Vaikuntha Ekadasi

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> On 6. January is Vaikuntha Ekadasi. In Sri Rangam it is said, that the doors

> to Vaikuntha are opened and everyone has free access.

>

> What is our Gaudiya-understanding of this? Is it so easy?

 

VijayA EkAdasii - Vaikuntha Ekadasi

 

VijayA EkAdasii – also known as Vaikuntha EkAdasii

 

Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “Oh Lord Sri Krishna, O glorious son of Vasudeva,

please be merciful to me and describe the EkAdasii that occurs during the dark

fortnight of the month of PhAlguna (February-March).”

 

Lord Sri Krishna replied, “Oh Yudhisthira, Oh king of kings, gladly I shall

tell you about this great fast, known as VijayA EkAdasii. Whoever observes it

certainly achieves success in this life and the next. All the sins of one who

fasts on this EkAdasii and hears its sublime glories are eradicated.

 

“NArada Muni once asked lord BrahmA, who sits on a lotus flower about the

VijayA EkAdasii. Sri NArada said, ‘Oh best of all the demigods, kindly tell me

the merit one can achieve by faithfully observing VijayA EkAdasii.’

“NArada’s great father then replied, ‘My dear son, this oldest of fasting days

is pure, and it nullifies all sins. I have never revealed this to anyone until

today, but you can understand beyond any doubt that this EkAdasii bestows the

result indicated by its name… (VijayA meaning Victory).

 

“When Lord Rama was exiled to the forest for fourteen years, He, the goddess

SitA, and His divine brother Lakshmana stayed at Panchavati as mendicants.

Mother SitA was then kidnapped by the demon RAvana, and Lord Rama seemingly

became bewildered like an ordinary man by distress. While searching for His

beloved consort, the Lord came upon the dying JatAyu and thereafter killed His

enemy Kabandha.. The great devotee-vulture JatAyu returned to Vaikuntha after

telling Rama how His dear SitA had been abducted by Ravana.

 

“ ‘Later, Lord Rama and Sugriva, the king of the monkeys, became friends.

Together they amassed a grand army of monkeys and bears and sent HanumAnji his

minister to Sri LankA, where he was able to see Janaki (Srimati SitA devi) in

an Ashoka grove garden. He delivered Lord Rama’s message and showed the ring

proving his authenticity for rendering such great service to the Supreme Lord

Sri Rama.

“ ‘With the help of Sugriva, Lord Rama proceeded toward Sri LankA. Upon

arriving at the shore of the ocean with the army of monkeys, He could

understand that the water was uncommonly deep and hostile. Thus He said to

Lakshmana, “Oh son of SumitrA, how can We earn enough merit to be able to cross

this vast ocean, the unfathomable abode of Varuna deva? I can see no easy way

to cross it, teeming as it is with sharks and other ferocious aquatics.”

 

“ ‘Lakshmana replied, “Oh best of all beings, Oh origin of all the devas, Oh

primal personality, the great sage BakadAlbhya lives on an island just four

miles from here. Oh Raghava, he has seen many BrahmAs come and go, so aged and

wise is he. Let us go to him, take his darshan (audience) and ask him how We

can safely reach Our goal.”

 

“ ‘So Rama and Lakshmana proceeded to the humble Ashrama of the incomparable

BakadAlbhya Muni. Approaching him, the two Lords paid Their respectful

obeisances to him as if he were a second Vishnu. BakadAlbhya could immediately

understand, however, that Sri Rama was actually the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, who for His own reasons had appeared on the Earth and was enacting

just like a human being.

“ ‘ “Rama, “ said BakadAlbhya, “Oh best of the human beings, why have You come

to my lowly abode?”

“ ‘The Lord replied, “Oh great, twice born brahmin, I have come here to the

ocean shore with My phalanx of monkey and bear warriors in order to cross the

sea and conquer LankA and its demon horde headed by Ravana. Oh greatest of

sages, please be merciful unto Me and please tell Me how I can cross this vast

ocean. That is why I have come to your Ashrama today.”

“ ‘The sage said, “Oh Lord Sri Rama, I shall tell you of the most exalted of

all fasts, observing which You will surely conquer Ravana and be eternally

glorified. Kindly now listen with full attention.

 

“ ‘ “On the day before EkAdasii, fashion a water pot of gold or silver, or even

copper. Even clay will do if these metals are unavailable. Fill the pot with

pure water and then decorate it nicely with mango leaves. Cover it and place it

near a holy altar upon a mound of seven grains (the seven grains are barley,

wheat, rice, corn, chickpeas, kukani, and dahl or peas). Now take Your morning

bath, decorate the water pot with flower garlands and sandalwood paste, and inn

the concave lid atop the pot place there the barley, pomegranate, and coconut.

Now with great love and devotion worship the water pot Deity form and offer Him

incense, sandalwood paste, flowers, a ghee lamp, and a plate of sumptuous

foods. Remain there awake that night beside this sacred pot. On top of the lid

filled with barley, etc., place a golden mUrthy of Lord Sri NArAyana.

“ ‘ “When EkAdasii dawns, take Your morning bath and then decorate the water

pot with fine sandalwood paste and garlands. Then worship the pot again with

first class incense, lamps, sandalwood paste and flowers dipped in sandalwood

paste, and then devoutly/devotedly place many kinds of cooked food,

pomegranate, and coconut before the water pot. Then remain awake over night.

 

“ ‘ “When the DwAdasi dawns, take the waterpot to the bank of a holy river, or

even to the shore of a small pond. After worshipping it again properly, Oh King

of kings, offer it with all the aforementioned ingredients to a pure hearted

brahmin, expert in the Vedic sciences. If You and Your military commanders

observe the VijayA EkAdasii in this way, You will surely be victorious in every

way.”

 

“” ‘Lord Sri Ramachandra Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did just

as BakadAlbhya Muni instructed, and thus He conquered all demoniac forces.

Similarly, anyone who observes the VijayA EkAdasii in this way will always be

victorious in this mortal world, and after leaving this world he/she will

reside forever in the anxiety free realm of the Kingdom of God known as the

Vaikunthas.”

 

“ ‘Oh NArada, my son, from this history you can understand why one should

observe this EkAdasii fast properly, strictly following the rules and

regulations. This fast is powerful enough to eradicate all one’s sinful

reactions, even the most abominable ones.”

 

Lord Sri Krishna concluded, “Oh Yudhisthira, anyone who reads or hears this

history will attain the same great merit as that which is earned by performing

a horse sacrifice on days of yore.”

 

Thus ends the narration of the glories of PhAlguna-krsna EkAdasii or VijayA

EkAdasii, from the Skanda PurAna.