Vaikuntha
Ekadashi or Mukkoti Ekadashi is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The one who observes
a fast and evokes Vishnu on this day gets to the heavenly abode of Vishnu and
liberates from the birth/death cycle. This is an auspicious day for all the
Hindus; on occasion, all the grand Vishnu temples are adorned in a mesmerizing
manner.
Thousands
of people come to visit the temple and to have the Darshan of the Lord. Many
devotees form a queue and wait to pass through the Vaikuntha Dwara, which is
opened only on this day. It is a belief that whoever passes through this
passage attains the fortune to pass through the gate of Vishnu abode to live
there.
There
are many Vishnu temples in Southern states of India: Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, where Vaikuntha Ekadashi is
celebrated with great fervor.
Let’s
get to know the appropriate things to do on Vaikuntha Ekadashi to reap the
maximum benefits of the day.
Important
Things to Do on Vaikuntha Ekadashi
On
Ekadashi, we worship Lord Vishnu as well as his female power Ekadashi that
saved him against the cruel outbreak of a demon. Here are the important things
that one should do to attain the ultimate sanctification of the Lord.
- Recite
the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
The
holy mantra is dedicated to Lord Krishna, none other than the eighth
incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself. The mantra has the superior place among all
the mantras that are particularly made for the Kali Yuga to attain the
spiritual awakening in the simplest way.
One
can recite this holy mantra, and it becomes equal to reciting all the Vedas.
This is the divine mantra to achieve Krishna consciousness which takes the soul
to the path of self-realization to attain Moksha.
Hare
Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare
Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
हरे कृष्ण
हरे
कृष्ण
कृष्ण
कृष्ण
हरे
हरे
हरे राम
हरे
राम
राम
राम
हरे
हरे
2. Visit a Temple of Lord Vishnu
Getting
a glimpse of Lord Vishnu is the utmost important thing to do on Vaikuntha
Ekadashi. Thus you should visit a Vishnu temple nearby and get the Darshan of
the Lord. Do go through the Vaikuntha passage if you are visiting any famous
temple where such passage is opened on Vaikuntha Ekadashi.
However,
as God is equal to all, one can simply sit in front of the idol of Lord Vishnu
or Krishna if they have a Puja room. Decorate the deity and the place, and
perform a Puja, recite the mantra or the name of Vishnu.
3. Keep a Fast on Vaikuntha Ekadashi
There
is no better event to observe fast than Vaikuntha Ekadashi. It is said that one
who observes fast on this day gets the fruit of observing fast on all the
Ekadashis. Plus, observing fast gives our body a chance to cleanse and our soul
to purify. Participate in the special prayers of Lord Vishnu, meditate upon
him, and get your overall identity rejuvenated.
4. Read the Bhagavad Gita
Gita
is the ultimate part of the epic Mahabharata which comprises the instructions
and sayings of Lord Krishna to Arjun. It is the complete essence of the
conversation between Krishna and Arjun where Lord Krishna tells Arjun the truth
of the materialistic world.
Also,
Gita Jayanti falls on the same day as Vaikuntha Ekadashi. One can start reading
Bhagavad Gita on this day and achieve the ultimate truth of the Universe and
enlightenment of your soul.
5. Chant the Vishnu Mantras
Some
people, to attain the special benefits of the day, chant some specific Vishnu
mantras.
Vishnu
Gayatri Mantra
ॐ श्री
विष्णवे च विद्महे
वासुदेवाय धीमहि।
तन्नो विष्णुः
प्रचोदयात्॥
Om
Shri Vishnave Cha Vidmahe Vasudevaya Dhimahi।
Tanno
Vishnuh Prachodayat॥
Om
Mangalam Bhagwan Vishnu Mantra
मङ्गलम् भगवान
विष्णुः, मङ्गलम् गरुणध्वजः।
मङ्गलम् पुण्डरी
काक्षः, मङ्गलाय तनो
हरिः॥
Mangalam
Bhagwan Vishnuh, Mangalam Garunadhwajah.
Mangalam
Pundari Kakshah, Mangalaya Tano Harih.
Vishnu
Bhagavate Vasudevaya Mantra
ॐ नमोः
भगवते
वासुदेवाय॥
Om
Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya॥
Vishnu
Moola Mantra
ॐ नमोः
नारायणाय॥
Om
Namo Narayanaya॥
Vishnu
Shantakaram Mantra
शान्ताकारम् भुजगशयनम्
पद्मनाभम् सुरेशम्
विश्वाधारम् गगनसदृशम्
मेघवर्णम् शुभाङ्गम्।
लक्ष्मीकान्तम् कमलनयनम्
योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम्
वन्दे विष्णुम्
भवभयहरम् सर्वलोकैकनाथम्॥
Shantakaram
Bhujagashayanam Padmanabham Suresham
Vishvadharam
Gaganasadrisham Meghavarnam Shubhangam।
Lakshmikantam
Kamalanayanam Yogibhirdhyanagamyam
Vande
Vishnum Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanatham॥
How
to Conclude Vaikuntha Ekadashi Fast?<