Sri Ranganatha Temple mahA SamprOkashNam ( BhulOka Vaikuntam ): Part I

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri RanganAtha(Periya PerumAL) BhakthAs all over the world!

 

Yesterday the most-awaited event , the MahA SamprOkshaNam

at the Sri RanganAthA Temple at Pomona , NY took place

with pomp and ceremony in strict accordance with the Vedic/

Aagamic procedures .BhUlOka Vaikuntam got extended from

its base in Srirangam to the new continent and the Lord

took His residence in His new home built with affection

by His chidren .

 

Many Vaidhika and Aagamic rites took place. As a witness

to these many memorable events in this "KalyANa Uthsavam" ,

I will recollect to the best of my ability the many joyous

happenings. I request BhaagavathAs that took part

in this event to share their recollections of this

most memorable day in our lives.

 

We are all grateful to the many volunteers

who contributed innumerable hours and provided financial

support to reach this day and become blessed with

the sprinkling of the MahA samprOkshana Theertham

from the Kalasams after the consecrations of

the Murthys and their VimAnams. A Helicopter showered

a copious rain of flowers later on the VimAnams and

the BhakthAs assembled around the temple .

 

I will start a quick memory jog on the day after

this blessed event and assemble information on

the details of the sacred rites from the main preist ,

Sri VardarAja Bhattar , who is an acknowledged authority

on PancharAthra Rites covering the Consecration of

Murthys and Temples (MahA SamprOkshaNam ). Seven other

preists assisted him.

 

The New York Times had a special article today on this

major event with photos of BhakthAs and Sri RajagOpAla Bhattar

performing SamprOkshaNam for the PraNavAkAra VimAnam .

It was a blessed sight to see Dr.Venkat Kanumalla as

one of the priests of the Temple and the great Bhakthan

behind the idea of building this unique temple for

Lord RanganAthA following his AchAryan's niyamanam

( command and benediction) ascend the lift (cherry picker)

with the sacred MahA Kumbham on his head as the First in

the line of priests .It was very appropriate. The other priests

went up with appropriate Kumbhams for the different vimAnams on

the vAhanam (Cherry picker) after Sriman Venkat Kanumalla.

 

Events preceding the MahA samprOkshaNam ( May 23-26)

*****************************************************

The specially lit sacred fires at the three Agni Kuntams

(Square, Semi-circular and Triangular) blazed forth with

special radiance;the MahA Yanthram on top of the specially

constructed brick altar adorned with Kumkumam , Turmeric

and special dhravyams and lotus garlands and flowers was

a sight to see. Rain fell gently outside the special

tents constructed to accomodate the outdoor YaagasAlA

and for helping assembled bhakthAs to watch the Yaj~nams

and the PoorNAhUthi offerings to Sriman NaarAyaNan .

 

Inside the temple , the Silver MahA samprOkshaNa Kalasams

with specially assembled waters were conscecrated over

the previous days upto the MahA samprOkshaNam day rested

in front of Periya Periya PerumAL's Sannidhi . Lord SrinivAsa

was looking over the proceedings from His Sannidhi right across

the assembly of KumbhAs . "Periya Periya PerumAL" (Sri Lakshmi

Narasimhan) was casting His MangaLa Nayana anugraham on

all those assembled. Sri RanganAyaki ThAyAr , Sri ANDAL

were showering BhakthAs with their "KaruNairApAngai:"

( Benovolent and Mercy-filled glances) ; Sri Venu GopAlan

was playing His VamsanALam ( Divine Flute) and was showering

Naadha RoopAnugraham . Sri SitA Sametha Raamachandra Moorthy

accompanied by Kaimkarya agrEsarans ( leaders standing in

the frontline of Kaimakryams to their Master) was assuring

that He will never abandon anyone , who performed Prapatthi

to Him even once and will rush to their rescue. Facing

Lord RanganAthA reclining on His bed of AdhisEsahn and

surrounded by all the eleven AzhwArs ( Andal as the twelfth

AzhwAr was in Her own sannidhi to the North West of Her Lord)

and AchAryAs headed by Bahgavath RaamAnujA was listening to

Veda GhOsham , Ghanam rendering of the Vedic passages ,

ghOshti renderings of dhivya Prabhandhams , Vishnu Sahasra Naamams ,

AchArya Sri Sookthis and MangaLa Geethams sung by VidvAns and

enjoying the beautiful, rich and elaborate SatthumuRais.

 

With the waves of bliss drenching the assembled bhakthAs

and with a gentle drizzle showing the joy of VaruNa BhagavAn

the MahA samprOkshaNam was carried out with great care and

affection .The alankArams and Thirumanjanam (abhishEkam )

by skilled Bhattars from India were a delight to see.

Periya perumAL with His Tulasi Maalai and PethAmbharam

fills one mind with immense peace and tranquility.

"Adhya mE saphalam Janma" ( Today my kife has been

fulfilled) is a good asessment of the mind set of

assembled bhakthAs.

 

There was an election following the MahA SamprOkshaNam

to fill the 5 vacant seats in the Board of Trustees of

the Sri RanganAthA Temple. adiyen is fortunate to have been

elected to serve as a Board Member. The details of the election

as well as many photos from the MahA samprOkshaNam will

be added to the Temple web site ( http://www.ranganatha.org).

 

An informative souvenir has also been relased

by the Temple Trustees to comemrate this extraordinary

event . Many beautiful pictures of the Moorthys of theTemple

are housed there .

 

I conclude this first in the series of postings on

MahA samprOkshaNam with dhaNdavath praNAmams to all

the BhakthAs , who responded to the many appeals to

support the MahA SamprOkshaNam Kaimkaryam . You came

through with more than 100K$ plus for Flower, TuLasi and

anna dhAna Kaimkaryams . You will be delighted to know

that the fragrance of Thulasi and flowers wafted thruout

the temple; BhakthAs and families enjoyed the Bhagavadh

PrasAdham around the clock thanks to your munificent

support of the anna dhAna kaimkaryam.

 

As a Member of the Board of Trustees , I would like

to appeal to you to participate in the rich programs of

the temple under design ;those who have not yet visited

the temple would very much enjoy the darsanam of

the dhivya Moorthys at this unique temple on the banks of

the local Cauvery river (Hudson River).There is a lot of

work that remains to be done in the coming months regarding

the completion of the task . A sum of 1.3 M$ is needed

to cover all the expenses incurred to celebrate this

MahOthsvam in the traditonal manner with the help of

Eight expert priests .PLEASE HELP THROUGH YOUR

MUNIFICIENT SUPPORT .The home pages (www.Ranganatha.org)

provide details on the nymber of ways you can donate

including on-line samarpaNams. Thanks in advance for

your most welcome and valued support.

 

I humbly appeal to you all to continue to support this Temple

and its Kaimkaryams to serve the BhakthAs from everywhere.

SaraNAgathi ( total surrender) to Sriman NaarAyaNan

taking His archA form as Lord RanganAthan( worshipped

earlier by Lord Ramachandra as His Kula dhaivam

during His Vibhava avathAram at AyOddhi ) is the guiding

principle of this temple. 44 more days of a 45 day long

cycle of MaNDalAbhishEkam continues from today. Please

visit the Temple and receive the anugrahams of

the Dhivya Dampathis.

 

NaarAyaNa , NarAyaNa, NaarAyaNa

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan