Where and how is Vaikunth Dham?

Vaikuntha literally means a place without frustration. Frustration means inactivity, lethargy, despair, desperation, laziness, and poverty. This means that Vaikuntha is a place without idleness or inactivity. It is said that after death, those who perform virtuous deeds go to heaven or Vaikuntha. However, the Vedas do not state that people go to heaven or Vaikuntha after death. The Vedas mention the paths of death after death, and most of the discussion centers on what constitutes salvation. Well, we’d like to tell you where Vaikuntha is and what it’s like, based on the Puranas.

Where is Vaikuntha Dham?

According to Hinduism, Lord Shiva resides on Kailash, and Lord Brahma resides in Brahmaloka. Similarly, Lord Vishnu’s abode is said to be in Vaikuntha. The location of Vaikuntha is described in three places. On earth, in the ocean, and above heaven. Vaikuntha is also known as Vishnuloka and Vaikuntha Sagar. After Lord Krishna, it also came to be known as Goloka. Since Krishna and Vishnu are one and the same, the abode of Krishna is also called Vaikuntha.

First Vaikuntha Dham: –

On earth, Badrinath, Jagannath and Dwarkapuri are also called Vaikuntha Dham. Badrinath, the most sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus among the four Dhams, is situated on the left bank of the Alaknanda River, surrounded by the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, against the backdrop of the Neelkanth mountain range. Located in northern India, this temple is considered the court of Lord Vishnu. Five forms of Lord Badrinarayan, the preeminent deity of Sanatan Dharma, are worshipped at Badrinath Dham. These five forms of Vishnu are known as the Panch Badris: Shri Vishal Badri, Shri Yogadhyan Badri, Shri Bhavishya Badri, Shri Vriddha Badri, and Shri Adi Badri.

In addition to Badrinath, Dwarka and Jagannathpuri are also called Vaikuntha Dham. It is said that Badrinath Dham was established by Narayana in the Satya Yuga. Rameshwaram was established by Lord Shri Ram himself in the Treta Yuga. In the Dwapar Yuga, Dwarikadham was established by Lord Krishna, the Yogi, and in the Kali Yuga, Jagannath Dham is known as Vaikuntha. The Jagannath Puri temple, described in the Puranas as the earthly Vaikuntha, is renowned throughout the world. According to Brahma and Skanda Puranas, Lord Vishnu incarnated in Puri as Purushottam Neelamadhava.

Second Vaikuntha Dham: –

The second Vaikuntha is described as being located outside the earth. It is described as being beyond the universe and above the three worlds. This abode is three times larger than the visible world. 960 million of the Lord’s attendants are deployed to oversee it. Every soul liberated from our nature enters this supreme abode with the conch, disc, mace, and lotus. From there, that soul never returns. Here Lord Vishnu resides with his four queens Sridevi, Bhudevi, Neela and Mahalakshmi.

It is said that after death, the souls of Vishnu devotees reach this Vaikuntha. According to the Puranas, this Vaikuntha lies beyond our universe. When the soul travels to that Vaikuntha, then on the way to bid farewell to it, the god of time, the god of the watch, the god of the day, the god of the night, the god of the day, the god of the planets, the god of the constellations, the god of the month, the god of the season, the god of the fortnight, the god of Uttarayan, The gods of Dakshinayana, the gods of all the planes (Atal, Sutar, Patal etc.), all the 33 Koti gods first try to push him back into some womb or stop him from going to Vaikuntha. But the soul who surrenders to Lord Shri Vishnu, all of them go to the last limit of Ekapad Vibhuti and leave him on the banks of the river Viraja flowing outside the Tripad Vibhuti.

Our entire universe and all the worlds reside within this Ekapada Vibhuti. Beyond this Ekapada Vibhuti, begins Vaikuntha Dham. Mythological belief holds that a river named Viraja flows between Vaikuntha Dham and Ekapada Vibhuti. From this river begins the Tripada Vibhuti, which is the realm of Vaikuntha. When all the gods leave the soul to be liberated at the Viraja River, the soul takes a dip in the river and crosses over. From there, the companions take him directly to Lord Vishnu. There, he receives his darshan and attains supreme bliss. Thus, the soul is forever established in the Tripada Vibhuti. This Vaikuntha Dham has been depicted very interestingly in the Puranas.

‘O Arjun! The unmanifested is called by the name ‘Akshar’, that unmanifested state called Akshar is called the ultimate destination and the eternal unmanifested state, after attaining which men do not return, is my ultimate abode.’ – Gita Chapter 8, Verse 21.

Third Vaikuntha Dham: –

After Dwarka, Lord Krishna established another city called Vaikuntha. According to some historians, Vaikuntha Dham was established somewhere in the Aravalli mountain range, where only ascetics, not humans, lived. The Aravalli Mountains are the oldest mountain ranges in India’s geographical structure. According to geology, the Aravalli Mountains are the oldest mountain ranges in India. It is believed that Lord Krishna established the city of Vaikuntha here. In Rajasthan, this mountain moves from the south-west direction to the north-east direction and reaches almost till Delhi.

The Aravalli or ‘Aravali’ is a North Indian mountain range. This 560-kilometer-long mountain range runs through the northeastern region of the state of Rajasthan, with some of its rocky hills extending as far south as Delhi. If the mountain of Arbuda or Mount Abu on the coast of Gujarat is one end of it, then the small hills near Delhi, Dheeraj, are the other end.

Difference between Vaikuntha and Paramdham ••

Paramdham: It is said that after reaching Paramdham, the soul is forever freed from the cycle of life and death. This abode is the highest of all, meaning supreme. Here, one experiences eternal happiness. This abode is self-illuminating. There is neither happiness nor sorrow here, only supreme bliss.

Vaikuntha Dham: It is believed that in this Dham, the soul experiences bliss and happiness for some time, but after enjoying the happiness, it has to return to the mortal world. This place is said to be above heaven. Mount Kailash is above Vaikuntha. Vaikuntha is illuminated by the Sun and Moon. If you look closely, this could be Vishnu’s Badrinath shrine.

According to Hinduism, the abode of Lord Vishnu is called Vaikuntha. You must have heard the names of the four holy places: Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath, and Rameshwaram. Of these, Badrinath is the abode of Lord Vishnu. According to legend, it is also called Vaikuntha. It is the abode of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the universe, and is a world of virtue, happiness, and peace.

‘O Arjuna! After attaining the supreme position, men do not return to the world; that self-illuminating supreme position cannot be illuminated by the sun, the moon, or even the fire; that is my ultimate abode.’ – Gita Chapter 15, Verse 6.

“O Arjuna! All the worlds, including the Brahmaloka, are cyclical; but O son of Kunti! Upon attaining me, there is no rebirth, for I am timeless, and all these worlds, including those of Brahma, are temporary, being limited by time.”