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Vaikunth


Vaikuntha (Sanskrit: वैकुण्ठ्, IAST: Vaikuṇṭha), Vaikuntha Loka, Vishnu Loka or Paramam Padam is the celestial abode of Lord Vishnu who is one of the principal deities of Hinduism and the supreme being in its Vaishnavism tradition. Vaikuntha is an abode exclusive to the Lord Hari, his consort the goddess Sri Lakshmi and other liberated souls that have gained moksha. They are blessed with pure bliss and happiness in the company of the supreme being for all eternity.

The Vaikuṇṭha planets begin 26,200,000 yojanas (209,600,000 miles) above Satyaloka. In most of the extant Puranas and Vaishnava traditions, Vaikuntha is located in the direction of the Makara Rashi which coincides with the constellation of Capricorn. One version of the cosmology states that Vishnu's eye is at the South Celestial Pole from where he watches the cosmos.

The Rigveda states:

tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ

(The demigods are always looking to that supreme abode of Lord Vishnu), referring to Vaikuntha.

In the Bhagavata, the text speaks of Vaikuntha, adorable to all the worlds (X.12.26), as the highest realm where Visnu resides (XII.24.14). This, too, is the highest region (IV.12.26); beyond the world of darkness and samara (the cycle of birth and death) (IV.24.29; X.88.25); the destination of those who have transcended the three gunas even while they are still alive (XI.25.22); and beyond which there is no higher place (II.2.18, II.9.9). The peaceful ascetics who reach that place never return (IV.9.29; X.88.25-6). The residents of Vaikuntha do not have material bodies, but have pure forms (VII.1.34). These forms are like that of Visnu (III.15.14ff.), also known as Narayana. Visnu/Narayana resides in Vaikuntha with Sri, the goddess of fortune, in palaces with crystal walls. The parks there shine like final liberation itself, and contain wish-fulfilling trees, which blossom all the year round. There are fragrant winds, and creepers dripping with honey near bodies of water. Cries of exotic birds mingle with the humming of bees, and magnificent flowers bloom everywhere. Devotees of Visnu along with their beautiful wives travel in aerial vehicles made of jewels, emeralds and gold, but the beautiful smiling residents of this realm cannot distract the minds of the opposite sex, since everyone is absorbed in Krisna (III.15.14-25).


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