Of all the vrats, the most commonly observed is the Ekadasi or the eleventh day of the fortnight, on the previous day, only a limited quantity of food is allowed to be taken. Before breaking the fast on the twelfth day a Brahmin has to be fed.
The legend behind this Vrat is that Asura Mrudumanya by virtue of his austerities obtained a boon from Shiva by which he made himself free from death through natural causes and from destruction by anyone born of a female.
Imaging himself thus immortal, he started terrorising heaven itself and drove all Gods from their celestial abode. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva himself, who had granted him the boon of immortality, had to flee for life.
These members of the triad, with their wives, hid themselves in the hallow trunk of an old tree. There was limited space and the weather was hot and the gods and their wives, huddled together in their uncomfortable hide-out began to perspire.
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From this perspiration sprang forth a maiden, Ekadasi, born of no women, who waged war on the unreasonable demon and destroyed him.
The two Ekadasis falling in the month of Ashadha are celebrated with much pomp at Pandharpur, a Vaishnav shrine popular among the Marathas.