visit to divya desams part 6

[Guest guest]

Dear bhagavathas,

 

pranamams.

 

7th,8th and 9th July Thiruppathi and Thirumala

 

It has been adiyen's long pending desire to visit

Thiruvenkatamudaiyan. Adiyen's earlier trip was in 1999. But that

trip was not planned well. We went by afternoon train from chennai

and booked for suprabhata seva in the early morning and returned by

morning train back to chennai. Since it was Friday, the Jeeyar

Sarrumurai seva was not at 7 AM and we could not stay back since we

were to catch the train at Thiruppathi.

 

In 2001, when my wife fell seriously ill with Hepatitis A, adiyen

prayed to HIM for her speedy recovery and starting observing vratam

on every sravanam till such time we go to HIM at Thirumala. Also

adiyen took a vow to recite the entire Daya shatakam of Swami Desika

sitting in the temple.

 

This time we had planned to spend a day or two in Thirumala to have

peaceful darshan of Sri Srinivasa. It got extended by one more day as

one of our friend was doing upanayanam for his son at Sri Ahobila

mutt in Thirumala. Further adiyen wanted to spend some time with Sri

Chinna Jeeyar swami in Thirumala as adiyen read about his untiring

efforts to preserve the traditional Sarrumurai seva for Srivaishnavas

who present themselves in Srivaishnava LakshaNam. Also there was an

article in Sri Nrusimha priya about the Ramanujar sannidhi enroute

the hilltop and Sri chinna Jeeyar swami had taken efforts to renovate

this sannidhi and he had invited every one to have darshan of Sri

Ramanuja. There was a fourth reason to meet him as one of his

poorvasrama relative who is our satsangh member (Sri Vijaykumar)

wanted to offer saffron and Cardamom etc for thiirtha parimalam. So

we had planned to spend some time with him apart from our darshan of

Srinivasa.

 

Now the entire world thrives on Internet. We can even book our seva

tickets online from TTD's web site. Though the process is very

cumbersome, (If you are five in a group, you have to book one by one

only) adiyen managed to do this two months ahead of time from Bahrain

itself. The another drawback is that you have to carry your original

passport to claim the entry ticket on reaching Thirumala. Carrying

the original passport in that crowded town is very risky but there is

no option. Later adiyen managed to have ticket for one more seva as

my father had an unexpected opportunity to visit Thirumala to

accompany our neighbor in chennai. So we had Archanantra seva booked

thru net and Arjitha brahmostavam booked by giving a demand draft

drawn at the Vijaya bank counter,Thirumala. Both sevas were on 8th

July.

 

We left chennai on 7th early morning as adiyen wanted to go to

Thirumala by foot, although there was no prarthana like that. Before

starting our trip, we had contacted Jeeyar swami thru telephone and

he himself took the phone and informed us that he will be camping at

Lower thirupathi as some utsavam was going on at Sri Varadaraja swamy

temple. When we have expressed our desire to attend Sarrumurai seva,

he told that although he will be at Lower thirupathi only till 9th of

July, somehow he will try to arrange for the seva, he promised.

 

We have landed at Thirupathi around 10 AM and the Sri chinna Jeeyar

madam was very close to Sri Govindaraja swamy temple, just opposite

to Sri Ahobila mutt. When we went there, no one was in the chinna

jeeyar madam and we were disappointed. What to do now? Where to meet

him? Then we thought that of going to Sri Ahobila mutt and refresh

ourselves and wear traditional clothing to visit the temples. May be

it was Sri Malolan's wish that we should first take HIS blessings

first. Sri Ramaswamy bhattar was there and he was kind enough to give

us a room temporarily and then took the blessings of Malolan. The

moorthy here is very beautiful and this process took half an hour.

Then we thought of first going to Sri Govindaraja swamy temple.

 

When we came out of Sri Ahobila mutt, we have noticed that the door

of the Chinna Jeeyar mutt was open although it was dark inside.

Adiyen ventured and located one bhagavatha called Ranganathan. He

told that Chinna jeeyar swamy is at Sri Varadarajaswamy temple and

Utsavam is going on there. He invited us to have darshan there and we

immediately went to this temple and we had never been to this temple.

It is just 10 minutes drive from Sri Govindarajaswamy temple.

 

Once we have reached there both Pedda Jeeyar and Chinna Jeeyar swami

were there. We had good darshan of Utsavar in the Mandapam and then

introduced ourselves to Jeeyar swami. He was very kind and open in

talking to us. After our darshan, he ordered the devotees there to

give us prasadam. He advised that we shall go to Govindaraja swamy

temple and then meet him at the chinna jeeyar mutt, as he will be

reaching there in an hour's time.

 

We had prasadam and came to Govindaraja swamy temple. The temple was

very crowded on that day. It took long time to cover all the

sannidhis. One good thing adiyen has noticed here. All the archakas

bless us stating that " punar darshana prAptirastu" meaning we should

be blessed to have darshan of Perumal again and again. Since we were

in traditional dress, in all sannidhis the archakas spent a minute

with us and ensured that we had good darshan. The deities are so

beautiful here and we require around 2 hours to cover all the

sannidhis.

 

When we came to Jeeyar mutt, no one was around and the doors were

open. We went inside and saw the swami was taking rest. He must be

very tired after his long routine of the morning then attending the

utsavam etc. So we did not want to disturb him. We sat there for

couple of hours and once swami woke up we went and prostrated to Him.

He immediately felt that we must have been waiting for long time and

he felt very bad about that. He mentioned that he was too tired but

we could have awakened him without waiting.

 

The next two hours spent with him was really memorable. He mentioned

about his close association with Srimad Azhagiya singar and the

Jeeyar seva kaimkaryam that he is doing for the benefit of all

srivaishnavas. He mentioned that whenever Srimad Andavan or Srimad

Azhagiya singar or Sri Parakala mutt jeeyar visits Tirumala we

personally take them to close quarters of Thiruvenkatamudaiyan and

give all the mariyadha with parivattam etc. He also mentioned about

the recently renovated Sri Ramanujar sannidhi and how that kaimkaryam

went on without any hassles. He quoted many divya prabandham verses

and explained it in simple layman's language. In all we were blessed

to have his audience in private for good time.

 

Adiyen has presented him some dry fruits, which we have carried from

Bahrain for offering to Yativaras and Perumal and Saffron and

Cardamam etc given by Sri Vijaykumar. Also adiyen gave one CD of

Divya prabandham recited by our Sri Ananth and Sri Narayanan. He was

very pleased with this kaimkaryam and mentioned that many times

lowkeekas are doing great service in spreading such sampradayic

matters than the scholars. He enquired about the background and how

it should be played etc and blessed us to continue our kaimkaryams.

 

The another reason he was pleased was that the association of both

sects here in Bahrain. He was indeed surprised to note adiyen can

recite the Vazhi Thirunamam of Sri Manavala mamuni and adiyen told

that entire goshti know both Vazhi Thirunamams by heart and it is

recited at the end of every goshti. He jokingly mentioned that the 2

sects (of Srivaishnavam) are like the Sri and Bhu devi thayar of

Sriman Narayana and like none of them will be jealous when perumal is

blessing the another, we should not have hatred to the other sect. He

spoke very high of Swami Desika and mentioned that without Sri

Desika, there is no Srivaishnavam today and to that extent, we should

have great bhakti to HIM. He mentioned that this is his firm personal

opinion and he is living to it as he preaches.

 

Although he had a commitment at Sri Varadaraja swamy temple at Lower

thirupathi next day, he promised us to be with us for Jeeyar seva on

8th. He told us that he will take us close to perumal and arrange for

good darshan. But when he enquired about the next day's program at

the varadaraja swamy temple, he learnt that by 9 AM he has to be

there for mudhal thiirtham. He was disappointed as he can't make a

trip to Thirumala with in that time. Further 8th being the

Thirunakshatram of Sri Periazhvar, he has to be in the temple for

utsavam. Sri Jeeyar swami apologised for his inability to be with us

and we were shocked at his humility. He is the Jeeyar swami and we

are just ordinary devotees and are we really qualified to have his

blessings and concern to this extent? Jeeyar swami's gesture and

humbleness has moved us.

 

He than phoned the devotees at Thirmala for arranging a good darshan.

Unfortunately, he could not reach anyone at that time. Then he told

us to meet couple of bhagvathas at Pedda Jeeyar mutt at Thirumala and

tell about his orders. Adiyongal then took leave of him and continued

our journey to Thiruchchanur. We have really enjoyed the company of

Sri Jeeyar swami and we have taken photograph with him.

 

When we went to Sri Ahobila mutt, Sri Ramaswamy swamin was reciting

Srimad Bhagavatam in his pooja room and his melodious voice was

filling the air. The Venugopala swamy, the archa moorthy of his daily

aradhana was very beautiful and swamin has nicely made alankaram for

him. He mentioned that was the concluding day of recitation and he

was pleased to receive us

(we being sri ahobila mutt sishyas) and do little service to us.

 

Then we went to Thiruchchanur and we have offered vastram to Thayar.

For a welcome change this temple was not so crowded at that time and

the thayar was decorated with lots of jewels and adiyen was wonder

struck at the smile on the face of HER. The divine feeling can't be

expressed and it has to be felt. We were blessed to remain there for

few minutes and Swami desikan's Sristuthi verses just passed adiyen's

mind and recited the concluding verses of Sri stuthi and returned. In

fact we were very tired and thirsty at that time. Not any more after

seeing HER.

 

It was well beyond 5 PM and we have dropped the plan of climbing the

Seven Hills by foot, as it will be late to reach the top. We had

never ventured such trip and adiyen has to postpone this for next

visit. Anyway we had spent the time with Jeeyar swami discussing sat

vishyams and we have consoled ourselves.

 

Our experiences at Thirumala will be the next posting.

 

regards

 

dasan venkat