SRS VOL.04/29 dated 08/01/03 – SPECIAL TIRUVAADIPOORAM ISSUE

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SrimatE Raamaanujaaya Namaha //

SrimatE Nigamaanta Mahaa Desikaaya Namaha //

SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya/

SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya//

KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava: /

SrI RanganAthO jayathu Sri Ranga Sri cha VardhathAm//

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SRS VOL.04/29 dated 08/01/03 – SPECIAL TIRUVAADIPOORAM ISSUE

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EDITORIAL:

We are glad to present a couple of brilliant articles from Sri Madhava

Kannan Swamy and one from Sri Muralidhar Rangaswamy and on this glorious

occasion of celebrating the Mother of boundless compassion, GODhaa PiraaTTi.

May the “SooDIkkoDutha SudarkkoDi Naachiyaar” shower her grace on all of us.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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IN THIS ISSUE:

1. REPORT ON THE PRATISHTA CELEBRATIONS IN SWAMI DESIKAR SANNIDHI OF SRIMAD

POUNDARIKAPURAM SWAMY ASRAMAM, SRIRANGAM

BY SRI MADHAVA KANNAN SWAMI OF SINGAPORE

2. A WRITE UP ON THE GLORY OF TIRUVAADIP POORAM

BY SRI MURALIDHAR RANGASWAMY OF BOSTON

3. ANOTHER WRITE UP ON ANDAL

BY SRI MADHAVA KANNAN SWAMI OF SINGAPORE

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Sri AndAL Dhivya mangaLa vigraha prathishtai mahOthsavam-

A small report

BY SRI MADHAVA KANNAN SWAMI OF SINGAPORE

Thu, 24 Jul 2003 08:08:35 +0000

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

Dearest Srivaishnavas

 

aDiyEn was fortunate to attend the AndAL dhivya mangaLa vigraha prathistai

mahOthsavam on 6th July at the Hayagreevan sannidhi of Srimad

Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam in East Uthra Street Srirangam. Please

recall aDiyEn’s email three weeks ago on this uthsavam.

 

If I say that it was a divine event and Sri AndAL looked so beautiful and

majestic, with a sweet smiling face with the most compassionate glances on

devotees – is a GROSS understatement. I believe literally on the line..

‘yathO vaachO nivartthanthE aprA Apya manasaa sa:

when I attempt to describe the divine beauty of this dhivya mangaLa vigraham

of Sri GodhA PiraaTTi.

 

Anyone who enjoys AndAL’s vigraham that is consecrated on July 6th at this

sannidhi will agree that the Thirumukham is mesmerizing. asmadhAchAryan was

visibly pleased and happy enjoying the divine beauty of Sri AndAL.

 

The prathsistai uthsavam went of in a grand manner with more than 200

devotees thronging to enjoy the divine event and with Veda, dhivya prabandha

gOsham trying to hit the skies. The dhivya mangaLa vigraham of His Holiness

Srimath ViNNaaRRankarai Andavan was also consecrated on the same

day.

 

There was a grand thadIyArAdhanai (which is what I relished most) at 2 p.m

and in the twilight at about 7 p.m there was a veedhi puRapaadu (procession)

for Sri AndAL and facing her was Sri ViNNaaRRankarai Andavan. It was a

glitering sight to enjoy AndAL Thirumukham gracefully walking in the

streets of Her pukkagam - Srirangam.

 

All residents in the 12 streets of Srirangam rushed to enjoy the divine

beauty of Sri GodhA PiraaTTi and the Yathi in the front facing her.

 

After Sri AndAL retuned back, she was standing proudly and majestically next

to Sri LakshmI Hayagreevan in OOnjal and They were enjoying the devotees

enjoying them.

 

AsmadhAchAryan H.H Sri PaRavaakkOttai Andavan was

also seen visibly pleased to see the Dhivya Damapathi in the newly built

beautiful maNi maNdapam {which has a glittering vomAnam on the top – Sri

NammAzhwAr, Sri Bhashyakarar, Sri Lakshmi Hayagreevan and Sri GarudA in the

four centers of vimAnam.). The entire flooring of sannidhi is with marble

tiles.

 

When Srimad Andavan spoke after saaRRumuRai (and while waiting for

prasAdham), Swamy said: [please forgive adiyEn for free translation- any

mistake is due to my inability and forgetful nature]

 

Sri AndAL decided to adorn this sannidhi and through Krishnakumar,

Vijaukumar brothers, Madhavakkannan and Sri Hari of Singapore, She has made

her way. They (Mohan kumar and brothers) claim that I had desired for AndAL.

I had no such desires. But I am now very happy that She is here. It is her

sankalpam and she is here. While she was on her way, she also made sure that

she has a divinely beautiful maNi maNdapam, as we were planning to build one

for a long time and the ceiling started showing ageing. So, we had to do

some reapir work for ceiling, and simultaneously Sri Gopalchariar suggested

us to build this maNi maNdapam. Thus, she executed her manDapam also.

Someone few months ago came to ashramam and offered kaasu maalai, bangles

etc.. saying they were their mother’s and it was her wish to give to the

sannidhi.

 

Though I refused to accept, they insisted and I had to accede to their

request finally. Thus, AndAL arranged for her jewels as well. Like she

arranged for her wedding, selected her groom, she got all this done for her.

She is now here at the lotus feet of Ranganathan. She had disappeared at the

Lotus feet of Sriranganathan and this sannidhi (which is East Uthra street,

next to east gate- is facing the lotus feet) houses Her now precisely where

She wanted to be. Thus She has come to the place that belongs to Her.

 

She is most merciful and most compassionate.

Swamy Desikan mentions about Her in GodhA sthuthi:

 

SrivishNuchittha kulanandana kalpavaleem

Srirangaraaja harichandana yoga drusyaam I

SakshAth KshamAm karuNayA KamalAmivAnyAm

GodhAm ananya saraNa: SaraNam prapathyE II

 

(Meaning ) : O GodhE ! I perform Saranagthi at Your sacred feet as one, who

has no other recourse! I have no one else to save me. You are the Kalpaka

creeper adorning the Lord standing as the auspicious HarichandanA tree in

the flower garden of the Kulam of VishNuchitthA, your father. The darsanam

of you united with Your Lord tightly as the divine kalpakA creeper and the

celestial HarichandanA tree is a blessed sight to see.

 

Saakshaath kshamaam- In Your infinite patience with the aparAdhis , You are

Bhumi dEvi and in your limitless compassion, You are like Maha Lakshmi

Herself.

 

I offer my Prapatthi at your sacred, lotus feet as the one who has no other

means!

 

Thus, Swamy says: She is BhumA dEvi and Sri Devi as well.

 

His Holiness added: Swami Desikan also says in his GodhAsthuthi:

Oh GodhA Piraatti! Sriman NarayanA's role is to carryout punitive actions

against us (who are trespassing sasthrAs and are committing

sins/apachaarams). But Periya Piraati MahAlakshmi, the Most Merciful Mother

is there by His side to be soft on us and always recommends us (the sinners)

to Sriman Narayanan for forgiving our apachaarams out of Her compassion. How

many times He can yield to Her recommendations? (before even the performance

of our sins gets dried, Sri Lakshmi recommends us for His pardon!). He gets

vexed and is totally helpless and turns His face to

the other side (in disgust- THAT He is always asked by the Mother

MahAlakshmi- Periya Piraatti- to forgive us (the sinners)- How merciful She

is!).

 

On such occasions when the Lord turns away from Lakshmi, on the other side

there sits equally Most Merciful (if not more) BhUmi Piraatti GodhA

Piraatti- who is taking her turn to recommend us again to the Lord! He,

simply smiles at both of You (Periya Piraatti and GodhApiraatti) and

forgives us! When you and Periya Piraatti are there, GodhA! What is there to

worry about?

 

Thus Swamy beautifully narrated GodhA PiraaTTi’s greatness and Swamy blessed

the devotees with sakala sowbhAgyam with nArAyaNa smaraNam.

 

aDiyEn spent the next ten days in Srirangam enjoying the close proximity of

AndAL, Andavan, Arangan and appA ammA.

aDiyEn met Sri Sampath Rengi in AndAL sanndhi during prathistai mahOthsavam

for the first time and it is my bhagyam to meet Thiruppaavai Swamy on this

day at the sannidhi. (Remember his 66 posts only on Maargazhi Thingal alone

few years ago and was conferred the title Thirupaavai Swamy).

 

adiyEn also was fortunate to meet Sri TR Govindarajan in Srirangam later

during my stay.

Please forgive me for my errors and omissions

 

Sri AndAL ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo narayana

dAsan

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2. A WRITE UP ON THE GLORY OF TIRUVAADIP POORAM

BY SRI MURALIDHAR RANGASWAMY OF BOSTON

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

On this most sacred Tiruvadi Pooram day, the Tirunakshatram of Andal, adiyen

wishes to share the following reflections.

Srivilliputtur, the birthplace of Andal is sanctified because, Andal chose

to incarnate there. Unlike avatarams of the Lord where He incarnated through

GarbhavAsam, Periya Azhwar found Andal in his flower garden. Therefore, Her

birth was Avirbhava. It is significant to note that two months of the year

designated as Shoonya masams are - Adi and Marghazhi. Significantly, both of

these months have been rendered sacred by Andal - Adi due to Her incarnation

and Marghazi due to the brilliant delivery of the Tiruppavai verses, at the

end of which She attained eternal union with Lord Narayana. Significantly,

Lord Krishna Himself declares in the Bhagavad Gita "mAsAnAm

marghashIrshOsmi"(among the months I am the MargashIrsha) in anticipation of

His union with Andal. For Andal, expression of Her pangs of separation from

Her Beloved (Lord Narayana) came naturally. Therefore, She did not need to

adopt Nayaki Bhavam in her outpourings like Swami NammAzhwar or Tirumangai

Azhwar.

 

Andal, being an Amsham of Bhumi Piratti is the epitome of compassion. This

is glorified in the Purusha Sooktam rk "HrIscha thE lakshmIscha pathnyoU".

The term Hri denotes compassion- Andal's compassion. Since Lord Narayana is

the father of the entire universe, Andal as His consort becomes the mother

of the entire universe.

 

Her limitless compassionfor Her children (erring baddha jIvans, who are

subject to a seemingly endless cycle of births and deaths), who perform

SharaNagati manifests itself in the form of Her impassioned appeals to Lord

Narayana to forgive their sins. The act of granting refuge to a Prapanna is

a yajna performed by Lord Narayana. The term Patni is reserved for exclusive

use in the context of yajna. Andal's elevated role in this yajna of

protecting Prapannas is glorified in the Bhu Sooktam Rk

"shrungE shrungE yajnE yajnEviBhishaNIi"

 

A remarkable feature of Andal's incarnation is the harmonious unison of

theory and practice underlying SharaNagati. We may remember that when Bhumi

Piratti was rescued from the depths of the ocean by Lord Narayana, in his

incarnation as Varaha (jnAna Piran), her overwhelming compassion for Her

Children (errant baddha jivans) took the form of a question seeking the

upayam for redemption. The

response from Bhagavan Varaha is the famous Varaha Charma Shlokam, which

briefly outlines the theoretical principles underlying SharaNagati. We may

observe that Swami Desikan dedicates an entire Chillarai Rahasyam entitled

"rahasya shiKhamaNi" to the discussion of the esoteric meanings underlying

the Varaha Charma Shlokam.

 

Not satisfied with this, Andal's extreme compassion for Her children is such

that She undertook the performance of the Vratam (nombu) of SharaNagati to

llustrate the jiVatma -ParamAtma relationship. The 30 verses of Tiruppavai

contain a consummate description of this relationship, which has been

elaborated upon in the Upanishads and in the Bhagavad Gita. It is

instructive to note that recitation of Vedic hymns have significant

restrictions in that one must be aware of the time and place to recite these

hymns. Furthermore, not everyone is qualified to recite these hymns. Only

Gruhastas can recite some hymns, while some are the privy of Sanyasis alone

and so forth. Whereas no such restrictions apply to the recitation of verses

from Tiruppavai. Also, the Vedas are quite cryptic in their reference to the

margam of SharaNagati. Therefore, they are often termed as Marai (that which

is not visible to the naked eye). However, Andal being an Amsham of Bhumi

Piratti beautifully intuited the nuances and prescriptions of SharaNagati

from the Vedas and described it a simple-to-understand language using 30

delectable verses of Tiruppavai. The following important messages are

contained in this outstanding literary masterpiece.

 

(1) Every jivAtma is irrevocably the property of the ParamAtma, Lord

Narayana, who is its Sheshi, ruler, Swami.

(2) The existence and activities of every jivAtma are solely for the

pleasure of Lord Narayana.

 

Andal illustrates (1) and (2) through the "ariyAdha piLLaihaLO"

salutation in the Tiruppavai.

 

(3) The surest way to restore the property (jivAtma) to its rightful owner

is through the path of unconditional, total surrender to the Lord's Lotus

Feet, i.e., SharaNagati.

(4) The performance of sharaNagati is simply Atma vivAham, i.e., a wedding

between the jivAtma and the Paramatma.

(5) The rules underlying the performance of this nOmbu are clearly stated in

the Tiruppavai. For example, verse 2 elaborates on the yama and niyama

exercises. The term yama means that which must be given up, whereas the term

niyama means that which must not be given up, i.e., that which must be

followed. Some of the rules contained here are significant in that they echo

important upanishadic messages. First, upon waking up one must recite the

name of Lord Narayana-this seems to be the basis of Swami Desikan's

Vaishnava Dinasari, where he notes that upon waking up one must recite the

name Hari 7 times. Next, Andal discusses that which must be given

up-neyyuNNOm pAluNNOm. This is not interpreted to mean that one must give up

partaking of ghee and milk. However, it is merely an instruction that these

should be partaken only upon offering to Lord Narayana. Further, Andal

discusses what must be given in charity.

 

This is a remarkable echo of the Taittriya Upanishad

salutations "shraddaya DhEyam" and "shriyA DhEyam" and the Dharma Shastras

(Manu Smriti for example)that contain stipulations for setting apart a

percentage of one's income for charitable /philanthrophic purposes.

Exponents of Yoga have also commented that verse 2 is a prescription for

facilitating the realization that Lord Narayana who resides in the milky

ocean is forever resident in the lotus of one's heart. This illustrates the

Mahanarayana upanishad salutation "yOanta samudhrE kavayO vayanti"

 

(6) The thirty verses of the tiruppavai represent the condensed essence of

the esoteric messages contained in the three Srivaishnava rahasyams. The

gist of these three rahasyams is that (i) Lord Narayana is the supreme

being-Tattvam (ii) Performance of SharaNagati (unconditional, total

surrender) at His Lotus Feet is the surest way of redemption-Hitam (iii)

Upon performance of SharaNagati,

one must take delight in performing Kaimkaryam for Lord Narayana, His

Bhagavatas, and Acharyas. Nithya Kaimkaryam at the behest and for the

pleasure of the Divine Couple follows at the end of one's earthly

existence-PurushArtham

 

(7) It may be questioned as to what is the authority for performing this

Nombu of SharaNagati? Andal answers this through the salutation "melayAr

seyvanagal", i.e. treading the path established by elders. The reference

here is to the mahOpakaram of Swami NammAzhwar-the Prapanna jana Kootasthar,

who established the efficacy of SharaNagati beyond doubt.

 

(8) The salutation "unakkE nAmATchaIvOm" is the condensed essence of the

sAma vedam, which glorifies Lord Narayana to the exclusion of all other

deities.

 

(9) The glorification of Lord Narayana as dhamOdharanE is a succinct

illustration of the Bhrahma Sutra

"janmAdhyasyayathOnvayAdhitharaThaschArthEshva vijnya svarAt"

 

Swami Desikan's Goda Stuthi seems to follow the path of Andal's 30 verses in

letter and spirit. Specifically, Swami Desikan's opening contains a

surrender to the Lotus Feet of Goda ". In the concluding verse of this

Stuthi, Swami Desikan elqouently describes the fruit of this surrender

through the salutation "charaNa kamala sevAm shAshvatIm abhyupAishyan". The

bountiful blessings arising from the performance of SharaNagati are also

described by Swami Desikan as he echoes the message of Andal's "shara mazhai

pOl" salutation in the Daya Shatakam verse "shArnga DhanvAnukampa" It is

instructive to note that in the war against Ravana, after the killing of

Indrajit, Ravana

was grief stricken and ordered his fiercest hordes of demons to launch a

full scale offensive on Lord Rama and the Vanara army. The Vanara army

suffered heavy casualties as a result of this attack by the asuras, who used

the darkness of the night to full advantage. Lord Rama entered the fray at

this juncture and rained an unending stream of arrows from his bow, which

effortlessly repelled the attack of the Asuras. Adikavi, Valmiki, states in

the Ramayana that the arrows came so swiftly from Lord Rama's bow that it

appeared as if a multitude of Ramas were present on the battlefield. This is

illustrative of the

fact that every baddha jIvan is unaware of its true swaroopam and is thus

steeped in the darkness of ignorance on account of its bondage to samsara by

the rope of Karma. Sri Sookthis from Acharyas bestow the light of knowledge

upon the Baddha jIvan causing the baddha jivan to realize its true swaroopam

(eternal servitude to Lord Narayana), resulting in the performance of

Prapatti. The bountiful

fruits arising from the performance of Prapatti are akin to the copious

stream of arrows from Lord Rama's bow. This is indicative of the Vedic

messages "tamasOmA jyOtirgamayA" and 'mruthyOrmA amruthanga mayA". The bliss

arising from the performance of eternal Kaimkaryam at the behest and for the

pleasure of the Divine Couple is described in the VishNu Sooktam Rk "Tad

vishNO: Paramam padagam sadhA

pashyanthi soorayaha" and the Taittriya Upanishad salutations

"sa yEkO brahmaNa Ananda:", "AhamannAdO"

and the Chandogya Upanishad salutation

"na cha purnarAvarthathE na cha purnarAvarthathE".

 

Happy Birthday Amma!

 

Namo Narayana,

Sri Muralidhar Rangaswamy

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3. ANOTHER WRITE UP ON ANDAL

BY SRI MADHAVA KANNAN SWAMI OF SINGAPORE

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Sri:

SrimathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya Namah:

 

Dearest Sisters and Brothers,

 

Today Aug 1st is a Great day. The day of our Dearest Mother GodhA Piraatti's

Thirunakhsthram, Thiru Adi pooram- Sri AndAL's Birthday. BhUmi Piraati took

the avatar as an ordinary girl amongst us to bless us with rich,

philosophical, easy-to-understand pAsurams of ThiruppAvai and Naacchiyaar

Thirumozhi (30+143 verses). She is so merciful that she sang the 30 verses

that are simply the essence and seed of all vEdAs.

 

Thiruppavai (30 verses) can alleviate all our enormous Greatest sins; They

can show us the Lotus Feet of Paraman (Sriman Narayanan) and bless us. They

are the seed of all VedAs. Those who do NOT know these 30 (5x5+5) verses of

GodhA are simply burden to the Earth (BhUmipiraati - Sri AndAL). (Let us

pray to Her for granting us the determination so that we will recite these

30 verses everyday morning POSITIVELY and NOT cause further burden to our

dearest Mother GodhAPiraatti- BhUmi Piraatti.) Let us meditate on the most

compassionate and most merciful Divine Godha PiraaTTi and surrender to Her

Lotus feet.

 

Swami Desikan starts off the GodhAsthuthi, which is reported to have been

sung by Swami, when he was greatly captured by GodhA's Divine Beauty in the

streets of Sri Villiputthur during a procession (Uthsavam) on the day of

which Swami was observing Mouna vratham (perhaps, PradhOsham time).

 

GoDhA looked gracefully at Swami and her divine beauty appeared as if

allured him to say "Hm.... Sing .. Come out..VedantaAchAryarE!" Swami had to

break his silence and blessed us with the most brilliant divine 29 excellent

verses of GOdhAsthuthi. (one less than 30 pAsurams of ThiruppAvai)

 

Slokam 1 of GodhA sthuthi : SaraNAgathi at the Holy feet of GodhA PirAtti

 

SrivishNuchittha kulanandana kalpavaleem

Srirangaraaja harichandana yoga drusyaam I

SakshAth KshamAm karuNayA KamalAmivAnyAm

GodhAm ananya saraNa: SaraNam prapathyE II

 

(Meaning ) : O GodhE ! I perform Prapatthi at Your sacred feet as one, who

has no other recourse! I have no one else to save me. You are the Kalpaka

creeper adorning the Lord standing as the auspicious HarichandanA tree in

the flower garden of the Kulam of VishNuchitthA, your father. The darsanam

of You united with Your Lord tightly as the divine kalpakA creeper and the

celestial HarichandanA tree is a blessed sight to see. In Your infinite

patience with the aparAdhis, You are Bhumi dEvi and in your limitless

compassion, You are like Maha Lakshmi Herself. I offer my Prapatthi at your

sacred, lotus feet as the one, who has no other means!

 

Swamy Desikan in Prabandha saaram (10th verse):

 

vEyar pugazh villiputthUr ADI POORAM

mEn mElum miga viLanga, vittu chitthan

thUya thirumagaLaay vandhu aranganaarkkutth

thuzhaay maalai mudi soodik koduttha maadhE!

nEyamudan Thiruppaavaip paattu ARu aindhum

nee uraittha thaiyoru thingat paamaalai

Aya pugazh nooRudan naaRpatthu moonRum

anbudanE aDiyEnukku aRuL sey neeyE!

 

In the most famous, great Sri villiputthUr, (famous due to Bhattar Piraan’s

place, with his establishment of Parathvam and the Lord appearing with

Mahalakshmi on GarudAzhwAn to witness the grand celebration of his devotee

VishNuchitthan - Bhattar Piraan), in Veyar kulam, GodhA (Sri ANdAL) appeared

in the garden of Sri VishNu chitthan in order to enhance its (Sri

villiputthUr’s) greatness to the greatest extent by Her appearance. She

adorned herself with the garland meant for Arangan (Lord Ranganathan) and

then adorned the dhivya mangaLa vigraham of the Lord! (which was actually

preferred by the Lord!- please read the life of Sri ANdAL). She lovingly and

devotedly sang the 6 * 5 = 30 verses of ThiruppAvai and 143 pAsurams

(verses) of Naacchiyar Thirumozhi which starts with thaiyoru thingaL..

 

Swamy Desikan prays to her.. “Oh GodhE! Please bless aDiyEn mercifully those

bhakti laden pAsurams of yours (namely ThiruppAvai and Naacchiyar

Thirumozhi)..

 

Also, Sri Manavala Maamuni says:

 

inRO Thiruvaadippooram;- emakkaaga anRO inghu ANdAL avatharitthaaL-

kunRaadha vaazhvaana vaikuntha vaan bhOganthannai igazhdhu

AzhwAr ThirumagaLaaraay.

 

Beautiful and simple: Maamuni says: Today is Thiruvaadipporam. Andal

appeared only for us; She sacrificed Her eternal Vaikunta enjoyment and

living and appeared here as the human daughter of AzhwAr. (What a compassion

of Bhumi Piraatti!)

 

Srimanyai VishNu chitthaaryamanOnandhanahEthavE!

nandhanandha sudharyai gOdhaayai Nithya MangaLam!!

 

Let us pay our obeisance to Sri AndAL on Her Birthday and pray to Her for

Her Most Merciful Glances on us always to forgive us for all our trespasses

and apachaarams/sins..

 

Let us make a sincere attempt to recite her ThirupPAvai everyday as it takes

only 15 minutes to do the same.

AndaL ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Namo Narayana

dAsan

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