Vaikunta Ekadasi, doorway to heaven

Students pray for divine intervention in topping/clearing exams or for their students’ visa. Children might pray for anything ranging from a pet, a superhero suit, or a bicycle. Women pray for health, wealth and welfare of family or sometimes they just want their cakes to rise well or payasams to be perfect. Men send up a prayer for businesses to prosper or for well-being of the family. The old and infirm pray for pain relief.

The long-term need however, is only one: to enter heaven and be freed of repeated rebirth. 

The prayer for this is sent up traditionally on Vaikunta Ekadasi, which falls on January 8 this year. The prevalent belief is that on this day, the sorga vaasal or dwar is opened by none other than Vishnu Himself. Puranas are replete with stories of demons and devas –the good and the evil- and how God opens a door for devotees to cleanse themselves of their sins, and emerge as purified souls, earning a place in heaven. 

When sage Narada sought Vishnu’s views on what signals purity, He lists feeding and then eating food with realised souls (Bhagavathas) signifies purity; among chants the Gayathri mantra is the most effective and fasting on ekadasi as the most beneficial one.

Significantly, children and adults play the game of snakes and ladders through the night before Vaikunta Ekadasi. The idea behind this is to bring home to everyone the fact that despite everyday struggles, the ups and downs of life, one should stay focused on reaching the ultimate goal, which is reaching God’s abode. 

There are those who wonder why the sorga vassal is opened at the early hour. One explanation is that it is the Brahma muhurtam. This is the auspicious hour, when a day begins for devas (a calendar year equals one day for devas). The hour is said to be so powerful that students who study during this hour retain much of what they learn.

Eating on Vaikunta Ekadasi is a complete no-no. Scientifically, it has been proven that fasting for a few hours helps cleanse the system, detox the body and render one healthier. A little bit of abstinence is good for the soul as well.

On Vaikunta Ekadasi, devotees are asked to avoid consuming rice in any form. At a deeper level, rice symbolises sloth, lethargy and all the negative forces on earth. Listening to music, again, food for the soul, is another desirable act on Vaikunta Ekadasi. 

Unless one is unwell, or has a health condition, fasting can only enhance one’s health—physical and spiritual.