Dwadashi (
Sanskrit: द्वादशी,
romanized: Dvādaśī),[1] also rendered Dvadashi, 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.
The Govinda Dwadashi or Narasimha Dwadashi, which falls in the month of
Phalguna, celebrates the
NarasimhaAvatar 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.[4]
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.[5]
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.