Vaikuntha Ekadashi is an important ekadashi observance that falls on the ‘ekadashi’ (11th day) of the Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of moon) during ‘Dhanurmasam’. In the southern states of India, this Ekadashi is also known as ‘Mukkoti Ekadashi’ and is celebrated in the month of ‘Margazhi’ in the Tamilian calendar. In Kerala, Vaikuntha Ekadashi is celebrated as ‘Swargavathil Ekadashi’. This date corresponds to the months of December to January in the Gregorian calendar. This year Vaikuntha Ekadashi is being celebrated on December 18, 2018.
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’ and never has to face Yama Raja, the Lord of Death. Hindu devotees observe Vaikuntha Ekadashi with full enthusiasm and zeal all across the country. On this day special prayers, discourses, speeches and yagnas are organized at the temple of Lord Vishnu, in different parts of the world.
In South India, the celebrations in the temples of ‘Tirumala Venkateswar Temple’ at Tirupati, the ‘Mahalakshmi Temple’ at Gubbi , the ‘Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple’ at Srirangam and ‘Rajagopalaswamy Temple’ at Mannargudi , Sri Ramadasu Temple in Bhadrachalam is very renowned. The festivities are very grandeur in all temples that are dedicated to Lord Vishnu across all the south Indian states.
Devotees on this day observe Ekadashi Vrata and engage in remembering the Supreme Lord by chanting His Holy Names and singing His glories. Many offer the sevas on this auspicious day at various temples and seek the blessings of Sri Srinivasa Govinda.
Significance of Uttara Dwaara Darshanam
Nammalwar, one of the great devotees in the Sri Sampradaya (the disciplic succession descending from Lakshmi Devi) went back to Godhead on this day. To commemorate this event, in all the Vishnu temples, the Vaikuntha Dwara (the gate to Vaikuntha) a special entrance in the north side of the temple is opened once in a year on this particular day. It is believed that anyone who enters the Vaikuntha Dwara on this day is guaranteed to attain the spiritual abode.
Vaikunta Ekadashi which is also known as Mukkoti Ekadashi – Mukkoti literally means three crores; it is believed that on this sacred day of Vaikunta Ekaadasi, Lord Brahma along with the Demi Gods (3 crores in number) will have darshan of the Lord Vishnu at His abode Vaikunta during Arunodaya kaala. Uttara means north and dwaara means the gate or opening.
According the Guru’s there is also a spiritual and yogic (Kundalini) significance for Mukkoti Ekaadasi. Like we have geographical directions (North, South, East, & West) to the world, we also have similar directions to our body. North is towards our head, south is towards our feet, front portion is east and back portion is west. On top of the head (skull) we have a hole called Brahma Randhra (Sahasraara Chakra) towards the Northern Direction which is not visible. Since it is in the northern direction it is called Northern gate of the human body.
It is said that one should visualize the image of God through the route of Ida; Pingala Naadi (which run through left and right nostrils) and Sushumna Naadi (running through centre of the nose) concentrating at midpoint of the eyebrows called Jnaana Nethra where Aajna chakra is located; take it further upwards to the centre of the head where Sahasraara chakra is located and have darshan of the God through the door that gets opened (Brahma Randhra) when we meditate. This is how one should visualize God even during our daily prayers or whenever one visits a temple. Since it is through the route of the confluence of three naadis (Ida, Pingala and Sushumna) taken further north towards the Sahasraara Chakra it is called Mukkoti. Koti also means an angle; a knot; an edge and Mu means tying or binding. Having darshan of the Lord from an angle where the three Naadi’s meet is spiritually known as Uttara dwaara darshanam and the day is known as Mukkoti Ekaadasi.
There are fourteen lokaas (worlds) in this Universe; seven above (including Earth) and seven below. Seven above the Earth are called Uurdhwa Lokaas which are in the Northern direction and Vaikunta is one among them in the Northern direction. Darshan of the lord of Vaikunta (in northern direction) Lord Vishnu on this day which is nearer to Uttaraayana the most auspicious time also catches significance for Uttara dwaara darshana. On this most sacred day of Mukkoti Ekaadasi one should have darshan of the Lord in this form and to give significance to this concept perhaps all temples provide darshan of the Lord on this day through the northern entrance that is popularly known as Uttara dwaara darshanam.
Sri Vaikuntha Ekadashi Celebrations
3:00 AM: Suprabhata Seva.
Devotees chant Venkateshwara Suprabhata Stotram to wake up the Lord. Sri Srinivasa Govinda is offered a grand arati with dhoopa (incense), deepa (ghee lamps), arghya, vastra, pushpa (fragrant flowers), chamara and vyajana.
3:45 AM: Abhishekam for the moolavar Deity of Sri Srinivasa Govinda.
A grand abhishekam is performed for the moolavar Deity of Sri Srinivasa Govinda. Devotees chant Brahma Samhita and various other prayers as the Lord is bathed with panchamrita, panchagavya, fruit juices, herbal water, and various other auspicious items.
5:00 AM: Vaikuntha Dwara Ceremony.
The northern gate to the main temple hall is decorated as Vaikuntha Dwara. The Lord Vishnu and consorts are taken in a procession to the Vaikuntha Dwara and seated there on a swing.
As on the day of Vaikuntha Ekadashi it is believed that the ‘Gates of Heaven’ are opened, devotees in large number visit Lord Vishnu temples in the evening. The region encircling the temple is known as ‘Vaikuntha Vaasal’ and Lord Vishnu followers throng to enter this area and seek Lord Vishnu.
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