PRAKRITAM AZHAGIYA SINGHAR(PART 15)

[Guest guest]

PRAKRITAM AZHAGIYA SINGHAR,

MY ACHARYA, FRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDE (PART 15)

 

Dear Bhagavatas,

Presented below is Part 15 on the above subject being excerpts from my talk

during the 600th Anniversary Celebrations of Ahobila Matam held at New York

during the first week of September 1998.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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SANNYASA SWEEKARANAM:

 

· THE LETTER THAT CLINCHED:

About 20 years ago, on the Panguni Dwadasi day in the year Pingala, our Swami

had just then returned home after a visit to Melpakkam Swami for consulting

him on some doubts on the Ahnika Grantam which he was printing. A telegram

followed by a telephone call was received requiring him to come immediately

for doing Tiruvaradanai. When our Swami went to pay his respects to the

Azhagiyza Singhar, he was asked to give a discourse on Easwara Saadhaka

Anumaanam in Sastra Yonitvaadi Adhikaranam of Sribashyam. When after finishing

the discourse, our Swami took leave, the Jeeyar asked Natteri Santhanam "Did

we call him only to send him off? Bring that letter and give it to him". The

letter was from a Tennacharya Swami who had great regard for Sri Sannidhi. He

had suggested therein that while he was in good health itself, the Azhagiya

Singhar should make arrangements for installing his successor at once,

 

· THE ORDER :

On the following Amavasya day, due to sudden illness, the Jeeyar summoned and

asked our Swami to do Abigamana Aradanai after which he addressed our Swami

that he should henceforth take over the Abigamana Aradanai to Malolan. (Which

means he should take over the mantle of the Peetam). When our Swami submitted

"Adiyen Asakthan", the Jeeyar ordered in the presence of all and Malolan "Na

Utharam Vaktum Arhasi" (Accept without any pleas to the contrary !).

 

· SEND OFF BY SISHYAS:

It was a sight for Gods to see when thousands of his Kalakshepa Sishyas

thronged at his house at # 5, Srinivasa Iyer Street Extension, West Mambalam

to give a historical send off to our Swami from Grihastaasrama to

Sannyasaasrama. Our Swami 'appeared' to take it easy in spite of the fact that

he had lived an enviably happy married life with a loving wife and three

obedient sons and members of the family.

 

· SEND OFF BY HIS WIFE:

More than the send off by the Sishyas, it is the one given by Swami's wife who

had lived with him devotedly for over 46 years that deserves special mention.

Addressing our Swami she said "En Manathaik Kallaakki Konden; Neengalum Ungal

Manathaik Kallaakkik Kollungal" meaning "I have made up mind; You make up

yours". Listening to these words, our Swami did not look back and left his

home finally. The conflict of emotions surging in their hearts and the

exemplary way in which both controlled their minds at that momentous moment

beggar description. Indeed, Mami was an epitome of composure. But, the Mami

who said she had hardened her mind could not bear the separation for long. She

attained Paramapadam within a year and a half after our Swami took Sannyasam.

 

· A PRELUDE TO THE MEGA EVENT:

Before the mega event, our Swami, wanted to visit Desikan Sannidhi at Thoopul

and several other Divyadesams like Kanchipuram, Tirupati, Sriperumpudur,

Tiruvaheendrapuram etc. Adiyen had arranged for a van to take the Kalakshepa

Goshti members to accompany our Swami in his itenirary - an unforgettable

experience indeed.

 

· "I SURRENDER AT YOUR FEET"

On the day he arrived after the visits to various shrines, Srirangam wore a

festive look. All the roads from the Rajagopuram to the Ahobila Matam premises

were filled with a milling crowd, surging forward to receive our Swami. On

reaching the Matam, our Swami paid obeisance to Azhagiya Singhar and told him

"Tyaktvaa Putraamscha Dhaaraams Cha Bhavantham Saranam Gatah" - "Leaving wife,

family and everything I surrender at your feet"

 

· JEEVA SRADDHAM:

It was a Dwadasi day. The great day had arrived for performing Jeeva

Sraddham. Under the patronage and immediate presence of Paravaakkottai Sri

Goplala Desika Maha Desikan of Poundarikapuram Asramam, Ganapadi Vaduvur

Desikachariar Swami, Sri Melpaakkam Swami and other Vidwat Sreshtas commenced

the preparations from 8 a.m. onwards.

 

Around 3.p.m, Our Swami declared raising his hands over his head that from

that moment, he had given up everything he deemed his own - wife, children,

relatives, wealth (not much of it, though). When he was saying this, one could

palpably see the limp in his throat choking his voice but at the same time one

could also notice a firm determination to surrender everything at the feet of

Malolan. Not a drop of tear from his eyes though tears rolled down from the

eyes of the onlookers who were visibly moved.!

 

As required, the Swami had to fast and keep awake the whole night. Our Swami

kept himself awake listening to the Kalakshepams of other Swamis and chatting

with some of us. There were some media people who were asking him several

questions like what he proposed to do in his new role. He replied that it

would be sufficient if he could preserve the rich heritage bequeathed to him

and he did not propose to do anything novel or revolutionary. When another

reporter asked what he thought of the Kainkaryams the then Chief Minister was

doing for the temples in Tamilnadu, he replied that it was too early to

comment. Thus, was the night spent without rest for him (and for us too)

 

(To Continue)