Legend of Vaikunta Ekadasi

Why ‘kuntam?

The answer is two fold.
The first one is the common perception prevalent all over India. Let's talk a bit about how the legend came into being.

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.

Muran was a demon. This is explained in the Padma Puranam (the second amongst the eighteen puranas), which tells us about the beginnings of Ekadasi with this legend. During the Krita Yuga, also termed the golden age, an asura called Muran harassed both devas and mortals. The terrified devas, led by Indra sought refuge in Shiva. He directed them to approach Vishnu. Vishnu agreed to help the devas and went out to battle with Muran. During the long battle, which lasted one thousand celestial years, Vishnu needed to rest for a while.He also realized that Muran could not be destroyed by his conventional Ayudhas, and needed a different Ayudha, one against which Muran would be vulnerable. He entered a beautiful cave called Himavati in Badarikashrama to rest, and form the new Ayudha. Muran wanted to strike Vishnu while he was sleeping. However, Vishnu made Shakti - Vishnu's female energy - emerge out of his body and assume the form of a beautiful damsel who fought Muran and reduced him to ashes with one look. When Vishnu awoke he was very pleased and named this maiden as Ekadasi and granted her a boon. The maiden said, "O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me a boon, then give me the power to deliver people from the greatest sins if they fast of this day". Vishnu granted her the boon and declared that people worshipping her would reach Vaikunta. Thus, it is said, was born the first ekadasi, which was a Dhanurmasa sukla paksha ekadasi.

It is also said that on this day the ksheerasagara manthana (churning of the ocean) took place and the nectar of immortality (amritha) was distributed to the gods.

Some schools of thought believe that Sri Krishna gave the Gitopadesam to Arjuna on the day of Vaikunta Ekadasi.

For the Vaishnavas, it is a very holy day and should be ideally spent in fasting, prayer and meditation. Vaishnava beliefs stems from the following:

It is the belief that one year in Bhu Lok corresponds to one day in Deva Lok. The year in Bhu Lok is divided in two parts, Uttarayana, the period from Tai Masam to Adi masam, and the balance year is classified as Dakshinayanam. For the Deva Lok, Uttarayanam corresponds to the DAY and Dakshinayanam to the NIGHT. Margazi masam, which is at the last month of Dakshinayanam corresponds to the pre-dawn, i.e., the USHAS KALAM of Deva Lok, In this Ushas Kalam, the time corresponding to the 11th day of the Lunar Month in the month of Margazi, i.e.Ekadasi, in Bhu Lok is considered the most auspicious.

In his wisdom, LORD VISHNU appears before the people of Bhu Lok daily, i.e., daily for the Deva Lok, at this time, i.e., USHAS KALAM at a time corresponding to Margazi Shukla Paksha Ekadasi. The day is therefore referred to as VAIKUNTA EKADASI by Sri Vaishnavites.

Like all Ekadasi days, devotees fast on this day . Rice is avoided during ekadashi days as it is believed that the demon Mura finds a dwelling in the rice eaten on Ekadasi day.

The Padma Purana says: 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. If one fasts on Ekadasi day, with full devotion, what happens to him by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, I cannot say (the merit he achieves cannot be described).

Fasting is prescribed on all Ekadashis, that is, the 11th day of the lunar fortnight, twice a month. In this Kali Yuga, even if just one 'Ekadashi' is observed with dispassion, faith and devotion, and if the mind is wholly fixed on Hari, one is freed from the rounds of birth and death. No rice should be taken on Ekadashi days and this is very important. It is said that the sweat that fell down from the head of Brahma assumed the form of a demon and he asked the Lord to provide him an abode to dwell. Brahma said to the demon to go and dwell in the rice particles eaten by men on Ekadashi day and become worms in their stomach. For this reason rice is prohibited on Ekadashi. It is believed that if one observes the Ekadashi fast regularly, Lord Hari is propitiated. All sins are destroyed and the mind is purified. Orthodox people in South India observe complete fasting and vigil even on ordinary Ekadashi days.

For the devotees of Lord Vishnu, every Ekadashi is a very sacred day.The demon Muran represents the tamasic and rajasic qualities in us. The import of the ekadasi vrata is that one can conquer rajasic and tamasic tendencies in us through fasting. This helps us reach our ultimate destination, Vaikuntha, which is the place or stage of no 'kuntitha' or dullness, stupidity and misery

It is widely believed that the 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.

THE PVS IYENGAR FAMILY

From the time immemorial, man has been wondering about his origin. Various theories have been propounded, resulting in various practices, .beliefs and prejudices. While history attempts to trace the political and social circumstances for these, science tries to rationalize them. India has been in the forefront of countries that have given to the world their schools of thoughts. India’s culture and heritage are still regarded very ancient, as a result of which India offers the ONLY active link between modern and the ancient world. Hinduism is the ONLY ancient religion still being practiced regularly by a large percentage of the world’s population.

The Veda of India has been a strong base for numerous schools of philosophical thoughts, as propounded by various Sages. These great sages, in their wisdom, have been passing on this knowledge in various forms, to their disciples, their disciples, and so on.

A bit of history
The dim past conceals the specific details of our origin, but it may be safe to say that we were members of that race of humans who were present when Indian subcontinent did not exist, and was a part of the greater African continent. Later, as the land mass broke away, so did we, and drifted and formed what is now our present land and became inhabitants of the Land of The Lord’s Avatars, the land of Ramayana and Mahabharat, the land of the Azhwars, the land where Ramanuja taught Vishistadvaita, the land of great magnificent temples thanks to the efforts of some very great kings and common men.

However, as time passes, change is inevitable, and now, nearly a thousand years after Ramanuja, the same question in the minds of the young generation has once again come up, who are we?

So, to follow up this thought, we can be further classified as South Indian Brahmins, Vaishnavas, Thengalais, (Thennacharya Sampradhayam), Swayam Acharya Pratiwadi Bhayankarams Iyengars. The word Iyengar from the Tamil (Aiya?kar) … (Aindu angangal)… literally means "people characterized by Five Components", referring to the five parts of Divine worship that Sri Vaishnavas who have had pancha samskara under a qualified guru perform.

Who are Vaishnavas?
Vaishnavas are Hindus who adore Vishnu, who is described in the vedas, ithihasas like Ramayana and Mahabharatha (which includes the famous Bhagawad Gita) and Puranas like Vishnu Purana and Srimad Bhaghavatha Purana as the Lord, object of love and devotion and ultimate refuge of all beings.

Who are Srivaishnavas?
Srivaishnavas are Vaishnavas, who are distinguished by their contemplation of the Lord as inseparable from Sri or Lakshmi .

This system of Vaishnavism, was developed by Sri Ramanuja where Vishnu & his consort Godess Sri(Lakshmi) are accepted as Supreme Being. Goddess Lakshmi is the mother of the entire creation, being the consort of Lord Vishnu, and being inseparable from Him, She acts as the mediatory (purushakara) between man & God. It is for reasons such as these that the system of Sri Ramanuja is called Srivaishnavism, or Sri Sampradaya.

Srivaishnavas are broadly divided into the northern and southern sects- thenkalai and vadakalai. The two prominent acharyas (teachers) are Swami Desikan for Vadakalai and Sri Manavala Mamuni for Thenkalai. Sri Manavala Mamuni was born in 1370 , about 100 years subsequent to Swami Desikan. It is important to remember that Swami Deskan is included in the Thenkalai guruparampara. Sri Manavalamamuni is not included in the vadakali guruparampara, but his srisukthis (auspicious utterances) are often quoted by Vadakalai scholars and Acharyas with great esteem. Both the sects have the same common basics However, a little difference is on account of special attachment of some vidwans regarding some finer points, and of course, the basic human failing, bigotry.

Manavala mamuni had many disciples, however, the following eight were the chief disciples known as Ashtadiggajas (elephants of the eight directions): Vanamaamalai Jeeyar, Bhattar Piraan jeeyar, Tiruvengada jeeyar, Koil kanthaadai annan, Prathiwaadhibhayankaram annan, Erumbi appaa, Appillai and Appillan.

They and their disciples made many contributions to promoting Srivaishnavam.

Pratiwadibhayankaram Iyengars
Pratiwadibhayankaram Iyengars are descendants of the famous Pratiwadibhayankaram Annan’ who, as mentioned above, was a disciple of Manavala Mamuni.

PVS Iyengar
I have been one of the few fortunates to be born in the family of Pratiwadi Bhayankaram Venkatachar Srinivasa Iyengar, or PVS Iyengar of Karolbagh, as he was known. PVS was a very staunch Veera Vaishnavite, and in spite of the fact that he had moved out of his native Bangalore in 1929, continued to maintain, foster, nurture and develop Srivaishnavism for the benefit of other Srivaishnavites in and around him.

He was one of the primary inspirations behind the formation of VAISHNAVA SIDDHANTHA SABHA in New Delhi, and along with the Brahmins Vaideki Association provided various Vaidika services to Vaishnavites.

He was also primarily instrumental in getting Great Srivaishnava Acharyas, Gurus, and other Sages well versed in Srivaishnavism to address various meetings in Delhi for this purpose.

In addition, he maintained a very pure life, and his Nitya Thiru Aradhana has been a source of great encouragement to me and others like.

It is therefore but just that I present through these words my feelings and understanding of what we are, what we are supposed to do, how we should conduct ourselves, and what are those traditions and routines we should follow as Sri Vaishnavas.