Vaikunda Ekadasi

Kadi Malar Kamalangal Malarndhana Ivayo Kadhiravan Guna Disai Mulaitanan Ivano

Tudiyidaar Suzhi Kuzhal Pizhindhu Udari Tugilu Udutthu Erinar Soozh Punal Aranga..

Todayathu Tulavamum Koodayum Kolindhu Thotriya Seer Thondaradipodi Ennum 

Adiyanai Aliyan Endru Aruli Un Adiyarku Aatpadhuthai Palli Ezhundhu Arulaaye

Thirupalliezhuchi

Thondaradipodi Azhwar

If there is a festival which awakens the spiritual side of me, then it is this and nothing else. I don't consider myself to be a religious person, but a highly spiritual person. Yes..tons of difference exist between being religious and spiritual. More than just being said or read, experiencing is the best way to differentiate them.

On the Vaikunda Ekadasi of this year, a small thought got seeded into my mind and wonder, it grew into a huge banyan tree in split second. The thought which occurred made me realize a great thing. Though 'It' was known to me earlier I wonder how I could miss it and wander aimless.

'Vaikundam' or 'Paramapadham' the eternal abode of Lord Vishnu. Or am I giving the definition wrong?!

Is it that 'Lord Vishnu stays in Vaikundam' or is it otherwise?! It is not that His 'address' or 'location' is Vaikundam, rather it's the other-way round.

Vaikundam is one which abounds Lord Vishnu. It is not that He lives within It. Vaikundam exists around Him. So it is obvious that, at every place where Lord Vishnu resides, Vaikundam exists. 

Referring the Lord of Tirupati, it is said.. 

"It is not the Darshan that we get.. but the Darshan which He gives"

This small thought, which grew gigantic, made my day of Vaikunda Ekadasi.

Lord Vishnu as the Antaryami stays resides within the smallest thing ever that exists and builds up everything, known and unknown. And the Vaikundam exists around Him and hence present in every thing that make us up. Realizing this one truth makes us attain Vaikundam, which is the ultimate aim of everything that cease to exist or non-exist.

Wonder if this was any truth that our elders wished to convey us. Realizing the 'Vaikundam' within us also puts up an other thing.. If Vaikunda Ekadasi is the day when the doors to Vaikundam open, every moment that we think upon the Lord and open our heart, the doors of Vaikundam also open. Which means it is Vaikunda Ekadasi every day..every moment..

Hari Om