Sri Vaikuntha Ekadashi Celebrations 2012

httpv://youtu.be/fqyHN5UGJsc
Photos by Agrani Krishna Dasa, music: Yamuna Devi Dasi
ISKCON Bangalore Group — Vaikuntha Ekadashi, a festival glorifying Lord Srinivasa Govinda (Lord Venkateshwara), was celebrated in the most grand manner, with lakhs of devotees thronging the temple, the ISKCON Bangalore temple complex was a hub of several activities. This year the festival was celebrated at two venues – The Hare Krishna Hill, in Rajajinagar and at Vaikuntha Hill which is off Kanakapura main road.

The first seva offered to Lord Srinivasa Govinda was Suprabhata Seva which commenced at 3:00 am. During suprabhata seva an arati ceremony was performed in which incense, lamps, sanctified water, flowers, yak tail fan were offered to the Lord. By 4:00 am, an elaborate abhisheka was performed with panchamruta, panchagavya, herbal extracts, scented water, exotic fruit juices, flowers etc. This special abhisheka is performed to Srinivasa Govinda once in a year only on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

Another special feature of the festival was the Laksharchana seva or chanting one lakh (Hundred Thousand) names of Lord Krishna by reciting Krishna ashtotara which is a series of 108 names of Lord Krishna starting with Om Sri Krishnaya Namaha. Devotees, in two batches of 10 each, took turns to complete the chant. By the enthusiasm and dedication of the devotees the final count by the end of the day was 2.3 Lakh names.