Fwd: [t'vengadam] "aipassi sravanam" celebrations in Kuwait

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--- "M.K. Sudarshan" <sudarshan wrote:

> tiruvengadam

> "M.K. Sudarshan" <sudarshan

> Tue, 12 Nov 2002 10:56:18 +0300

> [t'vengadam] "aipassi sravanam" celebrations in Kuwait

>

>

>

> Dear friends,

>

> Yesterday's monthly observance of "sravanam" by Kuwait members was

> specially occasioned by 2 particular events.

>

> Although "puratAsi sravanam" is the day that the rest of the world

> celebrates Swami Venkatanathan's "tirunakshatram" proper, it is

> only in the sacred "kshEtra" of Tiruvengadam that the same event is

observed a full month later on the day of "aipassi sravanam". There

is a reason for this. During the lunar month of "puratAsi" the Hill

of Venkatam is agog with 'utsavam-s' celebrating the asterism of the

principal Deity, Lord Venkateswara himself. During such a grand

occasion in honour of the Lord of Venkatam, Swami Venkatanathan

himself would have regarded it highly inappropriate should parallel

celebrations be held in honour of his own "tirunakshatram".

Therefore, it became a time-honoured practice in Tirupati and

Tirumala to postpone "desikan tirunakshatram" by a month to the

> month of "aipassi" instead of "puratAsi".

>

> In Kuwait, hence, yesterday's "sravanam" congregation was not just

> the usual monthly affair but rather a special occasion when we all

> again celebrated the "tirunakshatram" of Swami Venkatanathan for

the

> second time and two months in a row!

>

> The second reason why yesterday's occasion was rather special is

> that it also happened to be the 'tirunakshatram' of the great

> Poigai-AzhwAr, the first among the "mudal-AzhwArs".

>

> Under such a wonderful constellation of divine events, amidst an

> assembly of Kuwait 'astikAs' who had gathered in large numbers, it

was just perfect that yesterday's "sravanam-satsangham" began with

the majestic and sonorous chanting of the "taittiriya

brahmAnandavalli" by the gifted 'upanishad-adhyAyana' students of Sri

IVK Chari.

>

> This was followed by recitation in wonderfully orchestarated chorus

> of Swami Desikan's "hayagreeva-stOtram". Judging by the number I

saw

> join in the recitation last evening, it is a matter of great pride

that more and more people in Kuwait have begun to learn this

"stOtra". It is truly heartening to know that all of you with

school-going and college-going children are convinced and now believe

strongly that the "hayagreeva-stOtra" will surely bless your

offspring with academic success and brilliance in their long careers

ahead.

>

> Next followed recitation of 20 "shlOka-s" from Desikan's

> "daya-satakam". The quality of "daya" or Compassion is essentially

a feminine one, related as it is to the "purushAkAratva" of

"pirAtti". Compassion or "kArUnnyam" comes more naturally to women

than to men since the former are not as hard-hearted as their

so-called "better-halves". Thus, when the "daya-satakam" is sung by a

group of ladies it somehow sounds much sweeter and melodious

("mAdhuryam"/ "ramyam") than when it is recited by a group of

> men. (This is only adiyane's personal opinion but ever since I

> heard my late beloved "thAyyAr", Smt.Mani Krishnaswami's fabulous

rendition of this great "stOtra", I have always believed that

masculinity and "daya-satakam" are never really as well paired as

women-folk are with it.)

> Smt.Revati and Smt.Padma Chari recited it really very well

yesterday and for once, thankfully (no offence meant here), the

menfolk were gracious enough to remain silent and enjoy listening to

the ladies outshine the gents.

>

> SrimAn D.Shankar and A.S.Balasubramaniam led the recitation of the

> short "stOtra" of "kAmAsikAshtakam" which sounded like a truly

splendid Deepavali sparkler!

>

> There has been a valuable addition to the membership of the

> T'vengadam 'gOshti' in SrimAn Ramanujam who has just arrived here

to take up a new assignment in Kuwait. We are all happy to have him

join the Tiruvengadam Group. He and Sri.Raghunathan chanted 20

wonderful 'shlOkA-s' from the "mukunda-mAla". It was a truly moving

experience. Sri.Ramanujam has a stentorian voice that is well suited

to recite such lovely verses of Kulasekhara AzhwAr.

>

> Next, came the "divya-prahandham". Everytime Sri.P.T.Narayanan

> sings the "senniyOngu" of Peria-AzhwAr he truly transports us all

to

> SriVilliputtur or Tiruvengadam (some would argue it is to

TiruvellikEni, for that is where Sri.Narayanan hails from!). To the

rich milk of "senniyOngu", Sri.Narayanan added the sugar of

Poigai-AzhwAr's verses from the "mudal-patthu" and the result was we

were taken away immediately to Tirukovalur to experience the

> nectar of "dehaleesan".

>

> SrimAn IVK Chary brought the proceedings to a grand culmination by

> performing the "tiruvAradana" and "sAtrumarai" in solemn and proper

> "krama".

>

> Smt.Mythili Narasimhan sang two beautiful "kritis" one of which was

> the very popular AnnamachArya composition, "sriman nArAyana".

>

> The crowing piece of the evening however was yet to unfold...

>

> In response to our earlier appeal to members to contribute

> generously to the "Thoopul divya-dEsa nitya-arAdana kainkaryam

Trust", Kanchipuram, the members of the Tiruvengadam Group of Kuwait

together with their families and friends, rose to the occasion in one

body and simply surpassed all expectations. It will not be right to

specifically name the many donors who came forward to do their

utmost. And not taking the least offence at adiyane's "bullying

tactics" in imposing "fines and penalties" on the erring students of

Sri IVK Chary's Upanishad class, all of them went around actively

canvassing for funds and the grand result was...

 

> CONTRIBUTIONS aggregating in all to the handsome AMOUNT of INR

> 100,000 !!!

 

> YES, believe it or not, an AMOUNT of INR 100,000 !!!

>

> May the God of Tiruvengadam shower his blessings on everyone of you

> who has contributed so handsomely! May your families and children

prosper! On this most happy occasion I pray to the "vEdAntAchArya" of

Thoopul to shower his "paripUrna-katAksham" on every one of you! All

of you have performed a great service indeed since supporting

"nitya-ArAdana" in a temple is like a aiding in the performance of a

great "yagnya" itself! This daily "yagnya" will yield great

prosperity and auspiciousness not only to individuals but to the

whole world at large...

>

> "sarvE janAh sukhinO bhavantu...

> "lOkAh samastA sukhinO bhavantu..

>

> "kavitArkika simhAya kalyAna gunashALinE

> srimathE venkatEshAya vEdAnta guravE namah".

>

> Thank you one and all,

>

> Regards,

> dAsAnu dAsan,

>

> Sudarshan

>

> P.S. The contribution of INR 100,000 will be duly sent to the

> Thoopul Trust in a few days time and proper acknowledgement will be

obtained and communicated to all of you.

>

 

 

 

 

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