- October 16, 2025
The month of Margazhi is considered highly auspicious. It is believed that worshipping the Almighty throughout this month yields the same merit as a whole year of devotion. Reciting the sacred hymns of Thiruppavai and Thiruvempavai is said to dissolve our sins and bestow divine blessings.
On the day of Vaikunta Ekadasi, fasting and catching a glimpse of the deity passing through the Paramapada Vasal (the Gateway to Heaven) brings immense benefits. This sacred gateway is a feature in almost all Vaishnavite temples.
It is believed that the doors of Vaikunta – the celestial abode of Lord Vishnu, are opened specifically on Vaikunta Ekadasi. On this day, devotees remain awake throughout the night, singing praises of the Lord. In the early hours of the morning, they worship the Lord as they pass through the North Gate (Sorgavasal), which remains closed for the rest of the year.
This act is believed to wash away sins and alleviate life’s hardships. Many Vaishnavites observe a fast on every Ekadasi, but it is said that the blessings received by fasting and staying awake on this specific day, while witnessing the Lord emerge through the Sorgavasal are unparalleled.
According to the Puranas, Lord Vishnu once opened the gates of Vaikunta for two demons who had been his enemies. They requested a boon: that anyone who witnesses the Lord emerging through this gateway should also attain the same salvation (Moksha) that they received.
Additionally, it is believed that it was on this very day during the Kurukshetra war that Lord Krishna delivered the sacred teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
Out of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred abodes of Vishnu), two cannot be seen on Earth: Vaikunta and Paramapadam. Paramapadam is where the Lord’s closest devotees and eternal servants reside. The gate that grants the glory of residing with the Lord in this realm is the Paramapada Vasal.
Legend says that after recreating the world following the Great Deluge (Pralaya), Vishnu created Brahma to generate life. When two demons tried to kill Brahma, Vishnu destroyed them. Before dying, the demons repented and asked for the boon of residing in Sri Vaikunta. Vishnu granted this and sent them to Paramapadam through the North Gate on the day of Shukla Ekadasi in the month of Margazhi.
Grateful for this, the demons requested that this event be celebrated as a festival on Earth. They prayed that anyone who witnesses the Lord or passes through this gate on this day, regardless of their past sins; should be granted liberation (Mukthi). To fulfill this promise, the Paramapada Vasal is opened every year. By passing through this gate surrounded by devotees, the Lord symbolically invites us, saying, “Come, reside with Me.”
Ekadasi is the 11th day of the lunar cycle. Ekam (1) + Dasi (10) = Ekadasi (11).
The spiritual essence of Vaikunta Ekadasi is to unify the 11 elements of a human, the 5 senses of perception (Gyanendriyas), the 5 senses of action (Karmendriyas), and the Mind, with Lord Vishnu. This internal union signifies an eternal bond with the Divine. The opening of the physical gate is an outward celebration of this inner truth. The Ekadasi occurring during the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) of Margazhi is the most significant and is also known as Moksha Ekadasi.
A unique tradition on Vaikunta Ekadasi is playing the game of Paramapadam (Snakes and Ladders) while staying awake at night. In this game, climbing the ladders represents earning merit (Punya) to reach Heaven, while being swallowed by a snake represents falling back due to sins (Paavam). Devotees play this game until dawn to stay focused on the journey of the soul while remaining awake in prayer.
Also, read: 26 Ekadashis and Their Stories
