Sri Ahobila Matam Annual Acharya Day Celebration

[Guest guest]

Namo Narayana

 

Srimathe Sri Lakshminrusimha Parabrahmane Nama:

Srimathe Sri Lakshminrusimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivansatakopa Sri

Narayanayathindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

Sri Ahobila Matam USA celebrated its annual Acharya Day function

during the Labor Day Weekend at Sri Ranganatha Temple in Pomona New

York. Sri Ranganatha Temple invited Sri Ahobila Matam USA to hold the

Acharya Day celebration at their temple and as per the niyamanam of

the current Srimad Azhgiyasingar, the two-day event was held there.

The event was conducted in the true tradition of the Sri Ahobila

Matam with many sishyas and abhimanis getting together for the event

to pay their reverence to the great Acharya Sampradayam. All this was

possible due to the anugraham of our Acharyas.

 

The first day began with a ceremonious welcome to Sri Dolai Kannan of

Sri Ahobila Matam. Sri Dolai Kannan was welcomed inside the temple

with poornakumbham maryadhai and by the vigrahas of Sri Adi

Vansatakopan, Sri Mukkur Azhagiyasingar and the prakrutham Srimad

Azhagiyasingar. Sri Kannan was then taken around the temple

praakaaram in a procession and was later taken inside the sanctum

sanctorum of Sri Ranganatha's shrine.

 

Navakalasa Thirumanjanam was performed for Sri Dolai Kannan, Sri

Ranganathar and Thayar along with the goshti reciting Vedam and

Divyaprabandham. This was followed by Satrumurai as per the tradition

of Sri Ahobila Matam reciting the thaniyans of the entire lineage of

our 45 Acharyas.

 

After a sumptuous lunch, the cultural events focusing on Srivaishnava

Sampradayam began with the anugrahabashanam (audio recording) of

Srimad Azhagiyasingar. Srimad Azhagiyasingar wished the event a

success and blessed all the devotees who attended the function. A

multimedia presentation highlighting the greatness of Sri Ahobila

Mata Acharya Sampradaym was presented. Sri Oragadam Lakshmi Nrusimhan

of the Selaiyur patasala of Sri Ahobila Matam gave a scintillating

account of the life of the Acharyas, history of the matam and its

institutions in the presentation. This provided a good start to the

cultural events and the audience was thrilled to witness photo and

video excerpts from various past functions at the Srimatam in India.

 

Later, the essence of Srimad Bagavad Gita was very well presented by

Sri S.M.S.Chari, a Srimatam sishya and an acknowledged authority on

sampradayic philosophy. This was followed by a drama on the life of

Azhvars by a group of children from Boston. The audience was enthused

to witness the re-enactment of the life of Azhvars. RPI raga group, a

music group from Boston made up young adults, all born and brought up

in the US, presented a carnatic music concert, which was well

appreciated.

 

After the drama and music, it was time for some debate. The debate

titled "Is Bagavath Anubhavam greater from Sanskrit or Tamil works?"

was entertaining and informative. The team debating for the Sanskrit

works, quoted texts from Vedam, Upanishad and other great Sanskrit

works and brought out beautifully the significance of the language

while the team for Tamil, highlighted the language's ability to bring

out the inherent anubavams in the works. The argumentative debate,

deeply engrossed the audience. Though the majority of the audience

voted for Tamil, the chair for the debate, Sri S.M.S Chari, summed up

the significance of the two languages and brought out beautifully, the

importance of both the languages.

 

The engaging debate was followed by a mellifluous veena rectial by

Sri. Swaminathan Natarajan as Dolothsavam for Sri Kannan was

performed. Evening aradhanam and satrumurai was followed by an

elaborate sayanotsavam for Dolai Kannan. It was a sight that will be

etched in the minds of everyone present to see our small Dolai Kannan

lying down majestically in this large Dolai (swing) with many singing

lullabies for Perumal.

 

The next morning started with Navakalasa Thirumanjanam for Sri Dolai

Kannan, Sri Ranganathar, Andal and the 1 st, 44th and 45th

Azhagiyasingars. Sri Dolai Kannan showered the moorthies of the

three acharyas with sahasradharai abishekam. Sri Kannan was placed in

the sahsradharai. While holding the sahsradharai, thirumanjanam was

performed for Sri Dolai Kannan with the water flowing from Kannan,

showering the Acharya moorthies. The elaborate thirumanjanam was

performed with Vedam, Divyaprabhandha parayanam and kattiyam recital.

 

Day two of the cultural events began again with the replaying of the

anugrahabashanam by Srimad Azhagiyasingar for the benefit of those

who missed the first day event. A play on the life of Sri Alavandhar

was enacted by a group of sishyas and abhimanis from Washington D C.

The audience enjoyed it very much. The play was followed by a display

of talent by small children born and brought up in the United States,

Tiny tots and young children recited slokas, sang songs and it was

heartening to see them perform and look forward with hope about the

future of our sampradayam in the United States. The excitement

continued with the return of the favorite game "Jeopardy". The game

quizzed the participants and audience on Divyadesams, Vedantham,

Acharya's Tirunakshtrams, Prabhandams and Azhvars. This game was

followed by yet another popular game, Anthakshari on Prabandhams.

 

Shri. Prasanna, a disciple of Shri.TN.Seshagopalan presented a soul-

stirring concert. The bava-laden concert was filled with prabandha

pasurams and kirthanams on Perumal and Thayar. This was followed by a

brief concert by Shri Ravi Srinivasan who treated the audience to some

lilting kirthanams.

 

The two-day event's yet another highlight was purapadu inside the

temple for Sri.Dolai Kannan to the recitation of madal. Arthi was

performed to Sri. Kannan in all the shrines of the temple to the

recitation of Gopala Vimsathi. The audience's joy knew no bounds on

witnessing this divine event. As usual, this was followed by evening

aradhanam and sayanotsavam for Perumal

 

As is the tradition at Srimatam, delectable food was served for both

days for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. The quality and quantity

of the food served was grand. Sri Ahobila matam sincerely thanks all

the volunteers at Sri Ranganatha Temple, who performed an excellent

kainkaryam in preparing and serving food. Every devotee's need was

taken care of. True to the tradition of our Sampradayam, the

volunteer's witheld their desire to take part in the religious

activity and witness the cultural events to prepare the food and take

care of the needs of the devotees.

 

This concluded the annual event with every devotee that attended the

celebrations leaving with great memories and a token gift from Sri

Ahobila Matam. As the event ended, Sri Ranganatha Temple invited Sri

Kannan and Sri Ahobila Matam to hold their annual Acharya day events

every year from now on at the temple.

 

 

-srimath azhagiyasingar thiruvadigale saranam

adiyEn Rajaji

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear AasthikAs and VaidhikAs :

 

It is my pleasure to forward you the report from

Sriman Rajaji about the recently concluded

Acharya Day celebrations(Sep 3-4) at Sri RanganAtha temple ,

Pomona , NY .

 

In addition to the many SishyAs from Ahobila Matam , sihyAs of

many other VaishNava AchArya Paramparai joined to make this

annual celebration a grand success . These were two days filled with

divine anubhavam on Sriman NaarAyaNa's LeelA VibhUthi .

 

Today is the Auspicious Hastha Nakshathram , avathAra dinam of

the Founder AchAryA of Sri RanganAtha Temple , HH MukkUr

Azhagiya Singar ( Sri VedAntha Desika Yathindhra MahA Desikan

of the 44th Pattam of Sri Matam ) . The greatness of this AchArya

can not be described by one of limited intellect like myself .

 

Let us sing about the glories of this illustrious AchAryan , who built

the Southern Raaja Gopuram at Srirangam on the command of Lord

RanganAthan Himself .

 

Let us reflect on the Rg Veda Manthram celebrating the AchAryAs :

 

Bruhaspathim vrushaNam vardhayanthO naanA santhO

BhibrathO jyOthirAsA --- - - - - Rg Vedam : X.67.10

 

(Meaning) : When the AchAryan grants the many fold riches to

their SishyAs and thereafter ascends to heaven ( Sri Vaikuntam) ,

the sishyAs praise the mighty preceptor , who brings the light from

several regions within the reach of mankind ".

 

The aasthikAs assembled at Sri Ranganatha Temple saluted

this AchAryAn's SmaraNOthsavam with SampradhAyic splendour.

Veda GhOsham and Dhivya prabhandha PaarAyaNa and their

mangaLa dhvani echoed across the tall Taconic mountains

amidst the Hudson river valley .

 

AchArya SmaraNam and AchArya Vandhanam , dhyAnam on

Guru Parampara all the way up to our Prathama Guru ,

Sriman Narayanan are prescribed for for us every day .

 

For uninterrupted Bhagavath Kaimkaryam , AchArya DhyAnam ( nyAsam)

precedes VishNu dhyAnam in our sampradhAyam . Abhigamanam is

done by us for that purpose every day .

 

May our AchAryans bless us to follow the path that they have so

compassionately

laid out for us and continue to guide us throuhg the archirAdhi Maargam to

Sri Vaikuntam at the end of theis dEha YaathrA filled with Bhagavath -

BhAgavatha-

AchArya Kaimkaryams .

 

Daasan , V.Sadagopan

 

 

-

<rrajaji

<>; <>;

<Oppiliappan>

Monday, September 05, 2005 11:06 PM

Sri Ahobila Matam Annual Acharya Day Celebration

 

 

> Namo Narayana

>

> Srimathe Sri Lakshminrusimha Parabrahmane Nama:

> Srimathe Sri Lakshminrusimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivansatakopa Sri

> Narayanayathindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

>

> Sri Ahobila Matam USA celebrated its annual Acharya Day function during

> the Labor Day Weekend at Sri Ranganatha Temple in Pomona New York. Sri

> Ranganatha Temple invited Sri Ahobila Matam USA to hold the Acharya Day

> celebration at their temple and as per the niyamanam of the current Srimad

> Azhgiyasingar, the two-day event was held there. The event was conducted

> in the true tradition of the Sri Ahobila Matam with many sishyas and

> abhimanis getting together for the event to pay their reverence to the

> great Acharya Sampradayam. All this was possible due to the anugraham of

> our Acharyas.

>

> The first day began with a ceremonious welcome to Sri Dolai Kannan of Sri

> Ahobila Matam. Sri Dolai Kannan was welcomed inside the temple with

> poornakumbham maryadhai and by the vigrahas of Sri Adi Vansatakopan, Sri

> Mukkur Azhagiyasingar and the prakrutham Srimad Azhagiyasingar. Sri

> Kannan was then taken around the temple praakaaram in a procession and was

> later taken inside the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Ranganatha's shrine.

>

> Navakalasa Thirumanjanam was performed for Sri Dolai Kannan, Sri

> Ranganathar and Thayar along with the goshti reciting Vedam and

> Divyaprabandham. This was followed by Satrumurai as per the tradition of

> Sri Ahobila Matam reciting the thaniyans of the entire lineage of our 45

> Acharyas.

>

> After a sumptuous lunch, the cultural events focusing on Srivaishnava

> Sampradayam began with the anugrahabashanam (audio recording) of Srimad

> Azhagiyasingar. Srimad Azhagiyasingar wished the event a success and

> blessed all the devotees who attended the function. A multimedia

> presentation highlighting the greatness of Sri Ahobila Mata Acharya

> Sampradaym was presented. Sri Oragadam Lakshmi Nrusimhan of the Selaiyur

> patasala of Sri Ahobila Matam gave a scintillating account of the life of

> the Acharyas, history of the matam and its institutions in the

> presentation. This provided a good start to the cultural events and the

> audience was thrilled to witness photo and video excerpts from various

> past functions at the Srimatam in India.

>

> Later, the essence of Srimad Bagavad Gita was very well presented by Sri

> S.M.S.Chari, a Srimatam sishya and an acknowledged authority on

> sampradayic philosophy. This was followed by a drama on the life of

> Azhvars by a group of children from Boston. The audience was enthused to

> witness the re-enactment of the life of Azhvars. RPI raga group, a music

> group from Boston made up young adults, all born and brought up in the US,

> presented a carnatic music concert, which was well appreciated.

>

> After the drama and music, it was time for some debate. The debate titled

> "Is Bagavath Anubhavam greater from Sanskrit or Tamil works?" was

> entertaining and informative. The team debating for the Sanskrit works,

> quoted texts from Vedam, Upanishad and other great Sanskrit works and

> brought out beautifully the significance of the language while the team

> for Tamil, highlighted the language's ability to bring out the inherent

> anubavams in the works. The argumentative debate, deeply engrossed the

> audience. Though the majority of the audience voted for Tamil, the chair

> for the debate, Sri S.M.S Chari, summed up the significance of the two

> languages and brought out beautifully, the importance of both the

> languages.

>

> The engaging debate was followed by a mellifluous veena rectial by Sri.

> Swaminathan Natarajan as Dolothsavam for Sri Kannan was performed. Evening

> aradhanam and satrumurai was followed by an elaborate sayanotsavam for

> Dolai Kannan. It was a sight that will be etched in the minds of everyone

> present to see our small Dolai Kannan lying down majestically in this

> large Dolai (swing) with many singing lullabies for Perumal.

>

> The next morning started with Navakalasa Thirumanjanam for Sri Dolai

> Kannan, Sri Ranganathar, Andal and the 1 st, 44th and 45th

> Azhagiyasingars. Sri Dolai Kannan showered the moorthies of the three

> acharyas with sahasradharai abishekam. Sri Kannan was placed in the

> sahsradharai. While holding the sahsradharai, thirumanjanam was performed

> for Sri Dolai Kannan with the water flowing from Kannan, showering the

> Acharya moorthies. The elaborate thirumanjanam was performed with Vedam,

> Divyaprabhandha parayanam and kattiyam recital.

>

> Day two of the cultural events began again with the replaying of the

> anugrahabashanam by Srimad Azhagiyasingar for the benefit of those who

> missed the first day event. A play on the life of Sri Alavandhar was

> enacted by a group of sishyas and abhimanis from Washington D C. The

> audience enjoyed it very much. The play was followed by a display of

> talent by small children born and brought up in the United States, Tiny

> tots and young children recited slokas, sang songs and it was heartening

> to see them perform and look forward with hope about the future of our

> sampradayam in the United States. The excitement continued with the return

> of the favorite game "Jeopardy". The game quizzed the participants and

> audience on Divyadesams, Vedantham, Acharya's Tirunakshtrams, Prabhandams

> and Azhvars. This game was followed by yet another popular game,

> Anthakshari on Prabandhams.

>

> Shri. Prasanna, a disciple of Shri.TN.Seshagopalan presented a soul-

> stirring concert. The bava-laden concert was filled with prabandha

> pasurams and kirthanams on Perumal and Thayar. This was followed by a

> brief concert by Shri Ravi Srinivasan who treated the audience to some

> lilting kirthanams.

>

> The two-day event's yet another highlight was purapadu inside the temple

> for Sri.Dolai Kannan to the recitation of madal. Arthi was performed to

> Sri. Kannan in all the shrines of the temple to the recitation of Gopala

> Vimsathi. The audience's joy knew no bounds on witnessing this divine

> event. As usual, this was followed by evening aradhanam and sayanotsavam

> for Perumal

>

> As is the tradition at Srimatam, delectable food was served for both days

> for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. The quality and quantity of the

> food served was grand. Sri Ahobila matam sincerely thanks all the

> volunteers at Sri Ranganatha Temple, who performed an excellent kainkaryam

> in preparing and serving food. Every devotee's need was taken care of.

> True to the tradition of our Sampradayam, the volunteer's witheld their

> desire to take part in the religious activity and witness the cultural

> events to prepare the food and take care of the needs of the devotees.

>

> This concluded the annual event with every devotee that attended the

> celebrations leaving with great memories and a token gift from Sri Ahobila

> Matam. As the event ended, Sri Ranganatha Temple invited Sri Kannan and

> Sri Ahobila Matam to hold their annual Acharya day events every year from

> now on at the temple.

>

>

> -srimath azhagiyasingar thiruvadigale saranam

> adiyEn Rajaji

>

 

> Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka

> Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

>