Vaikuntha Ekadashi Vishnu
Vaikuntha Ekadashi Vishnu
The most important festival of the year especially for Vaishnavites all over the world is VaiKunta Ekadasi which is an important festival dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the Tamil Month ofMargazhi (Dhanur Masam) which falls on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009.
Vaikunda Ekadasi festival is of great significance at the Tirupati Balaji Temple at Tirumala, Srirangam Sri Ranganatha Temple and at the Bhadrachalam Temple.
The significance of Vaikunta Ekadasi can be traced back to the Padma Purana. The Purana indicates that Lord Vishnu took the form of “Ekadasi” – female energy – to kill demon Muran. This happened during the month of Margazhi. Impressed by “Ekadasi,” Lord Vishnu told her that whoever worships him on this day will reach “Vaikunta”.
It is said that the Divine Gates to the heaven open - the Gate of Vaikuntha - on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day. It is one of the most auspicious days in Lord Vishnu Temples in South India .
The “Vaikunta Dwaram” or “the gate to the heaven” is opened on this day. This is the passage encircling the innermost sanctum of the Lord. Scores of devotees queue up to pass through the Gate of Vaikunta in the temples.
Sri RANGANATHASWAMY Temple, Srirangam, Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations in Srirangam in Tamil Nadu - foremost of Vaishanvite Shrines, lasts 21 days and is divided into two parts of pagal pathu (morning part) and Ira pathu (night part). Lord Vishnu as Lord Ranganatha is adorned is an armor of diamonds (rathnaangi) and is brought to the Thousand-Pillared Hall from the sanctum sanatorium through the northern gate known as Paramapada Vasal, the gate to the heaven. This gate is opened once in a year, only on the Vaikuntha Ekadasi day.
TIRUMALA Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh also has a similar concept. Thirumala has a special entrance called Vaikunta Dwaram that encircles the sanctum sanatorium. The dwaram (passage) is opened only on Vaikunta Ekadasi and it is believed that any person who passes through this `Vaikunta Dwaram’ on this particular day attains salvation. The temple witnesses heavy inflow of pilgrims and dignitaries for Vaikunta Ekadasi. There will be a sea of people at Tirumala in the first week of January every year.
BHADRACHALA RAMA TEMPLE in Andhra pradesh on the banks of Godavari river which is unique Sri Rama temple where Sri Rama is seen with four arms and Sita Ma sitting on His left lap. Vaikunta Ekadasi is also celebrated here in the grandest fashion. Those of you who would like to know about Bhaja Govindam in detail, please click the link below to read or recite Bhaja Govindham on the sacred day of Vaikunta Ekadasi : Link.
Those of you who are busy people can watch about 11 minutes to watch, listen & English meaning of Bhaja Govindham by no other than the Legend, The Queen of Carnataka Music, Late MS SubbaLakshmi (MS Amma) is a delight to our eyes and ears on this holy Vaikunta Ekadasi Day is a MUST. Please click the link below to enjoy during the two hours of the Maha Yajnam on January 7th : Link.
It is also highly desirable to recite or listen Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namam on Vaikunta Ekadasi especially during the 2 hours of Maha Yajnam on January 7th by clicking the link below : Link.
And finally for those devotees who are keen to recite all the 1000 names and their English meaning during Vaikunta Ekadasi, please click the link to recite : Link.
Let us all Celebrate this wonderful Vaikunta Ekadashi day by Praying to Our Beloved Lord Sai to grant us the strength to spread His Divine Mission and Message to many of other parts of the world.
Om Sai Ram
Source: from the Internet
Vaikunta Ekadashi (alt: Vaikunta Ekadasi - Vaikuntha Ekadasi - Vaikuntha Ekadashi) is the Ekadashi that occurs in the Hindu calendar month of Marghazhi or Margashira or Margasirsa (corresponding to late December - January in English calendar). Vaishnavism (Worship of Lord Vishnu) culture believes that ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to Lord’s Inner Sanctum’ is opened on this day. The Margashirsha shukla paksha ekadashi in lunar calendar is known as a ‘Mokshada Ekadashi’. People also know that as a vaikunta ekadashi. However vaikunta ekadashi in Sri Rangam Temple (Tamilnadu) is in the solar margashira month (Margazhi). Special prayers, yagnas, discourses and speeches are arranged at Vishnu temples across the world on this auspicious day.
According to the Vishnu Purana, fasting on Vaikunta Ekadashi is equivalent to fasting on the remaining 23 Ekadashis of the (Hindu) year.
It is said that Vishnu opened the gate of Vaikuntam (his abode) for two demons although they were against Him. The demons asked for the boon that whomever listens to their story and sees the image of Vishnu coming out of the door (called Vaikunth Dwar) will reach Vaikunth as well! Temples all over the India make door-like structures on this day for devotees to pass through.
According to the Padma Purana, the female energy of Lord Vishnu slew the demon Muran to protect the Devas. Lord Vishnu named her `Ekadashi’ and gave her the benediction that those who worship Her on the day of her victory over Muran would reach `Vaikunth’ (His abode).
In the Mahabarata, Bhagavad Gita - the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at the beginning of Kurukshetra War is said to have occurred on this day.
Sathya Sai Baba Speaks About Vaikunta Ekadasi (also known as Amrithodbhavam Day - Mokshada Ekadasi - Nanjunda Ekadasi)Today is the day when, during the saagara mathana (churning of the ocean), Amritha (nectar) emerged and was distributed to the Gods. The Gods had slid into the calamity of lowering their immortality! Man too is the child of immortality; that is the reason why he cannot force himself into the conviction that he would die.
Resolve on this auspicious day to enter upon the quest of Truth. Uttarayana is Uttama Kala (the best time). For the morning of this day, the great Bhishma waited long on his bed of arrows. On this morning the sun turns north, the direction of the Gods, where Siva resides. The Sun is the deity that controls the eye, the vision of man, and so these six months when the sun is proceeding in the direction of Siva, are very propitious for man to do likewise.
Today, it is also VAIKUNTA EKADASI. Many of you expect Me to go to the Chitravati riverbed and create nectar and give it to all. You have earned the vaag-armitam (nectarine speech), from this discourse, which you can treasure in your minds and act upon. This is the real Heavenly Nectar. Know its worth. Do not allow it to be wasted, garner it to become Godly.
In order to make people understand their real Divine nature, festivals were designed. Today is Vaikunta Ekadasi. What is Vaikunta? “Vaikunta,” as the abode of god, means a place which is changeless. Many things may change in a man, but his heart is changeless. What is meant by Ekadasi? This should not be regarded as some special place or time. The form of Ekadasa Rudra is made up of the five organs of perception, the five organs of action and the mind. Rudra is a resident of the human body, which is full of numerous potencies. Men today are forgetful of these potencies and the divinity that dwells in the heart.
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The Prime Minister made a series of announcements in the Constituent Assembly when the House reassembled after 10 days. Various political parties had called for a boycott to lodge their protest against ‘anti-people and anti-national’ decisions of the Government.
Prachanda announced that the Government’s decision to remove Indian priests from the Pashupatinath Temple and appoint Nepali priests in their place has been withdrawn. Indian priests will continue to carry out the day-to-day pujas and rituals here at the temple, he added.
Indian priests had been appointed at Pashupatinath back in the seventh century.
Prachanda’s decision comes in the wake of demands from certain political quarters that his Government be sacked for deliberately defying the Supreme Court issue, which could lead to breakdown in the constitutional machinery. The Government had not just refused to honour the court order staying the appointment of Nepali priests, which was seen as a breach of law and a centuries-old tradition.
Maoist ministers had criticised India for ‘interfering’ in Nepal’s internal affairs. BJP leaders L K Advani and Rajnath Singh and Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh had even launched a protest on the issue. Shankaracharya of Dwarkpeeth, Swaroopananda Saraswati, had on Tuesday called on the President, demanding safety of Indian priests, the Hindu tradition and the tradition of Lord Pashupatinath. Prachanda also declared that no step was being taken to remove Chief of Army Staff General R Katawal for having defied a Government order to cease recruitment at the lower level of the army against normal vacancies. Prachanda made this announcement within hours of Gen Katawal’s meeting with Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal (who is also Central Committee member of the Maoist party) to explain that the ongoing regular appointments did not violate the comprehensive peace agreement. The Prime Minister also renewed his promise to return all property that the Maoists had confiscated from individuals and the Government during the years of insurgency within the next three months. “I have already instructed the district administration to carry out the orders within the stipulated time frame,” he said.
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Tirumala set for Vaikunta Ekadasi on today TIRUMALA: Wary about the massive influx of pilgrims on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi festival on Wednesday, the TTD officials would start `Sarva darshan’ for common pilgrims at 3 am itself while VIP pilgrims would be allowed up to 2.45 am for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Emboldened by their experiment on New Year day which led to less congregation of pilgrims, the TTD has decided cancel all arjitha sevas on Wednesday and on Vaikunta Dwadasi festival, the next day. A day ahead of Vaikunta Ekadasi, `Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam (temple cleaning) was performed at the Sri Vari temple. The utsava idols were brought out and `abhishekam’ was performed to the deities as thousands of pilgrims witnessed the celestial ritual. A V Dharma Reddy, special officer, said bio-metric passes would be issued to pilgrims at Vaikuntam queue complexes I and II to clear the festive rush on both the days. Sources said the Lord would be taken out in a procession around four mada streets on ’Swarna ratham’ and Asthanam conducted at Ranganayakula mandapam in the evening. On Thursday evening, after the procession of Chakrathalwar to Sri Varaha Swamy temple around four mada streets, `Chakrasnanam’ (celestial bath) would be performed. However, the Thiruppavada seva being conducted on every Thursday would be cancelled on January 8. |
 Hindu | ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ rituals on website Hindu, India - TIRUCHI: The Ranganathaswamy temple management will upload ‘Mohini Alankaram’ and the ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ for real-time viewing on the website ... |
ISKCON TO CELEBRATE VAIKUNTA EKADASHI Star of Mysore, India - It is said in the Padma Purana that anyone who passes under Vaikunta Dwara on the day of Vaikunta Ekadashi with faith and devotion, attains Vaikunta. |
One lakh watch Teppotsavam Express Buzz, India - BHADRACHALAM: As part of the Vaikunta Mukkoti Ekadasi celebrations, Teppotsavam of Lord Sita Rama Swamy in the tastefully decorated and colourfully ... |
Govt to distribute laddus as prasadam Times of India, India - Bangalore: On Vaikunta Ekadashi on Tuesday, devotees in Bangalore needn't wait for the Tirupati laddu prasadam. For the first time, the government will ... |
 | Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (March 2007) |
| ?Tirupati-Srikalahasti Andhra Pradesh • India | |
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| Coordinates: 13°46′N 79°42′E / 13.76, 79.7 | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| District(s) | Chittoor |
| Population | 1,10,587 (2008[update]) |
Coordinates: 13°46′N 79°42′E / 13.76, 79.7 Srikalahasti is a town and a municipality near Tirupati in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of river Swarnamukhi, a tributary to river Pennar. It is also informally referred as Kalahasti.Recently,it has been added in the TUDA (Tirupati Urban Development Authority) region.
It is one of the important ancient Siva kshetras of South India. The temple occupies the area between the river bank and the foot of the hills and is popularly known as Dakshina Kailasam. The three lofty Gopurams of the temple are remarkable for their architecture. This temple is built in the period of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar. A huge hundred pillared Mantapam is another important feature of this shrine.
It is one of ancient Hindu piligrimages and the site of a famous Shiva temple with magnificiant gopuras, and adjacent to Tirupati, the richest and famous temple city in the world. It is also the house of popular textile painting art called kalamkari.
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The name of the place comes from three animals, Sri(spider), Kala(snake) and hasti(elephant) who worshipped Shiva and gained salvation here. A statue that shows all three animals is situated in the main shrine.
The Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana, and Linga Purnas mention about Srikalahasti. The Skanda Purana says that Arjuna visited this place, worshipped Kalahastiswara, and met the sage Bharadwaja on the top of the hill. It is believed that Kannappa(also called as Bhakta kannappa), a tribal devotee has worshipped Siva at Srikalahasti.Tamil saints Nayanars like Appar , Sundarar and sambanthar praised the deity in their hyms tevaram
Brahma, the God of creation, is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva, and bathed in the swarnamukhi river to get rid of "sisuhathya patakam" (the sin of killing children).
The river Swarnamukhi got its name from a belief that gold was found in its stream. Swarna means gold and Swarnamukhi means gold faced in Sanskrit.
The sukabrahmashrama was established by a noted scholar (equally well in Sanskrit and English) called Sri Vidya Prakasananda Giri Swamy. He is known for his knowledge on Hindu philosophy. He delivered so many talks on Hindu Dharma. His short stories are much talked about among the folklore. The main characterestic of his stories is the lucidity in style that makes essence of the story understandable even to a layman.
The famous Puttalamma temple which is located in Thondamanadu( Near to Srikalahasti)and also Perumal temple recently acquired in TTD. This temple build by Thondaman chakravarthi (King of Thondamanadu), still you find some of legend items there.
The historical reference to this temple occur in the works of Nakkeerar, a Tamil poet in 3rd Century BC during the Tamil Sangam Dynasty. He called it as Southern Kailash. Many more Tamil Saivite saints like Sambandar, Appar, Manikkavasagar, Sundaramurti, Pattinathar and Sri Ramalinga Swami of Vadalur have also visited this place.[1]
The hill adjacent to temple has still carvings in Pallava style. The Cholas renovated the old Pallava temple in 11th century. Kulottunga Chola I constructed the Galigopuram, the main entrance facing south and Kulottunga Chola III constructed few other temples. In 12th Century A.D., King Veeranarasimha Yadavaraya built the present Prakaras, and the four Gopurams connecting the four entrances. According an inscription of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara empire dating back to 1516 A.D., he constructed the Hundred Pillared Mantapam and the other tall Galigopuram that faces west to east. In 1529 A.D., King Achutaraya of the Vijayanagara empire got his coronation performed here, before he celebrated in his capital City. The Natukottai Chettiars of Devakottai gave the final shape to the temple in 1912 by donating around nine lakhs of rupees.[2]
Srikalahasti is located at 13°45′N 79°42′E / 13.75, 79.7 on the bank of river Swarnamukhi. It is located 35 km north of Tirupati central. It is one of the assembly constituencies in Chittor District.
The town depends on agriculture and tourism. The main crops are paddy, sugar cane and ground nuts. Ground nut was grown extensively that a pathological condition of the crop is found exclusively here, and named as Kalahasti malady. Hundreds of Kalamkari artists also add some revenue. Pilgrims visitng Tirumala temple also visit Kalahasti temple , rendering it many footsteps each day , making it the second famous temple in the state. The sleek and stylish infrastructure of Tirupati is spread till Srikalahasti and they are often regarded as Twin Cities.
It is located under administration of Chittoor district. It is an MLA Constituency and a Municipality In Andhra Pradesh. It is part of Tirupati constituency in Indian Parliament. The present MLA of this constituency is SCV Naidu(INC).
As of 2001[update] India census,[3] Srikalahasti had a population of 1,20,000. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Srikalahasti has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 59%. In Srikalahasti, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Former President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was elected from this constituency as an MLA in 1956. Also Bojja Gopal Krishna Reddy got elected from this constituency 3 times
The nearest airport is about 20 km at Tirupati Airport, Renigunta. It was reachable by road from Tirupati, Chennai or Gudur.
It is on Renigunta-Gudur section of Guntakal(GTL) Division of South Central Railway(SCR). All trains from Vijayawada to Tirupati halt at Kalahasti.
Sri Kalahasthi is connected to the state Capital Hyderabad(HYB) through the following trains 1.Tirupati-Adilabad Krishna Express\n 2.Tirupati-Secunderabad Narayanadri Express 3.Tirupati-Secunderabad Padmavathy Express 4.Thiruvananthapuram Central-Hyderabad Sabari Express.
The local transport is by taxis or autos and city buses. Shuttle buses between Tirupathi and Srikalahasti run every 10 mins.
Andhra Pradesh State owned Bus services are available from Tirupati central at a frequency of 10 minutes and other tour operators provide package visit to the temple in Srikalahasti from the City centre of Tirupati. Taxis are also available from Tirupati central.
The people predominantly speak Telugu and can understand English and Tamil. The residents wear both traditional like Dhoti,Lungi and Saree and as well as modern suits and dresses. The city is also famous for kalamkari art, painting on cotton or silk textiles with dyes made from vegetables. The Rahu-ketu sarpa dosha puja is frequently performed activity.
The Telugu poem collection 'Sri Kalahasteeswara Satakam' by Dhurjati explains the traditions associated with this temple during the times of Vijayanagara Empire. Muthuswamy Deekshitar, one of the foremost composers in the Karnatic Music Tradition has sung of this temple in his bhajans 'Sree Kaalahasteesa'. Other works on this temple include the Sree-Kalattipuranam of the three brothers Karunapprakasar, Sivapprakasar and Velappa Deekshitar, Tirukkalattipuranam by Aanandakoottar of Veerainagar and Tirukkalatti Ula by Seraikkavirayar.
While all Hindu festivals are observed, Sivaratri is major festival. The town also celebrates Gangammala Jatara in December every year. The movie threatres are popular entertainment.
Srikalahasti is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh.
Cricket is most watched and played sport. Local clubs sponsor annual Lawn Tennis tournaments.
All major telugu news papers like Eenadu, Vaartha and Sakshi and local magazines like Kalahasti Zone are read, which are published from Tirupati. The district special versions cover Kalahasti news. The popular TV Channels are state wide telugu cable channels ETV, Maa TV, Gemini and Teja and local cable channels.
