Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi: Part 1

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Dear BhakthAs :

 

The famous slOkam is :

 

na GaayathryA para manthra: na Maathu para dhaivatham

na KaasyA: paramam theertham na EkAdasyA : samam vratham

 

(Meaning ) : There is no manthram that is superior to

Gaayathri manthram ; there is no dhaivam superior to

one's mother; there is no sanctifying theertham better

tha Kaasi and there is no vratham that is more sacred

than EkAdasi Vratham .

 

King RukmAngathA , NampAduvAN Kaisikan , our AchAryAs

of all Vaidhika mathams have demonstrated the greatness

and power of observing EkAdasi Vratham .Through his observance

of EkAdasi vratham , a Harijan like NampAduvAn has

reached such an exalted status to get an EkAdasi

and a chapter of Varaha PurAnam named after him

(Kaisika EkAdasi and kaisika MahAthmyam ).Sri Parasara

Bhattar wrote a commentary on the Kaisika PurANam in

Tamil .Parasara Bhattar read this work in fornt of

Sri renganathA Vrisichika Maasa (Nov-Dec ) sulka

paksah EkAdasi and was recognized by Sri RanganAthA

with a Brahma ratham ( Being carried around the streets

of Srirangam on a palanquin bt BrahmaNAs .

 

Of all EkAdasis , The one connected with Dhanur Maasa

Sukla Paksha EkAdasi is the most exalted and is

known as Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi .There are number of reasons

assoicated with the special significance of this EkAdasi:

(1) This is the day of the churning of the Milky Ocean for

nectar . Besides Amrutham , KaamadhEnu , Ucchaisravas ,

Iraavatham , Kalpa Vruksham , Apsaras , Kousthubham ,

and PaarijAtha Pushpam appeared as a result of the

churning .

(2) The most exalted of auspiciousness that

happened on this day is the appearnac eof MahA Lakshmi .

She appeared with the golden color ( HiraNya VarNAm

HariNIm SuvarN arajathasrajAm ) and shining with Her

innate glory like a cool moon ( ChandhrAm prabhAsAm

YasasA jvalanthIm ).Like a brilliant lightning bolt

out of the sky , she incarnated right in front of

the Lord engaged in churning the Ocean and made

all the directions shine with Her glory ( Ranjayanthi

disa: kAnthyA Vidhyuth SoudhAmini YathA ).

(3)BhagavAn Dhanvanthri appeared thereafter

with the amrutha Kalasam ( AmruthApUrNa Kalasam

Bibhrath Valaya BhUshitha: ).

(4) according to one school , the day of the GitA

Upadesam to Arjuna by the Lord on the battle field is

said to be on Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi day . Some opine

that it was oon Vijaya dasami day . Our Lord commented

on the significance of GitA in VarAha PurANam this way :

 

GitA jn~Anam upAsrithya ThrIn lOkAn PaalayAmyaham

GitA mE paramA vidhyA Brahma RoopA na Samsaya: et al

 

(Meaning ): I am rooted in GitA .The passages of

GitA are sections of my temple. Thru the Jn~Ana Saaram

housed in GitA , I rule the three worlds. GitA is my supreme

Vidhyai ( UpadEsam/revealed knowledge to reach me ).

It points out to the way for Moksham . It can not be

seperated from Me. It is beyond the limits

of Desam , Kaalam and other limitations . This

is the essence of VedAs and Upanishads .It is the key to

to open the lock of Athma VichAram and to gain

Moksha Siddhi. That is why the day of birth of

this sacred revelation ,Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi day is

considerd the most sacred .

 

Lord parthasarathy says further :

 

yOashtadasajapO nithyam narO niscchala maanasa:

Jn~Ana siddhim sa labathE tathO yAthi param padham

 

(Meaning ) : The One who reads all the 18 chapters of my

GithOpanishad and meditates as well as comprehends the meanings

of the verses, will come sthitha Praj~nan , achieve Jn~Ana

sampath and finally reach the safety and comfort of

the shadow of my feet and gets fulfilled in his life's

purpose .

 

The tattvam behind Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi or

MokshEkAdasi is the principles taught by

Sri parthasArathy to us through ArjunA as

an excuse . They are the essence of VedAs ,

Upnishads , AnushtAnAs , ashtAnga Yogam et al .

Those who are bot able to comprehend the esoteric

doctrines of the Vedas , Upanishads or able to practise

anushtAnams and Yogams can wake up in Brahma muhUrtham on

the month declared as the most holy by GitAchAryan

( MaasAnAm margasIrsham ) , recite ThirupaLLIyezucchi ,

ThiruppAvai ,, paticipate in the Thiru Adhyayana

Uthsavam and on Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi day travel with

the Lord thru parama padha Vaasal and get Moksha

Siddhi . The Lord Himself enacts the role of

a Mumukshu on this day .

 

We will continue with the celebrations in

Srirangam on this Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi day

in our next posting .

Sri Periya PerumAL THiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

Daasan , V.Sadagopan