Fwd: Article from The Hindu: Sent to you by Shreyas Sarangan

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>Article from The Hindu: Sent to you by Shreyas Sarangan Fri,

>14 Nov 2003 19:08:30 +0530

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>This article has been sent to you by Shreyas Sarangan (

>sarangan__ (AT) __hotmail (DOT) com )

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>Source: The Hindu

>(http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2003/11/14/stories/2003111401360600.htm)

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>Spiritual mentor and administrator

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>ONE OF the highly commended instruments of Vaishnavism has been the Acharya

>parampara. These teacher-dynasties have imparted to their disciples a rare

>value-based spiritual education. Apart from conveying the philosophy of

>Srivaishnavism, they have taught generations how to approach the literature

>of Vaishnavism and also the observance of the disciplined life of an ideal

>householder of the faith.

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>Among such acharyas in recent times, Sri Krishna Thathayarya Mahadesikan of

>Kanchipuram deserves special homage. Popularly known as Tirupputkuzhi

>Swami, he was born 180 years ago and was Mudhal Teerthakar at the Devaraja

>Temple in Kanchipuram. As a direct disciple of Srimad Periandavan of

>Srirangam, he mastered Srivaishnava theology and wrote works on

>Nyayasastra, Vedanta and Mimamsa. A doyen among logicians of his time, he

>worsted Rama Sastri of Mysore on the theme of the term Narayana denoting

>the Supreme, by writing "Paramukha Chapetika". He even wrote a work on

>music. His unwavering admiration for Vedanta Desikar led to his detailed

>commentaries on the Acharya's Nyaya Parisuddhi and Nyaya Siddhanjana.

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>Nor did he confine himself to mere scholarship. His administrative

>abilities led him to renovate the Sri Vedanta Desika shrine at Thooppul in

>Kanchipuram. During his time the temple had been closed for quite a few

>years and was almost in ruins. As a Srivaishnavite and staunch follower of

>Vedanta Desika's writings, the Swami gathered a few devotees and set about

>clearing the place and reinstating the worship of the Acharya's image in

>the temple.

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>This was not relished by some members of the community belonging to the

>Tenkalai sect, and a case was filed against the Swami for illegal

>occupation of the shrine. The case came up for hearing in the Chingleput

>Court. There was a very big crowd of Vadakalai supporters of the Swami, but

>they were requested not to come in, by the Swami's lawyer. The other sect

>filled the room. However, when the Swami entered the courtroom, all the

>assembled Vaishnavas got up. When asked by the English Judge why they were

>all showing such courtesy to the accused, the assemblage said that the

>Swami happened to be their Acharya. The Judge gave a ruling that since he

>was himself an eye-witness to the incident, he was sure the Swami who

>commanded such an impressive number of disciples should not be harassed and

>that he should be allowed to continue the renovation of the Desikar shrine.

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>Tirupputkuzhi Swami restored the original glory of the Thooppul temple.

>When he became the Dharmakartha of Varadarajaswami temple, the Swami

>renewed the Mangala Sasanam programmes of Vedanta Desikar, for the

>presiding deity on the birthday of the Acharya, as the ritual had been

>given up for more than six decades. He was honoured with the first

>Mahamahopadhyaya title by the Government.

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>Apart from his scholarship, he was revered for his exemplary life of

>self-discipline following the rules prescribed for the Srivaishnava. Here

>is his timetable for a Srivaishnava to worship in the Kanchipuram temple

>every morning.

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>As one comes face to face with the deity at dawn, one must recite slokas

>like "Kausalya Supraja Rama" and the Tamil matin hymn of Tondaradippodi

>Azhwar as also verses from Andal and Vedanta Desikar. One should then

>submit one's requests and pray for the Lord's compassion.

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>After taking in the wondrous image of the Lord ornamented from the crown to

>the feet, one is to hail the way He is seen along with Sridevi and

>Bhoodevi. Then must one remember the auspicious qualities of those

>attending on the Supreme and spend a while praying for the prosperity of

>the Divya Desas, the temples about which the Azhwars have sung.

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>After receiving the holy water and Satari, the devotee should invite the

>Lord to his house for being worshipped. After receiving permission to

>perform the day's duties, it would be time for circumambulating in the

>prakaram, and at the conclusion sit in the Mahamandapam and do Nama japam

>for a while. Then, one must formally take leave of the Dwarapalakas and

>come home and start the day's activities.

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>Tirupputkuzhi Swami was able to be the pathfinder for everyone in the

>Kanchipuram temple. The archakas, cooks and other servitors including those

>who played the instruments, performed their work faultlessly because the

>Swami was regular in attending to the temple in this disciplined manner and

>also was their spiritual mentor.

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>Rarely do we have this combination of scholarship, commitment to the

>religious path chartered by one's spiritual ancestors, an undying love for

>the rituals of temple worship and administrative capacity.

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>PREMA NANDAKUMAR

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>Thirunakshatram celebrations

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> SRI THATHADESIKA Thiruvamsasthar Sabha, Kanchipuram, and the religious

>monthly, Sri Kanchi Perarulalan, will celebrate the 180th Thirunakshatram

>(birthday) of Thirupputkuzhi Sri Krishna Thathayarya Mahadesikan, popularly

>known as Sri Thirupputkuzhi Swami, on November 16 (Subam-Aippasi-Aayilyam).

>It also marks the completion of 20 years of publication of Sri Kanchi

>Perarulalan, started by Thirupputkuzhi Sri Narasimha Thathayarya

>Mahadesikan, an ardent disciple of Thirupputkuzhi Swami.

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> The 180th birthday celebrations will include Vedaparayanam, religious

>discourses and release of souvenir and audiocassettes. The audiocassette

>will contain Sri Hasthigiri Mahathmyam, a literary discourse by R.

>Srinivasavaradan. Sri Hasthigiri Mahatmyam is a rendering in Tamil poetic

>form, with Sanskrit-Manipravala commentaries by Swami Nigamantha

>Mahadesikan on the avatharam of Lord Varadaraja. It is a three-hour long

>devout offering to Sri Varadaraja and a tribute to Nigamantha Mahadesikan

>and Thirupputkuzhi Swami, whose devotion to Nigamantha Mahadesikan was

>unparalleled. The last 30 minutes of the cassette contains the compositions

>of Bhoodhathazhwar, Nammazhwar, Thirukkachi Nambigal, Koorathazhwar and

>Nigamantha Mahadesikan.

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> The organisers of the celebration seek generous donations from devotees,

>which may be sent to: The Secretary, Sri Thathadesika Thiruvamsasthar

>Sabha, No. 35, Sannidhi Street, Kanchipuram-631501.

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>Special releases: As part of the Thirunakshatram celebrations of

>Thirupputkuzhi Swami, Hayagreeva Vidya Peetam, No. 22 (New no. 54)

>Thiruvalluvar Street, Taramani, Chennai-600113 (Ph: (9544) 22430730) will

>release a special postal cover and souvenir. Honouring of vidwans and

>thadheeyaradhanam are also part of the agenda.

 

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