ThiruvenkatamudAyAn Vaibhavam & Acharya Kaimkaryam

[Guest guest]

NAVARATHRI 1996, FIRST DAY

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Dear Members of Prapatthi Group :

 

On this auspicous day , I would like to join with you to

celebrate Sri Alamelu Mangaa Sametha Sri Venktachalapathi

and invite your attention to a major Kaimkaryam that needs

your support .

 

May the Divya Dampathi's blessings and Acharya Kataaksham

come your way in an abuduntant manner.

 

Ten AlwArs have performed MangalAsAsanam to ThiruvenkatamudayAn

through 205 moving verses. The only exceptions are Tondaradipodi

and Mathura Kavi .Acharya Natha Muni set those Pasurams to music

and taalam .

 

Before I write about those verses, let me share with

you the Bhagavadh GuNa Anubhavam of many a Nadhopasaka .

They were immersed in the ocean of bliss of the Dayaa of the Lord

of the seven hills and poured out their devotion in many delightful

and soul-stirring Krithis . The chief among them is the Kirtanaacharya

TaLapAkkam Annamaacharya (AD 1408-1503) ,who was initiated

into Sri VaishNavaism in his teens by the First Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt ,

Sri Adi VaN Satakopa Yathi , the founder of the Ahobila Mutt .

At that time , Annamaacharya took a vow to compose and offer

as Nada Naivedyam one krithi per day to Lord Srinivasa .

Annamaacharya lived for 95 tears on this earth and during

that long life , he blessed us with an abundance of Moving krithis

celebrating the Vaibhavam of the Lord of the seven hills and His consort.

Recent article in Sri Vaishnava Journal referred to by

Sri mani Varadarajan has an excellent describtion of this Nadopaasaka.

 

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Of Ahobilam hills was the one who

personally initiated the First Jeeyar of the Ahobila mutt

some six hundred years ago into sanyaasam and gave him

his preksha mantram and Ochre robes and instructed him to

advance Sri Bahgavadh Ramaanuja Siddhaantham across

the length and breadth of India . Today , We have the 45th Jeeyar

of that line of illustrious Sanyaasis following the command of

Bhagavan Narasimha . He is the Parma Hamsa Parivraajaka

NarayaNa Maha Desikan. He will be 71 years in November21 , 1996.

 

Now coming back to the greatness of Lord Narasimha Of

Ahobilam and His links to Lord Srinivasa of Seven hills ,

sthala puraaNam states that the bridegroom Srinivasa

performed a Tadhiyaaraadhanam at Ahobilam and obtained

the blessings of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhan prior to his

marriage with his bride Sri Padmaavathi . The Lakshmi Narasimha

Sambhandham of the Lord of seven hills that blessed the Lord of

Seven hills and the Lakshmi Narasimha Sambhandham of

Adi VaN Satakopa Maha Desikan was instrumental in the birth of

Annamacharya's powerful adhyaatma krithis on The Lord of

Thirumalai .

 

In many of his songs , Annamaacharya visualized

Sriman Narayana presding over Thiruvenkatam hills

in the cosmic form described by the Purusha Sooktham in the four vedas .

In one of these songs , he visualizes the Narasimha Form of Venkatesa

as the cosmic figure with stars as" his waist band ,

sun and moon his eyes , sunrays his weapon,

Vedas as His shaggy mane , the mountains as his feet,

the earth His thighs , the time cycle His mouth,

the planets His teeth, sky His waist ,

seas His Grace-nectar (daya Amtutham ) , Venkataadhri

( the hills of Thirumalai ) his cave and thunder His roars ."

Such is the power of Sri Venkata Narasimhan .

 

The grace of this Dayaa Sindhu inspired Sri Purandara Dasa

( AD 1484-1524) , who closely followed the spiritual pilgrimage

of Annamaacharya . He was a great devotee of Timmappan (Venkatesa's

name in Karnaataka ) . At the drop of a coin , Purandara dasa

would climb the sacred hills to have the Lord's darsanam . I will

write more about his songs on Lord Venkatesa and his special

realtionship with the Lord of seven hills.

 

Other great Nadhopaasakas like Saint Thyagarajaa , Mutthuswami

Dikshithar, Swathi ThirunaaL, and their illustrious sishyaas composed

and dedicated beautiful krithis to Lord Balaaji of seven hills .

 

These songs and the Bhakthi generated from these Harinama Sakeerthanam,

the JanaakarshaNa Yantram established by another great Acharya (Adhi Sankara)

and Sri Ramaanuja's establishment of Paancha Raatra Aaraadhanam there

and the sacred worship of the Lord by generations of aaraadakaas have

resulted in Bhagavan blessing all of us Kali Yuga Varadhan . That Sankata

HaraNa Venkata RamaNan gives his blessed Darsanam to 20,000 people

per day and on special days 50,000 people flock to have his Darsanam .

One of the problems at Thirumalai is to get accomodation

for those , who wish to stay overnight or for extended periods.

Although there are many types of lodging facilities,

still there are not enough accomodations to meet the demand .

 

The current Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt has undertaken to address this problem in

his

own way as a part of celebrating his important anniversary

in service of Sri lakshmi Narasimhan . He wants to extend the

accomodation for Sevaarthis at Thirumalai. He is slightly short of meeting his

financial

goals there . It will be a great blessing for us to take part in this kaimkaryam

and receive Lord Venkata Narasimhan"s Aservaadham and blessings.

 

We have to remember that Lakshmi Narasimha SaaLigraamam

is the Upaasana Murthy for Vaishnavaas , Advaitins and Dvaitins

prior to offering worship for their Ishta daivathams . Hence I appeal to

one and all of you to contribute to this timely kaimkaryam

and receive Lord Lakshmi Narasimhan 's and Venkatachalapathy's

anugrahams . Please mail your tax deductible checks to Sri B. Jagannathan.

of Arlington, Va . I am pledgining $ 100 as my share for this Kaimkaryam today .

 

I will continue with the Vaibhavam of the Lord of Seven hills in

the subsequent postings.

 

Sri Padmavathi Sametha Srinivasa Parabrahmaneh Nama:

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Para Brahmaneh Nama:

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan

[Guest guest]

"V. Sadagopan" <75041.3037, wrote:

 

[ ... ]

>The current Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt has undertaken to address this problem in

>his

>own way as a part of celebrating his important anniversary

>in service of Sri lakshmi Narasimhan . He wants to extend the

>accomodation for Sevaarthis at Thirumalai. He is slightly short of meeting his

>financial

>goals there . It will be a great blessing for us to take part in this

kaimkaryam

>and receive Lord Venkata Narasimhan"s Aservaadham and blessings.

>

 

 

Contributions routed through Sri Ahobila Muth of USA are

100% tax deductible here in the U.S. If you are interested

in contributing, please make your check out to Sri Ahobila Muth,

and mail it to Sri Ahobila Muth, c/o Sri. Jaganath Bharadwaj,

5539 Columbia Pike #808, Arlington, VA 22204. The thirunakshathram

is only about one month away.

 

Thanks,

 

-- Dileepan