The door of heaven opens once a year, Lord Ranganath gave darshan to the devotees at Vaikuntha door.

Sitting at the Vaikuntha gate, which opens once a year on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi, the Lord gave darshan to the devotees. A huge crowd of devotees gathered at the Ranganath temple to come out of the open Vaikuntha gate and have darshan of the Lord. Strict security arrangements were made to control the crowd that gathered in lakhs. Let us know the belief behind opening of Baikuntha gate…

The Vaikuntha gate was opened on Tuesday on the occasion of Baikuntha Ekadashi in the largest Southern style Ranganath temple in North India. Sitting at the Vaikuntha gate, which opens once a year, the Lord gave darshan to the devotees. It is believed that the devotee who passes through the gate of Vaikuntha attains the world of Vaikuntha. Baikuntha Utsav started late night with Mangala Aarti of Lord Ranganath. After this, in the morning, in the Brahma Muhurta, Lord Ranganath along with Mata Goda ji reached Vaikuntha Dwar sitting in a palanquin from their temple amidst the melodious sound of traditional musical instruments. Here the palanquin of Lord Ranganath stood at the gate for about half an hour.

Pooja recitation with Vedic mantras – When the procession of Lord Ranganath reached Baikuntha gate, the service priests performed the recitation under the leadership of Mahant Govardhan Rangacharya of the temple. After about half an hour of recitation and worship, Kumbh Aarti of Lord Ranganath, Shath Kop Swami, Nath Muni Swami and Alwar saints was performed. After the puja amid Vedic chants, Lord Ranganath’s ride, after roaming in the temple courtyard, was seated in the Paundanath temple, which is called the Lord’s personal abode, Vaikuntha Loka. Here the people of the temple sang hymns to God.

Baikunth Gate is opened on the festival of Baikunth Ekadashi – Lakhs of devotees started gathering in the temple premises from the night itself, wanting to pass through the Baikunth Gate. Temple priest Swami Raju told that the Baikuntha gate is opened on the Baikuntha Ekadashi festival on the 11th day of the 21-day Baikuntha festival. This Ekadashi is considered one of the best Ekadashis of the year. It is believed that any devotee who passes through the Baikuntha gate on Baikuntha Ekadashi attains Baikuntha Dham.

Anagha Shree Niwasan, Chief Executive Officer of Baikuntha Dwar-Temple, which opens once a year, said that Alwar Acharya recites his composed sagas to the Lord during the Baikuntha Utsav. On the day of Vaikuntha Ekadashi, the Vaikuntha gate opens in Brahma Muhurta in all the Vaishnav temples of the south. This tradition is followed in the Ranganath temple located in Vrindavan. Very attractive decorations were done on the Vaikuntha gate, which opens once a year. To decorate the gate, more than one thousand kilos of flowers of different species were brought from Vrindavan, Delhi and Bangalore. Along with this, the lighting done in Baikuntha Loka was giving the feeling as if Lord is sitting in Baikuntha Dham. On the occasion of Baikuntha Ekadashi, devotees became happy after seeing Lord Ranganath.

The belief behind the opening of the Baikuntha gate – The belief behind the opening of the Baikuntha gate on Baikuntha Ekadashi is that the Alwar saints of South India asked Lord Narayana about the path of the soul to go to their own Baikuntha. On which God showed the leela of coming out of Baikuntha gate on the day of Baikuntha Ekadashi. This tradition is still being celebrated according to traditional rules in Shri Ranganath Temple.