Vaikunta Ekadashi: Paramapada Vasal timings, Muhurat and procedure

Vaikunta Ekadashi is being celebrated in India on Sunday. It is one of the most important Ekadasis. The auspicious day is dedicated to Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu. 

Ample security arrangements have been made at all prominent temples across South India to ensure safety of the devotees during heavy rush. A detailed security scheme has been chalked out by the City Police for Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. 

The scheme has been drafted anticipating a large turn-out of devotees. In addition to mobilising City Police personnel, manpower strength has been augmented from various districts to beef up security in the temple town and regulate vehicular movements, the reports said. 

Around 4,500 police personnel would be deployed on the day of the festival when the ‘Paramapadha Vaasal’ will be opened in the early hours.

Vaikunta Ekadashi 2017: Auspicious muhurat and procedure  

Vaikuntha Ekadashi is also known as Mukkoti Ekadasi and in Kerala it is known as Swargavathil Ekadasi. This year Swarga Vasal or Paramapada opening is from 3:00 AM on January 8, 2017. 

Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is more elaborately celebrated by Vaishnavites. It is more prominent for Tamil and Telugu speaking people. Fasting, keep vigil at night and passing through the Vaikunta Dwaram are the important auspicious activities on the day.

Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated with great importance in Tirupati Balaji Temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, and Bhadrachalam Sita Ramachandraswamy temple. Apart from these temples, all the temples dedicated to Bhagvan Vishnu and his incarnations in South India celebrate Vaikunta Ekadasi.

The most important ritual on the day in temples is the opening of the Vaikunta Dwaram or Paramapada Vasal door in Vishnu Temples. This door is only opened on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day and devotees are allowed to pass through it. Symbolically the door leads to the Vaikunta - abode of Vishnu.