VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI (MUKKOTI)
Sri Sri Srinivasa Govinda smiling
Sri Sri Srinivasa Govinda’s Lotus Feet
Sri Sri Srinivasa Govinda
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. This year the festival is falling on 17th Dec,
2006 (Friday).
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. Hence, the Nama
sankeerthana process is followed by the devotees of Sri Satya Sai Baba
and it is great to tell that, the sai devotees are doing the Nama
sankeerthana in the early hours of everyday irrespective of the season.
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.
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