FACE TO FACE WITH ACHARYAS - PART II

[Guest guest]

FACE TO FACE WITH ACHARYAS - PART II

 

Dear Bhagavatas,

Hope you have gone through my earlier postings (1) " Dwaraka Darshan and

Darshan at other Kshetrams", (2) "Face to Face with Yathivaras" and (3)

"Face to Face with Acharyas- Part I".

I would like to supply a couple of omissions in the above posts before

proceeding with the

" Face to Face with Acharyas- Part II".

 

POSTING (1) ABOVE: PARTHASARATHY KOIL:

I failed to mention about my visit to the Parthasarathi Koil just before

leaving for USA. It was on 6/6/97 in a mood to take leave. When I reached the

Sanctum Sanctorum through the long winding line, the Bhattachar beckoned , I

thought, someone else but I was surprised it was ME ! And, he was a new

person whom I had not met before. He invited me into the inner enclosure and

performed Archana with a sonorous voice and a cadence that still reverberates

in my ears. IT WAS AS IF THE LORD HAD BLESSED ME BON VOYAGE !I

 

POSTING AT (3) ABOVE : SEVA SWAMI :

I failed to mention that on 13/4/97, Seva Swami asked me to address the large

number of Sevarthis who had assembled there for the Tamil New Year's Day. He

gave me the signal honor of releasing the famous DESIKA SEVA DIARY for the

year Easwara- a diary cum Panchangam cum basic instructions on Anushtanams

etc, which he has been publishing for over several years. And, I Consider

this A RARE PRIVELEGE,INDEED !

 

Again, I failed to mention that on 11/5/97, I was invited to participate in

the Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi at Mani Mandapam, where he expounded, in his

inimitable style, the heritage of Ramanuja Darsanam to which are the proud

heirs.

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FACE TO FACE WITH ACHARYAS - Part II:

Some of those Acharyas left out in the earlier postings are included herein

 

(13) SRI NATTERI RAJAGOPALAN SWAMI

(4,18,25 of 5/97 & 1& 8 of 6/97)

A Senior Officer of the Indian Overseas Bank, Madras, he is the de-facto

Editor of 'SRI RANGANATHA PADUKA" monthly Journal of Srirangam Srimad Andavan

Asramam. I attended all his weekly Kalakshepams at the house of Sri

T.E.Soundararajan, Ambattur. They are based on strict traditional lines with

copious quotations from a wide range of our scriptures and are verily a feat

and a feast to the ardent Srivaishnava community. He published a short write

up on our activities in the Paduka Journal and promised to repeat in future

issues as well.

 

(14) SRIGOSHTIPURAM SWAMI

28/4/97 : Another Grand Old man and a great Anushtatha, he presided over one

of the sessions of the Srivaishnava Aagama Seminar at the University of

Madras on 28/4/97. He gave very valuable info. on the Temple construction

etc. both in the meeting and in private conversations.

14/5/97: Again, I had opportunity to glean into this treasurehouse of info.

when he gave a talk on the efficacy of Kshetradanam in the home of Judge

Ravindra Kannan at Vannanthurai (another great Sishya of our Jeeyar) during

the Tadheeya Aaraadhanam on the successful return from a visit to Muktinath.

He compared the difficulties encountered by PILGRIMs in the olden days and

the facilities (like chopper etc) available to the TOURISTS of today!

 

(15) SRI NAVALPAKKAM SWAMI (20/5/97) :

Perhaps, there can be no Srivaishnava who has not heard of the famous

Navalpakkam Narasimha Thathaarya Mahadesikan Swami whose Centenary was

celebrated on 5/6/97 at Kanchipuram. This Swami is his grandson and a great

Scholar of repute. When I went to Kanchi for Garuda Sevai, he invited me to

his house and requested me to participate in the Centenary celebrations.

Unfortunately, due to other preoccupations, I could not attend. He, however,

showed me rare manuscripts written in the handwriting of the illustrious

grandfather- a stupenduous work comparable to Paramatha Bhangam and

Sathadushani of Swami Desika.

 

(16) SRI SUDARSANA THATHACHAR SWAMI (27/4/97)

Another Nonogenarian devotee of Swami Desika, he is teaching batches of

Vidhyarthis to recite Veda paying them stipends. In spite of his failing

health and falling support, he has been running with an unparellelled

missionary zeal a Veda Parayana Goshti with the help of a dozen Swamis most

of them over 70 years of age to whom he pays a monthly honorarium of

Rs.1000/- each. Sri R.RAJAN and Sri Rajamani of Ahobila Mutt and Sri

Venkatanathan (Rajan's Son-in-law) who is a Sishya of PP Asramam are all

serving as the other Trustees of the project.

 

(17)SRI SRINIVASA THATHACHARYA and SRI SATAKOPA THATHACHARYA (27/4/97)

This duo are the trustees of "Sri Vilakkoli Perumal, Thooppul Vedanta Desika

Nityaradhana Trust". Totally devoted to Kainkaryam, they ensure proper

conduct of daily Poojas and recitals, monthly Sravanam festivals,and Annual

Vidwat Sadas at these temples .

 

(18) SRI N. VASUDEVACHARIAR (10/4/97)

Some of you may remember Maharishi Vasudevachar of SRKM High School. I had

intercated as a Student leader of the strike during Mahatma Gandhi's 'Quit

India' movement and Individual Satyagraha. This N.V. is the grandson of the

Maharishi and is now the Correspondent of the Ahobila Mutt Oriental School,

West Mambalam.With over 1,000 students, this institution has been recognized

as a model not only in conventional courses but also in modern areas like

Computer education. He is a Sishya of Poundarikapuram Asramam and is

rendering excellent service to the cause of education and Religion alike.

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FACE TO FACE WITH SOME SCHOLARS, PHILANTHROPHISTS & FRIENDS- will follow

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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