PRAKRITAM AZHAGIYA SINGHAR (PART 19)

[Guest guest]

PRAKRITAM AZHAGIYA SINGHAR,

MY ACHARYA, FRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDE (PART 19)

 

Dear Bhagavatas,

Presented below is Part 19 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.

 

This Series will be completed with the next posting viz. Part 20.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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· SWAMI'S SANCHARAMS (Continued)

· Intra City travels:

In a sense, the Sancharams of our Swami had started long before he became

Chinna Jeeyar. On a single day, he was delivering Kalakshepams in different

places separated far and wide from one end of the city to another or even a

suburb, leaving hardly any time to commute. Despite this, he would move with

bewildering rapidity and keep up the times scheduled in each place. This,

without upsetting his Anushtanams!. I have myself traveled with him on several

occasions by Autorikshaws and sometimes by cars provided by one or the other

of his numerous Sishyas.

 

Now, the role is reversed. When I went to Bombay for his Tirunakshatram in

December 1997, he had sent the Matam van to pick us up from the Airport to the

Matam at Chembur.

 

· INTER CITY TRAVELS:

The rapidity with which he hops in his Sancharams nowadays from one city to

another is only too well known. Like Trivikrama who measured the three worlds,

he seems to measure and fill every nook and corner of Bhartavarsha to bless

us all.

 

· INTERCONTINENTAL ?

May be, one day, let us hope, that he commutes between different countries

because America would certainly have come within the compass of the Lord's

measurement. Indeed, he belongs to the entire World and we also desire to

enjoy his proximity!

 

· SRI RAMA AND SWAMI

Sri Rama was sorry to find the Maharishis walking up to him (Padbhyaam

Abhigamaaschaiva) and preferred himself to reach them. Our Swami seems to have

this inner urge and Vaatsalyam to reach us all out as evidenced by the

excitement he and we experienced during his recent Anugraha Baashanam.

 

· KALIYUGA RISHYASRINGAR

Like Rishyasringar who brought rains wherever he went, when our Swami went

once for delivering a discourse on Virata Parvam, torrential rains lashed the

drought affected Tirupati.

 

· SWAMI'S ADMINISTRATIVE ACUMEN

 

· FINANCIAL CONTROL:

The manner in which he manages the affairs of the empire he presides over

needs no introduction. In the olden days, accounting of Sambavanais was left

in the hands of subordinates. After Swami took over, this is done under his

strict personal supervision. Perhaps, Control of finances goes hand in hand

with Control of Indriyas in the case of our Swami ! Raising the financial

position of the Matam from a deep minus to an incredible plus within such a

short period bears ample testimony to this miracle.

 

· PANCHAMRITAM:

In the olden days, subordinates used to handle the fruits and other offerings

in kind offered by the Sishyas. Our Swami so vigilantly ensures that whether

it is Panchamritam or any other Prasadam, it reaches the very last individual

standing at the farthest end of the milling crowd. Such is his concern for the

lowliest and the last of his devotees.

 

· SRAMA DAKSHINAI TO KAINKARYAPARAS:

His raising the Srama Dakshinai (Salary) of Kainkaryaparas when the financial

position of the Matam was in doldrums proves not only his concern for them but

also his courage and confidence in raising the funds needed.

 

· CAN A YATHI BE INTERESTED IN MONEY / WEALTH?

No. Why Yathi alone? None should be. Of course, more so in the case of a

Sannyasi. It is not the acquisition itself but the way it is earned and more

importantly how it is expended that makes or mars the exercise. Sastras permit

both acquisition and expending, if they are done on dharmic lines. This is

especially so in the case of a Rajarishi who has to administer an empire.

 

Mahakavi Kalidasa glorifies Dileepan as a just and fair ruler because like the

Sun, which absorbs water from the ocean and showers on parched earth, he

levied taxes from 'each according to his capacity' and distributed the wealth

to 'each according to his needs'. Similarly, our Swami raises funds from those

who can afford and spends on Narasimha Aradhana, Maintenance of Parijanas,

Tadheeya Aradhanas, Development of Veda Patasalas, Celebration of the

Tirunakshatrams of Alwars and Acharyas, Conduct of Utsavams, Renovation of

Temples and Matam premises for the benefit of Sevaarthis and helping those in

dire distress who come to him for help - both spiritual and material and in

general welfare of the community.

 

· KAVACHAMS FOR PRAHLADA VARADAN

One of the many Kainkaryams our Swami did is the Samarpanam of golden

Kavachams for the Abhaya Hastam, Sanku, Chakram, Gadhai and Tiruvadigal for

Prahlada Varadan at Ahobilam. Sri Setlur Srivatsankachar comments that Sri

Narasimhan should be feeling regret why he displayed only 4 hands. "If as

Kaliyan sang "Alli Maathar Pulga Ninra Aayiram Tholudaiyaan", I had displayed

1000 hands and 1000 feet (Sahasrapaad), our Swami would have adorned all of

them with golden Kavachams" !.

OUR SWAMI'S ACHIEVEMENTS

 

Our Swami's achievements within a short span of 7 years are too numerous and

too well known to be recounted here. To mention a few-

· Removal of illegal occupation of Mutt properties by anti social elements

· Repurchase of valuable properties sold out earlier almost for a song.

· SAVE TRUST: (Sahasrabahu Adhyaapaka and Vedic Endowment Trust.

· SMART TRUST (Sri Malola Academy and Redux Trust)

· SAMRAT TRUST(Sri Ahobila Mutt's Renovation and Tirunakshatra Foundation

· SVRC (Sri Visishtadvaita Research Center's Publications).

· ANNA DHAANA TRUST

· Sri Nrisimha Priya Trust

· Malola Vidwat Sadas

· Kalyana Abhivardhini Sabha at Madurantakam

· Silver Mandapams

· Ahobila Ther ( Chariot)

· Desilting of Pushkarani at Ahobilam

and many many more.

 

(To Continue)

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