Nammalvar Tirunakshatram @ Singapore

[Guest guest]

Sri Nammazhvaar Thiru Nakshathiram Celebrations at Simhapuri,

29.05.99 (Visaakam).

 

At the Temple

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

 

The day started with 70 to 80 Bhagavathaas congregating as early

as 6am at Sri Srinivasa Perumaal temple onwards (Adiyen was happy

to be the first person at temple, since I had to spend until 3am

on a Tapeout at work and had to go home to start a happy day)

with almost every one of them in Madisaar and Panchakacham (many

with Urdhva Pundram). There were excellent arrangements made at

the temple for Thirumanjanam of Sri Sudarsana / Sri Nrusimhan

followed by that for Sri Srinivasar and Ubaya Naachiyaar. The

temple was reverberating with Mangala Vadhyam of Nadaswaram and

Thavil to the tune of "Bhaavayaami Raghuraamam".

 

Initially the Thirumanjanam was supposed to be for Perumaal first

and then Chakrathaazhvaar. But at the last minute the temple

swapped due to the late arrival of Ubhayathaarar. But it was a

Bhagavath Leela, since Nammazhvaar Sannidhi is on the ramparts of

Sri Chakrathaazhvaar Sannidhi, and it was a divine atmosphere for

us Bhagavathaas to wish "Happy Birthday" to Sri Nammazhvaar

first.

 

The day started off with this Bhagavathaa Ghoshti of Acharya

Thaniyangal, Thirupalliezhucchi, Thiruppavai, Neerattam,

Thirukappu, Poochootal, Amalan Aathipiraan, Varanamayiram,

Kanninun Sirutthaambu and Thiruvaimozhi. The whole temple was

filled with Mangala Dwani, reminding us of Sri Raama

Pattabhisheka Mahothsavam.

 

The temple authorities were filled with so much joy, that they

were talking about Simhapuri NAMA with great happiness to

visitors around. To express their happiness and that of

Sri Nammazhvaar, they offered "Divya Sevai" to all of us and

"Perumaal's Vasthram, Parivattam" to our Thiruvaimozhi Naarayana

Dasar, Sri Madhava Kannan. There could be no greater joy, than

witnessing this event.

 

Then after a short Sri Vaishnava breakfast there were two "Tharai

Vimaanam" (Aircon Buses), ready to ply us to National University

of Simhapuri, around 9am.

 

At the Hall

-----------

 

The hall was richly decorated with "Izhai Koelam" and several

"Divya Vasthukkal". All of us have to quickly put up the "Sri

Vaishnava Banner" and the pictures of all Azhvaars and prominent

Acharyans for a visual treat. Everyone was feeling a Wedding

like atmosphere and Bhagavad NAMA was in everybody's hearts.

 

Srimukham

---------

 

Sri Madhava Kannan was standing with folded hands and started

reading aloud the "Sri Mukhams" we have received from "Sri

Poundareeka Puram Sri Gopala Desikan Swami", "Srimad Ahobila

Mutt" and "Sri Nanguneri Vaanamaamali Jeeyar". Thanks to Sri

Madhava Kannan, Sri Sridharan and Sri Amal Narasimhan(grandson of

Estate Srinivasan) for procuring such Divya Mangalaasasanam for

Simhapuri. We also read aloud the Srimukham of the Denver NAMA

convention. Personally, Adiyen was mellowed to hear the words of

"Sri Poundareekapuram Andavan" swami. This great Acharya("Sri

Gopaala Mahadesikan"), showered his blessings on all of us, and

noted that our Agenda had "Sandhya Vandanam". He was joyous that

Bhagavathaas, abroad, still hold to these essential

Karmaanushtaanam. He quoted Pramaanas to exclaim (his words are

enough as Pramaanas), those who fail Nithya Karmas, hold Nithya

Theetu, more unholier than a women undergoing menstrual periods.

The other Acharyas words reflected the same sentiment and

showered these lower Jeevathamaas with their blessings.

 

Greatness of Alwars

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

 

This session was reverberating with excerpts from the Azhvaar's

life, the Pradhaana Grantha's and Mangalaasasanam of these Nithya

Suris. This session had a great number of parama

Bhagavathaas(Sri Anand, Sri Mukundan, Sri Ravikumar, Sri Uppli

Sridhar, Sri Achuthan) who spoke on our Azhvaars. The children

were enacting the incidents in our Alwaar's life such as,

"Madhurakaviyaar questioning his Acharyan, Sri Nammazhvaar,

Etthai thinru engay kidakkum?", "Thirupaanazhvaar's Mukthi

incident with Amalanaathipiraan", "Soodi Kodutha Sudarkodi

Vaibhavam, with kutti Andaal Sri Hari hardly 11 months old in all

smiles for the act".

 

Sri Vaishnava Lunch catered from the Temple

 

Evolution of Vaishnavam, Leading a life as a Sri Vaishnava,

Importance of Vedas

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

 

Here Adiyen started with a short summary of Rig Veda as a seed

for Sri Vaishnavam, gradually tracing it down to Bhagavad Geetha,

and our Acharyas Words, to show their is no duality between the

Pramaanas and Sri Vaishnavam. Sri Madhava Kannan, continued with

his eloquent rendering of Thiruvaimozhi and talked about Sri

Vaishnavam, and how our Alwaars have set a great example, for us

to follow. He richly added Alwars words "like Ponnai Kondu Urai

kal Meeday" to explain the effect of Ashtakshara on our tongues,

"En Seivaen Ulagathiraey" the impact on seeing/hearing our Lord.

Sri Mahesh spoke beautifully on Vedas, with recitals of several

slokas indicating Parathvam of Sriman Naarayanan. He also

touched upon the importance of Vedic learning with quotes from

"Siksha Valli".

 

Gajendra Moksham

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

 

Smt Praveena Anand, a shining example for other ladies(the couple

had her Bhaara Nyasam with Srimad Azhagiya Singhar a few months

back and always present themselves with Divya roopam of

Madisaar/Panchakacham-Pundaram) and has embarked on delivering

beautiful Upanyaasams reflecting the views of our Poorvacharyas.

The word "Aathimoolamae" is still reverberating in our ears, and

hearing Praveena was bringing us to Sri Kulasekhara Alwar's days.

She concluded Gajendra Moksham with an appeal of reciting

Bhagavad Naama at all times("Sri Hari", "Govinda", "Madhu

Suudhana").

 

Question and Answer Session

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

 

Here Sri Madhavan spent some time, in chairing a panel, to answer

Saathvic questions relating to Sri Vaishnavam, and also made an

appeal to Sri Sarangapaani Perumaal Kaimkaryam(NAMA Simhapuri has

an initial pledge close to S$2000 towards this cause and towards

Araiyar's Kaimkaryam a similar amount, the bulk of it coming from

our own Sri Madhavan's Sathvika hridayam).

 

Children's Sloka recital and painting of Dasavathaara pictures

The children took turns in reciting slokas. Adiyen was surprised

to see playful small kids reciting slokas like "Gopaala Vimsathi"

beautifully and effortlessly. Emperumaan's kataksham was fully

with us.

 

Nrithyam

--------

 

Sow.Prahaelika Sridhar & Sow.Kanchana Sridhar danced as Perumaal

and Kothai Nachiyaar for "Vaaranamairam" and they were competing

with Padmini and Rahini, since their hearts were filled with

Bhakthi.

 

Sri Krishna Premi's Upanyasam(Audio Cassette)

 

Poorthi

-------

 

Sri Narasimhan's father, who appeared as Sriman Naarayanan

himself, for us, blessed the occassion and exclaimed his joy in

seeing the apparently young Bhagavathaas engaged in Divya

Kaimkaryam and Kalakshepams.

 

Dinner

------

 

The meticulous and magnificient efforts of Sri Narasimhan's

family is the jewel in the crown of Perumaal for the whole

function. From hall to food arrangements the family had taken

great efforts. The ladies in their family, did not even count on

anyone to help with "Elai poduthal"(laying the leaves) to "Suttha

Paduthuthal"(removing the leaves and cleaning the place), and I

was watching with amazement their doing the chores with greatest

devotion and happiness. It was Adiyen's Parama Bhagyam to be one

among the many to serve the last Panthi(seating) to these great

Bhagavathaas. Sri Narasimhan's absence(he was in USA), was

missed in our hearts and not physically felt, due to his great

family. After the Dinner, the Tharai Vimaanam, was ready for

picking up the Bhagavathaas to some central pick-up points in

Simhapuri.

 

Overall the event was Joyous, Memorable and bringing us the

complete grace of Sri Nammazhvaar.

 

Namoh Naarayana! Nammazhvaar Thiruvadigalay Charanam!

 

Adiyen,

 

Sudarsan

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

Dearest Sisters and Brothers,

 

Sri Sudharshan's BhAgawtha abhimanam and Bhagavadh anubhavam is great.

His words about the event is very true! (except for what

he has written about this "naayinum kadaiyEn". )

 

It is Bhagavadh anugraham and AchArya's grace that the event

went off successfully.

 

Just supplements to Sri Sudharshan's post:

 

1. Sri Sridhar spoke excellently on "Parathvam and

Sowlabhyam"- an interesting topic, quite enjoyable! His narration on

any topic has always been nice.

 

2. Sri Anand's talk on necessity of SandhyAvandhanam and Samashrayanam

was lucid and informative, referring more of scientific principles and

philosophical

insight, also explaining the saatvika thyagam.

 

(It was a great sight to see at 12.00 noon Srivaishnavas with sthalis for

performing Madyaanikam, and at 6.00 p.m for saayam sandhyavandhanam)

 

3. Divine, blissful, excellent, - list down all synonyms of these words-

The sum total of these words is Sri Mahesh's Vedic recitation and in between

his recitations, the lovely explanations he gave were so simple that even

adiyEn

could follow!)

 

4. Sri Sudharshan's narration was of course was very informative and

connected

Srivaishnavam to Vedic truths, and pramaanams.

 

NammAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

Narayana Narayana

 

Narayana dAsan

>

> Parthasarathy.Sudarsan

> [sMTP:Parthasarathy.Sudarsan]

> Wednesday, June 02, 1999 8:49 AM

> bhakti

> Nammalvar Tirunakshatram @ Singapore

>

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> Sri Nammazhvaar Thiru Nakshathiram Celebrations at Simhapuri,

> 29.05.99 (Visaakam).

>