Srisaila Purna

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatti Group,

 

I read with interest the notes on Sri SrisailapurNa by Mani and

Sri Koti Sreekrishna. The articles were very informative and

insightful. Thus far we have been blessed by a number of

significant and insightful contributions from scholars like

Srimans Sadagopan, Mani, Dileepan, Rengarajan, Kalale, Sreekrishna,

Jaganath and Anbil Ramaswamy. I hope to see more of the same in the

future.

 

I also want to congratulate Srimans Dileepan, Sadagopan, Ramaswamy, Rengarajan,

and Jaganath for their efforts in putting together an excellent

first issue of the North American Narasimhapriya (NANP). All the

articles in this issue of NANP are outstanding. I was particularly touched

by Sri Jaganath's article on MahavisvAsam (i.e., the unquestioning

faith and belief that the Lord Narayana will take care of the Prapanna

under all circumstances). MahavisvAsam is an extremely

important Angam of Prapatti. This has been demonstrated time and again

by Prapannas like Dhruva, Prahlada, Ambarisha, Gajendra, Hanuman,

Garuda, Vasudeva (Lord Krishna's father), all our Azhwars, Acharyas and

Purvacharyas. Jaganath, that was an excellent article.

 

Sri Dileepan reminded me in a private note that today is the

Tirunakshatram of Sri Adivan Sadagopa Mahadesikan, the founding Jeeyar of

Srimad Ahobila Matham. Below are some reflections on the life of this

Acharya.

 

The Acharya's life was another instance of unquestioning

obedience to the Lord's command. Known as Kidambi Srinivasacharya

(in his Purvashrama), while he was at the Ashramam of his Guru,

he saw the Lord in a dream one night. The Lord commanded him to

proceed to Ahobilam and establish the Matham for worship of Sri

Malolan. The puzzled Srinivasacharya narrated this dream to his

Guru, who advised him to follow Bhagavan's command.

 

Accordingly, Sri Srinivasacharya set out on his mission to establish the

Matham. Unknown to him, Lord Malolan appeared in a dream to the

tribal chief living near Ahobilam and instructed him to make all

arrangements for Sri Srinivasacharya to establish the Matham. The

tribal chief obeyed Bhagavan's command and provided Sri Srinivasacharya

all the necessary resources (man-power, money, construction materials,

place of residence etc.). Malola Bhagavan appeared before the Acharya in the

form of a Sanyasi and initiated him into Sanyasa. He was bestowed with the

name "Sri Adivan Sadagopa Mahadesikan". The Acharya then wondered what

Vigraham to have for the Utsava Murthy of the Matham. He meditated on

Lord Narasimha and lo and behold a vigraham of Malola Lakshmi Narasimhar

came flying into his hand. It is now the established tradition of the

Matham for all the Jeeyars to carry this Vigraham wherever they travel.

 

The Acharya made a pilgrimage to several Kshetrams (Tirupati, Srirangam,

and Kanchi to name a few). In each place he performed extraordinary

Sevai for Lord Narayana. There was a king from Orissa (Kalinga in those

times) who was driven out of his kingdom by Muslim invaders. The king

requested the Acharya for help to recover his kingdom. The Acharyan

meditated upon Lord Narasimha and blessed the king. A pride of lions

attacked the Muslim rulers. Fearing for their lives, the Muslim invaders

fled Kalinga. Thus, by the grace of Lord Malolan, Kalinga was restored to

its rightful owner. The king of Kalinga expressed his gratitude to

the Acharya by inviting the latter to his kingdom making all arrangements to

help the Acharya in his performance of "Narayana Seva".

 

Acharyan Tiruvadigale Sharanam,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy