VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI (MUKKOTI)

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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.

justify">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.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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