Vaikunta Ekadasi

Today is the auspicious day of Vaikunta Ekadasi. This is the day on which most temple including Tirupati and Bhadrachalam would crowded for getting vaikunta Dwara darshan.
It is also called Mukkoti Ekadasi ie., the day on which 3crore Devatas come to visit Lord Vishnu through uttara vaikunta dwara. Devotees observe fast on this day and spend time reciting Lord's Keerthans.

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. Impressed by ‘Ekadasi,’ Lord Vishnu told her that whoever worships him on this day will reach ‘Vaikunta’. Rice is avoided during ekadashi days as it is believed that the demon Mura finds a dwelling in the rice eaten on Ekadasi day.

Fasting and indulging in Lord's Japa on Ekadasi is called Ekadasi Vrata. Noted devotee King Ambareesha observed this Vrata and his story of lesson given by Lord Vishnu to Sage Durvasa is known to every one. (if not I will write in a separate mail) Here is a sloka that tells significance of Ekadasi Vrata

"na GaayathryA para manthra: na Maathu para dhaivatham
na KaasyA: paramam theertham na EkAdasyA : samam vratham"

Meaning:
There is no manthram that is superior to Gaayathri manthram ; there is no dhaivam superior to one's mother;
there is no sanctifying theertham better the Kaasi and there is no vratham that is more sacred than EkAdasi Vratham .

Tit-Bit:
Devatas are said to be mukkoti (3crores)। Will there not be any growth in their population? (if possible explain)

Some Queries of friend

1) All these things must have be formulated to move man closer to GOD. i.e. make him a better human being. But in Kaliyuga, it is not happening.
These things are surely formulated to move man closer to GOD perfect. In Kaliyuga it may not be seen happening and that is exactly the characteristic of Kaliyuga.
In Kruta Yuga (Satya Yuga) people did not know what bad is.
In Treta Yuga people knew what bad is and but never did it.
In Dwapara Yuga people did bad deeds but there are good fellows who constrained them
In Kali Yuga bad becomes norm and good becomes exception. It is surely a rarity to find a perfect man here.

2) Do you really think that a person who commits 10 murders and then performs Ekadasi vratham will reach Vaikunta?
I think so but I cannot show any tangible proof. But there is a clarification demanded here. If a person does 10 murders, he will not attain Vaikunta until he pays for those murders. There are swarga and Naraka defined that give punishments to sins. There will be series of rebirths that might happen giving him scope for undergoing fruit of his papa and there will be cases when papa will be experienced in same life itself.

In a book called Panduranga Mahatyam, Tenali Rama Krishna portrays a character called Nigama Sharma. Brahmin by birth but chandala by nature. He makes his wife and parents suffer. Never takes care of offspring. Also he molests daughter-in-law of a kapu family and starts having illicit affair with her. So in essence he brings down every one attached with him. He pays for the sisn when he loses every one including his wife and kid who are burnt alive infront of his eyes. He then pays for the sins he has done when he is left all alone in a state where there is no food, no senses working. In the end he gets Vaikunta after he reaches holy presence of Lord Pandu Ranga.

Net - Net what I can say is one has to pay for his sins there is no exception. It can be in same birth or series of rebirths. But as we do not have longevity of life that can clearly show whether people are paying for sins, we might think they are leading happy life.

Friend's Response:
>> Net - Net what I can say is one has to pay for his sins there is no exception. It can be in same birth or series of rebirths. But as we do not have longevity of life that can clearly show whether people are paying for sins, we might think they are leading happy life.

This is where my point lies. We just don't seem to understand this. From morning to evening we commit so many sins (physical and mental) and just a customary visit to temple on a particular day will not help. (Today morning I saw around 50 vehicles parked at lord venkatesware temple near my house)

I am not losing faith in these customs. I am losing faith in the concept that these customs will move man closer to GOD in kaliyuga. (Most of us visit temple out of fear and not because of Bhakti)

My Response:

I am not losing faith in these customs. I am losing faith in the concept that these customs will move man closer to GOD in kaliyuga.
Customs can help in big way if they are practiced in right spirit by understanding the rationale behind. But we cannot deny that a portion of blind followers can get some benefit out of it.

My personal opinion is to try and understand heart of the customs and practicing them is a wise gesture. It is unwise to ignore them by stating that they do not add value. It is karma (duty) yoga as first step before going to bhakti/gnana yoga. There will surely be some blessed who might reach gnana directly but for rest of us it falls into same route of Karma --> Gnana --> Bhakti.

(Most of us visit temple out of fear and not because of Bhakti)
We are not (sofar) Paramahamsa to help all those who are not getting benefit out of customs, I can claim to have surpassed my ability if I help myself. If my ability gets extended to help some more people in future I would volunteer to help them. But for now I visit temple only for two reasons.
1. To get some tranquility in my mind and heart and ease any tensions of my mind.
2. I have made a rule to give dakshina of 11 Rs to every priest in my near by temples every week. I was moved by the fact that most of them (especially priests of surrounding Gods in temple) are living in utter poverty. I cannot say that my paltry sum can relieve them of poverty but it is some Aatma samtrupti on my behalf. I took this resolve after my recent visit to Tiruttrini where I have seen priests who are requesting devotees to visit surrounding temples so that they can earn Rs2 as Dakshina.