Kainkarya Tilakam

[Guest guest]

Anbil Ramaswamy

President

Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam

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Dear Bhagavatas,

 

I have great pleasure in placing on record that Sriman Sadagopan, who is the

Senior Vice-President of our "Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam"(SDDS) acted as

the Chairman of the just concluded "Venkateswara Mahima" Conference held under

the aegis of Sri Venkateswara Temple, Pittsburgh during 23-24 May 1998.

 

You know that he has been making monumental efforts to translate Stotras and

Mantras, for the benefit of us, who have no means to reach for the

traditional Vyakhyanams of Poorva and Prakritam Acharyas. It was in

recognition of this, We conferred on him, in the first ever Srivaishnava

Conference held by SDDS at Buffalo in December 1996, the title " Bhagavad

Ramanuja Darsana Taatparya Saardhulam" (Tiger in translation of the works

relating to Bhagavad Ramanuja Darsanam).

 

Even in the Internet, we are puzzled at the bewildering rapidity with which he

comes up with his explanations to any query by anyone - revealing at once his

depth of erudition and anxiety to share with us all that he knows.

 

As Chairman of the Conference, he had to introduce each one of the speakers /

artists and end up with a word of thanks before summoning the next one. Though

this is a routine affair, he sublimated a mere ritual into something enjoyable

and unforgettable what with his choice phrases employed with consummate

effect.

 

In view of the already existing title, this one may be very little.

 

HOWEVER, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY WELCOME THE PROPOSAL TO CONFER ON HIM THE TITLE OF

"KAINKARYA TILAKAM" AS WELL.

 

However, I wish to point out another dimension.

 

When Nikita Kruschev visited India, he was taken to see the Taj Mahal. He was

not amazed at its grandeur. Instead, his heart went out to offer a glowing

tribute to the sweat, toil and trouble of the unwept, unhonored, unsung

artists and artisans who labored to make the Taj one of the Seven Wonders of

the World. And, the famous writer, Kalki once wrote about the Government

servants as the very foundation of Government, without which the structure of

Government would collapse.

 

Similarly, we will be failing in our duty, if we do not record our gratitude

to -

 

1) the participants who came from far and wide (literally performing a Cross-

country travel from San Diego on the West Coast to New York on the east Coast)

incurring enormous expense.

2) Each one of the speakers / artists who invested valuable time and energy

for nearly two months in preparing their presentations with such meticulous

care to be in tune with the theme of the Conference.

3) Those who voluntarily took up on themselves the various chores (big or

small) to make the event such a grand success.

4) Those who volunteered to provide food and accommodation to the

participants.

 

Each one of these Bhagavatas did all this work with single-minded devotion and

dedication, purely as "Bhagavad Samarpanam". I honestly feel that each one of

them deserves to be individually recognized as " KAINKARYA TILAKAM".

 

In organizing a Conference like this, the Organizer is like the "father of the

bride" in an Indian wedding. He has to consider all the guests as if they were

his "Sambandhis", arrange beforehand for receiving them, for transport,

accommodation and food besides looking after their other comforts (especially,

those attending with ladies and kids) to make their sojourn as comfortable as

possible. He should be all eyes and all ears on all that is happening not only

on the stage but everywhere, lest anything amiss should mar the function. For

this, he should have a band of trusted volunteers whom he should constantly

consult (not as subordinates in charge of micro-management but as peers) and

keep a watchful eye on their requirements and promptly arrange to provide the

same. This was done ably and adequately by volunteers like Sriman Sampath

Rengarajan (who was seen always on his toes).

 

In view of these, it would be most appropriate to confer on Sriman Sampath

Rengarajan the title of "KAINKARYA TILAKAM".

 

It is understood that only the 1st half of the first day's proceedings were

videotaped. It is unfortunate that the brilliant expositions contained in the

presentations of 5 speakers in the 2nd half were not taped. This is the best

part of the whole conference in many ways. (It may be recalled that there were

only about 10 speakers in the whole conference). I hope that the Conference

Chairman would take steps to retrieve the missing portions by using his good

offices with the temple authorities, which were also taping the events.

 

I am not venturing to post a summary of events because, I am sure, that the

Conference Chairman will be posting the same very soon.

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy