VAIKUNTA EKADASI-2009

Today is Sunday! How many of us have watched the free SVBC channel this morning. I hope at least Sisters & Brothers in Andhra Pradesh might have watched. The first important programme 'Guru Devo Bhava' starts at 3.30 a. m GMT i.e. 9.00 a. m in India which is a sociable time so that everybody can watch including those of you who live out side of Andhra Pradesh on the net provided if you have broad band connection provided you know and understand Telugu, By the way SVBC channel is only in Telugu in Andhra Pradesh and the other languages I mentioned before like Hindi, Tamil, Kannada are not available yet. It is in the process, even though it was tried during Brahmostavalu recently and they are not available even on the net and they are trying to get the appropriate soft ware. Hope it will happen soon,Guru Devo Bhava lasts for 60 minutes introduced by Sri Bachampalli Santosh Kumar Sastry garu with different experts each Sunday. This is one of the Must watch programmes in SVBC channel.The next programme on Sunday at 4.30 a. m GMT & at 10.00 a. m in India is The children's quiz programme on our Samskruthi, festivals, etc. which is an essential programme for all ages and lasts 30 minutes. Please try to watch these two programmes at least once in UK, USA & Canada going to www,yupptv.com and click new user and register your self with your e. mail id and pass word and then login to watch SVBC, Samskruthi Telugu channels which are free of charge, to appreciate the value of these programmes which are difficult to explain. Now, Today's message is about 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, Srirangam Sri Ranganatha Temple and at the Bhadrachalam Temple. In Kerala, it is known as Swarga Vathil Ekadashi.
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’ (heaven).
Like all Ekadasi days, devotees fast on this day and observe vigil the whole night. Some people indulge in meditation, Japa and singing of Hari Kirtan. Rice is avoided during ekadashi days as it is believed that the demon Mura finds a dwelling in the rice eaten on Ekadasi day.
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.Vaikunta Ekadasi occurs in December or early January every year.There are several calendars on the internet that is indicating December 9 and December 23 as Vaikunta Ekadasi and it is wrong. The confusion was primarily due to the date indicated in some government calendars. If you read the Panchangam, you will get the correct date.Sri RANGANATHASWAMY Temple, Srirangam Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations in Srirangam in Tamil Nadu (formerly Madras state) -- 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. A few years ago when we were in India on vacation went to SriRangam on this holy day without knowing Vaikunta Ekadasi on that day. Do you know what? We were not able to have darshan of Sri Ranganatha on that occasion and went again a couple of years ago and had a wonderful darshan. It is one of the pilgrimages one should visit in life time.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.This year, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanum is celebrating 'Bhaja Govindam Sankirtana Maha Yajnam' on this holy day of Vaikunta Ekadasi during 6.00 p.m-8.00 p. m Indian time in all the temples irrespective of Vaishnava temple or not at the same time to propagate BHAJA GOVINDAM SONG ' the most popular and important song which explains the whole philosophy and Spirituality in a nut shell written by the father of Hinduism without whom our Hindu culture and philosophy would not have been same today namely Sri Adi SankarAcharya of Kalady in God's own country namely Kerala, to ever corner of Andhra Pradesh in a very big way.So I thought that we all wherever we are around the globe should participate along with the Sisters & Brothers in Andhra Pradesh at the same time from 6.00 p. m to 8.00 p. m Indian time & 12.30 p. m to 2.00 p. m GMT from which you calculate the equivalent time where you live and please pass on this message to all your family and friends wherever they are on earth, to make this Samuhika yajnam (group activity) to get the maximum effect of our activity on this holy day. PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THIS HUMBLE REQUEST.Our Sisters & Brothers are more fortunate as TTD is sending Sri Vari Prasadam which includes Passa KarPooram from the feet of Sri Venkateswara & Kunkuma from Sri Padmavathi Amma to all the temples in Andhra Pradesh participating in this great ritual which are available to only a selected few in general is really highly appreciable activity by TTD committee. 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 this sacred day of Vaikunta Ekadasi http://www.stephen-knapp.com/bhaja_govindam.htmThose 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.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4FUQxn4CnY&feature=relatedIt 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 belowhttp://www.raaga.com/playerV31/index.asp?pick=67841&mode=3&rand=0.9162802770375509&bhcp=1And 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 recitehttp://www.trsiyengar.com/id71.shtmlPlease save these important links and pass on to your family & friends for future use.And really finally another good news to day is starting form December 29th, there will be Pravachanam on Sri Venkateswara Vaibhavam by no other than Saraswathi Putra, BrahmaSri Chaganti Koteswararao garu from Kakinada in Samskruthi Free channel on the net. I am not sure about the exact time and if I know before 29th, I will let you know. This has to be Good. So please watch at least Sisters & Brothers in Andhra Pradesh should be able to watch this to get Bliss ducting this holy month of Dhanur Masam.With Love, Light & Peace to all,PakirareddyN:B: I could not resist my temptation of giving you this link to watch 5 minutes of wonderful video footage of our beloved MS Amma on this holy day for what she has done to Indian Music.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyDNKW7g2Co&feature=related