VAIKUNTA EKADASHI

As per Hindu calendar Ekadashi is a Thithi that falls on the 11th day of both Sukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha in a lunar month. That means in a month we get two Ekadashi days. Ekadashi day has attained lot of prominence in Hindu religion as it is the most sacred, celestial and spiritual day for worshiping Sri Maha Vishnu. He is Padmanabha (11th name as per 24 Kesava Namas) meaning the one with a lotus navel. He is Maha Vishnu resting on the great serpent Adishesha. He is Anantha Padmanabha. He is the Supreme God, Para Brahma who has created this Universe including Lord Brahma. Vaikunta is the sacred abode and sanctum sanctorum where Lord Maha Vishnu resides. It is the ultimate place to enter and rest for all the souls.

As per Padma Purana Ekadashi is depicted as the female energy of Maha Vishnu who in the form of a damsel kills the demon Mura and protects the Indradi Devathas on this day. Pleased by the act of his Female energy He names her as Ekadasi. He also gave her a boon that whoever worship Ekadashi and observes fasting they would reach Vaikunta (His abode) and his doors will be open for such people. From time immemorial it is the Northern Gate known as Paramapada or Vaikunta Dwara is kept open for a single day and that day is known as Vaikunta Ekadashi Day.

Ekadashi that is falling on Sukla Paksha (waxing Moon) of the lunar Month Pushya coinciding with the Dhanur Maasa has attained lot of significance and is called as Vaikunta Ekadashi and is considered to be most auspicious. It is also the first Ekadashi before the onset of Uttarayana. It is also called as Mukkoti Ekadashi, or Mokshada Ekadashi. Relevant scripts are available in Padma Purana and Brahmanda Purana.

Mukkoti Ekadashi

Significance of Uttara Dwara Darshana

On this day 33 crores of devathas (Muppattu Mukkoti) will have darshana of Maha Vishnu. There is also another spiritual and yogic significance for the meaning of Mukkoti Ekadashi. Like we have geographical directions (North, South, East, & West) to the world, we also have similar directions to our body. North is towards our Head, South is towards our Feet, Front portion is East and back portion is West. We have on the top of the head (skull) a hole called Brahma Randhra (door) that is towards the Northern Direction which is not visible. Since it is on the northern direction it is called Northern door of the human body.

It is said that one should visualize the image of Sriman Narayana through the route of Ida, Pingala Naadi (left and right nostril) concentrated at the centre of the eyebrows called Sushumna Naadi (Gnana Nethra) and take it further upwards to the centre of the head where we have Brahma Randhra and have darshana of the Sriman Narayana through the door that gets opened. This is how one should have darshana of Sriman Narayana in daily prayers (dhyana) or whenever visits a temple. Since it is through the route of confluence of three naadis (Ida, Pingala and Sushumna) taken further northwards it is called Mukkoti and Northern Entrance darshana.

On this most auspicious day of Mukkoti Ekadashi one should have darshana of the Lord in this form and to give a meaning to this concept probably all the temples provide darshana of the Lord on this day through the Northern entrance.

There are 14 lokas in this Universe seven above the earth and seven below the earth. Seven above the Earth are called Uurdhwa Lokas in the Northern direction and Vaikunta is in the Northern direction. Darshana of the lord of Vaikunta Sri Maha Vishnu on this day which is very nearer to the Uttarayana the most auspicious time also catches significance for Uttara dwara darshana.

Mokshada Ekadasi: While fasting and worshiping on any Ekadashi day is very celestial, sacred and spiritual, fasting and worshiping on Vaikunta Ekadashi is still more meritorious and is also Mokshadayaka. It is a boon of Maha Vishnu on this day.

What can be done on this day?

Worshiping Sri Maha Vishnu during the early hours between 4-6 am during Arunodaya. Since Ekadashi is the female energy of Lord it is auspicious and sacred to worship Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi also on this day.

Why between 4-6 am: Because this is Dhanur Maasa and time before Sunrise is the most auspicious time to worship the God.

Fasting: It is said that fasting on Vaikunta Ekadashi day is equivalent to fasting on the remaining Ekadashi days of the Hindu year. Persons who are capable of may undertake total fasting, while others may resort to partial fasting by taking fruits or milk. Please avoid taking rice on this day as it is a curse that the demon dwells in rice on this day.


Prayer & Paarayana

Vishnu Sahasranama, Vishnu Ashtothara, Purusha Sooktha, Vishnu Sooktha, Narayana Upanishad, Sree Sooktha, Lakshmi Ashtothhara can be recited on this day. Those who cannot read them can chant at least, Om! Namo! Narayanaya, Om! Namo! Bhagavathe Vasudevaya as many number of times as possible

It is said that “na Gaayathraya para manthra, na Mathru para dhaivatham, na Kaasya param theertham, na Ekadasya samam vratham”

That means there is no Manthra that is superior to Gaayathri Manthra, there is no dhaiva superior to Mother, there is no celestial and sacred Theertha better than Kaasi, and there is no vratha that is more sacred than Ekadashi vratha. Hence, so much of significance for Ekadashi and it is related to Maha Vishnu.

Special festivals are celebrated on this occasion in all the temples especially at Tirumala which is called Bhooloka Vaikunta. Lord Sri Maha Vishnu stays in Ananda Nilaya at Tirumala by name Srinivasa during this Kaliyuga. Hence, lot of significance for this festival at Tirumala Hills.