Two Ekadashis occur in one month according to different positions of moon. One Ekadashi also coincides with the times when the Moon is the closest to Earth (perigee) and the times when it is farthest from the Earth (apogee) . These are also the times of high tide and low tide respectively. During Ekadashis in the Krishna paksha, the Moon is at its closest to the Earth and during Ekadashis in the Shukla paksha at its farthest from the Earth.
Bhagavata Purana (sk. IX, adhy. 4) notes the observation of Ekadashi by Ambarisha, a devotee of Vishnu.
Vaikunta Ekadashi s or Mukkoti Ekadashi
is the Ekadashi that occurs in the Hindu calendar month of Marghazhi or Margashira or Margashirsha (corresponding to late December - January in English calendar). Vaishnavism (Worship of Lord Vishnu) culture believes that ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to Lord's Inner Sanctum’ is opened on this day. The Margashirsha shukla paksha ekadashi in lunar calendar is known as a 'Mokshada Ekadashi'. People also know that as a vaikunta ekadashi. However vaikunta ekadashi in Sri Rangam Temple (Tamil Nadu) is in the solar margashira month (Margazhi).
Special prayers, yagnas, discourses and speeches are arranged at Vishnu temples across the world on this auspicious day.
Legend
According to Vishnu Purana, fasting on Vaikunta Ekadashi is equivalent to fasting 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 who ever 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 Mahabarata, Bhagavad Gita - the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at the beginning of Kurukshetra War is said to have occurred on this day.
Ekadashi (Sanskrit: एकादशी, ekādaśī, "eleven"), also spelled as Ekadasi, is the eleventh (11th) lunar day (Tithi) of the shukla (bright) or krishna (dark) paksha (fortnight) of every lunar month in the Hindu calendar (Panchang). In Hinduism it is considered a spiritually beneficial day. Scriptures recommend observing an (ideally waterless) fast from sunset on the day prior to Ekadashi to 48 minutes after sunrise on the day following Ekadashi.
Two Ekadashis occur in one month according to different positions of moon. One Ekadashi also coincides with the times when the Moon is the closest to Earth (perigee) and the times when it is farthest from the Earth (apogee) . These are also the times of high tide and low tide respectively. During Ekadashis in the Krishna paksha, the Moon is at its closest to the Earth and during Ekadashis in the Shukla paksha at its farthest from the Earth.
Bhagavata Purana (sk. IX, adhy. 4) notes the observation of Ekadashi by Ambarisha, a devotee of Vishnu.
In Srirangam
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam Vaikunta Ekadashi celebrations in Srirangam—foremost of Vaishanvite Shrines, lasts 21 days and is divided into two parts of pagal pathu (morning part) and Ira pathu (night part). Lord Vishnu as Lord Ranganatha is adorned is an armor of diamonds (rathnaangi) and is brought to the Thousand-Pillared Hall from the sanctum sanctorum through the northern gate known as Paramapada Vasal, the gate to the heaven. This gate is opened once in a year, only on the Vaikuntha Ekadashi day.
In Tirupati
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple also has a similar concept. Thirumala has a special entrance called Vaikunta Dwaram that encircles the sanctum sanctorum. The dwaram (passage) is opened only on Vaikunta Ekadashi and it is believed that any person who passes through this `Vaikunta Dwaram' on this particular day attains salvation. The temple witnesses heavy inflow of pilgrims and dignitaries for Vaikunta Ekadashi.
Agrahayana or Margashirsha , (Hindi: अगहन agahan, मार्गशीर्ष )
is a month of the Hindu calendar and Tamil calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Agrahayana is the ninth month of the year, beginning on 22 November and ending on 21 December. Since Vedic times, this month is known as Maargashirsha after the Nakshatra (asterisms) Mrigashirsha. In Tamil, the month is known as Maarkazhi.
The word agrahayan means the month of ayan or equinox (agra=first + ayan = travel of the sun, equinox). The aligning of this name with the Mrigashira asterism (lambda orionis), gives rise to speculation that this name may have been given when the sun was near Orion at the time of vernal equinox, i.e. around 7000 years ago.
In lunar religious calendars, Agrahayana may begin on either the new moon or the full moon around the same time of year, and is usually the ninth month of the year.
In solar religious calendars, Agrahayana/Maarkazhi begins with the Sun's entry into Sagittarius, and is usually the ninth month of the year.
In the Vaishnava calendar, Keshava governs this month.
Hindus observe 24 11th-day fasts during the course of the Hindu year, although some are more important than others. Each Ekadashi is held in honor of a different Hindu legend and has specific religious duties associated with it. Eating rice, however, is prohibited on all Ekadashi. According to legend, a demon was born of the sweat that fell from Brahma's head on this day, and Brahma instructed it to inhabit the rice grains eaten by people on Ekadashi and to turn into worms in their stomachs.
Rules for keeping Ekadashi Upvaas:
•One should not eat rice, gingelly oil,urad daal etc.
•If possible, one should stay on water-Drinking luke warm water or lemon-mishri (crystalized sugar) water is very good as it cleanses the hidden undigested food in the body.
•If one feels hungry, then one can take milk or fruit.
•Fruit should not be eaten with milk (therefore no strawberry shake, mango shake, chickoo shake etc.).
•One should not eat food like "sabudana", potato chips, fried food, etc. Also Banana is not recommended on this day since it is heavy to digest.
•One should think that he/she is keeping this vrat to please God & to progress further in "sadhana".
•One should observe self-control.
•One should do more of maun-japa (repeating the name of God in mind) in the day time.
•One should do more of Dhyan & Bhajan by keeping awake for a longer time in the night
Ekadashi Calendar 2011 - Ekadasi Fasting Dates in different months in the year 2011"
Ekadasi 2012
January 19, 2012 – Putrada Ekadasi
February 3, 2012 - Jaya Ekadasi - Bhoumi and Bheeshma Ekadasi
February 17, 2012 – Vijaya Ekadashi
March 4, 2012 – Amalaki Ekadasi – Amalki Ekadashi
April 3, 2012 – Kamda Ekadasi – Kamada Ekadashi
April 16, 2012 – Varuthini Ekadashi
May 2, 2012 – Mohini Ekadasi
June 15, 2012 – Yogini Ekadasi
Ekadasi 2013
June 30, 2012 – Devshayani Ekadashi – Sayana Ekadasi - Ashadi Ekadasi
July 14, 2012 – Kamika EkadasiAugust 13, 2012 – Aja Ekadasi – Annada Ekadashi
August 27, 2012 - Padmini Ekadasi - Adika Masa Ekadasi
September 12, 2012 - Kamla Ekadasi - Adika Masa Ekadasi
October 11, 2012 – Indira Ekadasi
October 25, 2012 - Pasankusa Ekadashi
November 10, 2012 – Rama Ekadasi
December 9, 2012 – Uttpatti Ekadashi (Smarta)
December 10, 2012 - Uttpatti Ekadasi (Bhagavat)
December 24, 2012 - Mokshada Ekadasi (Bhagavat only for some communities)
When our stomach is full, blood will be send to the digestive system for its digestion. So upon fasting, more blood will reach our brain and it is good good for concentration while meditating. So ekadasi means more time and more concentration on spiritual activities like chanting.
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