Vaikuntha Ekadashi is an important festival in all the Vishnu Temples across the globe. It is said that, Deities had an occasion to go past the Northern Entrance of Vaikuntha, to have the glimpse of Lord Maha Vishnu to alleviate misery and sorry.

Lord Maha Vishnu is also known as Vikuntha, which denotes a phenomenon that relieves worries of all sorts. Vaikuntha is a place, pertaining to Vikuntha. As the access thru the Northern Entrance is obtained by deserving Celestial beings on the Ekadashi of Margashira Month, this day is celebrated as Vaikuntha Ekadashi. The mythology further explains that the event happened in the month of Dhanush. (It is a custom of the Vaishnava Pundits to follow the Solar Calendar. Hence, the Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha is regarded as Vaikuntha Ekadashi, irrespective of the incidence of Margashira Maasa).

Being Friday, Sri Bala Swamiji performed Abhisheka for Sri Datta Venkateshwara Swamy at 4 am. Thousands of devotees had already queued up outside the Temple for the Uttara Dwara (northern entrance) Darshana.

Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji entered Sri Datta Venkateshwara Shrine from the northern entrance in the early hours offered Puja and Arati to the Utsava Deities of Sri Datta Venkateshwara Swamy, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. Later, devotees entered the temple from the Northern Entrance (Vaikuntha Dwara) for the Darshan of the Utsava idols, went around the Dhanvantari Shrine for a glimpse of the Almighty, SRI DATTA VENKATESHWARA SWAMY.

More than 70, 000 devotees had Darshan of Lord Sri Datta Venkateshwara, who was decorated with Silver Kavacha studded with precious gem stones. Serpentine queue went around the temple into the main Ashrama and all the way to Nada Mantapa.

Prasadam was distributed to all the devotees. Sri Bala Swamiji stood amidst the masses and distributed Prasadam to hundreds of devotees. Earlier, Sri Swamiji released the 2011 Kannada Calendar of the Temple.

The Temple opened at 4 in the morning and closed at 10.30 in the night with a short break for 30 minutes in the afternoon.

Nama Sankeertana - Bhajan session was conducted by the Bhajan Group of Mysore Ashrama led by Swami Manasa Datta, Sri. Mani, Sri. Mahesh and others in the afternoon and from 9 pm to midnight.

Om Namo Naaraayanaaya.

A view of Sri Datta Venkateshwara Swamy Shrine at 4.30 am

5 am - Thousands of Devotees wait for the auspicious Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan

Om Namo Naaraayanaaya - Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji opens the northern door of the temple for the Maha Darshana

Gurudeva offers Arati to idols of Sri Devi, Bhu Devi Sameta Lord Datta Venkateshwara Swamy

Sri Swamiji and Bala Swamiji light the Venkatesha Deepam

The northern entrance - Vaikuntha Dwara - of the temple was thrown open to the public for darshan,
considered to be auspicious on this Ekadashi day.

Devotees waited since 4 am in the queue to enter the Temple

.... Om Namo Naaraayanaaya ....

5 pm - Pujya Sri Swamiji performs Arati

The serpentine queue

The majestic temple towers

Sri Bala Swamiji distributed Prasada to hundreds of devotees

... Om Namo Naaraayanaaya ...