(Image courtesy: www.bhagavad-gita.us)
Dear Members:
The
most glorious and important of all Ekaadaasis - the Vaikunta Ekaadasi falls on January 11, 2014 this year throughout the world EXCEPT - New Zealand and Fiji where this should be observed on January 12, 2014.
This is one of the most highly
recommended fasts for a devout spiritual aspirant because it has the
potential of opening the "Gates of Divine Abode of Lord Vishnu" for you
if this is observed correctly. Even those who have medical conditions
which prevent them from observing a full fast should abstain from
rice-items and sustain themselves with alternative ritually pure foods
(avoiding garlic, onions, beverages like coffee, tea, etc.). Those who
are desirous of cutting off the endless cycle of births and deaths for
the soul must contemplate on upanishads like Gopaala Taapini Upanishad,
recite Holy Bhagavat Gita, Bhaagavatam, etc.
In
Vaishnava temples "swarga Dwaar" - a sort of archway leading around
the Inner Sanctum Sanctorum is erected, and crossing that is symbolic
of crossing the threshold of Vaikunta and getting glimpse of our Lord.
Spending time in meditation/ japam while waiting in the serpentine
ques, and ultimately having the glimpse of Our Lord after crossing the
threshold will definitely be gainful for your souls. Please note that
you should not get angry with other devotees in the que or pick up
fights, you should not "jump" ques trying to overtake the other waiting
devotees with your "street smartness, pushing abilities", etc. in the
que. Such activities definitely invoke bad karma, and it is not for
that, that you go to a temple on a Holy Day (I am commenting on this
because such activities are too common in long ques; a person who jumps
ques thinking he is outsmarting others is actually fooling himself/
herself, and damning himself/ herself with that karma; on the other
hand, those who wait patiently, and do what they can to help other
devotees who might be finding it uncomfortable - like ladies with
infants, elderly, etc. while standing in ques are invoking good karma
and actually helping their own souls to progress. Selfishness and
self-comfort should take a back-seat at least during these occasions -
and that too for your own good! If you are entitled to temple honours
in some way, and hence receive special darshan - that is different; you
need not feel guilty about that; probably, you deserve such Honours
and maybe, that was Divine Gift to you! But even such people - if you
can, it will be real good merit to stand patiently in a que, do japams
till your turn at darshan comes, and then have a darshan of the Lord
along with the other common devotees because, God Himself may be in
disguise among the masses during these occasions. I have felt it many
times - and I request my fellow aspirants to feel such miracles of
brushing shoulders with Divine in crowded temples for themselves!).
Generally, chanting of
Raama naama, and recital of Shri Vishnu Sahasranaamam can be done by
everyone today for obtaining religious merit, and for perfection/
progress of our Soul.
It is also
recommended that you should remain awake at night and spend it in
Divine Contemplation, bhajans (Divine Songs), discussing Theological
matters, etc. It is traditional to play a dice game called
"Paramapadham" on this night. You should not merely play it as a
game....in the traditional Indian version of this game (the western
version is Snake and Ladders!, and I am not referring to that when I
write this article....), you will find "ladders" corresponding to
various virtues, and "snakes" corresponding to certain shortcomings of
attitude/ character....you can see where each ladder leads you, and
where each snake drops you....look at the character/ attitude depicted
in the box, see how progress/ downfall happens based on the ladder/
snake you encounter. This is verily a spiritual lesson of how a soul can
progress or regress into various states of existence. It is analogous
to the journey of your souls through the Cycle of Existence till the
soul attains Liberation or Merging with Divine experience. You will also
see how difficult it is to progress at the end of the game, and that
is how difficult it is for a soul to reach ultimate liberation. If you
play it consciously, reading all the attributes described in the chart
carefully, this game can be a meditative exercise in itself, and can be
a valuable tool for imparting spiritual values for children.
Of
course, playing the paramapadam is not mandatory......it just helps
you to keep awake and at the same time induce philosophical musings if
played properly. Those of you who feel sufficiently spiritually
awakened already may just spend the night in quiet Divine Contemplation
which is best.
May our members
observe this Holy day Fast diligently as per their circumstances and
practical limitations to the best of their abilities and win salvation
for their souls.
Blessed be.
Pandit R.DAKSHINAMOORTHI
Astrological and Remedial consultant
dakshinastrologer@yahoo.co.in
www.liveperson.com/pandit-dakshinamoorthi
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