The Importance of Vaikunta Ekadasi

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Festivals like Vaikunta Ekadasi have been ordained in order to take stock of one's spiritual progress and to make man resolve to march forward, until the goal is reached.

 

Vaikuntha means, without any trace of grief or pain; the place where perfect peace reigns, and there is no flutter of fear. Ekaadhashi means the eleventh day of the lunar fortnight. The phases of the moon are numbered, and the day after the tenth, Dhashami, is referred to

as the Ekaa-dhashi! But the real meaning of Ekaadhashi, the eleventh, is this: When the ten senses - the five senses of action and the five through which knowledge of the objective world is gained - are all co- ordinated and turned in the direction of God, the eleventh, then it becomes genuine Ekaadhashi!

 

This is also the meaning of the Namaskaar, where you fold both palms together and hold them on your chest, near the heart region. The ten senses surrender to the person adored, with real sincerity in the heart! The caricatures of this reverential rites are today current in

almost all circles. People are reluctant to follow tradition and so, they hold the palms as if they are trying to shield the rays of the sun from their eyes (!) or vigorously shaking them defiantly at the face of the person who is sought to be honoured (!).

 

This is a day on which one has to transcend the lower impulses originating from the Thaamasik (inertia) and the Raajasik (passionate activity) natures and, help the upsurge of Saathwik (pure) tendencies. Men engage in good works, good thoughts, good speech -

but, they do not pause to inquire the purpose, the goal. Man has to pay attention to 26 categories. The 5 senses of action (Karma- Indhriyas); the 5 senses of knowledge (Jnaana-Indhriyas); the 5 vital airs (Praana); the 5 attributes of the elemental principle, smell (of

Prithvi or earth); taste (of water); light (of fire); touch (of air); sound (of sky); and the remaining four, Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chittha (differentiating memories) and Ahamkaara (the selfish ego). The Jeevi (individual soul), the wave, is the 25th; it

has the 26th, the Param-Aathma (the supreme self or reality) on one side and the 24 principles on the other. It has to illumine all the 24, and draw them all to the reality, namely, the 26th category, the Param-Aathma. When they are illumined, they disappear, for they cannot survive light; they are but creatures that are the progeny of Maaya (delusion and illusion).

 

From Swami's Vaikunta Ekadasi Discourse in Dharmakshethra on 7th January 1971.

 

Om Sai Ram

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