Vaikunta Ekadasi Vrat Story And Significance

When is Vaikunta Ekadashi?

Vaikunta Ekadashi 2020 falls on 25th December, 2020. Moksada Ekadashi and Putrada Ekadashi are the same as Vaikunta Ekadashi. It is the eleventh day of the Shukla Paksha tithi of the Margasirsa month.

It is celebrated by the Vaishnava sects since this day is precious and a chance when all Vishnu devotees want to move from the painful realms of Earth to the gates of Lord Vishnu’s sanctum.

It is celebrated by the Shiva’s sect as ‘Trikoti Ekadashi’ and all of these people pay homage to Lord Shiva.

Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated by the Vaishnava community. It is a common belief that the door of Vaikunta or the gate of the Lord’s inner sanctum opens on this particular day. This day of Vaikunta Ekadashi is that day of the Lunar Calendar that is known as Mokshada or Mukkoti Ekadashi.

Mokshada Ekadashi is nothing but another name for Vaikunta Ekadashi.

Date	25th December, 2020
Day	Friday
Purnimanta Month	Margashirsha
Paksha	Shukla
Tithi	Ekadashi

Similarly, Utpanna Ekadashi is but, the Ekadashi prior to the Vaikunta Ekadashi and this year falls on 10th December 2020.

According to Vishnu Purana, if you fast on this one day, it is equivalent to fasting on all other eleven Ekadashi.

Story of Vaikunta Ekadashi

Vaikunta Ekadashi story­ revolves around the story where Lord Vishnu opened the gates for those Asuras who were against him. They were two in number and they had revolted against the various policies of the Gods. Lord Vishnu heard their prayers and decided to increase their freedom and their efficiency. He rewarded both the Asuras by welcoming them to his own abode.

These stories elucidate the meaning of Vaikunta Ekadashi.

Another story about Vaikunta Ekadashi that is prevalent from the Padma Purana states the tale of a female energy. She slayed down Muran, the demon and protected the Devas. The Gods were unable to tolerate the tyrannical Muran and thus approached Shiva who transferred them to Vishnu. Vishnu ensured a terrible battle with Muran but was unable to defeat the clan of Muran. He realized thus, that a weapon far greater than the ones he was using would be required. He thus retired to Badarikashrama, a cave that was primarily for Haimavati’s (Parvati’s image) cave.

Vishnu burned Muran with the female energy that rose from Vishnu while he was sleeping. On the eleventh day of the Margashirsha month, the female energy slayed the demon Muran. So, Vishnu named this female energy as Ekadashi and blessed her, saying that those who would worship Ekadashi would reach Vaikunta. Vaikunta Ekadashi is celebrated keeping in mind both these stories.

It is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus, and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. When observed rightfully, it can liberate one from the cycle of birth and death. The rice is prohibited on Ekadashi, since it makes one heavy and thus disturbs the vigilant nature of the individual.

Muran dwells in rice is what is believed. Muran denotes the rajasic and tamasic attributes of every human being. Muran denotes lust, passion, inertia and the arrogant nature of every individual. If you gain victory over them, you can gain Satva, purity of mind. This is the most important quality for Moksha. When you are vigilant at night, you become still. This stillness helps us to achieve freedom and peace above everything. Peace and freedom merges the mind with the body and is important for the process of liberation.

Also See: Ekadashi Aarti

Vaikunta Ekadashi Fasting Procedure

Vaikunta Ekadashi fasting is very important for those who observe this day. Fasting is done by all who do it, except all those old people around.

The Vaikunta Ekadashi fasting procedure involves an elaborate process like all other Ekadashi.

1. People must take only lunch and must not have dinner on the tenth day (Dashami).
2. You can just have some fruits and cold milk on this night.
3. We must meditate and pray to Lord Vishnu on this day.
4. Rice is prohibited and anything that is cooked out of rice and grains that includes wheat, and cereals and vegetables, fruits that contain seeds.
5. Be vigilant during the whole night so that you do not fall asleep.
6. Try to visit a Vishnu temple early in the morning.
7. Read Bhagwad Gita, Bhagwad Purana, Vishnu Purana and the various Upanishads during this day.
8. This fast cannot be broken, so remember if by any chance, you have broken it, you have to observe another fast called the Bhim Nirjal Ekadashi that is the eleventh day of the Moon in the month of June (Jyestha). So, if you have broken this fast due to some unwarranted issues, you will need to compensate with Bhim Nirjal Ekadashi. On this day you have to fast without touching water or any other fluids.
9. The Vaikunth Ekadashi arises on the 11th day when the Moon forms a trine with the Earth and the Sun.

Items that you need for the Pooja you want to put during Vaikunth Ekadashi:

• Flowers
• A photo or idol of Lord Vishnu
• Fruits
• Betel leaves and betel nuts
• Bananas
• Lamp, oil and the wick.
• Coconut
• Incense

Certain vegetables & foods that are not allowed even though they are vegetarian in nature and let us keep in mind that list.

1. a) Tomatoes
2. b) Cauliflower
3. c) Brinjals
4. d) Other leafy vegetables
5. e) Buttermilk, yoghurt and tea, coffee is also barred.

After every Ekadashi, the impact of the Moon on our body and mind rapidly rises. Moon impacts the journey of the fluids in our system. It is believed that as long as our digestive system functions well, our body can expect minimal impact from the external sources. The magnetic forces rapidly rise on the eleventh day of the Moon’s cycle and our digestive juices are not secreted well. From the eleventh day to the 5th day after the new Moon or Full Moon, you can have maximum imbalance. Thus, it can weaken your memory and decision making process. You have to obey nature’s laws and you have to know when you can eat what, and what is appropriate as per Nature's laws.

Vaikunta Ekadasi Mantras

Use the below mantras and hymns, chant them all day.

Mantra # 1

“Om Namo Narayanaya”

Mantra # 2

“Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Namaha.”

Mantra # 3

“Mangalam Bhagwan Vishnu,

Mangalam Garudadhwaja

Mangalam Pundarikaksha

Mangalam Tano Hari.”

Mantra # 4

“Om Shree Vaishnave Cha Vidmahae Vasudevaya Dheemahi

Tanno Vishnu Prachodayat”

Vaikunta Ekadasi 2020 in Tirumala would be celebrated on similar lines.

On the day of Vaikuntha Ekadashi Vratham, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple celebrates Vaikuntha Ekadashi on similar lines. Tirumala has a sanctum that is called Vaikuntha Dwaram and is the sanctum sanctorum which is opened only on the day of Vaikuntha Ekadashi. If anyone passes through this Dwaram would attain Moksha is how the people of this Telugu-speaking region believes.

During this day, pilgrims throng from everywhere both India and abroad to Tirumala. Even dignitaries come to pay obeisance to the Lord Tripathi on this day. No online bookings are permitted on this day and VVIP (very very important person), darshan is facilitated.

Similar belief persists around Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam. The occasion is celebrated for twenty days and this entire period is divided into two parts- ‘pagal pathu’ (during the morning hours for 10 days and ‘Ira pathu’ (during the night hours). Lord Ranganatha wears a pearl armor and would be blessing people on all the twenty days.

Very early morning, on Vaikunth Ekadashi, Utsavar Namperumal would bless devotees wearing armor made of precious diamonds. He would enter the thousand pillar hall from the sanctum sanctorum through the northern gate that is the gate of Vaikuntha. Parampada Vasal, the northern gate is known to be the gate of Vaikunth and anyone who passes through this gate on this day would reach Vaikunta. These are the several beliefs of the Southern communities of India.

You can find devotees from all across the country and would also find Indian devotees coming down from the foreign lands and also would find foreigners as devotees. The temples are decorated with flowers, and leaves. Jewels bedeck the deities and it is a wonderful view. Vaikunta Ekadashi is one festival that has importance all across the nation. People celebrate it everywhere in different ways and all across the nation, there are several different styles of celebrating the festival of Vaikunta Ekadashi.

Vaikunta Ekadashi is that day, when the Bhagavad Gita conversation between Krishna and Arjuna took place just before the war of Kurukshetra. Therefore, reading those lines that are a part of Bhagwad Gita can make your mind and heart better.

When you are hungry, and there is an abundance of food around you, you can call it Vaikunt Ekadasi. It is when men learn to detach from everything around them, amidst its abundance, then it is called Vaikunt Ekadasi. If you achieve Vishnu, you have to leave the two biggest creations of Vishnu- ‘Moh and Maya’. When you learn to go beyond all of it, you would only then be successful in attaining Vishnu. The path of attaining Vishnu is ideally the power within you to renounce the glamour that he has used to decorate the world. You have to defeat him in his game, in short, only then Vishnu can be pleased.

Thus, when you keep Vaikunta Ekadasi you begin the process of moving up into this world of Vishnu. Keeping a fast, restraining yourself, remembering God the whole night and eating simple food during this beautiful day of Vaikunth Ekadasi takes you a step closer to this wonderful world of Vishnu called Vaikunth.