Mukkoti Ekadasi also known as Vaikuntha Ekadasi is an important festival for the followers of Lord Vishnu (Vaishnavites). The festival is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is celebrated in a grand way in all the Vishnu temples in the South and in the ISKCON temples across the world. The festival is not celebrated much in North India.
Ekadasi (11th day) in the ‘sukla paksha (brighter half of the moon) of the auspicious Hindu month of Dhanur Masam is celebrated as Mukkoti Ekadasi.This day is highly auspicious for the followers of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that ‘Vaikuntha Dwaram’ i.e the Main Gates of Vaikuntham (the Abode of Lord Vishnu) open on this day. Hence, in the Vishnu temples in South India, the devotees are allowed to have ‘Uttara Dwara darshanam’ of Lord Vishnu i.e, entering the temple through the North gate, only on this auspicious day. It is believed that those who have the darshan of the Lord from ‘Vaikuntha Dwaram’ will attain moksha / salvation and reach Vaikuntham – the Abode of Lord Vishnu.
Temples are heavily crowded with devotees on this day and many religious activities and special poojas take place in the temples on this day.
Besides visiting the temples, devotees observe fasting on ‘ekadasi’ days, few devotees observe ‘nirjal upavas’ i.e fasting without consuming even water on ‘ekadasi’ days. The devotees spend the entire day in the name of Lord Vishnu, recite various slokas / stotrams like Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram.
It is believed that on this day Lord Krishna preached Srimad Bhagawad Geeta to Pandava Prince Arjuna. Hence, this day is also celebrated as Geeta Jayanti.