Vaikunta Ekadasi or Mukkoti Ekadasi
Lord Vishnu has been described as Murari (the enemy of Mura) and Murantaka (the slayer of Mura). Ekadasi is a manifestation of Vishnu’s Sakti, the female dynamic energy of Lord Vishnu who put an end to Mura the demon, who was devastating the world with demonic force.
The story of Ekadasi occurs in Padma Purana where it is narrated how the Lord was pleased with Ekadasi and wants to grant her a boon, but the merciful Goddess asks Vishnu to bless the human beings instead by granting them Moksha who might worship Lord Vishnu on that particular day for salvation from the dreaded cycle of birth and death.
Ekadasi mentioned here is the eleventh day of the waxing or bright fortnight of every month in the Lunar calendar.
All the Ekadasis, occurring in all the twelve months of the year are observed with austerities by the devotees as holy days. A fast on Ekadasi followed by breaking of the fast on Dwadasi or the twelfth day of the lunar calendar is a practice well known among the devotees. The breaking of the fast on Dwadasi is known as Dwadasiparana after Ekadasi upavasa.
The word ‘upavasa’ means more than merely a fast. It means living near or sitting at the feet of someone. In this particular context, it refers to the devotee who fasts intending to sitting near or sitting at the feet of the divine, seeking His grace.
Ekadasi Vrata
An interesting story about Ekadasi Vrata or observance of austerities connected with Ekadasi is narrated in the Mahabhagavata Purana. Ambarisha, an emperor and ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, performs the Ekadasi Vrata for several years without interruption with the result that Vishnu’s weapon Sudarsana is ready to serve him at a moment’s notice whenever the emperor is in trouble.
Durvasa, a great sage, goes to visit Ambarisha on the day of Dwadasi along with his disciples. The king was on a fast during Ekadasi and was supposed to break the fast on Dwadasi, before the onset of Triodasi.
Durvasa who wanted to test Ambarisha, goes to have a dip in the nearby river before being hosted to a lunch by Ambarisha. He lingers in the river deliberately. A worried Ambarisha can neither allow Dwadasi to pass nor take any food till Durvasa returns, the guest is an elderly sage and it is customary to offer the guest food before one can take it.
The purohits of the emperor ask him to take water with Tulasi (basil) leaves as it would amount to breaking the fast without consuming food. An angry Durvasa creates a Kritya or Mantric demon to behead Ambarisha, but Sudarsana Chakra, ever worshipped by Ambarisha, kills the demon and pursues Durvasa. A frightened sage rushes to Brahma and Siva who refuse him refuge and when the sage goes to Vishnu, the latter asks him to go to Ambarisha for forgiveness.
Ambarisha withdraws the weapon, honours the sage and his disciples with a lunch and obtains the blessings of the sage. Such is the greatness of Ekadasi Vrata.
Vaikunta Ekadasi
Vaikunta Ekadasi is said to be highly significant among all the Ekadasis as Amrita or Ambrosia is said to have been born on that day. The spiritual significance of this day consists in the known tendency of humans to aspire for immortality or Amritatwa in a world governed by mortality or Mritatwa.
When the Gods and Demons, the Suras and Asuras churned the mighty ocean for Amrita, the latter was born after great effort. The day that Amrita is born is celebrated as ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’.
Austerities
Vaikunta Ekadasi or Mukkoti Ekadasi as it is called is observed with fast, prayer, chants and meditation, Japa and Dhyana. The austerities in connection with Vaikunta Ekadasi start with Dasami. Its strict observance is marked by ‘Ekabhuktam’ or taking food only once on Dasami followed on Vaikunta Ekadasi by a rigorous fast or at least a partial fast for those who cannot observe a complete fast for various reasons.
It is followed by the breaking of the fast on Dwadasi or the twelfth day of the waxing or bright fortnight. Consuming water and milk is allowed during a rigorous fast or taking fruits along with these during a partial fast. Observing a fast is supposed to control the senses and purify the body. The mind in a body thus restrained, it is felt, will become pure. A purified body and mind help one to attain proximity with the divine or the Paramatman.
Uttaradwar (The Gateway to Heaven)
All the 108 Divyadesas celebrate Vaikunta Ekadasi. In Srirangam, the festival is celebrated with gaiety. The God is adorned with diamond-studded armour and the Northern gate of the temple is considered to be an entrance to ‘Vaikunta’ and is kept open on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day.
The utsava idol or the idol meant to be paraded through the streets during festivals is known as ‘Namperumal’ and it goes later through the ‘Paramapada Vasal’, the gateway to heaven. The festival is celebrated in Karnataka and Kerala also. In Kerala, the festival is called ‘Swargavatil Ekadasi’.
Vaikunta Ekadasi and Vaikunta Dwadasi at Tirumala
In Andhra Pradesh, it is grandly celebrated in Tirumala and Bhadrachalam. In Tirumala, Vaikunta Ekadasi and the next day, known as Vaikunta Dwadasi are both celebrated with great fervour and gaiety. The golden thresholds are shut on the night of Dasami, a day before Vaikunta Ekadasi after Ekantaseva of Swami.
The next morning, that is on Ekadasi, the Mukkoti pradakshanamarg or doorway will be kept open till the ekanta seva of the Lord on Dwadasi. This doorway is adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord and is situated to the North, hence it is described as the ‘Uttaradwar’. It is also known as ‘Vaikuntadwar’.
Golden Chariot
In Tirumala, in the morning of Vaikunta Ekadasi, the Lord parades through the mada streets of Tirumala, accompanied by both His Consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. It is a magnificent sight indeed! The next day, i.e. on Dwadasi, a utsavam called Swami pushkarini theertha Mukkoti utsava is celebrated.
It is believed that three crore sacred rivers go to have a dip in Swami Pushkarini of Tirumala. The sanctity of this event is described in the Venkatachala Mahatmyam of Skandapurana. Sudarsana, the devotee and weapon of the Lord, goes to Swami Pushkarini to have a dip. This is called ‘Chakrasnanam‘.
It is said that three things, namely, a holy dip in Swami Pushkarini, salutations to the feet of a sadguru and the observance of Ekadasi Vrata are deemed to be three holy deeds that can bestow material as well as spiritual benefits on the devotees.
Greatness of Vaikunta Ekadasi & Dwadasi
The Markandeya Purana has a beautiful story about the holy dip in the Pushkarini. Once upon a time, Markandeya, the great sage, prayed to Brahma that he might be granted the boon of a dip in all the holy rivers or tirthas of the universe. A baffled Brahma tells Markandeya that it might not be possible, but he comes out with an easy solution to fulfil the sage’s wish.
He asks the sage to go and have a dip in Swami Pushkarini on Vaikunta Ekadasi and Vaikunta Dwadasi, as all the tirthas of the universe go to have a dip in Swami Pushkarini on these two days. Such is the greatness of Tirumala and Vaikunta Ekadasi followed by Vaikunta Dwadasi.
