Vaikunta Ekadashi is one of the most important Ekadasis. Ekadashi is an auspicious day dedicated to Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu and falls on the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight in traditional Hindu calendar. In 2014, the date of Vaikunta Ekadasi is January 11.
Swarga Vasal or or Paramapada opening is at 4:30 AM on January 11, 2014. Vaikuntha Ekadasi is observed in the Margali Month (Margazhi Masam) as per Tamil Calendar and in Pushya month as per Telugu Calendar.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi is also known as Mukkoti Ekadasi and in Kerala it is known as Swargavathil Ekadasi.
Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is more elaborately celebrated by Vaishnavites. It is more prominent for Tamil and Telugu speaking people. Fasting, keep vigil at night and passing through the Vaikunta Dwaram are the important auspicious activities on the day.
Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated with great importance in Tirupati Balaji Temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri PadmanabhaSwamyTemple-Thiruavanthapuram and Bhadrachalam Sita Ramachandraswamy temple. Apart from these temples, all the temples dedicated to Bhagvan Vishnu and his incarnations in South India celebrate Vaikunta Ekadasi.
The most important ritual on the day in temples is the opening of the Vaikunta Dwaram or Paramapada Vasal door in Vishnu Temples. This door is only opened on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day and devotees are allowed to pass through it. Symbolically the door leads to the Vaikunta - abode of Vishnu.
This festival is celebrated in all Vaishnava Temples across the Globe with great devotion especially in South India. A special entrance gate known as Vaikunata Dwara is opened in all Lord Vishnu Temples and it is believed that one who have the darshan of the lord through this gate(Dwara) on this day removes all sins in the life.
According to our Indian puranas/epics, it is said that on this auspicious day,
1)The churning of Ocean Milk(KsheeraSagara Madhanam) took place,
2)Lord Shiva consumed Nanju(Poison that was emanated from the churning of the milk ocean). Hence Shaivaites celebrated this day as Nanjunda Ekadasi.
3)Nectar of Immortality(Amrutam) was obtained.
4)Lord Krishna delivered Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battle of Kurukshetra.
Divya's Cooking Journey Wishes You all a Very Happy Vaikunta Darshan and Blessings from the Lord.
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