Vaikuntha Chaturdashi.

"Happy Vaikuntha Chaturdashi" .... to all my Friends. May Both Lord Vishnu And Lord Shiva Bless all of us with Health, Wealth and Prosperity …… _/\_

** Vaikuntha Chaturdashi is a holy day in Hindu calendar, which is observed one day before of Kartik Purnima. It is a sacred day for the devotees of both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva as both the deities are worshipped together which is very rare.

** The story goes about that on this particular auspicious day of Kartik Chaturdashi, Lord Vishnu went to Varanashi in order to worship Lord Shiva with 1000 lotus flowers. As Lord Vishnu began to worship the Shiv Linga with the offerings of the lotus flowers to his dismay, he found that one lotus flower was missing. Lord Vishnu immediately understood that his pooja would be incomplete, as he had vowed to offer 1000 lotus flowers to Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu’s eyes are compared to lotus flower and one of his names is also Kamalaksha. To fulfill and complete his pooja without any hitch, Lord Vishnu decided to offer one of his eyes in place of Lotus flower to complete the 1000th lotus. He plucked one of his eyes and offered it to Lord Shiva as the 1000th flower. Lord Shiva was pleased with the undivided devotion of Lord Vishnu. He not only restored back Lord Vishnu’s eyes but also gave him the gift of Sudarshana Chakra which went on to becme one of the most powerful and sacred weapons of Lord Vishnu.

** “Vaikuntha Chaturdashi” is the only day that both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are worshiped together on a single day. “Lord Vishnu” is worshiped at Nishitha which is Hindu midnight by offering a thousand Lotus flower and reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama, the thousand names of Lord Vishnu while “Lord Shiva” is worshiped at Arunodaya which is Hindu dawn by devotees. 

** This is the only day when Lord Vishnu is given a special place of honor in the sanctum of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a prominent Lord Shiva temple in Varanasi. It is believed that Vishwanath temple become as pious as Vaikuntha on the very same day. Both deities are ritually worshipped as though they are worshipping each other. Lord Vishnu offers Tulasi leaves to Shiva and Lord Shiva in turn offers Bael leaves to Lord Vishnu.

|| OM NAMO NARAYANA || ~ || OM NAMAH SHIVAYA ||

Disclaimer : Picture And Story Courtesy : Compiled by Me from Various Sources, Friends and also from the Net ....