Navalpaakam Swamigal

[Guest guest]

SRI:

 

Dearest Sri Vijay Srinivasan,

 

Your narration on U.Ve AgnihOthram Navalpaakam Devanatha tathachaya

Swami was very much heartfelt. I am also forunate to be from that place

(my grandmother is from Navalpaakam and my Grandfather studied in

Navalpaakam). It is indeed a loss for SrivaishNavam in this swami's

demise. He was a Great observer of VanaprasthAshramand achAra

anushtAnams.

 

that reminds me of an incident (as narrated to me by my father). Once,

(some years back), the Former kanchi sankarAchAryA (mahaperiyavaaL)

desired to visit Navalpaakam, its temple and the Swami. he wrote a

letter to him saying that he will be visiting on his way to somewhere

else. Swami had high regards for SankarAcharyA while he felt embarassed

to receive him for two reasons.

 

1.it is customary for one to fall at the feet of sanyaasi. (irrespective

of age) as per the saasthrA;

 

2.A sanyaasi, as per our RamAnujA traditions (VishitAdvatic traditions),

shall wear a pooNool and perform sandhyAvandhanam. While advaitin

sanyaasis do not wear the upaveedham(pooNool) and do not perform sandhi

as well (since they argue that they renounce EVERYTHING- that 's not the

point- we are not arguing here).

 

Hence, Swami, was embarassed and was wondering how to pay respects and

still follow the traditions. He wrote a note explaining the RamanujA

traditions and his position of not being able to receive the

SankaracharyA. (and Swami went to ILangaadu, a nearby place).

 

SankarAchArya, Maha periyavaaL, fully understood the position of Swami,

(since he himself was a Great Mahaan).

 

Later, while there was a journailst interviewing SankarAchArya, it

appears he mentioned to the reporter that there is a 100% perfect Swami,

who is stricitly following VAnaprasthAshram and is staying at

Navalpaakkam. The reporter also paid a visit to Navalpaakkam to pay his

obeisance to our dearest Swami.

 

Also, when his name was chosen for being conferred the most coveted

President's award, he refused to go to Delhi, as that will neccessitate

him to travel by train, and change his anushtAnams, etc.. The award was

brought to him at his place from Delhi.

 

A Great mahaan. A Great Swami. (and was aptly admired by none other than

SankarAchArya, in addition to all vaishnava peetAdhpathis, of course)

 

 

Ram Ram

 

With Best Regards

 

NarayaNa dAsan madhavakkannan

 

 

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