December 20th commerates a very special day especially for Vaishnavas (worshippers of Bhagwan Vishnu). It's the auspicious day of Sri Vaikuntha Ekadasi and also Gita Jayanti. Vaikuntha ekadasi marks the day the doors of the holy abode of Bhagwan Vishnu is opened for devotees and Gita Jayanti marks the anniversary of the day Sri Krishna sang unto Arjuna and the world on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the Srimad Bhagvad Gita.

The Gita as it's known worldwide is the direct word of God. Modern day scholars refers to it as the instructional manual on how to live life. It's used widely by today's motivational speakers due to it's context which solely deals with knowledge of the self, understanding one's being and coming to realize the inner potential and strength. It's the base of Sanatan Dharma. It owes it origin to Bhagwan Sri Krishna engaging in a conversation with Arjuna on the battle field in the famed book called the Mahabharat. This great text has proven itself to be personal to all aspirants that has truly made a world impact.

Vaikuntha ekadasi marks the day Sri Maha Vishnu opens the door of his heavenly abode making himself accessible to all. Devotees from all marks of life will converge at His temples for His divine grace (darshan). Usually the lord is beautifully decked with flowers and finest of silks and jewelry to create a lasting impression on the minds of man, forever to be cherished in their lives.

For the Vaishnavas, it is a very holy day and should be ideally spent in fasting, prayer and meditation. Devotees look upon this austerity as a means to succeed in their spiritual endeavors. To them it is an activity which will increase their sankalpa (that which is beneficial to them), so as to avoid activities which are not beneficial to them (vikalpa). Such austerities make a student of spirituality enthusiastic, positive, serene and determined. They finally lead to the understanding that all activities must be only performed for the pleasure of the Lord. Austerity is indeed one of the four legs supporting religion, the other three being purity, mercy and truthfulness.

The Padma Purana says: "ekadasi vrata samam vrata nasti jagattraye anicchaya'pi yat krtva gatir evam vidha'vayoh ekadasi vratam ye tu bhakti bhavena kurvate na jane kim bhavet tesam vasudeva anukampaya", which translates as: In the three worlds, there is no kind of fasting which is even comparable to the Ekadasi fast. Even if one performs this fast without a proper attitude, he achieves the Supreme Abode. If one fasts on Ekadasi day, with full devotion, what happens to him by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, I cannot say (the merit he achieves cannot be described).

In his Gitopadesam to Arjuna, Sri Krishna describes the threefold path of austerity and says "deva -dvija-guru-praajna-pujanam-shauchanam-arvajanam-brahmacharyam-ahimsaa-cha-shariram-tapuchyate", which means one must worship the Supreme Lord, the Brahmans, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body (Bhagvada Geeta 17.14).

Truthful speech, which is not offensive to others and the regular recitation of scriptures, is austerity of speech (17.15). Serenity of thought, compassion, gravity, self-control, purity of purpose, are all austerity of the mind (17.16).

This threefold path of austerity, practiced by men whose aim is not to benefit materially but to please the Supreme, leads to a nature of goodness.

Sri Krishna finally says that penances and austerities which are performed foolishly, by means of obstinate self-torture, or by destroying or injuring others, are the approach of the ignorant. It is also recommended that one must not perform austerities beyond his capabilities, lest the austerities become mechanical or offensive.

Sri Gita Dhyaanam - Invocation prayers on the Bhagavad Gita

Om paarthaaya pratibodhitaam bhagavataa naaraayanena swayam,
Vyaasena grathitaam puraanamuninaa madhye mahaabhaaratam;
Advaitaamritavarshineem bhagavateem ashtaadashaa dhyaayineem,
Amba twaam anusandadhaami bhagavadgeete bhavadweshineem.

1. To Goddess Bhagavad Gita, One who was imparted to Arjuna by Lord Narayana Himself, who was recorded amidst the Mahabharata by Vyasa, the ancient sage, who showers the nectar of Advaita, and who is composed of eighteen chapters— I meditate on You, the destroyer of samsaara

2. Salutations to Sage Vyasa, that mighty intellect, one whose eyes are large like the petals of a full-blown lotus. It was You who lit the wisdom lamp which brims with the oil that is the Mahabharata!

Prapannapaarijaataaya totravetraikapaanaye;
Jnaanamudraaya krishnaaya geetaamritaduhe namah.

3. Salutations to Lord Krishna, who art a veritable wish yielding tree to all surrendered ones, whose one hand holds a cane to drive cattle while the other is held in the Gyaana pose and who is famous as the milker of the nectarine milk, that is the Bhagavad Gita!

Sarvopanishado gaavo dogdhaa gopaalanandanah;
Paartho vatsah sudheer bhoktaa dugdham geetaamritam mahat.

4. All the Upanishads are the cows; the cowherd's son Krishna is the milker; Partha (Arjuna), is the calf; the nectarine Gita. is the milk; and the pure minded are the drinkers of it

Vasudevasutam devam kamsachaanooramardanam;
Devakeeparamaanandam krishnam vande jagadgurum.

5. I salute Lord Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, the bestower of supreme delight to Devaki, the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanura and the teacher of the world!

Bheeshmadronatataa jayadrathajalaa gaandhaaraneelotpalaa;
Shalyagraahavatee kripena vahanee karnena velaakulaa;
Ashwatthaama-vikarna-ghora-makaraa duryodhanaavartinee;
Sotteernaa khalu paandavai rananadee kaivartakah keshavah.

6. The battle-river of Kurukshetra with Bhishma and Drona as the banks, with Jayadratha as the water, with the Prince of Gandhara as the blue water lily, with Salya as the crocodile, with Kripa as the current,with Karna as the high wave, with Asvatthama and Vikarna as terrible sharks and with Duryodhana as the whirlpool, was crossed by the Pandavas because they had Lord Krishna as the ferry man.

Paaraasharya vachah sarojamamalam geetaarthagandhotkatam;
Naanaakhyaanakakesaram harikathaa sambodhanaabodhitam;
Loke sajjana shatpadairaharahah pepeeyamaanam mudaa;
Bhooyaadbhaaratapankajam kalimala pradhwamsinah shreyase.

7. May the stainless lotus of the Mahabharata, which was born in the waters of the words of Vyasa, the son of Parashara, which has the message of the Bhagavad Gita, for its overpowering fragrance, which contains numerous narratives proclaiming the glory of Hari as its stamens, and which is sucked again and again in great joy every day by the honey suckers of virtuous men - May it prevail for the good of all who want to be cleansed of the taint of the age of Kali!

Mookam karoti vaachaalam pangum langhayate girim;
Yatkripaa tamaham vande paramaanandamaadhavam.

8. I salute Lord Krishna, the supremely blissful one, by whose Grace makes a dumb man can become eloquent and a lame person cross over mountains!

Yam brahmaa varunendrarudramarutah stunwanti divyaih stavaih,
Vedaih saangapadakramopanishadair gaayanti yam saamagaah,
Dhyaanaavasthitatadgatena manasaa pashyanti yam yogino,
Yasyaantam na viduh suraasuraganaa devaaya tasmai namah.

9. My salutations to that Supreme being whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra and Rudra glorify by divine hymns, whom singers of Saman by chanting the Vedas with all the complementary parts, sections and Upanishads; whom Yogins intuit with minds concentrated in meditation, and whose limits neither the hosts of Devas nor of Asuras know!

Prayers to chant on this aupicious day to Sri Maha Vishnu.

1) Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaaya
2) Om Namo Naaraayanaaya
3) Om Shantaa Kaaram bhujaga shayanam, padma naabham suresham
Vishwa dhaaram gagan sadrisham, megha varnam shubhaangam
Lakshmi kaantam, kamala nayanam, yogibhir dhyaan gamyam
Vande vishnu bhava bhaya haram, sarva lokaiknaatham
4) Achyutam keshavam raam narayanam, krishna daamodaram vaasudevam harim
Sridharam maadhavam gopikaa vallabham, jaanki naayakam ram chandram bhaje

Hari Sankirtan

1) Jai jai narayan narayan hari hari, shriman narayan narayan hari hari
Lakshmi narayan narayan hari hari, satya narayan narayan hari hari
Badri narayan narayan hari hari, bhajaman narayan narayan hari hari

2) Hari sharanam, hari sharanam, hari sharanam sri hari sharanam
Ram sharanam, ram sharanam, ram sharanam sita ram sharanam
Shyaam sharanam, shyaam sharanam, shyaam sharanam, radhe shyaam sharanam

3) Shriman narayana, narayana, narayana
Satya narayana, narayana, narayana
Lakshmi narayana, narayana, narayana
Bhajaman narayan, narayana, narayana