SravaNam's Significance at Oppiliappan Sannidhi

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Dear Devotees of Lord Oppiliappan:

 

Oppiliappan is eulogized by Thirumangai AzhwAr

as " Pothalar Nedumudi PuNNiyan " or the One who

has the garland constructed from just blossomed

flowers on His nedumudi (long crowned head).

From the Nedumudi , the garland strteches all the way

to His sacred feet and is known as Nila Maalai .

SrIman Sampath RengarAjan , a devout bhaktha of

SrI Oppiliappan refers in his essay below about his

family's Nila Maalai Kaimkaryam on SravaNam days ,

which takes us to Oppiliappan Koil on the SravaNam

days.

 

SravaNa dheepam is symbolic of the Svayam JyOthi/

Param JyOthi tatthvam of ThiruviNNagarappan , the Lord

of Oppiliappan Koil. This JyOthi Tatthvam of Brahman

celebrated in Upanishads is the Supreme Personal God

at ThiruviNNagaram , SrI Oppiliappan. Of Him , the Mundaka

Upanishad states " Him the shining One , everything shines

after, by this light all this is lighted " .The SravaNa dheepam is

symbolic of the cosmic tatthvam recognized by the name JyOthi

( " VarENyam BhargO Devasya " included in the meditation of

the sacred manthram of Gaayathri ). BruhadhAraNya Upanishad

salutes this Param JyOthi as " the JyOthishAm JyOthi: ".

 

When SravaNa dheepam Swamy and Vaal dheepam swamy carry this

JyOthirmaya Brahmam close to their heart , they remind us of the passage

in ChAndhOgya Upanishad referring to the cosmic principle recognized as

Svayam JyOthi/Param JyOthi : " Now the light which shines above this

heaven,

above all , above every thing , in the highest worlds beyond which there

are

no

higher worlds ; verily that is the same as the light which is here within

the person".

The external dheepam carried by SravaNa dheepam Swamy is a manifestation

of this antharyAmi Brahman , who in ArchA form is standing majestically

adorning Nila Maalai on the SravaNam day.

 

The SravaNa dheepam is also symbolic of one of six main guNams of

The Supreme Being : tEjas which is same as JyOthi . Tejas is one of

the six guNams of SrIman NaarAyaNan : " Jn~Anam (Omniscience) ,

Sakthi ( Omnipotence) , Bala (Strength ) , Aisvarya ( Lordship) ,

Veerya ( Energy) and Tejas ( Splendour). AzhwArs have referred to

this Jyothirmaya tatthvam as " Sudar oLi Moorthy" , when they perform

eulogies ( MangaLAsAsanams) to Dhivya Desa ArchA Moorthys .

When Thirumangai addresses the tejas aspect of Para Brahman ,

he addresses the Lord as "NandhA ViLakku ". This is the Nandha

ViLakku inside the Garbha Graham used to light the SravaNa dheepam ,

which the Swamy carries around the PrAkArams of Oppiliappan.

 

May we have the blessings of purifying our lives on this earth by

the darsana soubhAgyam of this SravaNa dheepam carried

around by the PuNyasAlis and take part in the TadhiyArAdhanam

performed by them in the spirit of Bhagavath Kaimkaryam !

 

The SravaNa dheepam Swamy's anna dhAnam on the SravaNam day

is quite distinct from the daily anna dhAnam scheme set up by

the Government of TamilnAdu . This Swamy has been conducting this

special anna dhAnam for many years and it is the first time , we are able

to join in this Kaimkaryam . Let us join in this kaimkaryam and recieve

the blessings of SrI Bhumi DEvi SamEtha ThiruviNNagarappan !

 

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

P.S: The autobiographical essay from SrIman Thirukkudanthai

Sampath Rengarajan folloes below:

 

 

Reflections on Sravanam Days in Oppiliappan Koil

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

By Thirukkudanthai Sampath Rengarajan

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

 

It is the most wonderful day to begin with.

Nothing can go wrong on this day. Whatever happens

on this day, such is happening for the good only.

The huge "nilai maalais" or long garlands arrives the previous

night from swami malai at our house . The garland maker has been

doing this routinely for the last 15 years now. He will receive a post

card from my dad about the sravanam date. Thats all.

He will be there the previous evening with all the maalais.

He had not seen our Lord Sri Oppiliappan even once so far.

But he had been making the "nilai maalai" all the time that

fits HIM very well. He brings "maalais" for thaayaar and uthsavars

as well. At 5:40 AM , we leave the house by our usual auto or taxi

and arrive at 6:00AM at the sannithi. The viswa roopam is just about

to begin sometime or it is over. Couple of brisk Ushers whisk us

through the special entrance whispering " PerumAL is waiting for your

maalai!". Looking at the PerumaaL, it looks as though PerumaaL could not

hide HIS happiness and rushes in sporting a broad smile seeing the "nila

maalai". The bhattars are obviously elated and immediately get to

work and adorn the "nila maalai". The "gambeeram" of the PerumaaL

takes the centre stage now with the adorning of the "nilai maalai".

Not that our PerumaaL is not posing gambeeram without the "maalai", but

the sight of Sravana Oppiliappan with the "nilai maalai" brings

joy and tears in everyone's eyes. Several years ago during one sravanam it

was seen that Sri Oppiliappan did not have this "nilai maalai" and we felt

very very

bad to see him like that. At the same time the sravana Oppliappan deepam

swAmin garlanded my parents with His own maalai during deepam and

many sEvaarthis began falling at the feet of adiyEn's parents for

blessing on this occassion. Ever since adiyEn took the vow to

garland HIM with "nilai maalai" every sravanam rain or shine and

adiyEn's parents are executing it for several years now.

 

Several people do "anga pradhakshinam" and the Sravanam goes on.

The Ursava moorthis move to the kalyaana mandapam so that archanaas

can be facilitated there. Now the moolavar and thaayaar Sri MarkandEyar

are all seen in full view. On important Sravanam days (like

Panguni, Aipasi, Maargazhi, Thai etc) several such nilai maalais are

garlanded subsequently. But for all the other Sravanams He is sported

with only one "nilai maalai". Around 11:00 AM Our Deepam swamins, Sri

Srinivasa Gopalan (Ney deepam of Sri Oppiliappan) from Kodai vaasal

(now in Srirangam) and City Union bank Sri Ravi from Kumbakonam

(his father used to do the "vaal deepam" that he now does) goes into

the garba gruham. At this time no public is allowed inside. After prayers

and lighting of the deepam they come out fully charged. There are lots of

people gathered near the entrance at the "UL praahaaram" and they

throng to these deepam swAmins and seek their guidance and blessings.

They shout "Oppilaippaa, Oppiliappaa" on seeing them and tries to go

near them. First the traditional Naadaswaram and mElam leads them

in procession as similar to PerumaaL purappaadu. We always pray

to them that these Perumaals bless as many people as possible and that

everyone's reasonable dreams come true through Sri Oppiliappan.

The swamins go around once in the "uL praakaaram" and then on

to the outer praakaaram. It is notable that the "ney deepam"

(Sri Oppiliapan Deepam) swamin walks merely on his two

toes only sometime. It is like a Raaja nadai. No science can explain this.

One has to see this and expereince themselves. The "thEjas" in their

face as reflected by the rays of the deepam are remarkably great.

 

adiyEn was asked by Sri Oppiliappan deepam Swamin when adiyEn met him

during Srimadh Poudnrika puram Vinnaarrangari Andavan and Sri Andal

sannithi prathista at Srirangam last year that adiyEn be present during

Sravana deepam. adiyEn and our family usually goes back home after

our morning darshan and nila maalai samarppaNam. This time, adiyEn

came back again for deepam. Swamin spotted adiyen

and asked adiyEn to come along. adiyEn went with Him in the inner

circle. At the end of the inner circle , adiyEn moved away so that

so many persons who were thronging to have his dharshan and

"aruL vaaku" to get a chanceto approach him When Swamin came

near the perfect completion of inner suRRu, just oppsite to Sri

Oppiliappan

between Sri Ramar aand Sri Hanumaan sannithis, called for

adiyEn by using signs. Since adiyEN was far way , adiyEn struggled

to reach. Swamin asked everyone to give way so that adiyEN

can go near. Swamin grabbed adiyEn's hand firm with the

thulasi from his maalai soaked in ghee and said "dEvareer

kanikaryangalai naam vERRi karamaaga nadatthik koduppOm".

adiyEn was moved. adiyEn had in mind atlaest 1 major kainkaryam

for Sri Oppiliappan that time. Usually Swamin never "talks"

in His aruL vaakku. He only conveys by "signs". adiyEn was

thrilled that swAmin talked real words to adiyEn this time

during his "aruL vaakku". This swAmin had predicted about

very important happenings in the past. This swAmin later mentioned

to adiyEn that it was predicted during one of the sravanams

earlier about acharyaas adorning the peetam etc as well.

 

There are totally three deepams. The "vaal deepam" burns

so tall (to 3 feet !!) and Sri Ravi hold it up on His

shoulders. With this deepam on his hands and shoulders

He also gives "aruL vaakku" to many. The third deepam is

the "satti deepam" where the fire is in the solid form ("thaNal").

 

Both these swAmins are the living examples of vairaagyam

that swami desikan had explained in VairAgya Panchakam.

adiyEN does not know much about the other deepam swamin).

They never asked for any help ! Only the officials in the temple

and well wishers asked adiyEn to help them. But even before

they asked, adiyEn already had in mind to help them

on this anna dhaanam scheme.

 

They have been doing anna dhaanam for decades on Sravanam

dates!!! In addition they both have their own ubhayams

in the temple in a very large scale (pushpa yaagam,

mega thirumanchanam etc). adiyEn talked to Sri Ravi

swAmin first and requested him to give an estimate of the

cost. adiyEN also requested the temple authorities that

the ParichArakAs who cook and take prasaadhams to the Lord

must have shikaas. They said they will issue a notice to that

effect. Both these swamins are equally sharing the costs

of anna dhaanam so far. So, whatever one wants to give towards

sravana anna dhaaanam must be shared between them. Once aidyEn

had the estimate , adiyEn offered to pay them the same as long

as aidyEn could either personally or through friends.

 

adiyEn wants to make a few notes here about anna dhaanam.

The anna dhaanam is "Sravana anna dhaanam" done by the

two deepam swamins. No matter who gives money , adiyEn still

wants this to be in the two swAmin's name only for two strong

reasons. We are simply helping them in their offerings and we

thank the Lord for providing an oppurtunity for the same. No

individual shall seek recognition for this effort. They have

been doing this for a very long time like their own ubhayam and

they will continue to do it in their name ONLY. There were times

when they took personal and bank loans to facilitate

this. We can not act like usurpers . adiyEN is playing

a role only now. No matter, anyone wants to accept these terms or

not adiyEn shall always support them as long as adiyEn could,

in these terms.

 

Second thing is that, the State Govt in Tamil Nadu under

the CM Chi. Jayalalitha's scheme, are offering anna dhaanam

in various select temples and Sri Oppiliappan kOil is

one of them. These temples have a hundi for anna dhaanam

as well (including Sri Oppiliappan kOil). To the best of adiyEn's

understanding, adiyEn believes that no one can solicit donations

for anna dhaanam for any of these temples including Sri Oppiliappan temple

when Government is doing such a scheme. Such action may land

everyone in legal trouble. So adiyEN does not

want anyone to get confused over the two different schemes.

No one reading these appeals in the net or web,

should be confused with the "Sravana dina anna

dhaanam" that these two swamins had been doing for several

years even before the Govt sponsored anna dhnaanam scheme

came into existence. We very much thank the Govt., the CM

and the temple authorities for doing that scheme very well.

But the sravana anna dhaanam is a very massive private project that

is organised by these two deepam swamins only. adiyEn

does not want to involve them or adiyEn in any competing

efforts of anna dhanam with the temple and Govt. by making this

appeal as a very general appeal. This anna dhaanam is very

specific. adiyEn had been holding it tight and asking only

a very few so far. Sri Sadagopan swAmin felt that members of

Sri Oppiliappan list may be given a chance to participate in

this kainkaryam and hence his appeal.

 

adiyEn began chipping from aippasi sravanam. adiyEn already

have undertaken to do it (for three full months) from adiYen's

own for aippasi (Sri Oppiliappan thiru kalayaanam) and thai

(Sri Oppiliappan's leela vibhuthi i.e thoppam incidentally adiyEn's birth

day) and Panguni Sravanams (Sri Oppiliappan's vivAham and

thEr festival). In addition adiyEn will also cover up for any shortage

anytime so that they are supported for all the Sravanams as long as

adiyEn could. We have so far helped them continuously

in the last 8 sravanams. 6 sEvarrthis from USA have helped for

5 sravanams and adiyEn has filled in the remaining. None of them

have ever asked for any recognition of any kind so far. adiYen is also

sure that none of those who had currently come forward to contribute

seek any recognition of any sort so far. On the floor, the anna dhaanam

will be done by the two swAmins only and all the recogntion goes

to these two swAmins only all the time. adiyEn will

continue to do the same as long as adiyEn can. They do not have

a tax deductible account so far. adiyEn is releasing money

from adiyEn's own account in India so far. Sri Sadagopan

had agreed to spilt one sponsorship for maasi and purattaasi

sravanams .

 

Finally when Sri Krishna bhattar asked adiyEn

during sankalpam in front of the Lord, he was replied that

"loka shEmatthukkaaga nallaa mazhai peyyanum". Swamin

replied "kodiyilai oru prArtthanai ithu athanaala swAmiyOda

viNNappatthai Oppiliappan kattaayam niRai vERRuvaar".