Vaikunda Ekadasi, is a day of supreme
significance for all Sri Vaishnavaites.
Today 11th Jan 2014 is the day....
At the Bhooloka Vaikundam of
Srirangam Divyadesam, it begins from Suklapaksha Ekadasi and celebrated for 23
days whence Namperumal listens to the vedas and Nammazhvar's Thiruvaimozhi as
rendered by the Araiyars. The festival is divided into two parts, ten days
before Vaikunda Ekadasi known as Pagalpathu
and 10 days from today, known as
Raapathu. The Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is an occasion when the Paramapada
vaasal is opened for devotees.
Paramapada Vasal is also colloquially
known as Sorga vaasal is the Gateway to Heaven.
The divine Thirumamani mandapam is
representative of the abode of Sriman Maha Vishnu, the “Sri Vaikuntam”
itself. For Sri Vaishanavaites, the
ultimate in life is attainment of moksha [salvation] by reaching Vaikuntam, the
ultimate destination, the abode of Lord Himself. This is The place of no return and the human
soul is free from the ills of the World and gets the supreme opportunity of
nithya kainkaryam [daily service] to Lord.
At Thiruvallikkeni, as also in most
divyadesams, the Presiding Deity enters through the Paramapada vassal in the morning
and in the evening in the subsequent nine days. The
10 days starting from Vaikunda Ekadasi are celebrated as “Iraapathu uthsavam” in which
the hymns of Sri Nammazhwar (Thiruvoimozhi) are chanted. This religious system
is believed to have been started by Thirumangai Azhwar. Later Acharyan Nathamuni introduced festival
of 10 days preceding the Vaikunda Ekadasi, known as Pagal pathu when Nalayira
divyaprabandham (pasurams of Muthalayiram and Thirumangai mannanin
Thirumozhi) are recited.
scanned photo from Devasthana invitation
Thousands of people thronged the
temple to have darshan of Sri Venkata Krishnar and Sri Parthasarathi. Devotees
feel enlightened and blessed, when they
cross the entrance - Vaikunda door ~ the paramapada vasal. This morning around 0430am Lord Sri
Parthasarathi had purappadu inside the temple and with Sri Nammalwar welcoming
from the other side, entered the
Paramapada vasal.
photo taken by a friend this morning
Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.
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