SDDS Announcements on Swami Desikan's Tirunakshatram day(1st October 1998)

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas,

 

SDDS

You will remember that the Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam (SDDS) was formed on

Swami Desika's Tirunakshatram day in 1996. This led to the first ever

Srivaishnava Conference in USA within 3 months in December 1996 at Buffalo.

The light that was lit then has lit many more lamps with successive meets in

different places like Pomona, Denver, Pittsburgh, again Pomona and the one

proposed at Dallas in December this year.

 

PRE SARANAGATHI ISSUES

We are glad to inform you that during the period of one year from October 1996

to October 1997, the SDDS had published about 70 issues. Now, Sri Venkatesh K.

Elayavalli has kindly commenced archiving these "PRE-SARANAGATHI" issues (the

forerunner of Saranagathi journal issues) in his Web Page

"www://srivaishnava.org." under " SARANAGATHI JOURNAL" itself. He has archived

the first 6 issues today (being the Tirunakshatram day of Swami Desikan). He

will be incorporating other issues shortly.

 

You may kindly view all these at this site. We will be glad to have your

feedback and constructive comments.

 

SARANAGATHI JOURNAL ISSUES

As you know, the Journal was named as "SARANAGATHI" In October 1997, with

Sriman Sadagopan as the Editor-in-Chief and Sriman Sampath Rengarajan as the

Associate Editor. The issues released from October 1997 to date have already

been incorporated in the Web Page.

 

SWAMI DESIKA SAMPRADAYA PAADA THITTAM

The question that has been bothering us during all these Conferences is as to

how to inculcate our Siddhantam to the kids born and / or growing up elsewhere

than India.

Frankly, the problem can be attributed (at least partly) to the fact that the

parents themselves have not had the proper exposure to the Satsampradayam

either because they had no opportunity or interest (when they did have the

opportunity) or have been totally cut off from their moorings in India. The

best way is for the parents to educate / refresh themselves in our traditional

Sampradayams, strictly observe them in day to day life setting an example for

the kids and impart them to the younger generation.

 

The problem is not peculiar to those outside India. Even in India, this need

is felt acutely. Sri Seva Swami, Presidential Awardee and founder of Mani

Mandapam temple in Villiwakkam, Madras and Editor of Desika Seva Monthly and

Desika Darsana Diary cum Panchangam , etc., has pioneered a scheme called "

SRI DESIKA SAMPRADAYA PAADA THITTAM'" and has released two booklets of graded

lessons and will be releasing the third one today in India. He has permitted

me to utilize the material for educating the kids here. I am in the process of

writing similar lessons on the basic concepts in simple English to be easily

assimilated by the kids (including parents, in some cases)! The Lesson # 1 on

"ACHARYAN" is included in Issue # 21 of Saranagathi Journal being released.

 

SANDHYAVANDANAM

We all perform Prathah Sandhya Vanadanam. Maadhya Ahnikam and Saayam Sandhya

Vandanam At least, we are supposed to perform daily and without fail these

Nitya Karma Anushtanams! But, how many of us who perform, do this consciously

knowing the meanings of what they do? We do by rote in a routine, mechanical

manner. Any recitation would be more efficacious, if uttered knowing its

meaning than by mechanical repetition. How many of us can claim to know the

meanings of the various recitations we recite in our daily chores? Some may

know the 'What ' and the 'How ' but may not know the ' Why ' and ' What they

mean.' This has been another issue referred to us frequently by so many

readers. We propose to start a series explaining these less dealt with aspects

providing Word by Word meanings to help a better understanding and proper

observance.

 

EXPECT THE BEST AND THE PRACTICAL FROM THE SDDS & SARANAGATHI

 

If you are not already a member, enroll by sending TODAY an e. mail to any one

of the following:

Ramanbil

Sgopan

srengara

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

President, SDDS and

Chairman, Editorial Board, Saranagathi