Happy new year-good morning-VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI-01-01-07

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend

Good Morning

I wish u a very happy healthy and wealthy new year.

I am fine as u pray and wish. i too pray for the same for u. have a nice day

take care and keep writing to me. Let us renew our contarct of friendship for

another one more year.

 

Naveen

 

Message

VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI (MUKKOTI) (observed on 30-12-06)

 

Vaikunta Ekadashi festival is observed with all solemnity in the temples of Lord

Vishnu. It was on this day that during the " Saagara Mathana " (churning of the

ocean), 'Amrit' (nectar) emerged out of the ocean and was distributed to the

Gods. The Hindus consider this day is very auspicious and it is believed that

those who die on this day are freed from the rounds of birth and death; they

directly reach Vaikunta, the abode of Lord Vishnu.

 

Last year the festival was observed on 30th Dec, 2006 (Saturday).

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.

 

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.