Vaikuntha Ekadasi January 7, 2009
The Paushya Māsa, also known as Dhanur Māsa, is a period of one month in the lunar calendar that comes every year during the months of December and January. This year, Paushya Masa falls between December 28, 2008-January 25, 2009.
The eleventh day in the ascending phase of the moon during the Paushya Māsa is called Paushya Sudha Ekadasi in the lunar calendar. This auspicious day is also called by other alternate names such as Vaikuntha Mahā Ekādasi, Nandaikādasi, Putadaikādasi, and Daivata Manvādi Mukkoti Ekādasi. This auspicious day has particular significance for spiritual seekers. Some vratas, solemn resolutions followed in accordance to specific instructions are meant for women only. There are also special worships and vratas that are meant for men only. However, the day of Vaikuntha Ekādasi can be observed by one and all through out the world with utmost faith and devotion. There are a number of powerful spiritual reasons behind prescribing various niyamas, sets of rules to be observed, and nishthas, practices to steady the mind, while observing festivals of all kinds. Even though the details of the various spiritual reasons behind festivals are less known today, festivals are indeed meant for the wellbeing of all mankind. The month of Dhanur Māsa, which is also known as Paushya Māsa, is most significant for practicing early morning bath. Any daivārādhana, worship of God, practiced during this month will purify the antaranga, inner-mind. The practice of bathing prior to sunrise every day throughout this month will result in the annihilation of pancha mahā pātakas, five most heinous of sins. Such practice of early morning bath during this month will bestow auspiciousness to brahma chāris, celibates, grihastas, householders, vāna prasthas, those that have completed the duties of householders, and bhikshukas, those that are in the final stage of their life where they have no material possessions and receive their alms through begging.
Here is a beautiful shloka, a Sanskrit hymn:
Brahmachāri grihastovā Vāna prasthotha bhikshukshaha Taptena vārinā snānam Yadgrihe kriyate naraihi Shadabdham phaladam taddhi Paushya māsa snānam phalam
Duhkha dāridrya nāshāya ThreVishno sto shanāyacha Prātah snānam karo hyadya Paushya māse mahā pāpa vināshanam When one bathes early in the morning before the sun rises, the radiance of the sun during winter gives immense health to the body. It reduces ones laziness. The practice of taking early morning baths during this month will help in eradicating both disease, and poverty. Every ekādasi, eleventh day during the ascendant phase of the moon, is considered very auspicious. Among these, the Mukkoti vaikuntha ekādasi, is very special and extremely auspicious. On this day, mukkoti devatas, the thirty million gods and goddesses journey to Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu, seeking darshan, a glimpse of Lord Vishnu. This is a very rare and special day when the Lord keeps open the entry doors of Vaikuntha to allow the 30 million gods and goddesses to enter and witness His Divine form.
On this auspicious day of Mukkoti ekādasi, one should avoid eating left-over foods such as food prepared the previous day or in the days before, and may partake only fresh foods such as milk and fruits. It is better to observe upavāsa, fasting, according to one’s own capacity. If one is unable to observe a complete fast, then one may take fruit juices, water, butter milk, or milk in the morning, and should observe fasting without partaking any cooked food throughout the day. If one performs abhisheka, sacred bath ceremony, to Vishnu sāligrāma, a sacred stone revered as the embodiment of Lord Vishnu found on the shores of the river Gandaki, on this day, one is bestowed with the piety of performing sacred bath to Lord Maha Vishnu Himself. One is bestowed with the grace of Lord Nārāyana of Vaikuntha whenever one prays to the saligrāmas through archana, worship, abhisheka, sacred bath ceremony, and panchāmrita abhisheka, sacred bath ceremony performed by mixing five nectars of milk, sugar, honey, clarified butter, and curd. On this day, one should avoid eating meat and also vegetables such as white winter raddish, onion and garlic. It is also important to avoid eating vegetables cut by a knife - any vegetable that comes into contact with the knife should be avoided. Furthermore, one should not apply oil to the head on this day.
Since the energy of the planet Saturn flows most intensely on this day, the worship of āligrāma protects you from the harmful rays of the planet Saturn. Anyone who first performs abhisheka, sacred bath ceremony, to the sāligrāma with the holy water of the Ganges river, and then worships the sāligrāma with Tulasi leaves will be blessed with the removal of all pains caused by disease and ashta dāridryas, eight types of poverties, namely, lack of: children, valor, victory, money, grandeur, food, auspiciousness, and the grace of Goddess of wealth.
On the auspicious day of Vaikuntha ekādasi, one must wake up early in the morning and then take the holy bath. Most importantly, one must observe fasting according to one’s own capacity. One must also observe mauna, silence, throughout the day. By fasting throughout the day (taking only liquid diet, if necessary), one must light lamps in the altar during the night. Then one must chant the Nārāyana mantra, ‘Om Namo Nārāyanāya’ either 1008 times or 508 times, or at least 108 times with the help of Tulasi māla, garland made of Tulasi beads. Such practices on this day will bestow immense auspiciousness to the seeker. One can learn about the benefits of fasting on this day form the following shloka:
Rishi uvācha: The sages ask the Lord:
Swāmin sarva jagannādha Samsayosti mahānsam Chatuh shashthi kalānāmcha Pātakānāmcha tadvadaha
O Lord! What should we do in order to annihilate the results of: pancha mahā pātakas, poovarva karmas, actions of previous lives, vadhas, murders, and mahā pāpās, the greatest of sins?
Muchyate kena punyena Brahma roopam katham bhavet Dehascha devatā divya roopam divya tejam viseshataha
As a result of committing pāpās, sins, the body loses its tejas, effulgence, and remains in a state of roga, disease and dainya, hopelessness. What should we do in order to eradicate this lack of health, and fill the body with devatā kānti, divine radiance, daivatvam, divinity, and to acquire visesha divya shakti, immense divine energy?
In reply to this question of the sages, the Lord revealed the Mukkoti ekādasi vratam, solemn practices performed upon the day of Mukkoti ekādasi. As a result of upavāsas, observing fasting, the digestive system will get rest for at least one day. There is one holiday in a week for offices, schools, shops, and all activities. But, there is no rest for the digestive system. Without rest, the digestive system faces the onset of disease. Thus, in order to protect the digestive system from disease, one must observe fasting. This will give the seeker good health and radiance.
It takes two and half hours to digest one glass of milk. It will take five and half hours to digest fruits and light wholesome food. Highly pungent and spicy foods and meats will take a very long time to digest in the system. Fasting increases the making of the necessary fluids in the digestive system and thereby protects one from diseases such as ulcers, and gas. That is why in the name of God, when one performs early morning bath and observes fasting, one acquires ārogya, good health, ātma bala, inner strength, mano nigraha, control of mind, manas shanti, peace of mind, and divya shakti, divine energy. Ultimately, one acquires ātma shakti, energy of the Self. The following is a list of practices that one must follow on the day of Mukkoti ekādasi:
1.Time to wake up five in the morning 2.Type of bath to be taken head-bath, full bath from head to toe 3. Places to be kept clean the altar of worship and the entire home should be cleaned day before 4. Clothes to be worn clean washed white clothes 5. Cloth to be spread in the altar white silk cloth with an idol or picture of Lord Vishnu placed on top 6. Color of cloth to be placed upon yellow kalasham, vessel with holy water 7. God to be worshipped Lord Vishnu 10. Flowers for offering all types of flowers and Tulasi leaves 11. Naivedyam, sacred offering ksheerānna, sweet pongal 12. Hymn for chanting Vishnu Sahasranāma stotram - chant yourself or with cassette 14. Japa, repetition, to be performed Om Namo Nārāyanāya 15. Garland to be made garland made of Tulasi leaves 16. Rule for upavāsa, fasting upavāsa, fasting itself is the most important rule 17. How many times japa, repetition 1008 times or according to your energy and convenience 18. What to do to your friend perform worship for the health and peace of mind for anyone you like 19. Special puja to be performed puja with Tulasi leaves—this will remove all sins and bestow tejas, radiance 20. Time to perform puja morning: between 6:00 am -7:30 am afternoon: between 11:00-12:00 noon 21. Number of lamps to be lighted 16 (even 1 or 2 per convenience) 22. Shubha suchika, good omen sighting of eagle in the sky 23. Material for lighting the lamp silver (or your choice) 24. Number of wicks to be lighted 5+5=10 25. Material for wicks wicks made of cotton 26. Oil to be used pure clarified butter from cow 27. Arati, show of lights lighting of five wicks dipped in clarified butter or light camphor 28. To be worn on the forehead bottu, round dot, made of sandalpaste 29. Garland to be worn in the neck Tulasi māla, garland made of Tulasi bead, on that day 30. For those who perform abhisheka sacred bath with panchāmrita, five nectars and holy water from Ganges 31. Direction to sit for puja and japa facing east Those who can perform the Vaikuntha ekādasi vratam may do so in accordance with the above instructions. Those who cannot do so may pray to God within their mind. If one at least takes early morning bath, the sunrays that fall upon the purified body will bestow good health, and radiance.
At Sri Penushila kshetram, our beloved Amma’s abode, Vaikuntha ekādasi will be celebrated for two days in a grand scale. On this day, sacred abhishekas will be performed to thousands of sāligrāmas with mahā kshira, holiest of milk, shankhas, conches considered to be highly auspicious, holy water of the Ganges river, and panchāmritās, mixture of five nectars. Also, there will be laksha Tulasi mahārchana, supreme worship with one hundred thousand Tulasi leaves. These mahā pujas, grand worships will be performed on the day of Vaikuntha ekādasi with all reverence for the good benefit of all devotees. May all be bestowed with shubham, auspiciousness, ārogyam, good health, ānandam, bliss, shānti, peace, and sowbhāgya, fortune! May vishwa shānti, universal peace, flourish in the entire universe!
Swastihi!
Om Shānti, Shānti, Shāntihi!
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