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Vaikunta Ekadashi Festival

Vaikunta Ekadashi-Karnataka

About:

Vaikunta Ekadashi is one of the most important Hindu festivals, observed by devotees of Lord Vishnu across India, particularly in South India. Celebrated on the eleventh day of the lunar month in the Hindu calendar, Vaikunta Ekadashi marks the day when the “Vaikunta Dwaram” or “Gates of Heaven” are believed to open. According to Hindu tradition, observing a fast and engaging in prayers on this day can absolve one of past sins, bringing spiritual purity and the blessings of Lord Vishnu. Temples dedicated to Vishnu, especially the prominent ones like the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, attract thousands of devotees on Vaikunta Ekadashi. The festival involves special prayers, chanting of Vishnu’s names, reading sacred scriptures, and singing devotional hymns. For devotees, the day is spent in strict fasting and meditation, symbolizing detachment from material life and an aspiration for spiritual liberation. Many people believe that observing Vaikunta Ekadashi with complete devotion brings them closer to Vishnu’s blessings and the promise of reaching Vaikunta, the heavenly abode of Vishnu, upon leaving the material world. The festival exudes an atmosphere of spirituality, unity, and profound devotion, drawing people from diverse regions to partake in its grand celebrations.

Yudhisthira Maharaj said, Oh Lord Sri Krishna, O glorious son of Vasudeva, please be merciful to me and describe the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna .Lord Sri Krishna replied, Oh Yudhisthira, Oh king of kings, gladly I shall tell you about this great fast, known as Vijaya Ekadasi. Whoever observes it certainly achieves success in this life and the next. All the sins of one who fasts on this Ekadasi and hears its sublime glories are eradicated.

Location info:
Address:Karnataka,India
District: Karnataka,India
Celebrate Time:january to february

Climate/Weather:
Winter Season: Vaikunta Ekadashi usually falls in the winter season (December or January), which brings cool and pleasant weather in South India, making it an ideal time for pilgrims. Temperature: Generally moderate, with daytime temperatures around 20-25°C, depending on the region.

History:
Vaikunta Ekadashi has roots in ancient Hindu mythology and is associated with the legend of Nammalvar, a revered Tamil saint and devotee of Vishnu. According to legend, Nammalvar entered the heavenly abode of Vishnu, Vaikunta, on this auspicious day. The story of Vaikunta Ekadashi is also found in the Padma Purana, one of the oldest Hindu scriptures. It is believed that Vishnu took the form of “Mohana” to distract the demon Mura, who was terrorizing the gods. By defeating Mura on the Ekadashi day, Vishnu declared that anyone who observes a fast on this day would receive his blessings and be granted salvation. The festival gained popularity during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire in South India, which patronized Vishnu temples and celebrated Ekadashi with great fervor. Temples such as the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple started the tradition of opening a special gate called the “Paramapada Vasal” (Gate to Vaikunta), symbolizing the path to the divine. Since then, the festival has been celebrated with immense devotion, with rituals that vary from region to region but share the common goal of spiritual cleansing and devotion to Vishnu. The historical legacy of Vaikunta Ekadashi continues to inspire millions of devotees to this day, who come together annually to honor Vishnu and seek his blessings for salvation.

According to Vishnu Purana, fasting on Vaikunta Ekadashi is holier to fasting on the remaining 23 Ekadashis of the (Hindu) year. However according to Vaishnava tradition fasting is mandatory on all Ekadashi of both Sukla paksha and Krishna paksha.In the Padma Purana, the female energy of Lord Vishnu slayed demon Muran in the form of a damsel named "Ekadashi" and protects 'Devas'. Hence those who worship `Ekadashi' on the day of her victory over Muran would reach `Vaikunth' (His abode).In Mahabarata, Bhagavad Gita - the Gita Upadesh between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at the beginning of Kurukshetra War is said to have occurred on this day.

Importance:
The temples of Karnataka are decorated in typical traditional style during the Karnataka Temple Festivals. These festivals are usually performed by the temple priests; however sometimes priests of higher status are invited to perform the greater rituals. Yajna is an important part of the Karnataka Temple Festivals. Vaikunta Ekadashi is a temple festival in Karnataka that occurs in the calendar month of Marghazhi or Margashira, usually in the winter months. Ganesha Chaturthi is a popular Karnataka temple festival, celebrated on the day Lord Ganesha resurrected to life on earth with the head of elephant. This festival is observed in the lunar month of bhadrapada, shukla paksha chathurthi and lasts for 10 days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi.

Method of Celebration:
Restricted Foods on Ekadasi:
Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, beets, bitter melon (karela), loki, parmal, toroi, kunli, drumsticks, bindi (ladies' fingers) and banana flowers.Peas, chickpeas and all types of beans, including products made from beans (e.g., papadams, tofu, tempeh).All leafy vegetables (e.g. spinach, salads, cabbages) and leafy herbs like parsley, coriander leaves, celery and curry leaves

Grains (e.g. millet, barley, farina, pasta, rice, corn) and all types of flour made from grains and beans (e.g., rice flour, chickpea flour, urad dahl flour).Starches from corn or grains, and products made from or mixed with these starches like baking soda, baking powder, certain soft drinks with corn syrup, custard, certain yoghurts and puddings, certain varieties of cream and cottage cheese, certain sweets and candies, and tapioca balls.

Culture of Festivities:

Ekadashi is the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. It refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. There are two fortnights in a lunar month-the bright and the dark. So, Ekadasi occurs twice in a month, in the bright fortnight and the dark fortnight. Its observance is an astrological phenomenon and it is observed due to this relation we have with some of the planets in the system. In the Rig-veda, the sun is identified with the soul of the universe as well as the soul of the individual, the centre of our personality; hence the sun is called Atmakaraka.On the Ekadashi day the sun and the moon influence the human mind to attain high levels of concentration and meditation. Hence, Seekers and Yogis take advantage of these two days and try to practise deep meditation. Vaishnavas treat Ekadasi as a very holy day and also observe a fast on that day

The special feature of Ekadasi, as most people know it, is a fast, abstinence from diet. There is really no intrinsic connection between fast and meditation, but there is some advantage in keeping the body light and the stomach free from excessive metabolic function.Thus the observance of Ekadasi has many advantages-physical, astral, spiritual-and because this day has connection with the relation of the mind with its abode together with the moon, you feel mysteriously helped in your meditation and contemplation,-mysteriously because you cannot know this consciously.