Vaikunta Ekadashi (Mukkoti)

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Thu, 5 Jan 2006 00:35:34 -0800 (PST)

VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI (MUKKOTI)

VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI (MUKKOTI) Vaikunta Ekadashi festival is observed with all

solemnity in the temples of Lord Vishnu. It was on this day that during the

"Saagara Mathana" (churning of the ocean), 'Amrit' (nectar) emerged out of the

ocean and was distributed to the Gods. The Hindus consider this day is very

auspicious and it is believed that those who die on this day are freed from the

rounds of birth and death; they directly reach Vaikunta, the abode of Lord

Vishnu. This year the festival is falling on 10th Jan, 2006 (Tuesday). All

the main and important 3 crore Gods, Goddesses and Deities of Hinduism

(sometimes counted as a total of 33 crores Gods, Goddesses and Deities in

Hinduism) assemble on this day in Vaikuntam, the Divine and Holy Abode of Lord

Vishnu. Hence this Ekadashi is called as Vaikunta Ekadashi or Mukkoti (Mukkoti

= 3 crore) Ekadashi. In this Kali Yuga, even if just one Ekadashi is observed

with dispassion, faith and devotion, and if the mind is wholly fixed on Hari,

one is freed from the rounds of birth and death. The scriptures give us their

assurance on this point. Devotees have to fast on this day and have to do

Hari Japa, Hari nama sankeerthana, Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama paarayana with Sri

Laxmi ashtothara. Those who are unable to fast completely can take some light

fruits and milk. The saastraas are clearly stating that SHIVAAYA VISHNU

ROOPAAYA || SHIVA ROOPAAYA VISHNAVE|| i.e, there is no difference between

Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. No rice should be taken on Ekadashi days. This

is very important. The sweat that fell down from the head of Brahma assumed the

form of a demon and said to the Lord, "O Lord! now give me an abode to dwell."

Brahma replied, "O demon! go and dwell in the rice particles eaten by men on

Ekadashi day and become worms in their stomach." For this

reason rice is prohibited on Ekadashi. If one observes the Ekadashi fast

regularly, Lord Hari is propitiated. All sins are destroyed. The mind is

purified. Devotion gradually develops. Love for God becomes intense. Orthodox

people in South India observe complete fasting and vigil even on ordinary

Ekadashi days. For the devotees of Lord Vishnu, every Ekadashi is a very sacred

day. Benefits of Fasting :: Fasting controls passion. It checks the

emotions. It controls the senses also. It is a great penance. It purifies the

mind and the heart. It destroys a multitude of sins. Fasting controls the

tongue in

particular which is the deadliest enemy of man. Fasting overhauls the

respiratory, circulatory, digestive and urinary systems. It destroys all the

impurities of the body and all sorts of poisons. It eliminates uric acid

deposits. Just as impure gold is rendered pure by melting it in the crucible

again and again, so also this impure mind is rendered purer by repeated

fasting. Young and robust Brahmacharis (celibates) should observe fasting

whenever passion troubles them. Only then will they have very good meditation,

as the mind will be rendered calm. The chief object of fasting is to render the

system calm so that one is able to practice meditation rigorously during that

period. Withdraw the senses and fix the mind on God. Pray

to God to guide you and to throw a flood of light on your spiritual path. Say

with feeling: "O God, guide me! Protect me, protect me! I am Thine, I am Thine!

Forsake me not!" You will be blessed with purity, light and strength. Follow

this Sadhana on the days that you fast, Ekadashi days in particular. Fasting

is one of the ten canons of Yoga. However, avoid excessive fasting. It will

produce weakness. Use your common sense. If you cannot fast for the full

twenty-four hours, at least fast for 10-12 hours and then take some milk and

fruit. Gradually increase your fast to 15 hours and then up to 24 hours.

Fasting makes a man strong, both spiritually and mentally. In his code, the

Manu Smriti, the great Hindu law giver, Manu,

prescribes fasting for the removal of the five capital sins. Diseases that are

pronounced incurable by doctors are cured by fasting. Occasionally, a complete

fast is greatly desirable for all to keep up good health, to give adequate rest

to the internal organs and maintain celibacy. All diseases in this modern world

have their origin in overeating and low exercise like follows - Over-weight,

Obesity, Angina, Myocardial Infarction (heart attack), Arthritis, Diabetes

Mellitus etc. Fasting, control over eating and moderation over the food is the

only method to cure this. Complete fasting helps to control sleep. Taking

recourse to tea to control sleep is not desirable. You will not gain any

spiritual strength if you depend on an external agent. During fasting avoid all

company. Live alone. Utilise your time in Sadhana. When breaking a fast do not

take a heavy

meal or a heavy food that is hard to digest. Milk or some fruit juice is

beneficial. Moderation in eating and withdrawal of the senses in Yogic

meditation are the obverse and the reverse of the same coin. Moderation

consists in taking a little food or water just to keep the body in good working

order. In the Gita you will find: "Verily, Yoga is not for him who eats too

much, nor who abstains to excess, nor who sleeps too much, nor to the

excessively wakeful". The Yogi withdraws his senses from the particular sense

objects. The senses are made to turn into or get involved into the mind. When

one is fully established in these two practices, supreme control of the senses

is achieved.

justify"> King Ambarisha was a great devotee of Lord Hari. He practiced the

Ekadashi Vrata for a year. Ambarisha obtained Lord Vishnu's Grace. On one

occasion he fasted for three consecutive days. He was about to break the fast

when Rishi Durvasa appeared as his guest. The king received him with due

respect and requested him to take his meals. The Rishi agreed and went to bathe

in the river. The king waited patiently for a long time, but the Rishi did not

return. Time was running out; if the king did not eat anything before the day

ended his Vrata would not bear fruit. And if he ate, he would be showing

disregard to the Rishi. As a compromise the king took a little Tulasi water to

serve both the conditions. When Durvasa returned from his bath, he knew

exactly what had happened, and

was angry. He tore a hair from his tuft, which took a form of a Demon and

charged it to kill Ambarisha. The king was unmoved. The Holy Discus of Lord

Vishnu, Sudharshana Chakra appeared and destroyed the power/Demon of the hair

of Durvasa. It now followed the Rishi wherever he went and tried to destroy

him. Rishi Durvasa went to Brahma and Shiva for help, but to no avail. Lord

Shiva and Lord Brahma advised Durvasa to beg forgiveness of Lord Hari. Then,

Durvasa went to Lord Hari who said to him, "I am dependent on My devotees. Me,

My heart and My weapons are in the possession of My devotees. Go thou,

therefore, to Ambarisha; beg his pardon and if he does pardon you, thou shalt

be saved." Sage Durvasa did as advised by Lord

Vishnu, fell on the feet of King Ambarisha and begged the forgiveness of the

Great Devotee. Ambarisha, thereupon prayed to the Sudharshana Chakra, the

Weapon of Lord Hari, to desist from its course, and saved the Rishi. Durvasa

thanked him from the bottom of his heart. Vishnu sahasra naama paarayana will

give the best to the Sadhakas and even the graha and jaathaka doshas are also

cleared with this paarayana. A combination of Laxmi stotra with Vishnu

sahasranaama is highly powerful. Hence, Laxmi ashothara or Sri Kanakadhaara

stava can read at the end of the paarayana. Nama Sankeerthana is more powerful

and the God will be pleased with the Nama sankeerthana. Hence, the Nama

sankeerthana process is followed by the devotees of Sri Satya Sai Baba and it

is great to tell that, the sai devotees are doing the Nama

sankeerthana in the early hours of everyday irrespective of the season. Even in

Gurucharitra also, Sreeguru told that, who ever sing my Nama with full faith

and dedication on me, I will take care of them and I will give them what is

necessary without any troubles or problems in their families. So doing Hari

Nama sankeerthana give the feelings of Hari's presence on this day to every

devotee.

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