Importance And Significance of Uttara Dwara Darshanam
Ekaadasi is the 11th lunar day (thithi) of Hindu calendar that occurs twice in a lunar month both in Sukla paksha (bright fortnight) as well as in Krishna paksha (dark fortnight). That means we get two Ekaadasi days in a lunar month and in a year there will be 24 Ekaadasi days; sometimes even more whenever there is Adhika maasam as per lunar calendar. Ekaadasi is the most favourite day of Lord Vishnu and that’s why it is also known as Hari-Dina the day dedicated to Lord Sri Hari (Vishnu). Ekaadasi has attained lot of prominence in Hindu religion as it is the most sacred day prescribed for worshiping Lord Vishnu. We find devout Hindus observe fasting on Ekaadasi and spend the whole day in spiritual pursuits
Vaikunta Ekaadasi is also known as Mukkoti Ekaadasi. Dwaadasi thithi following Vaikunta Ekaadasi is called Mukkoti Dwaadasi. Mukkoti literally means three crores; it is believed that on this sacred day of Vaikunta Ekaadasi, Lord Brahma along with the Demi Gods (3 crores in number) will have darshan of the Lord Vishnu at His abode Vaikunta during Arunodaya kaala. Uttara means north and dwaara means the gate or opening.
There is also a spiritual and yogic (Kundalini) significance for Mukkoti Ekaadasi. Like we have geographical directions (North, South, East, & West) to the world, we also have similar directions to our body. North is towards our head, south is towards our feet, front portion is east and back portion is west. On top of the head (skull) we have a hole called Brahma Randhra (Sahasraara Chakra) towards the Northern Direction which is not visible. Since it is in the northern direction it is called Northern gate of the human body.
It is said that one should visualize the image of God through the route of Ida; Pingala Naadi (which run through left and right nostrils) and Sushumna Naadi (running through centre of the nose) concentrating at midpoint of the eyebrows called Jnaana Nethra where Aajna chakra is located; take it further upwards to the centre of the head where Sahasraara chakra is located and have darshan of the God through the door that gets opened (Brahma Randhra) when we meditate.
This is how one should visualize God even during our daily prayers or whenever one visits a temple. Since it is through the route of the confluence of three naadis (Ida, Pingala and Sushumna) taken further north towards the Sahasraara Chakra it is called Mukkoti. Koti also means an angle; a knot; an edge and Mu means tying or binding. Having darshan of the Lord from an angle where the three Naadi’s meet is spiritually known as Uttara dwaara darshanam and the day is known as Mukkoti Ekaadasi.