VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI (MUKKOTI)

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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.

 

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.