Vaikuntha Ekadashi - Most celebrated of festivals in temples of South India
Ekadashi, the 11th day of the waxing or waning moon is considered as one of the important days by all devotees of Krishna. Lord Krishna is very pleased with one who fasts on this day. In general, the devotees fast completely on this day and many do not drink even a drop of water. This austerity is taken up by devotees of the Lord to please Him. Acharyas - great spiritual teachers have recommended that if one is unable observe a complete fast he should at least fast from grains and partake only fruits, milk and root preparations on every Ekadashi. It is said that by fasting on this day and remembering the pastimes of Lord Krishna, all of one’s sins are eradicated and one is purified..
The month of Margasirsha (Dec-Jan) also known as Dhanur Masa is of great importance to the devotees of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita – ‘masanam margasirso ham’ - of the months, I am Margasirsa. The Ekadashi, 11th day of the waxing moon of Maragasirsa masa is popularly known as Vaikuntha Ekadashi. This Ekadashi acquires significance because the great devotee Nammalwar, who come in the disciplic succession of Sri Ramanuja, went back to home, back to Godhead on this day. Lord Vishnu, the Lord of Vaikuntha was at the door of Vaikuntha to receive His unalloyed devotee. To commemorate this great event, generally all Vishnu temples create a Vaikuntha Dwara - a special entrance - in the temple and the utsava deities of the temple are installed near the dwara. It is said that anyone who passes through the Vaikuntha dwara is guaranteed to go back to home, back to Godhead.
Apart from this, Vaikuntha Ekadashi is the day on which the epic churning of the ocean of milk was completed by the demons and demigods and the proverbial nectar obtained. It was also on this day that Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
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