Vaikunta Ekadasi

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 fervor 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 pradakshana marg 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'.

The next day of Vaikunta Ekadasi is ‘Dwadasi’ on this day at dawn ‘Sri Swami Pushkarini Teertha Mukkoti’ occurs. During Vaikunta Ekadasi all three crores of Holy Teerthas join in Sri Swami Pushkarini waters.

On the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi in the morning of Dwadasi, Chakra snanam will be held in Tirumala. Later Sri ‘Sudarshana Chakrattalwar’ is taken out from the Ananda Nilayam in procession around the Srivari temple and brought to Sri Varahaswami temple.

After Abhishekam, at the time of ‘Chakrasnanam’ devotees bathe in these sacred waters of pushkarini and purify themselves. Chakrattalwar is then offered Vastralankaram, Naivedyam and Harati in a splendid manner. Later Chakrattalwar is taken to Srivari temple.

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 to sit near or sit at the feet of the divine, seeking His grace.