Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi- 7 Janurary 2009

[Guest guest]

namo narayana

 

Respected Devotees,

 

The most holiest of all the 24 ekadasis is the Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi,

which is falling on the 7 Janury 2009 this year.

It is that ekadasi, on which the doors of Sri Vaikuntha (paramapada

vaasal) are opened to all the Sri Vishnu Bhaktas, to have the

darshan of the Lord.

 

How to observe this vratham

 

On the evening before the ekadasi, have a bath and worship Lord

Guruvayoorappan and mentally resolve to undertake the fast on

ekadasi.

 

On the Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi day, rise up very early before sunrise,

after a purifying bath, worship the Lord with the sixteen upcharas

(offerings), offering Him the best of incense, flowers, fruits, and

naivedhyam.

It is advisable to completely fast the whole day, if it is not

possible one may eat some fruits/milk (after offering them to Him).

But one has to completely abstain from rice, grains and beans.

It is best to spend the day reciting the Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam,

Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagvatam.

 

Certain Vaishnava temples have a special Vaikuntha Dwaaram

constructed, for the devotees to pass through.

In Srirangam (the world's largest Hindu temple), the presiding

deity's idol (namperumal) is taken through the Vaikuntha Dwaaram,

followed by thousands of devotees, marking their symbolic entry into

Vaikuntam in this life itself to meet their Lord.

 

The next morning on Sri Vaikuntha Dwadasi, rise up again well before

sunrise and worship the Lord as before and then break your fast

after sunrise (but within 2.4 hours or 6 nazhikas of sunrise), by

first sipping Sri Vishnu theertham and then by accepting His

prasadam.

 

Before breaking your fast, mentally offer your fast to Him and

request Him to forgive any mistakes and bless us eternally with His

devotion.

 

I pray to Sri Guruvayoorappan that He grants all His devotees a

chance to serve Him in Sri Vaikuntam.

 

Sincerely,

Kamlesh