Proceedings of 7th Bay Area NAMA Sri Vaishnava Sathsangham

[Guest guest]

> Sri Raamajayam

>

> Dear Bhagavathaas,

> The Bay Area Sri Vaishnavas celebrated the TN of

Sri.Madhurakavi Azhvaar, Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhan and our beloved Acharya Swamy

Ramanuja, at the residence of Smt.Hemalatha and Sri.Raman Rangarajan on 28th May

2000.

>

> The event was attended by about 6 to 7 families in full strength, 5-6

students/bachelors, and a distinguished guest Swami Hanumath Presaka Swamy from

ISKCON Temple in San Jose. The event started with recitation of Acharya

Thaniyan, Thirupalliezhuchi, Thirupallaandhu & Thiruppaavai. Then there was an

open forum for Bhagavathaas to share their Divya Anubhavam of Sri Lakshmi

Nrusimhan, based on facts substantiated by Srimad Bhagavatham, Upanyaasam of

Prakrutham Srimad Azhagiyasinghar(Ahobila Mutt.) and works of Swamy Desikan.

Then we all got to recite Swamy Desikan's Sri.Kamaasikashtakam, and we made an

attempt to hear and rejoice the meanings conveyed by Swamy Desikan on Sri

Lakshmi Nrusimhans Divya Kalyaana Gunaas. The joy to experience our Lakshmi

Nrusimhan grew stronger that we sat reciting a few more sthothras on Sri Lakshmi

Nrusimhan(Sri Nrusimha Panchamrutha Sthothram, Runa Vimochana Sthothram...).

Then we discussed the need for Maha Visvaasam on an Acharya,!

as demonstrated by Sri Madhura Kavi Azhvaar and recited in unison, "Kanninun

Siruthaambu", for which Swamy.Gunaseelan brought out the meanings conveyed by

our Poorvacharyas. It was simply excellent to hear.

>

> The Divya Dhampatis, since were present, had to nourished with rich food,

fruits and flowers which were a part of our Thaligai Samarpanam and Sattumurai.

Immediately we settled down to open our eyes, ears and hearts to our beloved

Acharya Swamy Raamanuja(Emperumaanar, Ethiraaja, Udaiyavar, Sri

Bhashyakaarar.....). Adiyen tried to present Swamy Raamanuja very briefly, and

was utterly at a loss of words to bring out our gratitude for our Ramanuja,

which would need many many Sathsanghams to do that. So we thought it was

better to explore what our Poorvacharyas have said of Sri.Raamanuja. To that

effect, Swamy Desikan's "Ethiraja Sapthathi" came in as a boon, and Adiyen

started with an explanation of the first 13 slokas, which are all very rich in

their meaning and illustrating our Acharya Parampara starting with the Divya

Dhampathis(1st Shloka), Thayaar, Viswaksenar, Nammazhvaar, Madhurakaviyaar,

Nathamunigal, Uyyakkondar, Manakkaal Nambi, Alavandaar, Peria Nambi, Emperu!

maanar(11th) and started reflecting on Swamy Desikan's joy in experiencing

Ethirajar(Is Ethiraaja comparable to Panchayudha?, Is Ethiraja comparable to

Sri.Krishna?). The other slokas would be a covered in the subsequent

gatherings.

>

> Then we continued with some beautiful songs rendered by Chi.Krishna

Parthasarathy and Sow.Rukmani Sudarsan, before the Divya mangalam to the Supreme

and Omnipresent. Finally, prasadham was distributed, and the star attraction

was the Multimedia CDs on Swamy Ramanuja(thanks to Swamy V.Sadagopan,USA &

SwamyT.A.Alwar Sanskrit Research Center, Melkote), all the 10-12 CDs displayed

were grabbed by our near and dear. Please send Adiyen a

mail(sudarsanp) if we need to order more of them.

>

> Adiyen would look forward to be amidst you in our next Sathsangham celebrating

Swamy Nammazhvaar's TN which would be at the residence of Smt.(Va)sumathi and

Sri.Ramanujam on 18th June 2000.

>

> Adiyen Sri Raamanuja Daasan,

>

> Sudarsana Dasosmi