Ananta Chaturdashi 2025: Puja Timings, Vrat Katha, and Spiritual Significance

Ananta Chaturdashi is observed on the 14th day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Bhadrapada month or after the 10-day celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. This spiritually uplifted festival is devoted to the eternal expansion of Lord Krishna.

Some might wonder what “expansion” signifies here. In scriptures, expansion refers to the divine form of Lord Krishna, assigned for specific roles and different services. For example- Balaram, known as the older brother of Lord Krishna, is a divine expansion of the Supreme Lord himself. In a similar way, ‘Ananta’(or Ananta Shesha) is the divine expansion of ‘Balaram’.

Unlike any other day, Ananta Chaturdashi brings an opportunity for the devotees to strengthen their devotional practices and seek for Lord Krishna’s blessings. It is often celebrated through various spiritual practices - singing the holy names, reading scriptures, observe fasting, preaching(spreading the glories of Lord Krishna) etc.

’Ananta': A Name That Signifies Eternity

The word ‘Ananta’ refers to something eternal, infinite or boundless. It reflects the eternal service attitude of an eternal servant of Lord Krishna- ‘Ananta Shesha’.

Ananta Shesha, the serpent with thousand hoods, serves as the bed of Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha. He supports the entire universe on his hood as effortlessly as one holds a mustard seed on their fingertip. He has gotten this divine service opportunity after being recognized for his eternal devotion by Brahma. He was blessed to serve Lord Krishna eternally in forms like a throne, footwear, clothes and more.

Date and Muhurat of Ananta Chaturdashi 2025

In this year, 2025, Ananta Chaturdashi will be observed on September 7, at 3.27 PM and the tithi ends on September 8, at 12.45 PM. To fast on this auspicious day, the ideal time is between 6:00 AM to 12:45 PM.

Since the tithi will end before sunset, it is recommended to perform puja and other rituals until noon.

The Early Life Of Ananta Shesha

Ananta Shesha, the divine serpent, was born as the eldest son of Sage Kashyapa Prajapati and his wife Kadru. His mother, Kadru, was one of the daughters of Daksha Prajapati(son of Brahma), married to Kashyapa Prajapati and gave birth to several servants, including Ananta Shesha, Vasuki, Iravati, Takshaka and others.

It is portrayed in the scriptures that the nature of Kadru was envious and manipulative. She always felt hatred towards the other wives of her husband, who were in fact her sisters. Among them, Vinata was the one she hatred the most. One day, Kadru planned to trick Vinata into slavery through an evil bet involving the divine horse Ucchaisravas.

She began an argument with her sister(Vinata) about the tail colour of the divine horse. She said the tail was black but the sister refused by saying it was white. To win over the bet, she secretly asked her sons to coil around the tail, and make it appear black. When they refused to do so, she became angry and cursed them to perish in a future fire sacrifice conducted by King Janamejaya. Hence, everyone except Ananta was sacrificed in the fire.

Glories Of Ananta Shesha

The glories of Ananat Shesha are described beautifully in Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya-charitamrita, Chaitanya-bhagavata, and other scriptures*.* This transcendental form serves the Lord eternally. For Vaishnavas, this day is an opportunity to deepen the faith in devotional services. And, also to never miss a chance to offer selfless services to the Lord.

1. Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami- the Vaishnava author and a great acharya in Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya, glorifies the divine form of Ananta Shesh in Chaitanya-Charitamrita as*—

’sei ta’ ‘Ananta’ ‘śeṣa’ — bhakta-avatāra*

īśvarera sevā vinā nāhi jāne āra’

Translation:- It says, Ananta Śeṣa is the devotee incarnation of Godhead. He knows nothing but service to Lord Krishna. (Chaitanya-Charitamrita, Adi-lila 5.120)

2. Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura- the Vaishnava author and a great devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, described the glories of Ananta Shesha in *Chaitanya-Bhagavata as —

”nivāsa-śayyāsana-pādukāṃśuko- padhāna-varṣātapa-vāraṇādibhiḥ śarīra-bhedais tava śeṣatāṃ gatair yathocitaṃ śeṣa itīrite janaiḥ”

Translation:- It says, Ananta Shesha serves the Supreme Lord by assuming various forms like residence, umbrella, slippers, bedding, pillow, garments, resting chair, throne, etc. (Chaitanya-Bhagavata, Adi-khanda 1.46)*

3. Instruction to king Chitraketu- Once, a king named Chitraketu, had many wives but not a single child. Deeply worried about this, he met a saint named Angira and expressed his concern. Sage Angira blessed him with a son. However, the other wives got jealous and poisoned the child.

Realizing their mistake, they started to grieve. At that time, Narada Muni and Sage Angira appeared offering the transcendental knowledge to the king-the knowledge of ultimate truth. Despite this, the king wasn’t convinced enough. So, Narada Muni revived the child and let him explained the truth to his father.

Narad Muni then blessed the king with the vision of Lord Ananta, who instructed him well about devotional life and material detachment.

How to Observe Ananta Chaturdashi Vrat

There are several ways to honor the divine form of Ananta Shesha in the scriptures, as follows:-

1. Early morning rituals: Wake up in the Brahma Mahurat (in)early morning) brings mental clarification to perform spiritual activities.

2. Ananta dhara: In Vedic cosmology, the 14-knot thread denotes the commitment towards Lord Ananta and observe the fasting. Women use to tie it on the left arm while Men use to tie it on the right arm.

3. Offer the puja: Offer tulsi leaves, food preparations, flowers and devotion to the Lord Krishna.

4. Observe fasting: Avoid eating grains and consume only satvik food throughout the day to attain spiritual purification.

5. Vrat Katha: Listening about the expansion of Lord Krishna, Ananta Shesha, enhances the basic understanding and devotional potency.

6. Chanting: Most importantly, chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra throughout the day, to escalate the focus towards divine form of Lord Krishna.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Who is Kashyapa Prajapati?
   Kashyapa Prajapati was the mind-born son of Brahma, and the ancient known sage. He married to the thirteen daughters of Daksha, and one of them gave birth to Ananth Shesha.

2. What is the requirement of fasting?
   Observe fasting on Anant Chaturdashi is an essential activity to honor the eternal service attitude of Ananth Shesha towards Lord Krishna. It blesses the devotees with eternal protection, pure love and devotional potencies.

A Final Message

‘Life is like an unbalanced boat- one can fall whenever without devotion, or never with devotion’.

There have been many incarnations, but Anant is the incarnation of the first incarnation of Lord Krishna. He is the eternal reminder for us to remember the value of servcie attitude towards the Lord. With his thousands of hoods, he constantly serves- and yet there’s an eternal space for him, to serve.

Wishing everyone a very blessed Anant Chaturdashi!

Celebrate this auspicious day by visiting Gupt Vrindavan Dham, seek for the blessings of Lord Krishna and Lord Balaram and make sure to donate/charity for the abandoned cows and poor calves, you will get the blessings of Mother Cow.