Adyayana Utsavam in Chicago (24 Dec 98 - 01 Jan 99)

[Guest guest]

The following note is from my father (Sri VP Srinivasa Varadan)

visiting from India.

 

ADYAYANA UTSAVAM AT SRI VENKATESWARA TEMPLE _ AURORA, Illinois

-----------------------------

The adhyayana Utsavam celebrated at Sri Venkateswara Temple,

Arora between 24th December to 1st January 1999 was an

unique occasion, I was blessed to attend. Though the

Utsavam was conducted for eight days as against the

traditional twenty one days, all the essentials of the

Utsavam were meticulously observed. The Pagal Pathu

with recitation of first 2000 verses of Nalayeram, the

Rappathu with recitaion of Thiruvaimozi and the Alwar

thiruvadi thozal and the recitation of Earppa and

Ramanusa Noorranthadi on the last day were befittingly

arranged. The invocation with Guruparampara Thyanam

and Nysa Dasakam both in the morning and in the

evening session was appropriate to be emulated.

 

The arrangement of placing Perumal with Ubaya

Nachimars and Nammalvar, Emberumanar and Swami Desikan

in the Utsava Mandapam was as if in any Divya Desam

at South India. The special pushpa alankaram everyday

by Mrs Chitra Madhavan and the Mohini alankaram and

Vaikuntanathar alankaram made by Archakas (Preist Jaganathachari)

virtually captivated the devotees. The procession

of Lord in the morning and in the close of the day

with chanting of Veda Ghosham provided the devotees

the opportunity to witness and enjoy the festival.

 

During the Adhyayana Utsavam, the Lord hear the

Nalayera Divya Prabhandams of Alwars in the company of

His Consorts and all the Alwars and Acharyas. During this

festival no other festival or any other activity is conducted.

Thus the exclusiveness of this festival. The celebra-

tion enhances the prestige of the Temple in as much as

the Temple is qualified for the noted Ehis (Jeeyars)

and Acharya Purushas will be inclined to partake

ThirthaPrasadams. The presence of Nammalwar and Bhagvad Ramanuja

in the temple is testified by the celebration of Adyayana Utsavam.

The Special Kanthi or Brightness with smile (punmuruval)

after witnessing the Ghoshti and hearing the lucid

prabhandams was conspicously noticed in the face of the

Lord by most of the Rasikas who participated in the Utsavam.

 

Knowing the significance of the Utavam, devotees from

far flung areas like

Denver (SS Srinivas Varadan, SS Mohan Sagar and Mrs Madhuri Sagar)

Ralli, North Carolina (Sri Ramesh Sarangapani)

California, SF (Sri Mani Varadarajan),

Detriot (Sri Sampath Rangarajan and Family)

Milwaukee (Sri Sriram and Mrs Manju Sriram)

Sri VenuGopal swami and sri Govindarajan Swami

attended the utsavam and participated in the Ghoshti.

 

Having come from New Delhi, I did not expect that the

adyayana Utsavam will take place with the attendance

of such devoted Adhikaris in large number. The recitation

of pasurams was of very high order which one can notice

at special DivyaDesams in South India.

 

My earnest wish and prayer to Lord Sri Venkateshwara is to

bless such festivals to be a regular feature with more and more

participation.

 

Special thanks to SS Raghavan, Krishanmachari, Ranganathan

and others in Chicago who have taken the initiative and

interest in organizing the utsavam.

 

Thanks to the Ladies who organized the prasadams to Lord and

also to all Bhagavatas on all days.

 

VP Srinivasa Varadan.

Native of Kancheepuram.

[Guest guest]

Dan Pattangi wrote:

> The following note is from my father (Sri VP Srinivasa Varadan)

> visiting from India.

>

>

>

> During the Adhyayana Utsavam, the Lord hear the

> Nalayera Divya Prabhandams of Alwars in the company of

> His Consorts and all the Alwars and Acharyas. During this

> festival no other festival or any other activity is conducted.

> Thus the exclusiveness of this festival. The celebra-

> tion enhances the prestige of the Temple in as much as

> the Temple is qualified for the noted Ehis (Jeeyars)

> and Acharya Purushas will be inclined to partake

> ThirthaPrasadams. The presence of Nammalwar and Bhagvad Ramanuja

> in the temple is testified by the celebration of Adyayana Utsavam.

> The Special Kanthi or Brightness with smile (punmuruval)

> after witnessing the Ghoshti and hearing the lucid

> prabhandams was conspicously noticed in the face of the

> Lord by most of the Rasikas who participated in the Utsavam.

>

 

I would like to join Sri Srinivasa Varadan Swamy in expressing my

thanks and compliments to all the good bhAgavathas in the Chicago area

for organizing such a magnificent and spiritually inspiring event.

 

Despite the fact that I am only just beginning to understand the wisdom

of our satsAmpradayam, and am only taking very small steps to learn a

few things, I had the bhAgyam of also being able to see the smile on

Perumal's face when He saw the gathering of bhAgavathas who had come

from all parts of the country to perform kainkaryam to Him.

 

I must also express what a joy it was to speak with Sri Srinivasa

Varadan. His scholarly and humane demeanor and level of wisdom show

him to be a true SriVaishnava in every sense. Although we were able to

speak for only a short time in between the busy set of activities

surrounding the utsavam, what I learned from him was personally

inspiring.

 

I would, once again, like to express my sincere thanks and compliments

to all of you in the Chicago area who made this event such an inspiring

one for both Madhuri and me.

 

I would also like to encourage the members of this and other forums to

support our fellow bhAgavathas in Chicago in making next year's

adhyAyana utsavam an even grander event.

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

 

Mohan