SRIRANGAM - EKADASI FAST

Of the days set part for fasting there is no uniformity, nor the deities who ordained them are one and the same. As there are many, so are the days. Saivate temples have set apart some days, like Mahasivaratri, Dvadasi Mondays for fasting and the reasons they enumerate are quite convincing biologically and religiously too. The observers of fast strictly adhere to the advice and enjoy sound health, with 'good sleep during nights, and lively spirits during day times to carrying on the assigned work. The Vaishnavate temples too have suggested certain days for fasting, like Ekadasi particularly. This prescription is based on a fantastic belief and the legend too is quite awesome. Several kinds of ritualistic special prayer services are performed during thus holy day, like conducting processions, bhajans, cultural programmes, through audio and video media Naturally, they draw huge crowds exceeding lakes in some temples. The Vaikunta Ekadasi, annual festival at Srirangam has acquired such spiritual significance that no orthodox ever misses visiting the temple. Strangely enough, it is a eleven-day festival, when the whole town and temple premises overflow with Bhaktas, reaching from hundreds of miles off. For Ranganatha, the presiding deity of this temple, it is the dear most and so to the Vaishnavates. His glory reaches the highest pinnacle during then. Read now, how, when and why it came into being.

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