Vaikunta Ekadashi

Vaikunta Ekadashi is the Ekadashi that occurs in the Hindu Calendar month of Marghazhi or Margashira or Mrigashirisha (December-January in English Calendar). Hindus believe that ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to Lord's Inner Sanctum’ is opened on this day for one & all, Sage or Sinner. Vaikunta Ekadashi is also known as a 'Mokshada Ekadashi'(Ekadashi of Salvation). It's said,Bhagavath Geetha came out of Lord Krishna's mouth on Vaikunta Ekadashi day.

According to Vishnu Purana, offering pooja on Vaikunta Ekadashi is equivalent to offering pooja on the remaining 23 Ekadashis of the (Hindu) year. However according to Vaishnava tradition fasting is mandatory on all Ekadashi of both Sukla paksha and Krishna paksha. Fasting on Ekadashi is considered holier than any other religious observation. Lord opened the gate of Vaikuntam (his abode) for two demons in spite of they being against the Lord. They also asked for the boon that whoever listens to their story and see the image of Lord coming out of the door (called Dwar) called Vaikunth Dwar they reach Vaikunth as well! Temples all over the India makes a door kind of structure on this day for devotees to pass through that. According to Padma Purana, the female energy of Lord Vishnu slayed demon Muran and protects `Devas'. Impressed by the act, Lord Vishnu names her as `Ekadashi' and gives her the boon that those who worship `Ekadashi' on the day of her victory over Muran would reach `Vaikunth' (His abode). In the Mahabharatha, Bhagavad Gita-the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at the beginning of Kurukshetra War is said to have occurred on this day.