Spirituality: Significance of Vaikuntha Ekadashi

Devotees of Lord Vishnu get to seek blessings of the lord from the sanctum sanctorum only on this day.

Pic courtesy: Thinkstock image for representation purpose only.

Mumbai: Vaikuntha Ekadashi holds special significance for Vishnavites or followers of Lord Shree Vishnu.

The auspicious day is the Shukla paksha Ekadashi that occurs during the Dhanur or Margazhi  month in the  Hindu calendar which falls between December and January according to the Gregorian calendar.

It is believed that fasting on this day is equivalent to fasting on the remaining 23 Ekadashis because it is very holy.

According to a legend, Lord Vishnu took a female form to kill Muran, the demon to protect the Devas. This happened on the eleventh day of the Dhanur month and hence Vishnu named the female energy Ekadashi.

The day is of great significance as it symbolises the end of the Tamas (arrogance, hatred, anger etc) and the Rajas (greed, lust etc) and restores, reinstates and established the Satva ( peace, sanity, liberation etc).

Vishnu Temples open the ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to the heaven’ on this day. Devotees can seek blessings of the lord from the sanctum sanctorum only on this day.

The day indeed teaches mankind the importance of enlightenment and liberation and freeing mind of all the negative forces.