AdiyEn's Sep 10-17 trip to Dhivya Desams in Tamil Nadu & Thirumala: Part I

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs :

 

My primary mission during this trip to Tamil Nadu was to present

the RathnAngi to Lord DevanAthan of Thiruvaheendhrapuram

on behalf of the Sri DevanAthan RathnAngi Kaimkaryam Committee .

 

This dhivya dEsam celebrated by Thirumangai Mannan is

the Siddhi KshEthram for our AchArya Saarvabhouman ,

Swamy NigamAntha MahA Desikan . Here , Our Swamy

Desikan had the direct visualization(SaakshAthkAram) of

both Garuda Bhagavaan and Lord HayagrIvan on top of

Oushadagiri and became the SiddhAntha Vijaya Dhwajar

at quite a young age.

 

Lord DevanAthan of Thiruvaheendhrapuram enchanted Swamy Desikan

so much that Swamy spent almost 40 years of his divine life

at this dhivya dEsam ; here , he composed SrI Deva Naayaka PanchAsath ,

Achyutha Sathakam , MummaNikkOavi , Nava MaNi Maalai and other

SrI Sookthis on Lord DevanAthan .

 

More than 2,500 people had the darsanam of Lord DevanAthan

in His Noothana AabharaNam of RathnAngi . A grand TadhiyArAdhanam for

300 BhAgavathAs took place at SrImath Andavan Aasramam at

Thiruvaheendhrapuram . adiyEn had the bhAgyam of participating

in the Thirumanjana ghOshti of Swamy Desikan during the afternoon .

 

The day of SamarpaNam of the RathnAngi was September 16 , a very

special day for many reasons . It was AavaNi Hastham , the Thirunakshathram

of HH the 44th Pattam ( MukkUr ) SrImath Azhagiya Singar . It was

the avathAra dinam of the Taniyan , RaamAnujA DayA Paathram for

Swamy Desikan . It was SaamOpAkarmaa dinam . It was Chandra darsana

dinam .It was a MuhUrtha Dinam . During the morning , Swamy Desikan

travelled on a palanquin around the raaja veedhis of Thiruvaheendhrapuram

as a part of His Thirunakshathra Uthsavam , which concludes on September 24

( PurattAsi SravaNam ). adiyen's entourage had just arrived at that street junction

which permitted me to fall flat immediately before Swamy Desikan and

the Veda PaarAyaNa ghOshti. Five minutes later , Swamy Desikan's pallAkku

would have travelled past that junction between the two streets and adiyEn

would have missed his darsanam . adiyEn coud only conclude that it was

an auspicious welcome by Swamy Desikan to His RaajadhAni and recognition of

the Kaimkaryam for His Lord .

 

An hour later , The RathnAngi ThiruvAbharaNam was taken in procession around

the Raaja Vedhis to the accompaniment of Naadhaswaram and MeLam and

brought to the Yaaga Saala next to Swamy Desikan's sannidhi for Prathishtai

prior to the adornment by the Lord . Special Vasthrams were presented to Uthsavar ,

Ubhaya NaacchiyAr , Moolavar DevanAthan , SrI HemAbhjavalli ThAyAr and

Lord HayagrIvan on top of the Oushada Giri. Special Maalais were also presented

to the Archaa Moorthys for the occasion . The Bhattars of Thiruvaheendhrapuram

are known for their skills in alankArams of the Dhivya Dampathis. It was a joy to have

the darsana soubhAgyam of the ArchA Moorthys at the different Sannidhis on

this glorious day with new vasthrams and fresh flower garlands .

 

Around 3 P.M , the Chief archakar had adorned the Lord with the new RathnAngi

in a manner that would thrill the heart of Swamy Desikan . We were fortunate to

have the bliss of the dhivya Soundharyam of Lord DevanAthan resplendent in

His new gem-studded attire . Swamy Desikan's statemet , " Ninnazhagu MaRavAthAr

PiRavAthArE " came to mind. After koil maryAdhayais to the RathnAngi Committeee

members in front of the Lord , the RathnAngi Sevai was opened to all the devotees .

 

Next the Six Sthapathis , who created this RathnAngi over a period of Six months

were honored with individual gold rings and encomiums . A beautiful souvenir

celebrating the Vaibhavam of Lord of Thiruvaheendhrapuram was released .

One of the center pieces is the " RathnAngi Sathakam " composed by

U.Ve. SrI BhAshya SimhAsana chakravarthy , SrI KaruNAkarAcchAr Swamy .

This celebratory composition consists of 100 slOkams euologizing Lord

DevanAthan resplendent in His RathnAngi . This Sathakam is a sequel to

the Rathna Kavacha Sathakam composed by His revered Father , Vaikunta Vaasi ,

Aaasu Kavi VillUr Srinidhi Swamy thirty five years ago during the occasion of

RathnAngi SamarpaNam for Swamy Desikan . Vaikunta Vaasi

HH Thirukkudanthai Andavan presented the RathnAngi to Swamy

Desikan then .

 

Next day , there was an uLL PuRappAdu of Lord DEvanAthan

adorning the new RathnAngi during the evening . It was PurattAsi

Maasa PiRappu day and Kalkee Jayanthi . Lord DEvanAthan was

accompanied by SrI HemAbhja Valli since it was a Friday .

 

In the near future , adiyen with the help of Web design experts

will create a RathnAngi Web site to accomodate the many still and

video images associated with this special day at Thiruvaheendhrapuram .

adiyEn thanks every one , who made this special occasion a grand success.

 

During the remaining Six days of the trip , adiyEn had the bhAgyam of

visiting other dhivya dEsams like Oppiliappan Sannidhi , Thirumala ,

Srirangam , Naagapattinam , ThirukkaNNangudi , ThirukkOshtiyUr

and SelayUr SrI Matam to prostrate before MalOlan , Dolai KaNNan

and MalOla PaadhukA SEvakar , SrImath Azhagiya Singar , asmath

AchAryan .

 

SRIRANGAM STAY

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

At SrIrangam , adiyEn participated in the SayanOthsava SEvai

and enjoyed AravaNai PrasAdham and EkAntha VeeNai offering

by the VeeNai mirAsu Family member . Next morning was AmAvAsyai

and adiyEn had the Viswaroopa Sevai and the Bhattar invited adiyen

right inside the garbha graham for closer enjoyment of Lord RanganAtha

in the early hours of the day , when there are no garlands that cover

the PrayOga Chakram , Paanchajanyam and the sacred Paadhams

of the Lord . The Paasurams of ThiruppANAzhwar ( AmalanAdhipirAn )

flashed thru adiyEn's mind as adiyEn was blessed to stand that

close to the reclining Lord. As our Likhitha Kaimkaryam on

SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram is nearing poorthy stage on

September 24 , adiyEn's mind dwelled on the avathAram of

PaadhukA Sahasram right in front of Periya PerumAL some

seven hundred years ago . The sight of Cauvery flowing with

waters touching from bank to bank was an incredible sight .

The temple elephant was taking its bath immersed in Cauvery

waters at AmmA ManTapam at Srirangam .

 

OPPILIAPPAN SANNIDHI

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

At Oppiliappan KOil , PerumAl was enjoying Thirumanjanam .

The SEvais with Yeera Vaadai and with Vasthrams and AabharaNams

were enjoyed . AdiyEn also participated in the KaitthaLa SEvai for Uthsavar

from the side of ThAyAr , BhoomA DEvi on that day as well .

 

THIRUPPATHI / THIRUMALA

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

 

At Thiruppathi , technical discussions on Digital Library project

focusing on the preservation of rare Texts of PoorvAchAryAs tok

place . Additioanl discussions at TTD School of Music and Dance

introduced to me to the recording sessions on rare SaakhAs of

VedAs .

 

At Thirumala , adiyEn participated in the Sahasra Dheepa alnkAra SEvai

in the special MaNTapam . Veda GhOsham and Naathaswara dhvani

adorned the occasion . We accompanied the Uthsavar inside to have

the darasanam of Moolavar , Lord VenkatEsa on this day .

 

OTHER VISITS DURING THIS STAY

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

AdiyEn will describe in the subsequent postings the visits to

the dhivya dEsams of ThirukkaNangudi ( One of the five KrishNAraNya

KshEthrams) , NaagapattiNam ( Soundharya Naayaki SamEtha Sri

Soundara Raaja PerumAL ) and ThirukkOshtiyUr ( Soumya NaarAyaNa

PerumAL ) .

 

NamO NaarAyaNAya ,

Daasan , V.Sadagopan