Vaikunta Ekadashi or Mukkoti Ekadashi

Mukkoti Ekadashi:

Vaikunta Ekadashi or Mukkoti Ekadashi is a festival that falls in danurmasam. During the month Sun will be transiting in Vrischika raasi and will be entering into Dhanus raasi in the middle of the month.It is believed that vaikunta dwaram is opened on this day.Devotees believe that taking the darshan of the Lord on this day would pass through the door of the Lord to reach the Vaikunta.Special prayers and yagnas are performed at Vishnu temples on this day.

Cultural Importance:

According to mythology, In the Padma Purana, the Gods were unable to bear the power of 'Muran', a demon. They approached Lord Shiva, who directed them to Lord Vishnu. A battle started between Lord Vishnu and the demon. Then the Lord realised that a new weapon is needed to kill Muran.

Lord Vishnu wanted to take rest to create the weapon so he went to a cave named for the goddess Haimavati in Badrikashrama. When Muran tried to kill the Lord, who was sleeping, the female power that emerged from the Lord burnt Muran to ashes with her glance.

Lord Vishnu, who was pleased, named the goddess 'Ekadashi' and asked her to ask for a boon. Ekadashi told to the Lord Vishnu that people who observed a fast on that day should be redeemed of their sins.

Lord Vishnu thus declared that people, who observed a fast on that day and worshiped Ekadashi, would attain Vaikunta. Thus came into being the first Ekadasi, which was a Dhanurmasa sukla paksha ekadashi.

Interesting Facts:

The ekadashi of the hindu month margashira( according to lunar cycle) is observed as Vaikunta Ekadashi or mukkoti ekadashi(equivalent to 3 crore ekadashis) by South Indians.

Devotees who seek salvation(moksha) believe passing through this gate will beget them the special mercy and blessing of Lord Vishnu. They fast and chant prayers of Lord Vishnu. Fasting on this day is equal to fasting of all the 23 ekadashis of the year. Some stay awake throughout the night by chanting prayers of Lord Vishnu.

People observe fast on every Ekadashi, the eleventh lunar day of every fortnight. They don’t eat cereals and pulses on this day. They drink only milk and tulsi(holy basil) water. Some take fruits.

Ladies wake up early in the morning and draw huge Rangolis in front of their houses and devotees rise early and visit temples early in the morning.

Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated with great importance in Tirupati Balaji Temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, and Bhadrachalam Sita Ramachandraswamy temple.

Scientific Reasons:

This is the month where in the northern hemisphere, winter solstice occurs. The early morning atmosphere is rich in ozone. The air pressure in the atmosphere rapidly changes in the surroundings on a full moon day or on the new moon day. The Sun-Moon-Earth combinations in the orbital path, when distances itself at every particular interval (i.e. every 24 hours of for every full circle the Earth rotates). When it occurs, accordingly the pressure in the atmosphere too changes drastically and varies from day to day.

One can observe this from the increasing high and rough tidal waves in the ocean. But from the immediate next day onwards, the pressure recedes gradually thus improving that the atmospheric pressure too reduce. So, particularly on the 11th day from New Moon or Full Moon days, the pressure is somewhat very light or nil.

If one has to go with an empty stomach on any other day, the atmospheric pressures will put on him or her more strain where in on the Ekadashi day, the problem is minimal or nil. So the body never takes the pain while we cleanse the bowel system and thus refreshing the whole body mechanism - specifically the liver/stomach/bowel and the system movements.

Those who observe Fasting on Ekadashi days are keeping fittest health, cleansing their bowel system and mostly free from frequent ailments. People have lot more mental peace, by way of self-realization and inner soul. That reflects them to more and more devote to the spiritual path! Yes, this sort of penance also gives them a stronger feeling towards spirituality, thus making them pure in body and mind.

The phases of moon will have an influence on our body(made of fluids) and mind.So our elder people have recommended us to do fasting,meditation based on the moon cycle (ekadashi). Ekadashi fasting is broken on the next day dwadashi by taking fruits like gooseberry,turkey berry etc which helps in removing toxins.Also Fasting helps in purification of blood and digestive organs. The intestines will always remain full if one eats more so a timely fast helps in clearing these organs of waste materials.The blood gets purified and rid of urea and fat and the digestive organs can enjoy the rest needed