Significance of Vaikunta Ekadasi or Mukkoti Ekadasi.
Vaikunta
Vaikunta is the name of Lord SriManNarayana. It is the place where Lord Sri Maha Vishnu resides along with his Consort Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi resting on Aadisesha. It is known as Parama Padam, the supreme abode and the most coveted place. It is the sacred abode where every soul would be longing to go and stay eternally. The nearest reference to Vaikunta, we find in Vishnu Sahasranama sloka # 44 which reads as follows.
! Vaikuntah Purushah Praanah Praanadah Pranavah Prithuh
Hiranyagarbhah Shatrughno Vyaapto VaayurAdhokshajah!!
Meaning
Lord Maha Vishnu also known as Vaikunta is the remover of obstacles and sins and Vaikunta is the place which removes obstacles. He is the one who has united all the Pancha Bhoothas and made them to co-exist with each other. He is the Purifier and the one who gives in plenty. He is the primordial person who existed before anything else, and the one who is the cause of the origin and end of the world! He is one who outshines everyone. He burns away all the sins of his devotees.
He is life giver and is the vital air that gives or sustains life. He is the prana (life) to every one including Devathas. He is the one who makes others bow before Him and the one who deserves to be adored. He is the one who expands himself as Cosmos. He is as pure as Gold. He is the one who delights every one’s heart.
He is the slayer of enemies (Arishadvargas) of people and also destroyer of enemies of Gods. He is the one who is full of benevolence, love and affection without any discrimination. He is the one who is omnipresent and there is no single place where he does not exist. He is the one who manifests himself, never gets diminished and is the all pervasive Supreme God.
Ekadasi
As per Padma Purana, Ekadasi 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. Thus, Ekadasi thithi became the dearest to Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. He also gave her a boon that, whoever worships Ekadasi and observes fasting on this day 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 that is kept open for a single day and that day is known as Vaikunta Ekadasi Day. It is also called as Mukkoti Ekadasi.
The combination of Uttara Dwara darshanam of Lord Vaikunta plus Ekadasi thithi has attained significance as Vaikunta Ekadasi. It is said that on this day all the Brahmaadi Devathas ( 3 crore Gods and Godesses) visit Sri Vaikuntam to have Uttara Dwara darshanam of Lord SriManNarayana. It is befitting and considered to be the most auspicious day to worship Lord Sri ManNarayana along with Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi and also to have Uttara Dwara darshana of the Lord on this day. Special celebrations are held at Tirumala, Sri Rangam, Bhadrachalam etc… where thousands of devotees visit these temples to have the Uttara Dwara darshanam of the Lord.
Vaikunta Ekadasi Importance and meaning - in Detail ---
Ekadashi, the 11th day of the waxing or
waning moon is considered as one of the important days by all devotees
of Krishna. Lord Krishna is very pleased with one who fasts on this day.
In general, the devotees fast completely on this day and many do not
drink even a drop of water. This austerity is taken up by devotees of
the Lord to please Him. Acharyas - great spiritual teachers have
recommended that if one is unable observe a complete fast he should at
least fast from grains and partake only fruits, milk and root
preparations on every Ekadashi. It is said that by fasting on this day
and remembering the pastimes of Lord Krishna, all of one’s sins are
eradicated and one is purified.
Apart
from this, Vaikuntha Ekadashi is the day on which the epic churning of
the ocean of milk was completed by the demons and demigods and the
proverbial nectar obtained. It was also on this day that Lord Krishna
spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Vaikunta is the name of Lord SriManNarayana. It is the place where Lord Sri Maha Vishnu resides along with his Consort Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi resting on Aadisesha. It is known as Parama Padam, the supreme abode and the most coveted place. It is the sacred abode where every soul would be longing to go and stay eternally. The nearest reference to Vaikunta, we find in Vishnu Sahasranama sloka # 44 which reads as follows.
! Vaikuntah Purushah Praanah Praanadah Pranavah Prithuh
Hiranyagarbhah Shatrughno Vyaapto VaayurAdhokshajah!!
Meaning
Lord Maha Vishnu also known as Vaikunta is the remover of obstacles and sins and Vaikunta is the place which removes obstacles. He is the one who has united all the Pancha Bhoothas and made them to co-exist with each other. He is the Purifier and the one who gives in plenty. He is the primordial person who existed before anything else, and the one who is the cause of the origin and end of the world! He is one who outshines everyone. He burns away all the sins of his devotees.
He is life giver and is the vital air that gives or sustains life. He is the prana (life) to every one including Devathas. He is the one who makes others bow before Him and the one who deserves to be adored. He is the one who expands himself as Cosmos. He is as pure as Gold. He is the one who delights every one’s heart.
He is the slayer of enemies (Arishadvargas) of people and also destroyer of enemies of Gods. He is the one who is full of benevolence, love and affection without any discrimination. He is the one who is omnipresent and there is no single place where he does not exist. He is the one who manifests himself, never gets diminished and is the all pervasive Supreme God.
As per Padma Purana, Ekadasi 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. Thus, Ekadasi thithi became the dearest to Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. He also gave her a boon that, whoever worships Ekadasi and observes fasting on this day 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 that is kept open for a single day and that day is known as Vaikunta Ekadasi Day. It is also called as Mukkoti Ekadasi.
The combination of Uttara Dwara darshanam of Lord Vaikunta plus Ekadasi thithi has attained significance as Vaikunta Ekadasi. It is said that on this day all the Brahmaadi Devathas ( 3 crore Gods and Godesses) visit Sri Vaikuntam to have Uttara Dwara darshanam of Lord SriManNarayana. It is befitting and considered to be the most auspicious day to worship Lord Sri ManNarayana along with Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi and also to have Uttara Dwara darshana of the Lord on this day. Special celebrations are held at Tirumala, Sri Rangam, Bhadrachalam etc… where thousands of devotees visit these temples to have the Uttara Dwara darshanam of the Lord.
Vaikunta Ekadasi Importance and meaning - in Detail ---
Ekadashi, the 11th day of the waxing or
waning moon is considered as one of the important days by all devotees
of Krishna. Lord Krishna is very pleased with one who fasts on this day.
In general, the devotees fast completely on this day and many do not
drink even a drop of water. This austerity is taken up by devotees of
the Lord to please Him. Acharyas - great spiritual teachers have
recommended that if one is unable observe a complete fast he should at
least fast from grains and partake only fruits, milk and root
preparations on every Ekadashi. It is said that by fasting on this day
and remembering the pastimes of Lord Krishna, all of one’s sins are
eradicated and one is purified.
The month of Margasirsha (Dec-Jan) also known as Dhanur Masa is of
great importance to the devotees of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna says in
the Bhagavad-gita – ‘masanam margasirso ham’ - of the months, I am
Margasirsa. The Ekadashi, 11th day of the waxing moon of Maragasirsa
masa is popularly known as Vaikuntha Ekadashi. This Ekadashi acquires
significance because the great devotee Nammalwar, who come in the
disciplic succession of Sri Ramanuja, went back to home, back to Godhead
on this day.
Lord Vishnu, the Lord of Vaikuntha was at the door of
Vaikuntha to receive His unalloyed devotee. To commemorate this great
event, generally all Vishnu temples create a Vaikuntha Dwara - a special
entrance - in the temple and the utsava deities of the temple are
installed near the dwara. It is said that anyone who passes through the
Vaikuntha dwara is guaranteed to go back to home, back to Godhead.
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