the three-day ekadashi fast, starting on dashami.

Occasions

• The Kurma Dwadashi is dedicated to the worship of Kurma, the second avatar of Vishnu. It is celebrated on Dwadashi (twelfth day) of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase) of Pausha month.^[4] The same day is celebrated as Pratishtha Dwadashi i.e. establishment day for Ram Lalla vigrah at Ramjanmbhumi Mandir at Ayodhya.^[5]
• The Govinda Dwadashi or Narasimha Dwadashi, which falls in the month of Phalguna, celebrates the Narasimha Avatar of Vishnu, before Holi.
• The Rama Lakshmana Dwadashi is important for begetting a son.
• The Vamana Dwadashi, also called Onam, venerates Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Vishnu, and the visit of Mahabali.^[6]
• The Govatsa Dwadashi is the first day of celebrations on Diwali, on which cows are worshiped as symbolic to mothers; nourishing mankind, and being the chief means of livelihood and religious sanctity in rural India.^[7]
• The Dwadashi marks the Sripada Vallabha Aradhana Utsav of Sripada Sri Vallabha, at Pithapuram Datta Mahasamsthan in the state of Andhra Pradesh.^[8]
• The saint-poet Annamacharya died on Phalguna Bahula (Krishna) Dvadashi (12th day after full moon) in the year Dhundhubhi, on 4 April 1503 after living for 95 years.
• The Shukla Paksha Dvadashi is the prophesied date for the birth of the Kalki avatar of Vishnu.

See also

• Chaitra
• Paksha
• Govatsa Dwadashi