ISKCON Bangalore Celebrated Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2012

Jan. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Vaikuntha Ekadashi, a festival glorifying Lord Srinivasa Govinda (Lord Venkateshwara), was celebrated in the most grand manner, with lakhs of devotees thronging the temple, the ISKCON Bangalore temple complex was a hub of several activities. The festival was celebrated  this yeara at two venues - The Hare Krishna Hill, in Rajajinagar and at Vaikuntha Hill which is off  Kanakapura main road.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi denotes the 11th day of the waxing Moon that falls in the month of Margashirsha. ‘Vaikuntha’ is the transcendental abode of Lord Vishnu, beyond this material world. It is the most aspired for destination by the greatest of Yogis, where they enjoy an eternal life of knowledge and bliss in association of the Lord of Vaikuntha, Lord Vishnu.
This festival commemorates the day Sri Nammalwar, one of the great devotees in the line of Sri Ramanuja entered the spiritual abode. Lord Srinivasa was waiting at the door to receive His great devotee.  It was on this day, during the churning of the milk ocean, that nectar which had emerged out of the ocean was distributed to the demi gods.

The first seva offered to Lord Srinivasa Govinda was Suprabhata Seva which commenced at 3:00 am. During suprabhata seva an arati ceremony was performed in which incense, lamps, sanctified water, flowers, yak tail fan were offered to the Lord. By 4:00 am, an elaborate abhisheka was performed with panchamruta, panchagavya, herbal extracts, exotic fruit juices, scented water , flowers etc. This special abhisheka is performed to Srinivasa Govinda once in a year only on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

Another special feature of the festival was the Laksharchana seva or chanting one lakh (Hundred Thousand) names of Lord Krishna by reciting Krishna ashtotara which is a series of 108 names of Lord Krishna starting with Om Sri Krishnaya Namaha. Devotees, in two batches of 10 each, took turns to complete the chant. By the enthusiasm and dedication of the devotees the final count by the end of the day was 2.3 Lakh names.
At the Sri Radha Krishna Chandra Temple, ISKCON Bangalore, the Vaikuntha Dwara was opened on this day and thousands of devotees pass through this gate to receive the benediction of the Supreme Lord who was seated there, to give them His auspicious transcendental darshana.
On this day, darshana  was open till 11.00 in the night to accommodate the enthusiastic pilgrims.  Since this was the day that the Lord Himself came to the doorstep of Vaikuntha to receive His devotee, these pilgrims constantly throng the temple for having a glimpse of the Deities.


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Vaikuntha Ekadashi
http://www.iskconbangalore.org/vaikuntha-ekadashi-2012/


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http://www.iskconbangalore.org/