Vaikunta Ekadasi

Vaikunta Ekadasi also known as Mukkoti Ekadasi is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is believed that worshipping Lord Vishnu on this day frees us from the cycle of birth and death. Vaikunta is the abode of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The word “kunta” in Hindi means shortage. So Vaikunta is a place where there is no lack or shortage of anything. Ekadasi is the 11^th day of a fortnight in Hindu lunar calendar.

Vaikunta Ekadasi falls in Sukla Paksha Ekadasi during Tamil Solar month Margazhi. It falls between the second half of December and the first half of January in the English calendar.

Legend

Lord Vishnu opened the gate of Vaikuntam (his abode) for two demons in spite of their being against him. They also asked for the boon that whoever listens to their story and sees the image of Vishnu coming out of the door called Vaikunth Dwar will reach Vaikunth as well. Temples all over India make a door kind of structure on this day for devotees to walk through.

Another story mentioned in the Padma Purana is that Lord Vishnu fought the Demon Muran and in between retired to a cave to take some rest. While he was sleeping, Muran got inside the cave and tried to kill Vishnu. A female form of energy came out from Vishnu and killed Muran. Vishnu was impressed by her and called her Ekadashi and granted her a boon that to all those who observed fast on that day will be granted Moksha (liberation).

Hindu Puranas say that it was on this day that the churning of the ocean occurred and the Amrit (nectar of immortality) emerged out of the ocean and Lord Dhanvanthri appeared and distributed it to the Gods.

Significance of Vaikunta Ekadasi

According to the Vishnu Purana, fasting on Vaikunta Ekadasi is equivalent to fasting on the remaining 23 Ekadasis of the (Hindu) year. People fast for the entire day. On this day, thousands of devotees perform special prayers in Vishnu Temples. The Vaikunta Dwara (doorway to heaven) which is normally kept closed throughout the year is kept open only on this day. Devotees believe that going to pray the Lord and passing through the Vaikunta Dwara on this day will reach Vaikunta. On the Ekadasi day one engages himself by chanting the names of Lord Vishnu such as Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Spiritual Significance of Vaikunta Ekadasi

It is written in the Srimad Bhagavatam that everyone in Vaikunth is Lord Narayana Himself. It means that in such a divine abode, every soul is elevated to Divinity and appears as Lord Vishnu. It is a day which teaches us the importance of enlightenment and liberation and freeing mind of all the negative forces. The demon Muran represents the tamasic and rajasic qualities such as greed, inertia, anger etc. When people overcome these characteristics they become Sattva which directs them towards Moksha. While fasting helps us to refrain from indulging in many pleasures, observing night vigilance makes us more alert and aware of our mind. On the Vaikunta Ekadasi day, the Devas and asuras churned the milky ocean. The Devas are the symbol of positive energy and the Asuras represent negative energy. Through the churning, halahal (poison) comes out, which represents the negative thoughts of the human mind. When all such negativities are removed one can attain the blessings of Lord Vishnu and reach Vaikunta. Vaikunta stands for Vai+kunta which means where there is no deficiency (kunta). The ego self “i” always feels it is lacking something. When we totally surrender our ego to God then we reach the abode of God (Vaikunta). Vaikunta Ekadasi is the fasting done for attaining liberation from the ego self.

Ways to prepare ourselves to reach Vaikunta

• Fasting and Meditating on Lord Vishnu – Fasting is considered as one of the best spiritual practices. Periodic fasting helps one to overcome the attachment towards food and it also cleanses the body. Ekadasi stands for eka-dasi (one direction). 10 sense organs which are outwardly directed towards food are directed with one pointed focus towards Self (Atman). The Sanskrit term “upa-vaasa” for fast means “remaining beside the Lord”. As one spends the day listening to the story of Hari (Lord Vishnu), meditates upon Hari, and recites the names of Hari, Ekadasi has also come to be known as Harivasara.
• Living our life according to the teachings of Bhagavad Gita – If one reads the Bhagavad Gita and practices its teachings, the gate of Vaikunta (heaven) opens up for him. When one gets the Divine knowledge, devotion and perform their duties according to the teachings, opening of the Vaikunta gate becomes easier. Bhagavad Gita is the key to opening the gates of Vaikunta.
• Working on yourself – Work on overcoming the Tamasic and Rajasic qualities and develop Sattvic qualities and go beyond that.