Heaven's Gates will Open
~ By Vijayakumar Alagappan www.iksacademy.com
Vaikunda Ekadasi is the 11th Waxing Moon that falls in the Tamil month of Margazhi. Vaikundam is the sacred abode of Lord Maha Vishnu. The Vaishnava traditions hail Vaikundam as the ultimate place to enter and rest. This day is the day to open the gates to cross over into salvation.
There are 24 Ekadasi or 11th Moons in a year and Vaikunda Eakadasi is the most powerful and looked forward to the most as many seek spiritual redemption, or rescue from the current confusion and suffering; a place of peace.
It is believed that if one observes Vaikunda Ekadasi then the gates to heaven are kept open for when that person's soul leaves the physical body. The soul ends its cycle of death and rebirth by attaining the ultimate salvation, free from this mortal coil.
As it occurs in Margazhi, the month of 'Twilight in Heaven' it is seen as the time the gods rest and when we pray earnestly and sincerely, it has more effect on this day as the spiritual energy will come to us more directly. This Margazhi month is a divine and highly spiritual month when the mind and soul can turn to god within.
Vaikunda Ekadasi in cosmic terms
It is believed that if one observes Vaikunda Ekadasi then the gates to heaven are kept open for when that person's soul leaves the physical body. The soul ends its cycle of death and rebirth by attaining the ultimate salvation, free from this mortal coil.
No Sleep
Fasting on Vaikunda Ekadasi
Though there are 24 Ekadashis in a year, observing fast on Vaikunda Ekadasi day offers equal benefits of observing all the other 23 Ekadashis during the year. Devotees observe a complete fast on the day, awake during the whole night and offer prayers such as Vishnu Ashtotharam and Vishnu Sahasranamam Stotra of Lord Vishnu. However, if it is not possible to fast completely, one can consume fruits and milk. Food made from rice is to be avoided during the day. The fast is to be broken on the following day. It is believed that even a partial or total abstinence from food on Ekadasi is rewarded with bliss. You can also opt for a partial fast by avoiding food made of rice. There is no need to observe total fast, just be hungry and alert. The spiritual energy at this time comes directly. Be alert.
Significance of Fasting on the 11th Tithi / Moon
According to scientific research, it is known that the air pressure on the earth varies to extreme limits on both the new moon (Amavasai) and the full moon (Pournami) day. This is because of the orbital path combination of the sun, moon and earth.
This can be observed by the change in the nature of the tidal waves on the new moon and full moon days. The waves are very high and rough, but from the next day onwards, the waves become calm, an indication that the pressure has also receded.
No Sleep : Staunch Vaishnava devotees who observe Vaikunda Ekadasi fasting do not sleep. They send the whole night at Vishnu temple or by singing, prayers or listening stories dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Note : One should avoid consuming rice, grains, beans, cereals, certain vegetables and sices on the day. Foods allowed when artial fasting on Ekadasi includes fruits, milk, nuts and root vegetables.
The significance of 11th tithi fasting can be explained in 2 ways:
1) According to science, it takes about 3-4 days for the food that we eat today to reach our brain (for the brain to understand the food intake). Now, if we eat light/fast on 11th tithi days, that intake will reach the brain correspondingly on the New moon/full moon day.
2) Another explanation for 11th thiti fasting is that compared to any other day of the moon cycle, atmospheric pressure is lowest on 11th tithi days. Thus, this is the best time to fast and cleanse the bowel system. If we fast on any other day (except on Tuesday, Friday & Shasthi Tithi days), the high pressure/strain may damage our system.
~ By Vijayakumar Alagappan www.iksacademy.com
Vaikunda Ekadasi is the 11th Waxing Moon that falls in the Tamil month of Margazhi. Vaikundam is the sacred abode of Lord Maha Vishnu. The Vaishnava traditions hail Vaikundam as the ultimate place to enter and rest. This day is the day to open the gates to cross over into salvation.
There are 24 Ekadasi or 11th Moons in a year and Vaikunda Eakadasi is the most powerful and looked forward to the most as many seek spiritual redemption, or rescue from the current confusion and suffering; a place of peace.
It is believed that if one observes Vaikunda Ekadasi then the gates to heaven are kept open for when that person's soul leaves the physical body. The soul ends its cycle of death and rebirth by attaining the ultimate salvation, free from this mortal coil.
As it occurs in Margazhi, the month of 'Twilight in Heaven' it is seen as the time the gods rest and when we pray earnestly and sincerely, it has more effect on this day as the spiritual energy will come to us more directly. This Margazhi month is a divine and highly spiritual month when the mind and soul can turn to god within.
Vaikunda Ekadasi in cosmic terms
Vaikunda ekadasi is the day of cosmic significance that of the earth coming in line with the galactic centre, Sagittarius (Dhanusu rasi) and the cosmic centre. In other words, on this day, the earth will be at the outer most point from the centre of our galaxy and the nearest point to the outer space from where we, the entire systen of ours evolved and is moving outward.
Keep the Gates OpenIt is believed that if one observes Vaikunda Ekadasi then the gates to heaven are kept open for when that person's soul leaves the physical body. The soul ends its cycle of death and rebirth by attaining the ultimate salvation, free from this mortal coil.
CONCENTRATE ON YOUR HEART CHAKRA OR PLACE
YOUR PALM ON YOUR HEART AND
CHANT OM / HMMM NAMO NARAYANAYA NAMAHA
FOR 108 TIMES
YOUR PALM ON YOUR HEART AND
CHANT OM / HMMM NAMO NARAYANAYA NAMAHA
FOR 108 TIMES
No Sleep
Staunch Vaishnava devotees who observe Vaikunda Ekadasi fasting do not sleep. They spend the whole night at Vishnu temples or by singing prayers or listening stories dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Fasting on Vaikunda Ekadasi
Though there are 24 Ekadashis in a year, observing fast on Vaikunda Ekadasi day offers equal benefits of observing all the other 23 Ekadashis during the year. Devotees observe a complete fast on the day, awake during the whole night and offer prayers such as Vishnu Ashtotharam and Vishnu Sahasranamam Stotra of Lord Vishnu. However, if it is not possible to fast completely, one can consume fruits and milk. Food made from rice is to be avoided during the day. The fast is to be broken on the following day. It is believed that even a partial or total abstinence from food on Ekadasi is rewarded with bliss. You can also opt for a partial fast by avoiding food made of rice. There is no need to observe total fast, just be hungry and alert. The spiritual energy at this time comes directly. Be alert.
Significance of Fasting on the 11th Tithi / Moon
According to scientific research, it is known that the air pressure on the earth varies to extreme limits on both the new moon (Amavasai) and the full moon (Pournami) day. This is because of the orbital path combination of the sun, moon and earth.
This can be observed by the change in the nature of the tidal waves on the new moon and full moon days. The waves are very high and rough, but from the next day onwards, the waves become calm, an indication that the pressure has also receded.
No Sleep : Staunch Vaishnava devotees who observe Vaikunda Ekadasi fasting do not sleep. They send the whole night at Vishnu temple or by singing, prayers or listening stories dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Note : One should avoid consuming rice, grains, beans, cereals, certain vegetables and sices on the day. Foods allowed when artial fasting on Ekadasi includes fruits, milk, nuts and root vegetables.
The significance of 11th tithi fasting can be explained in 2 ways:
1) According to science, it takes about 3-4 days for the food that we eat today to reach our brain (for the brain to understand the food intake). Now, if we eat light/fast on 11th tithi days, that intake will reach the brain correspondingly on the New moon/full moon day.
2) Another explanation for 11th thiti fasting is that compared to any other day of the moon cycle, atmospheric pressure is lowest on 11th tithi days. Thus, this is the best time to fast and cleanse the bowel system. If we fast on any other day (except on Tuesday, Friday & Shasthi Tithi days), the high pressure/strain may damage our system.
ekadasi vrata samam vrata nasti jagattraye
anicchaya'pi yat krtva gatir evam vidha'vayoh
ekadasi vratam ye tu bhakti bhavena kurvate
na jane kim bhavet tesam vasudeva anukampaya
(Padma Purana)
In the three worlds, there is no kind of fasting which is even comparable to the Ekadasi fast. Even if one performs this fast without a proper attitude, he achieves the Supreme Abode. Anyone who fasts on Ekadasi day, with full devotion, what happens to him by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, I can not say (how much merit gets cannot be described).
Om Namo Narayanaya Namaha
Question : for those who are working , what would be the best time to chant this mantra on this day and what time till what time one should be fasting ? Please advise
ReplyDeleteAnother question what is the science behind this day ?
ReplyDeleteYou can mentally recite the mantra any time from Sun rise to to the time you want to break your fasting. You can fasting untill Sun set.
ReplyDeleteIN the celestial phenomena, the Earth as well as moon raises and settles at the same time on Ammavasai( New Moon )and from the next day to Ammavasai, moon is moving about 12 degree distance from solar path; on the Ekadasi day, i.e. 11th day from full moon the Moon stays at a distance of about 135 degrees in the solar path that causes lesser gravitation force and thus causing lesser atmospheric pressure. Thus fasting on an Ekadasi day will not affect the body system as also hungry feelings too minimum to some extent. There are other more profound meanings and reason actually.
ReplyDelete