Vaikunta Ekadashi Also known as Mukkoti Ekadashi

“Vaikunta Ekadashi Also known as Mukkoti Ekadashi” … An auspicious day for all Hindus … It is also on this very day that Lord Krishna spoke … The Sacred Bhagavad-Gita To Arjuna On The Battlefield Of Kurukshetra” …... 

|| OM Namo Venkateshaya ||

|| OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya ||

|| OM Namo Gurubyo Namaha ||

"Vaikuntha Ekadashi" is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu, is one of the most important day for Hindus that falls on the 11th day of the Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of moon) in the month of ‘Pausha’ in the Hindu calendar. A fasting from sunrise to next day morning sunrise is generally observed by many Hindus on this day. Some observe the fast from the start time of Ekadashi Tithi / Time and break the fast at the beginning of Dwadashi Tithi/ Time while there are a few communities who begin the fasting from the eve on Ekadashi ie on Dashami day itself. This day is also known as Mukkoti Ekadashi in Southern Parts of India. The day of "Vaikuntha Ekadashi" is auspicious for Vaishnavism followers as it is believed that ‘Vaikuntha Dwaram’ that is the gateway to Lord Vishnu’s abode, opens up on this day. Therefore, it is believed that a person who keeps a sacred fast on Vaikuntha Ekadashi will definitely reach the ‘Vaikuntha’ where Lord Vishnu is often depicted as resting on Shesha Naga (hence also known by the name Sheshashayana). Hindu devotees observe Vaikuntha Ekadashi with full enthusiasm and zeal all across the country. On this day special prayers, discourses, speeches, bhajans throught night and yagnas are organized at the temple of Lord Vishnu, in different parts of the world. Vishnu Sahasranama is specially read on this day to please the lord. It is said or believed that the Vishnu Puranas give fasting importance of Vaikuntha Ekadashi as equivalent to fasting on all of the remaining 23 Ekadashis that fall throught the year, twice a month ie. once in Shukla Paksha and other in Krishna Paksha. But then many Vaishnavas follow all Ekadashi fasting with the same faith. Fasting on all Ekadashi is considered holier than any other religious observation. 

** It is believed to have said in the legend that the Devas who were unable to bear the torture from a demon by the name ‘Muran’ went to Lord Shiva who after listening to them asked them to approach Lord Vishnu for the solution. Lord Vishnu is believed to have give a tough battle with the demon, but could not defeat him in one go, realizing that a new weapon (Stree Shakti/ Female power) would be needed to mark the end of the demon Lord Vishnu is believed to have retired to a cave giving the reason of a short rest. The cave is said to have belonged to Goddess Himavati in Bhadrikashrama. While Lord Vishnu was resting, it is believed that Muran the devious devil tried to kill him which was against the law/rules of Yudha/fight. This enraged the Goddess, who was extremely happy that the Lord had chosen her home to take a nap. Out of fury she does her best to slay the demon and meanwhile Vishnu who is aware of it all the and was waiting for this precise moment, passes on immense female power to Goddess Himavati’s eyes, which she sets on the demon and burns him to ashes. Vishnu was pleased with the Goddess for her Bhakti and Shradda (Devotion and Faith) and grants her Boon and also names her  "Ekadashi". The Goddess gently declines the boon given to her personally, but instead requests Lord Vishnu that people who observed fast on Ekadashi day should be redeemed of their sins and those who observed it religiously should finally attain Vaikunta the abode of Lord Vishnu. Thus the day of Shukla paksha day of Dhanurmassa which marked the beginning of the First Ekadashi ie Vaikunta Ekadashi that came into being. 

** It is also believed that having nowhere to go the demon had gone under Sharan/Surrender to Lord Vishnu and had asked for somewhere/a place to stay. Lord Vishnu who is always sympathetic towards one who realizes their faults and comes under sharan/refuge to him, asked him to stay in the rice granules during ekadashi day. That is why rice and rice products are always prohibited when fasting particularly on Ekadashi as the demon Muran dwells in it and is believed to be be finding ways of entering heaven/Vaikunta and by abstaining the same he cannot reach the same. Again, it also means, eating of rice or heavy food same makes you feel heavy and diverts mind from concentration too as are the negative qualities of the demon and one cannot concentrate of spiritual activities with ekakagrata meaning concentration. One should always enter into the depth, think intensely of what the lord was trying to portray to human beings in all Yugas or during his Avataars, by portraying certain deeds. The lord here actually tries to enlighten us that the demon here stands for bad qualities of people, like lust, passion, arrogance, evilness, lies, crookedness, unfaithfulness, cowardliness etc. When a person tries to control and abolish these very qualities in them, he attains purity on self and thus attains moksha or liberation ie self-realization. Fasting or abstaining from food, keeping vigil at night, reading of puranas, scriptures, meditation, singing of bhajans, reciting strotras, these all balance a persons mind and gives in to concentration of the mind (Ekhagratha). When the mind is set on meditating mode on God alone and abolishing all bad thoughts, it is said that it pleases the lord very much.

** It is also believed that the most holy conversation between Lord Krishna (Lord Vishnu Avataar) and Arjuna in Yuddhabhoomi/ Battlefield at the beginning of the kurukshetra war of Mahabharata is said to have occurred on this very day. This very day Krishna tells Arjuna the Sacared Bhagavad Gita Upadesh thus enlightening him of his Dharma and Duties. 

कर्मण्ये वाधिका रस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।

मा कर्म फल हेतु र्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्व कर्मणि॥

Karmanye vadhika raste, Ma phaleshu kadachana

Ma karma phala he tur bhuh, ma te sangotsva karmanye

is famous shloka/verse from Bhagavad Gita where Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna the theory of Karmas. He advice's one to believe in self and do their Karma (action) and but never to go behind the fruits of their action. He says doing Karma with faith is in our hands, and we should do so while the results are not in our hands but that which will follow us automatically. This total surrender by human beings is what the Lord want from all,  it is believed that this is what makes one humble and in doing so, the Lord helps one in attaining detachment from all worldly pleasures. This does not mean that one should leave or abandons one's duties towards his family or kins. The lord here clearly stresses on and gives message as "Karma karo, phal ki chinta mat karo" to us. He always says that it is our Dharma to do certain Karma/duties in this life and we should do it come what may. One should not run away from his duties, but should do the same with full faith in God and leave the fruits of his work to lord. It is for the lord to decide and judge on the same. That does not mean the you will not get the fruits of the work done. But here the lord clearly says that one should not do duties with fruits in mind. Many a times we do not know or understand nor try to find out, why certain rituals are observed or followed on certain auspicious days. We follow our ancestors without questioning, as we all know that they knew the best. Half of our problems would have never occurred had we followed the wise advice of elders throughout our lives. That is why the Lord always gives importance and says “Maatru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Aachaarya Devo Bhava, Attithi Devo Bhava” which in general means respect your Mother, Father, Guru and Guest. They are all forms of God. Many a times our ancestors were not able to explain these things well to us, but they followed it and led a meaningful life. Nowadays, we have so many resources that help us gain knowledge and understanding of the depths of the sayings. 

** It is believed that on this day the gate of Vaikuntham, Lord Vishnu’s abode is opened to one and all only during "Vaikunta Ekadashi" day. Devotees throng to Sri Kshetra Pandharpur, a well known pilgrimage town on the banks of Chandrabhaga River in Solāpur district, Maharashtra, India, where the oldest main Vitthal-Rukmini is also located, and seek the blessing of Lord Hari (Lord Vishnu Avataar) and his consort Devi Rukhmai. Many temples all over India make a structure of a door and allow devotees to walk through it. The other most oldest, auspicious and popular pilgrimage center that finds its mention even in the ancient Vedas and Puranas is of "Venkateshwar Temple of Tirupati" also known as Balaji and Govinda, a landmark for Vaishnavas. The temple is situated on top of Tirumala Hills/Seven Hills in Chittoor District or Andhra Pradesh State, India. It is believed that the Lord appeared here and made it his destination to save mankind from trials and troubles that were bound to be faced in Kaliyug. Therefore this holy temple is called as Buloka Vaikuntam (the abode of Vishnu on Earth) and Lord Balaji/Srinivasa is called as Kaliyuga Pratyaksha Daivam (the manifested Lord of Kaliyug). There is also a famous verse in puranas spelling the greatness of Lord "Venkatadri Samasthanam Brahmande Nasti Kinchana, Venkatesha Samo Devo Na Bhuto Na Bhavishyati" meaning there is no place on the earth equal to Venkatadri and there is no Lord equal to Lord Venkatesha (Balaji).

// OM NAMO VENKATESHAYA // .. // OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA // 

// OM GURUBYO NAMAHA// ..... _/\_

** Offering Prayers and Salutations on this auspicious day of Vaikunta Ekadashi to “Lord Vishnu the preserver of the world and Lord Vishnu’s Avataar Shri Krishna the one who spoke and gave the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita to the world on this day ... May Lord Narayana Bless us all and keep us Healthy, Wealthy, Strong, Wise And Prosperous in the years to come … Always be Happy ... Spread Peace, love and humanity ... Stay Blessed~Spread Happiness. 

Wishing all my Friends A Very Happy ~ Pious Vaikunta Ekadashi 

** Disclaimer : I have adapted and written this to the best of my knowledge from net, friends and various other net sources. I have enclosed pictures from google. Do excuse if there are any short comings. It is not my intention to hurt any person or anybody’s religious belief.