A Wisdom Archive on Vaikunta

Vaikunta is the abode of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and other living entities who have freed themselves from the bondage of the material world. It is the place of eternal bliss, exclusive to the Lord, his eternal consort Lakshmi, and the serpent Sesha Naga, upon whom the Lord and his wife rest. An introduction to the concept of the Spiritual or Divine Universe, can be found here. It may be noted that there are references to the Divine World in The Srimad Bhagvatam , Akilattirat

Read more here: » Vaikunta: Encyclopedia - Vaikunta

Vaikunta:
Vaikunta (Vaikuntha). Vishnu's heaven.

 
(See also: Vaikunta, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » vaikunta dictionary

Vaikunta Ekadashi
VAIKUNTA Ekadashi falls in the month of Marga-seersha (December-January). This is observed with all solemnity in the temples of Lord Vishnu. Fasting is prescribed on all Ekadashis, that is, the 11th day of the lunar fortnight, twice a month.
 
From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.
 

Read more here: » Vaikunta Ekadashi: Hindu Fasts and Festivals - Vaikunta Ekadashi

Gayatri Japa Day:
The Gayatri Japa Day is one such very holy and glorious day intended to remind all of the greatest and most glorious of all Mantras, the sacred Gayatri Mantra.
 
From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.
 

Read more here: » Gayatri Japa Day: Hindu Rituals - Gayatri Japa Day

Shivaratri
THIS FALLS on the 13th (or 14th) day of the dark half of Phalgun (February-March). The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva. Shiva was married to Parvati on this day.
 
From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.
 

Read more here: » Shivaratri: Hindu Rituals and Ceremonies - Shivaratri

Vaikunta Ekadasi, the Ekadasi of Vaikunta (the abode of the Vishnu) falls on the 11th day of the Sukla Paksha (the waxing phase of the moon) of the Dhanur (Margazhi in Tamil terminology) month - the ninth of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. Hindus consider it a very auspicious day and observe it as a day of prayer and fasting. According to legend, the gods and demons churned the divine ocean for Amrita on the day of Vaikunta Ekadasi, following which Shiva consumed the poison that resulted. Hence Shaivaites consider this Ekadasi as the Nanjunda Ekadasi. It is beli ...

Read more here: » Vaikunta Ekadasi: Encyclopedia - Vaikunta Ekadasi

In Hinduism, Venkateshwara (also spelled as Venkateswara, Venkateshwer or Venkatachalapathi) is a much-worshipped form of Vishnu. He is also known as Balaji or Lord Venkateswara. Vishnu, in the form of Venkateshwara, is much worshipped at the famed Tirupati temple. Venkateshwara is the presiding deity at Tirumala temple complex, believed to be the richest of the Hindu shrines in the world. The temple is situated in the region of seven hills in southern Andhra Pradesh in Chittoor district. It i ... Including:

• Venkateshwara - The legend
• Venkateshwara - Socio-cultural history

Read more here: » Venkateshwara: Encyclopedia - Venkateshwara

The Ramayana is not the only religious scripture that views Ravana as evil. In the Bhagavata Purana, Ravana and his brother, Kumbakarna were said to be reincarnations of Jaya and Vijaya, gatekeepers at Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu and were cursed to be born in Earth for their insolence. These gatekeepers refused entry to the Sanatha Kumara monks, who, because of their powers and austerity appeared as young children. For their insolence, the monks cursed them to be expelled from Vaikunta and to be born in Earth. The all-mercifu ...

Read more here: » Ravana: Encyclopedia II - Ravana - In Scriptures

Sthala Puranasm (literal meaning: the legend of the place) recounts the particular legend associated with ancient Hindu temples. Accordingly, the legend of Venkateswara's Avatara (incarnation) is believed to be as follows: Sage Bhrugu, who according to Hindu mythology is believed to have an extra eye in the sole of his foot, once visited Sri Maha Vishnu. At that time, Vishnu was in a private meeting with his consort, Goddess Lakshmi, and failed to immediately receive and honour the sage. The sage felt humiliated and angry, and ...

Read more here: » Venkateshwara: Encyclopedia II - Venkateshwara - The legend

Ekadasi is a Sanskrit word, which means 'the eleventh'. It refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. There are two fortnights in a lunar month—the bright and the dark. So, Ekadasi occurs twice in a month, in the bright fortnight and the dark fortnight. The special feature of Ekadasi, as most people know it, is a fast, abstinence from food. This is how it is usually understood. In fact, the fast is only a practical expression and a symbol of something else that we are expected to do, which ...

Read more here: » Ekadasi: Encyclopedia II - Ekadasi - Meaning of Ekadasi