Vaikunth Ekadasi

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Today is Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

 

Ekadashi refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight in a lunar month

and is synonymous with fasting and abstinence. The energy-giving Sun

is believed to influence us directly; just the waxing and waning Moon

does, too.

 

 

In the waking state the mind finds its place in the Ajna Chakra

between the brow; in the sleeping state in the Anahata Chakra or the

heart. The mind, it seems, easily focused on Ekadashi days, suitable

for contemplation and meditation.

 

Fasting keeps the body light so that the energy is distributed freely

and equally to all parts rather than the stomach.

 

The Ekadashi in the Dhanurmasa shukla paksha or waxing phase is

Vaikuntha Ekadashi. Austerity increases our sankalpa (that which is

beneficial), so as to avoid activities which are not beneficial to

them, or vikalpa. Austerity, purity, mercy and truthfulness promote

spiritual evolution.

 

The Padma Purana tells us about the beginnings of Ekadashi: During

the Satya Yuga, the golden age, both devas and mortals were harassed

by the asura, Muran.

 

Unable to bear his tyranny, the devas approached Shiva for help and

refuge. Shiva, however,directed them to Vishnu.

 

Vishnu then went to battle with Muran. During the 1,000 celestial

years-old battle, Vishnu needed to rest a while. He entered a

beautiful cave, Himavati, in Badarikashrama, to sleep. Muran wanted

to seize this opportunity to strike Vishnu while he was sleeping.

 

However, Shakti — Vishnu's female energy — emerged from Vishnu's body

as a beautiful damsel who fought and vanquished Muran.

 

Vishnu named this maiden Ekadashi and granted her a boon. She

said: " Give me the power to deliver people from the greatest sins if

they fast on this day " .

 

Thus was born the first Ekadashi — the Dhanurmasa shukla paksha

Ekadashi — as Vishnu granted the boon. Muran represents the tamasic

and rajasic qualities in us.

 

The import of the Ekadashi vrata is that one can overcome rajasic and

tamasic tendencies through fasting. This helps us reach our ultimate

destination, Vaikuntha, the stage of no kuntitha or dullness,

stupidity and misery.

 

Krishna gave the Gitopadesam to Arjuna on Vaikuntha Ekadashi day.

Krishna describes the threefold path of austerity.

 

While cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and non-violence are

austerities of the body, truthful speech, which does not offend

others and the regular recitation of scriptures, is austerity of

speech.

 

Serenity of thought, compassion, gravity, self-control, purity of

purpose is austerity of the mind. This threefold path of austerity

practised by devotees, leads to a nature of goodness and

righteousness.

 

Krishna finally says that penances and austerities which are

performed as obstinate self-torture, or by injuring others, are the

approach of the ignorant.

 

One must not perform austerities beyond one's capabilities, lest the

austerities become mechanical or offensive.

 

On Vaikuntha Ekadashi day the ksheerasagara manthana or churning of

the ocean took place and the nectar of immortality, amrit, was

distributed to the gods.

 

The ocean of milk is the human heart filled with sattvic tendencies.

However, in all of us there exist both types of inclinations, good

(devas) and bad (asuras).

 

Only Sadhana or the churning process will throw out the poison

leaving the sweet nectar within us, liberating us from the cycle of

birth and death.

[Guest guest]

KRISHNA GURUVAYOORAPPA http://rajaputhran.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/vaikunta-ekadasi.htmsanjeev <punjsanjeev wrote: Today is Vaikuntha Ekadashi.Ekadashi refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight in a lunar month and is synonymous with fasting and abstinence. The energy-giving Sun is believed to influence us directly; just the waxing and waning Moon does, too. In the waking state the

mind finds its place in the Ajna Chakra between the brow; in the sleeping state in the Anahata Chakra or the heart. The mind, it seems, easily focused on Ekadashi days, suitable for contemplation and meditation. Fasting keeps the body light so that the energy is distributed freely and equally to all parts rather than the stomach. The Ekadashi in the Dhanurmasa shukla paksha or waxing phase is Vaikuntha Ekadashi. Austerity increases our sankalpa (that which is beneficial), so as to avoid activities which are not beneficial to them, or vikalpa. Austerity, purity, mercy and truthfulness promote spiritual evolution. The Padma Purana tells us about the beginnings of Ekadashi: During the Satya Yuga, the golden age, both devas and mortals were harassed by the asura, Muran. Unable to bear his tyranny, the devas approached Shiva for help and refuge. Shiva, however,directed them to Vishnu. Vishnu

then went to battle with Muran. During the 1,000 celestial years-old battle, Vishnu needed to rest a while. He entered a beautiful cave, Himavati, in Badarikashrama, to sleep. Muran wanted to seize this opportunity to strike Vishnu while he was sleeping. However, Shakti — Vishnu's female energy — emerged from Vishnu's body as a beautiful damsel who fought and vanquished Muran. Vishnu named this maiden Ekadashi and granted her a boon. She said: "Give me the power to deliver people from the greatest sins if they fast on this day". Thus was born the first Ekadashi — the Dhanurmasa shukla paksha Ekadashi — as Vishnu granted the boon. Muran represents the tamasic and rajasic qualities in us. The import of the Ekadashi vrata is that one can overcome rajasic and tamasic tendencies through fasting. This helps us reach our ultimate destination, Vaikuntha, the stage of no kuntitha or dullness, stupidity and

misery. Krishna gave the Gitopadesam to Arjuna on Vaikuntha Ekadashi day. Krishna describes the threefold path of austerity. While cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and non-violence are austerities of the body, truthful speech, which does not offend others and the regular recitation of scriptures, is austerity of speech. Serenity of thought, compassion, gravity, self-control, purity of purpose is austerity of the mind. This threefold path of austerity practised by devotees, leads to a nature of goodness and righteousness. Krishna finally says that penances and austerities which are performed as obstinate self-torture, or by injuring others, are the approach of the ignorant. One must not perform austerities beyond one's capabilities, lest the austerities become mechanical or offensive. On Vaikuntha Ekadashi day the ksheerasagara manthana or churning of the ocean took place and the

nectar of immortality, amrit, was distributed to the gods. The ocean of milk is the human heart filled with sattvic tendencies. However, in all of us there exist both types of inclinations, good (devas) and bad (asuras). Only Sadhana or the churning process will throw out the poison leaving the sweet nectar within us, liberating us from the cycle of birth and death.

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