Chennai: Lakhs and lakhs of devotees thronged vaishnavite temples across Tamil Nadu to celebrate the auspicious Vaikunda Ekadesi festival on Friday morning during which the gateway to heaven (Sorga Vaasal) was opened through which the presiding deities passed through.
Tamil Nadu HR and CE Minister P K Sekar Babu participated in the celebrations at the famous Lord Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple at Srirangam, the first of the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnavite Temples.
Amid chanting of vedic hymns and shouting of”Ranga…Ranga’ devotees followed
Lord Nam Perumal as he went pass through the Sorga Vaasal.
At the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrations last for 20 days, divided into two parts: pagal pathu (morning part 10 days) and Ira pathu (night part 10 days).
Vishnu, as the Moolavar (the presiding deity) Ranganatha, is regarded to bless devotees
in his Muthangi sevai, adorned with armuor of pearls, on all 20 days.
On the 10th day of Pagal Pathu (previous day of Vaikuntha Ekadashi), the utsavar (processional idol), named Namperumal, is believed to bless devotees, in his form
as Mohini Avatar.
On Vaikuntha Ekadasi, during daybreak, Namperumal is regarded to bless devotees,
clad in an armour of diamonds and gems, was brought to the 1000-pillared hall from
the sanctum sanctorum, through the northern gate known as Paramapada Vasal, the
gate to Vaikuntha.
This gate is opened once in a year, only on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi. Legend says anyone who goes through the Paramapada Vasal will attain Vaikuntha, the abode of heaven, which is also called as Svarga Vasal.
Police have made elaborate security arrangements in all the temples to mark the occasion as devotees started thronging right before midnight to have darshan.
The scene was no different in all the temples, including the famous Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple in Chennai as devotees thronged in lakhs to witness the event.
Tight security arrangements were made in all temples and traffic was regulated to ensure the devotees had a hassle free darshan, while entering the Vaikunda Vaasal.
The HR and CE department has made all basic amenities for the benefit of teeming devotees in all the temples.
Legend has it that Vaikunta Ekadasi, one of the most auspicious days in Hindu tradition, was celebrated on this holy day dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
On this day, devotees fast, pray, and seek divine blessings for peace, prosperity, and
liberation from the cycle of life and death.
It is observed on the 11th lunar day of the waxing lunar fortnight of the solar month
of Dhanur (called Margazhi in Tamil month) that falls between December 16 and
January 13 in the Gregorian calendar, the culmination of which marks the birth of
next Tamil Month ‘Thai’, marking the beginning of yet another auspicious festival,
Pongal, the traditional festival of Harvest of Tamils.
