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Om Vishnupad 108 Tridandi Swami Sri Srimat Bhakti Sravan Tirtha Goswami Maharaj ki Jai !!

In the Padma Puran Ekadashi is glorified as follows:          

Ekadasi vrata samam vrata nasti jagattraye |
Anicchaya'pi yat krtva gatir evam vidha'vayoh ||
Ekadasi vratam ye tu bhakti bhavena kurvate |
Na jane kim bhavet tesam vasudeva anukampaya ||

“In the three worlds, there is no austerity (fast) comparable to Ekadashi. Even if one performs this fast without a proper understanding, he achieves the Supreme  Abode.  If one fasts on this Ekadashi day, with full devotion, what happens to him by the mercy of the Supreme Lord (Maha Vishnu) I cannot say (the merit he achieves cannot be described)”.  

It is also said if one fasts on Vaikuntha Ekadashi he need not fast on the other 24 Ekadashis that occur in a year. Of all the Ekadashis, the one associated  with Dhanur Masa Sukla Paksha Ekadashi  is considered the most auspicious, which is famous as the Vaikuntha Ekadashi or Putrada Ekadashi.

A son is considered very important in Hindu society as he takes care of the parents in their old age in life and by offering shraddha (oblations to departed family), ensures their well-being in the after-life. This day is also known as Pausha Putrada Ekadashi, to differentiate it from the other Putrada Ekadashi in Shravana, which is called Shravana Putrada Ekadashi. While each ekadashi is prescribed for certain goals, the goal of having sons is so great that two Putrada .("giver of sons") ekadashis are devoted to it. This year it was observed on 5th of August in 2025 and the other ekadashi will be observed on 30th December. The December putrada ekadashi is more popular in the North while the Shravan putrada ekadashi is more popular in the South of India.

Our scriptures describe that as one moves towards the higher realms in the universe, time dilates, in the sense that the time span increases. One day on earth is many years on the lower planetary systems. Similarly, one year of earth is equal to a single day (and night) in the heavenly realm. Time further expands as one transcends higher up towards more subtle spheres, such as Brahmalok and Vaikuntha.

Kaliyuga, the present age of quarrel and strife, lasts 4,320,000 human years, of which 5240 years have passed. The preceding yuga, Dwaparayuga, when Lord Krsna appeared, lasts twice as much, or 864,000 years. The yuga previous to Dwapara, Tretayuga, lasts three times as much as Kaliyuga, and the earliest yuga, Satyayuga, lasts four times as much.

Totally, one Chaturyuga lasts 4,320,000 years. A thousand such Chaturyugas make just one day of Brahma, the creator of the universe, who resides in the most glorious Brahmaloka. One year on earth is equal to one day (and night) in Devalok, the realm of the demigods. The year in Bhulok (earth) is divided in two parts, Uttaraayana, the winter solstice, when the Sun turns northwards and the days start becoming longer and warmer and the balance year is classified as Dakshinaayan, when the Sun turns southwards.

In Devalok, Uttaraayana corresponds to the DAY and Dakshinaayan to the NIGHT of the gods. Margashish or Dhanur maas (Nov-Dec), which is the last month of Dakshinaayan corresponds to the pre-dawn, i.e., the ushakaal of Deva lok, In this pre-dawn period, the time corresponding to the 11th day of the lunar month of Margashish, i.e. Ekadashi, in the bright fortnight, is considered most auspicious.

Every morning of the Devas, Lord Vishnu gives 'darshan' to all the demigods who come to His door to see Him at the start of their day. 'Everyday' for the demigods means 'every year' for us. Thus the day of the demigods begins at the time of Vaikuntha Ekadasi on earth. Therefore, having a glimpse of the Lord on this day is considered very auspicious.

In many Vishnu temples, the ‘Vaikuntha Dwar’ or the 'Gates of Vaikuntha’ are 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 Vaikuntha in the temples.

To those with a pure heart, the gates of Vishnu's spiritual world are always open. But on a precious few days, it is said, that the passage is open to all, allowing devotees to more easily reach Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu, which is beyond sorrow.

The significance of Vaikuntha Ekadashi is mentioned in the Padma Purana. Sri Ekadashi Devi, Lord Vishnu’s potency or energy, appeared from His body to kill the demon Mura. This happened in the month of Margasish or Dhanur maas.
Mura was a malevolent demon in the Krita (Satya) Yuga, who terrorised both the demigods and mortals. The oppressed demigods, led by Indra sought refuge in Lord Shiva who directed them to approach Lord Vishnu. Vishnu agreed to help the devas and went out to battle with Mura.

During the long battle, which lasted one thousand celestial years, Bhagawan Vishnu paused to rest for a while. He realized that Mura had acquired boons which meant that he could not be killed by any conventional weapon and that a different strategy was needed to destroy the demon.

Thinking he must somehow isolate the rakshas and draw him away from his hordes, Lord Vishnu entered a cave in Badarikashrama, ostensibly to rest. Not finding Vishnu on the battlefield, Mura heard that He was ‘taking rest’ in a cave and thundered angrily there.  

Finding Hari seemingly asleep in that cave, he roared and struck the sleeping Lord with his weapon. However, in that instant, Vishnu's shakti emerged out of his body and assumed the form of a beautiful Goddess who fought Mura and reduced him to ashes with one angry look. All this was exactly as per the Lord's plan.

When Vishnu ‘awoke’ he was very pleased and glorified the Goddess as Sri Ekadashi Devi and wished to grant her a boon. The Goddess 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 most heinous sins if they remember this story and observe a fast of this day". Vishnu granted her the boon and declared that people worshipping her would reach Vaikuntha.

Thus was born the first ekadashi, which was a Dhanurmasa sukla paksha ekadashi (11th phase of the moon in the bright fortnight). Also for this exploit, Krishna is hailed as Murari – the slayer of Mura.

This year Paush putrada ekadashi or Vaikuntha Ekadashi falls on December 30-31 in 2025.

 

Sri Ekadasi Devi ki Jai !

Jai Jai Sri Radhey !

Jai Gurudev !!