Vaikunta Ekadashi at Hare Krishna Golden Temple Hyderabad
Hyderabad: Hare Krishna Golden Temple in Banjara Hills resounded with devotion and divine joy as Vaikunta Ekadashi was celebrated in a spiritually uplifting atmosphere. This auspicious festival marks the extraordinary event when Lord Sri Vishnu welcomed His beloved devotee Sri Nammalwar to Vaikunta.
An important turning point in the Sri Vaishnava tradition, this event marks the sacred moment when the Lord’s boundless love and divine graces are manifested in all their glory. On this auspicious occasion, the temple opened its doors to devotees, offering a rare and sacred opportunity to take Vaikunta Dwara Darshan and participate in grand Vishesha Sevas.
On this solemn occasion, the temple opened its doors early in the morning allowing thousands of devotees to participate in the rare and sacred Vaikunta Dwara Darshan. The celebrations began at 5:15 am with the Vaikunta Dwara Pratishta ceremony, following which devotees were allowed to enter through the Utthara Dwara (North Gate), which is traditionally believed to bestow salvation and divine blessings from the Lord.
The first darshan of Vaikunta Dwara was offered to Vishwaguru Srila Prabhupada followed by darshan of Swayambhu Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Sri Radha Govinda beautifully decorated with Special Lakshmi Narayana Alankara.
The special attraction of the day was a beautifully crafted form of “Sri Srinivasa Govinda”, resembling God, placed in the Uttara Dwara, welcoming devotees entering from Vaikunta Dwara. Throughout the day, the temple premises echoed with melodious Bhajans, Harinama Sankirtana and Devotional Hymns.
Addressing the devotees, Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhuji (Mtech IIT Madras), President of Hare Krishna Movement, Hyderabad, underlined the spiritual importance of Vaikunta Ekadashi. He stated: “This festival is a celebration of the Lord’s deep love for His devotees; when one of His most revered devotees completed his worldly pastimes and returned to Vaikunta, the Lord Himself went to Vaikunta Dwara to receive him. By passing through Vaikunta Dwara on this auspicious day, devotees seek the grace of the Lord, fulfill their heartfelt desires and become eligible to enter Vaikunta themselves.”
The festivities concluded in the evening with the Grand Maha Arati given to Sri Radha Govinda and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Shayana Arathi. Magnificent prasadam was served throughout the day as the temple made meticulous arrangements to ensure both uninterrupted darshan and every kind of inconvenience to the Visitors.
Devotees from all walks of life participated in the celebrations wholeheartedly, seeking the divine blessings of Sri Radha Govinda and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.
