Vaikuntha (), also called Vishnuloka (), is the abode of Vishnu, the supreme deity in the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism,Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism (1996). and his consort, Lakshmi, the supreme goddess of the sect.
According to Ramanuja, Vaikuntha is the Parama Padam or Nitya Vibhuti, an "eternal heavenly realm", and is the "divine imperishable world that is God's abode". In Vaishnava literature, Vaikuntha is described as the highest realm above the fourteen lokas (worlds), and the place where the devotees of Vishnu go upon achieving liberation. It is guarded by the twin deities, Jaya and Vijaya, the dvarapalakas, or gatekeepers of Vaikuntha. The army of Vishnu, stationed at Vaikuntha, is led by Vishvaksena. The planets of Vaikuntha are described as being full of golden palaces and hanging gardens that grow fragrant fruits and flowers.
The planets of Vaikuntha begin 26,200,000 yojanas (209,600,000 miles) above Satyaloka. This does not refer to physical distance. In most of the extant Puranas and Vaishnava traditions, Vaikuntha is located in the direction of the Makara rashi, which corresponds with the constellation of Capricorn. One version of the cosmology states that Vishnu's eye is present at the south celestial pole, from where he watches the cosmos.
Literature
Vedas The Vedas do not mention Vaikuntha, but a verses in the Rigveda allude to Vishnu's potential abode:Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: With a Short Life Sketch of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Ideal Preacher of Bhāgavata-dharma, and the Original Sanskrit Text, Its Roman Transliteration, Synonyms, Translation and Elaborate Purports 11, Part 4.Rigveda (1.22.20)
Bhagavata Purana Vaikuntha and its characteristics are described in the Bhagavata Purana, a revered text in Vaishnavism, which was composed between the eighth and the tenth century CE, and maybe as early as the 6th century CE.Bryant, Edwin Francis, (2007). Krishna: A Sourcebook, Oxford University Press.
American Indologist Edwin Bryant, in his book from 2003, comments about the verses describing Vaikuntha in the text of Bhagavata Purana:
Translation of some verses in Canto 2, by Bibek Debroy:
It is also said that Vaikuntha is the liberated world or the world after moksha.
Narayana Upanishad The Narayana Upanishad mentions the abode:
Brihad Bhagavatamrita The Brihad Bhagavatamrita paints a picture of Vishnu's activities at Vaikuntha:
Tiruvaymoli In the work of Nammalvar, Vaikuntha is referred to as Tirunatu (sacred land) in the Tamil literary tradition. In Sri Vaishnava tradition, this abode is listed as the one hundred and eighth, and the last of the Divya Desams, the divine realms of Vishnu on earth and beyond. The verses of the Tiruvaymoli describe this abode as the following:
See also Kailasha Satyaloka Kshira Sagara Lakshmi Narayana Goloka Vrindavana Vaikuntha Chaturdashi
References
Bibliography Dallapiccola, Anna. Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. . Gail, Adalbert J. 1983. "On the Symbolism of Three- and Four-Faced Vishnu Images: A Reconsideration of Evidence." Artibus Asiae 44(4):297–307. pp. 298–99.