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| Srirangam temple. GyaniPandit |
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| Paramapada vaasal, Srirangam Srirangam temple |
Vaikunta Ekadai, also referred to as Suklapaksha Ekadasi comes in the month of Margazhi (derived from the Sanskrit word Margasirsi) - December-January. In the same month is held Arurthdra, an important auspicious festival for the Saivites
This annual Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is held at Sri Vishnu temples across India and at no other temples it is celebrated with pomp, fanfare and grandeur than at Srirangam Ranganathar temple, Tamil Nadu, the foremost among the 108 Divyadesam shrines recognized by Tamil Vaishnava saints Azhwars. Since it is Mokshada Ekadasi, the belief among Vaishnavites is that opening of Paramapada vaasal, the gate to the Lord's inner sanctum (garbagraham or srikovil) is an auspicious event and if devotees pass through the Paramapada vaasal or Swarga vaasal (gate), they will be blessed with prosperity and peaceful life by the lord. Most importantly, they can get rid of their sin and be eligible to get moksham. Often referred to as Booloka Vaikuntam, you can not resist the benign grace and charm of the lord. Hence lots of people visit this shrine to get immersed in His divine charm and attributes and by the same token Emperumal rejoices in the intense and unalloyed devotion of his devotees.
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| 1000 pillar hall, Ranganathar temple srirngam. en.wikipedia.org |
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| Ariyar sevai, Srirangam temple, TNhe Hindu |
Soon after following the Vaikunta Ekadasi day, yet another interesting celebration takes place for the next ten days called Rapathu or Irappathu. It involves the recitation of the remaining 3000 divine verses of the Divya Prabandham. This is done exclusively by Ariyars with singing and dancing.
Initiated by Nathamuni (10th century Vaishnavite scholar), ''Araiyar sevai'' is an integral and important ritual in which Araiyars (hailing from families of hereditary performers engaged in dancing and singing devotional hymns during festival time) will recite 110 Pasurams in Tamil before the deity. They also play on Veena as well. After Araiyar sevai around 1.30 am (19th December) Perumal will reach the sanctum accompanied by priests and devotes in the midst of Veena music.
Araiyar Sevai is associated with Vaikunta Ekadasi only at three Divyadesam shrines - Sri Villiputhur and Azhwar Thirunagari besides Srirangam.
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| Garuda mantap, Ranganathar temple, Srirangam, en.wikipedia.org/ |
Paramapada vaasal (on the north side) will be kept open from 5.30 am till 10 pm night for the benefit of devotees who throng the gate.
During Pagal pathu (10 days) after 9 pm no seva in the Moolasthanam (garbagraha). From Ekadasi day for 10 days (Rapathu) Paramapada vaasal will be kept open during certain hours for darshan. After this festival, it will be closed for ever to be opened only next year.
Pilgrims normally will pass through this gate for darshan. They want to be blessed by the lord on this day in order to get rid of their past sin and to be free from rebirth. The itheegam / traditional belief is Jeevathma (human soul) in people passes through the gate to reach paramathma (divine).
During the long 21-day festival at least 400000 devotees will visit the temple under heavy security cover. Roughly 3000 police men will be guarding the crowd and the temple.
Fasting on the Ekadasi day by devotees is significant. According to Agni Purana no mantra is equal to Gayatri mantra, no Tertham is as holy as the Ganges water and no deivam (deity) is comparable to mother (Thayar); so is the vratham undertaken on this auspicious day. Mind you, certain norms have to be followed to observe vratham. Anyway, fasting as specified during Ekadasi day is good for physical as well as mental well being.
According to a legend to contain Trinity God Brahma's ego and arrogance, Lord Vishnu created two Assuras - demons to subdue him. But the Assuras were on the verge of killing Brahma, Vishnu intervened and told them not to kill him. Assuras agreed on condition that Lord Vishnu should fight with them for a month and then only they would attain siddhi (salvation). Lord Vishnu agreed to fight with them and at the end He defeated them by killing. Assuras requested them that they wanted to be ever present at the lotus feet of the lord. So, Lord Vishnu, on the Ekadasi day in the month of Margazhi (during the waxing phase of the moon), opened the Paramapada vaasal on the north side and allowed them to merge with Him. Pleased as they were, the Assuras also requested the almighty that their salvation on this day should be celebrated in all Vishnu temples and the people should also get blessed by the lord just like He blessed them. Hence Vikunta Ekadasi assumes much religious significance and divinity here.
Very much impressed by saint Thirumangai Azhwar's sincere devotion to Him, Lord Vishnu appeared before him and asked him what boon he wanted from Him. Overwhelmed with joy mixed with ecstasy, the saint requested Ranganathar that Ekadasi at Srirangam should also honor and mark the devotional literary work of Namazhwar who wrote ''Thituvaimozhi''. Hence here Namazhwar Moksham (reaching heavens) is a great event on this day.
An interesting feature is Sri Ranganathar is glorified by all Azhwars except Madurakavi Azhwar who sang about Namazhwar, his mentor. Of them, 11 Azhwars had their Mangalasanam here. So, this temple is highly sanctified, heralding the glory and divinity of the lord and his consorts. Further, the atmosphere in this temple is charged with spirituality and devotion because a plethora of festivals is going on through out the year. As for the presiding deity and His retinue, there is no respite as the devotees keep coming here and showering on the inimitable Lord with devotion and Bhakti.
This festival has been in vogue at this temple since the time of Thirumangai Azhwar. He composed Thiruthandakam, a compilation of devotional hymns in praise of lord Vishnu which was recited on the night of 7th Dec (7 pm) this year in the sanctum. Later after 7.45 pm there was Upanyasam - discourse/explanation of the devotional hymns in santhanu mantap.
Yet another legend has it that the Dwarapalakas (sentinels) Jaya and Vijaya closed the gates to vaikuntam. When Perumal asked them why they had closed the gates, they replied that on Earth Kaliyuga had begun, so, adharma, violence, dishonesty, cheating and other sins will become part of life and no person from Kaliyuga would be fit to enter vaikuntam. Vishnu said that on earth number of people who had trust in god and engaged in charity would multiply despite dominance of characterless and dishonest people. So you must keep the Paramapada vaasal open for those righteous and charitable people who will seek my blessings. This incident took place on the Ekadasi day (Sukla paksha) in the month of Margazhi.
At all Perumal temples there is a Paramapada vaasal (facing north) that remains closed through out the year except on Vaikunta Ekadasi day. When Perumal passes through the gate, devotes also follow the deity in the procession. The belief is they will be absolved of all sins and will get salvation. At Srirangam people in lakhs pass through Paramapada vaasal on this day seeking His blessings so that they will never be tortured by rebirth!!
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| Srirangam Ranganathar temple.Sri. Ramanujar shrine. en.wikipedia.org |
Vaikunta Ekadasi day is equally celebrated with gaiety at Tirupati Balaji temple, Triplicane Parthasarathy temple, Sri Andal temple at Srivilliputhur, Uppiliappan kovil and Sri Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam.
Srirangam Ranaganathar temple, which was with great difficulty resurrected after Delhi Sultanate army's invasion in the 14th century, occupies a unique place in Tamil Nadu. The new Rajagopuram, 236 feet in height - tallest temple tower in the world, built 33 years ago (thanks to the dedicated efforts put in by the then Ahobila Mutt Jeer) is a symbol of resurgence and glory of Srirangam in the recent past.
http://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2017/12/fascinating-vaikuntha-ekadasi-festival.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranganathaswamy_Temple,_Srirangam