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Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi: Part 1

From the Bhakti List Archives

Sadagopan • December 23, 1998 


Dear BhakthAs :

The famous slOkam is :

na GaayathryA para manthra: na Maathu para dhaivatham 
na KaasyA: paramam theertham na EkAdasyA : samam vratham

(Meaning ) : There is no manthram that is superior to 
Gaayathri manthram ; there is no dhaivam superior to
one's mother; there is no sanctifying theertham better
tha Kaasi and there is no vratham that is more sacred 
than EkAdasi Vratham .

King RukmAngathA , NampAduvAN Kaisikan , our AchAryAs
of all Vaidhika mathams have demonstrated the greatness
and power of observing EkAdasi Vratham .Through his observance
of EkAdasi vratham , a Harijan like NampAduvAn has 
reached such an exalted status to get an EkAdasi
and a chapter of Varaha PurAnam named after him 
(Kaisika EkAdasi and kaisika MahAthmyam ).Sri Parasara
Bhattar wrote a commentary on the Kaisika PurANam in
Tamil .Parasara Bhattar read this work in fornt of
Sri renganathA Vrisichika Maasa (Nov-Dec ) sulka 
paksah EkAdasi and was recognized by Sri RanganAthA
with a Brahma ratham ( Being carried around the streets
of Srirangam on a palanquin bt BrahmaNAs .

Of all EkAdasis , The one connected with Dhanur Maasa
Sukla Paksha EkAdasi is the most exalted and is 
known as Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi .There are number of reasons 
assoicated with the special significance of this EkAdasi:
(1) This is the day of the churning of the Milky Ocean for 
nectar . Besides Amrutham , KaamadhEnu , Ucchaisravas ,
Iraavatham , Kalpa Vruksham , Apsaras , Kousthubham ,
and PaarijAtha Pushpam appeared as a result of the 
churning .
(2) The most exalted of auspiciousness that 
happened on this day is the appearnac eof MahA Lakshmi .
She appeared with the golden color ( HiraNya VarNAm
HariNIm SuvarN arajathasrajAm ) and shining with Her
innate glory like a cool moon ( ChandhrAm prabhAsAm 
YasasA jvalanthIm ).Like a brilliant lightning bolt
out of the sky , she incarnated right in front of 
the Lord engaged in churning the Ocean and made
all the directions shine with Her glory ( Ranjayanthi
disa: kAnthyA Vidhyuth SoudhAmini YathA ).
(3)BhagavAn Dhanvanthri appeared thereafter 
with the amrutha Kalasam ( AmruthApUrNa Kalasam
Bibhrath Valaya BhUshitha: ).
(4) according to one school , the day of the GitA
Upadesam to Arjuna by the Lord on the battle field is 
said to be on Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi day . Some opine 
that it was oon Vijaya dasami day . Our Lord commented
on the significance of GitA in VarAha PurANam this way :

GitA jn~Anam upAsrithya ThrIn lOkAn PaalayAmyaham 
GitA mE paramA vidhyA Brahma RoopA na Samsaya: et al 

(Meaning ): I am rooted in GitA .The passages of
GitA are sections of my temple. Thru the Jn~Ana Saaram 
housed in GitA , I rule the three worlds. GitA is my supreme 
Vidhyai ( UpadEsam/revealed knowledge to reach me ).
It points out to the way for Moksham . It can not be
seperated from Me. It is beyond the limits 
of Desam , Kaalam and other limitations . This 
is the essence of VedAs and Upanishads .It is the key to
to open the lock of Athma VichAram and to gain
Moksha Siddhi. That is why the day of birth of
this sacred revelation ,Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi day is
considerd the most sacred . 

Lord parthasarathy says further :

yOashtadasajapO nithyam narO niscchala maanasa:
Jn~Ana siddhim sa labathE tathO yAthi param padham 

(Meaning ) : The One who reads all the 18 chapters of my
GithOpanishad and meditates as well as comprehends the meanings
of the verses, will come sthitha Praj~nan , achieve Jn~Ana
sampath and finally reach the safety and comfort of 
the shadow of my feet and gets fulfilled in his life's
purpose .

The tattvam behind Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi or
MokshEkAdasi is the principles taught by 
Sri parthasArathy to us through ArjunA as
an excuse . They are the essence of VedAs ,
Upnishads , AnushtAnAs , ashtAnga Yogam et al . 
Those who are bot able to comprehend the esoteric 
doctrines of the Vedas , Upanishads or able to practise
anushtAnams and Yogams can wake up in Brahma muhUrtham on 
the month declared as the most holy by GitAchAryan
( MaasAnAm margasIrsham ) , recite ThirupaLLIyezucchi ,
ThiruppAvai ,, paticipate in the Thiru Adhyayana 
Uthsavam and on Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi day travel with 
the Lord thru parama padha Vaasal and get Moksha 
Siddhi . The Lord Himself enacts the role of 
a Mumukshu on this day .

We will continue with the celebrations in
Srirangam on this Sri Vaikunta EkAdasi day 
in our next posting .
Sri Periya PerumAL THiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,
Daasan , V.Sadagopan