81st Tirunakshatram Celebrations of H.H. Srimad Poundarikapuram Andavan Swami

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

Adiyen is delighted to see the recent appeal of Sriman Madhavakkannan

Swamin for the 81st TN

celebrations of Asmadacharyan, H.H. Sri Paravakottai Andavan Swami of

Srimad Poundarikapuram

Ashramam. H.H. is known for his uncompromising attitude reagrding

anushtanam. The compassion and

Vatsalyam of H.H. are limitless. Their welfare is foremost in his

mind. H.H. Sri

Gopaladesika Mahadesikan Swami tends to the yogakshemam of shishyas

and abhimanis in the same

spirit as Krishna (Gopala-the Supreme Protector of the cows) guarded

the cows of Brindavan.

This in turn motivates him to unremittingly remind all shishyas and

abhimanis the anushtanam

required of them. In this post adiyen will focus on the uncompromising

attitude of H.H. with

regard to Trikala Sandhyavandanam.

 

At the outset, adiyen wishes to point out that H.H. is the foremost

practitioner of what

he preaches and is widely regarded as a Vashishta for his anushtanam.

Throughout, he has led a life in strict accordance with the Shastraic

prescriptions.

 

Adiyen is most grateful to H.H. for constantly reminding him of the

importance of trikala

Sandhyavandanam. During adiyen's visit to India for Bharanyasam, H.H.

gave a wonderful

upadesham focussing on this subject. Another person (AP) belonging to

a pre-eminent

Swayamacharya lineage, also wished to have his Bharanyasam performed

at the same time as

adiyen. H.H. gently enquired of this person

"Do you perform TrikAla Sandhya ?"

AP (remorsefully): "No. I somehow gave it up"

H.H. "How did this happen?"

AP "Work pressure left no time for this"

H.H. "Did you give up your meals due to work pressure?"

AP "No"

H.H. "Partaking of daily meals is a Vedic rite. Consequently,

traivarnikas cannot perform this

rite without performing Sandyavandanam. The Smritis declare Sandhya

hIna: nithya ashuchi

(He who does not perform regular Sandhyavandanam is forever impure.

Therefore, he is unfit to

perform any ritual. Therefore, one who is impure forfeits his right to

daily meals!

Furthermore, a Chandala is one who is exempt from performing

Sandyavandanam. This is due to

his profession. Therefore, he is called a janma chandala. However, a

Brahmin who gives up

performance of Trikala Sandhya becomes a Karma Chandala (He who

becomes a chandala by failing

to perform the rites enjoined for a Brahmin). This is a miserable

state for him, as a result

of which he becomes undeserving of the title BrahmaNa. A true friend

is one who is very much

concerned about his comrade's welfare. He need not provide his comrade

with expensive gifts to

show display affection/concern. However, the greatest service he can

render for his comrade is

the performance of Sandya of the latter's behalf, when the latter is

in a state that does not

permit him to do his daily duties (BrahmaNatvattai kApAthi

kudukarradu).

 

Lord Narayana has declared in that the

Shastras (Shruti and Smriti) are verily His commands. Those who

violate these commands are

verily traitors and even if they are His Bhaktas, they do not endear

themselves to Him. In

this respect the Lord acts very much in the manner of a father

concerned about the welfare of

his children. There is no doubt that the Lord has utmost affection for

his children. Will a

father tolerate it if his children do not go to school and study well?

Absolutely not.

The Lord's statement with respect to anushtanam is similar. The

foremost Mantrams of Vedic

origin are Gayathri and Ashtaksharam. The former is necessarily a

prelude to the latter in

terms of recitation. Thus Gayathri Mantram plays a pivotal role in

realizing Lord Narayana.

 

You come from a lineage that is known for its scholarship and

anushtanam. You enjoy special

previleges (Mudal teertham) at (unspecified on purpose) Divyadesham.

Should you not have the

anushtanam to go with these previleges? When gruhastas come to me, I

instruct their wives do

not give your husband coffee in the morning. First insist that he take

his bath and wait for

him with Sandhyavandana Shombu filled with water. Similarly, when he

returns from work in the

evening do not give him coffee. Wait for him with Sandhyavandana

Shombu filled with water.

Also tell him that food will not be served unless Sandyavandanam is

completed. Therefore,

there is no excuse for not performing Trikala Sandhyavandanam. Do you

read fluently in Tamizh

or Sanskrit?"

 

AP: "Tamizh"

H.H. "Take this book on Sandhyavandanam along with you, read them well

and master them.

Come back after ten days, and I shall ask you to recite these

Mantrams. We can then discuss

the performance of Bharanyasam." Throughout this upadesham, there was

not a trace of anger on

the face of H.H. Instead, his demeanor was most gentle but firm and

uncompromising. Adiyen was

deeply touched by the words of H.H.

 

H.H. then enquired of adiyen "Nee Trikala Sandhya PaNNaraya"

Adiyen "Avashyam PaNNarEn"

(It was well into the evening hours and adiyen had just then arrived

by car from Bangalore)

H.H. "Inniki sayam Sandhya yenga paNNai"

Adiyen "mAnasikamA paNNEn"

H.H. "uLLai poyi shombu vayndu Sayam Sandhya Pannittu vA prasadam

sapadarthukku. Whenever

you are in a situation where you cannot peform Sandhyavandanam by the

proper method, at the

first available opportunity you must offer prayaschitta arghyam and

perform the Sandyavandanam

before partaking of meals"

 

Recently, adiyen was informed that H.H. wrote a series of articles on

Sandyavandanam and its

importance at various times in the Kanchi PeraruLalan periodical.

Currently efforts are

underway to compile these articles in the form of a book. The book

release is planned for the

near future (next 1-2 months). In addition, H.H. has appointed great

scholars in places like

Chennai, Bangalore, and Delhi to teach the principles and practice of

Trikala Sandyavandanam.

 

Such a great Mahan, Anushtana Chakravarthi! His compassion towards

aparadha

chakravarthi, adiyen, is most touching. He continues to reform and

redeem several suffering

jivans like adiyen. Is it not our duty to support Him, and nourish the

roots of this

institution for maintaining such high Sampradayic standards? Please

donate generously to the

cause of the 81st Tirunakshatram celebrations planned for March 24-31,

2001. Contributions

from the USA are tax exempt. Please mail your checks to

 

SMSA Inc,

c/o Smt. Nagu Satyan,

7821 W Alder Drive

Littleton, CO 80128

 

Please indicate on the memo of your check that your contribution is

for Srimad Poundarikapuram

Ashramam. H.H. will be delighted if all asthikas, shishyas, and

abhimanis attend the function

in 2001. Please mark this event on your calendar.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan