Guest guest Posted April 28, 2004 Report Share Posted April 28, 2004 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// ======================================================= SRI RANGA SRI VOL.05 / ISSUE # 17 dated 27th April 2004 ====================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: REPORT ON MY VISIT TO INDIA ========================================================= REPORT ON MY VISIT TO INDIA FOR THE RELEASE FUNCTION OF BOOK ENTITLED “HINDUISM REDISCOVERED” My trip to India during March- April 2004 solely in connection with the release of my book was hectic sometimes and leisurely at others. On the whole, it was once again a pleasant and unforgettable experience, as you will see in the following write up. I left Cleveland, Ohio on 2nd March and reached Singapore on 4th morning for a brief stop over. Sri Madhava Kannan and Sri Govindarajan (members of SRS) received me at the Changi airport. As it was a long hail from Cleveland- JFK-Frankfurt etc, I excused myself and promised to meet Singapore Bhaagavatas on my return trip from Chennai, when I would be comparatively fresh. PROOF CORRECTION Leaving Singapore on 4th night, I arrived in Chennai on 5th morning. That very night, I proceeded to Bangalore where some of our members had formed a team to do the preliminary proof corrections. I had a marathon session for over 5 days to complete the final proof and give the “strike” order. Sri Sathyanarayana, Printer and his assistant Smt. Meera Raghuram’s enthusiastic cooperation in incorporating the corrections on the spot was indeed amazing. VISIT TO SRI VENUGOPALASWAMI TEMPLE, MALLESWARAM On 8th March, I visited Sri Venugopla Swami temple at Malleswaram and met with Sri Achutaraman Rangachari, Sri Kambam Deepak and Smt. Padmini Ranganathan (all SRS members) and also Sri Ananthanarasimhachariar (Son of Dr. N.S.Anatharangachariar Swami) who coordinated the project from beginning to end. VIGJNAPANAM TO HIS HOLINESS My requests to asmad Acharyan to release the book on his Tirunakshatram day were hitherto only through telephone and Kainkaryaparas. It was only proper that I should personally submit my vigjnaapanam. Hence, I made a trip to Srirangam on 12th March and met with H.H on 13th. He was mighty happy and readily consented to do so. SAMPLE COPY ARRIVED! When I returned to Chennai on 14th March evening, I was agreeably surprised to receive the first copy of the book through courier. Like a mother anxious to see in final shape her baby she had just given birth to, I was naturally anxious to see how my book would look like in its final shape. My joy knew no bounds when I ogled the nearly 1000 page book dressed up in elegant get up, thanks to the printers. VISIT TO LOCAL TEMPLES IN TRIPLICANE AND MYLAPORE On 15th March, I took my pet to the Sannidhis of Sri Parthasarathi PerumaaL, Triplicane, and Anjaneyar at Luz (Tanni Turai Market) and Bank Anjaneyar, Alwarpet and placed at their feet for their blessings. ENFORCED IDLENESS! Between 16th and 24th March, there was a comparative lull when I took complete rest lest I should fall sick at the time of the release function. But, the time was utilized for inviting all friends and Bhaagavatas to attend the function. Also, I tried to browse mails. It was a harrowing experience. Switching from one screen to another took hours on end with the hourglass getting frozen interminably. It was so frustrating that I was forced to take “enforced rest” that seemed, in a sense, welcome! CONSIGNMENT ARRIVED AT LAST! On 24th March, I left for Srirangam to be on time to receive the consignment of books brought by the printers from Bangalore. You can imagine the fast beating pulse in anxious anticipation of the books till they arrived actually late in the evening, with the release function scheduled the next morning! 26TH MARCH 2004 (FRIDAY) PANGUNI ROHINI The day had arrived; the day we were looking forward with bated breath; the day of the 83rd Tirunakshatram of the Senior most YathisreshTa, Srimad ANDavan, Sri ParavaakkOTTai GOpala Mahaa Desikan of Sri Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam, Sri Rangam. The Asramam premises had been reverberating with Veda, Divya Prabhanda gOshams from the previous day itself and an aura of festivities had already enveloped the atmosphere. Erudite expositions in the form of upanyaasams by eminent scholars enlightened the hearts and souls of Bhaagavatas who had arrived in droves from the wee hours of morning. ACHARYAS GALORE! It was our bhaghyam that His Holiness Sri Rangapriya Mahaa Desikan of AshTaanga yOga Vigjnaana Mandiram, Bangalore graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Other Acharyas who graced the occasion and made it so special included inter alia Sri V.N. VenkaTanathan Swami and Sri A.N.C Swami (Ex-Principal, SIT, Trichy) who acted as “masters of ceremonies”, Sri V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swami, Sri K. Devanathan Swami (Editor of bilingual bi-monthly “Nrisimhapriya” from Hyderabad, Sri Srivatsankachariar Swami (who recently retired from the French Indological Institute, Pondicherry) who came specifically for the purpose despite his disability he suffered in a car accident a while ago, Sri Anatha Narasimhachariar Swami and Anantha Rangachariar Swami (Srikaryams of asmad Acharyan and H.H. Rangapriya Yathi respectively), Sri Srinivasa Iyengar, (Organizer, Sri Ramanuja Asramam, Sriperumpudur, Mannargudi Sri Rajagopala Iyengar Swami and our own K.G.K.Anand Karalapakkam Swami (both BAC members from West Mambalam). REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE USA Sri Muralidhar Rangaswamy of Boston and Sri Nachu Anbil from Atlanta made a special trip for specifically attending the functions. REPRESENTATIVES FROM KUWAIT Sri I.V.K.Chari Swamin and Sri K.C. Narasimhan Swami representing the Publishers “The Tiruvenkatam group, Kuwait” came all the way from Kuwait to participate in the function. OTHER SRS MEMBERS Many of the members like Sri Sadagopan Iyengar Swami (Srikaryam Swami of SDDS and SRS), Sri Anathanarasimhan Swami (S/o Dr. NSA Swami), Sri Sathyanarayana, Printer and his family, Sri Sudarsan, Sri Diwakar Kannan–all from Bangalore, Sri Shreyas Sarangan from T.Nagar, Chennai besides numerous other Bhaagavatas like Sri Govindarajan Swami, Advocate, Srirangam, my own family members from Delhi, Tillaisthanam and Bangalore as also a large number of Sishyas, Abhimanis and Kainkaryaparas of asmad Acharyan and my well wishers gathered to make the function a grand success. CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION A Certificate of participation and a beautiful photo of TiruvnekaTamudaiyaan (Utsavar) on Sesha Vaahanam were presented to all those who helped with outstanding contributions for the successful publication of the book. TADHEEYA ARADHANAM It was my Bhaghyam to host a Tadheeya Araadhanam for over 450 attendees on the day. BOOKS RELEASED Besides "HInduism Rediscovered", some more books were released on the occasion including Asramam publication of “Sri Bhagavad Dhyana SOpaanam” of Swami Desika with lucid commentary of Anbil A.V. Gopalachar Swami, and a book in English entitled “Divine Sovereignty and our freedom” by Neduntheru Sri S. Kannan Swami. BLESSINGS OF ACHARYAS Asmad Acharyan, H.H.Rangapriya YathigaL, Sri Srivatsankachariar Swami and ANC Swami took about 20 minutes each paying glorious tributes to aDiyEn and my book “Hinduism Rediscovered”. I could not believe my ears when I heard them speak in such glowing terms, all the while thinking they were talking about some one else only to be reminded every time they mentioned my name specifically. Among others, they compared “Discovery of India” by Jawaharlal Nehru and said what Nehru had omitted, this book has done more than justice and it is an Encyclopedia on Hinduism for the beginner as well as the Scholarly. I believe that it is out of abundant love and consideration for my infantile efforts that they resorted to hyperbole. I was constantly praying to Divya Dhampatis to make me deserve their encomium. I honestly believe that the entire credit goes to my Acharyas especially asmad Acharyan and Srimad Azhagiya singhar at whose feet I learned our scriptures, and with whose kripa alone I will, in due course, be able to live up to their words. NOTE: You can read the Report on the functions by Sri Diwakar Kannan at message 3869 d/ 03/30/04 and by Sri Sadagopan Iyengar at message # 3870 d/ 03/30/04 in the SRS archives TRIP TO TIRUMALAI My trip to Tirumalai –Tirupati on 1st and 2nd April is unforgettable. Sri K. Devanathan Swami had arranged for my stay at Ahobila Matam guest house and for Netra Darsanam on Thursday, the 1st April and Saatumurai Sevai on Friday the 2nd.April. NETRA SEVA On Thursday, April 1, as I was standing in the line, suddenly a volunteer appeared and beckoned me. He literally pushed me through the milling crowd and took me through a short cut route up to the Sanctum Sanctorum where I had uninterrupted Netra Darsanam for a good 10 minutes at close quarters. And, Lo and behold! After this, the volunteer promptly disappeared! SAATTRUMURAI SEVA On 2nd April, the Saatrumurai Seva was even more memorable. H.H. Jeeyar Swami of the Tirumalai Koil took me and a few others via the Hundi side, positioned me at the prime location in the immediate presence of the Lord. Another YathisreshTa was standing on the other side at the prime location and facing me. Who do you think it was? FACE TO FACE WITH H.H. TRIDANDI CHINNA JEEYAR He was none other than H.H.Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swami. Thins was the first time we have met face to face, though we have heard about each other. The Koil Jeeyar introduced me to him saying that a couple of years ago, I had brought my entire family to Tirumalai for performing Upanayanam of my grandson, Chi. Pradhyumnan, that he was so pleased to learn that a kid born and brought up in America insisted on having his Upanayanam in India and that too in Tirumalai that he made a special trip from down the hills to arrange for the Saattrumurai Seva for the boy. Tridandi Jeeyar Swami, in turn, introduced me to Koil Jeeyar and referred to the Kainkaryams rendered by SDDS and the Electronic journal Sri Ranga Sri which had a phenomenal growth in a bewilderingly short time. Koil Jeeyar remarked that he knew about my activities in India and he was glad to hear about those in the USA. TRIDANDI JEEYAR’S GESTURE Tridandi Jeeyar Swami invited me to his Matam. When I went there, he had arranged for a meeting with the Press representatives. He took time to spare a few minutes in the midst of the tight schedule. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a gift of pooja Saamakriya kit with the vigraham of Chakravarti Tirumagan consecrated at the recently celebrated Sri Rama navami and an envelope containing Rs.2000/= as Sambhavanai for me! And, he extended a personal invitation to me to attend BrahmOtsavam at Atlanta temple at the end of May when he would be present there. PANGUNI UTHRAM SERTHI SEVA AT SRIRANGAM ON 4th April, I made a trip again to Srirangam to have Serthi Seva of Divya Dhampatis on Panguni Uthram day and also to bring to Chennai the truck load of books kept at the Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam. MEETING WITH HIS HOLINESS AZHAGIYA SINGHAR H.H. Azhagiya Singhar had earlier planned to be present at the function. But, on the morning of the function, he had sent word to be specifically conveyed to me that he was too tired to come all the way from his camp at Pullamboothamgudi. Luckily, H.H. arrived at the Ahobila Matam premises at East Chitra Street on 4th April. I had the Bhaghyam of offering my obeisance as well as a copy of the book and my Sambhaavanai there. He was very much pleased and blessed me with mantraakshadai. MEETING WITH SRIRANGAM SRIMAD ANDAVAN AT CHENNAI On 5th April, I met with H.H and offered my obeisance, a copy of the book and my Sambaavanai at the Asramam premises at Desika Road, Mylapore and received his blessings. Here, I met with Sri R.Rajagopalan Swami (Eyetex) who is also a member of our BAC. RELEASE OF DESIKA SEVA DIARY On 6th April, I had the unique honor of receiving the first copy of Desika Seva diary for TaaraNa year released on the occasion of the Tirunakshatram of Seva Swami. Sri M.K. Srinivasan Swami, President of Sri Vedanta Desika Research Centre (also a member of our BAC) presented the copy. I met with another member of BAC viz, Sri UruppaTTur D. Soundararajan Swami (Hayagriva Vidya PeeTam) who is now settled at Cuddalore. VISIT TO THE PARAKALA MATAM SITE AT PELATHOPE On April 11th, Sri T.C.Shrinivasan Swami (Editor, “Sri Hayagriva Priya” journal (and member of our BAC), took me to inspect the new Parakaala Matam premises under construction at Pelathope, Mylapore. VISIT TO NRISIMHAPRIYA TRUST OFFICE I paid a visit to the Trust office, met with Perukkaranai Chakravarthyachariar Swami (BAC member) and Dr. M Narasimhachariar Swami (Editor, English Nrisimhapriya) and Smt Lakshmi Devnath Associate Editor there, and had fruitful discussions. TAARANA VARUSHP PIRAPPU: VISIT TO TIRUVALLUR On 13th April, the New Year’s Day, I had special darsanam of Vaidya Veeraraghava PerumaaL at TiruvaLLur, where I met with my old colleague in office and presently agent of the temple, Sri Pillapakkam Parthasarathi Iyengar Swami. VISIT TO THOOPPUL AND KANCHIPURAM On 14th April, Sravanam day, I visited Thooppul, Kanchi and Tiru vaheendra puram. As I entered Thooppul, Swami Desika and Deepa prakaasap PerumaaL with Ubhaya nachimaar were getting ready for SravaNa Tirumanjanam. After the Tirumanjanam was over and the deities were in camera for alamkaaram, I took a short break, rushed to Hastigiri Sri Varadarajar Sannidhi and Perundevi Thaayaar Sannidhi at Kanchipuram and had a very good darsan. As I returned to Thooppul, I was right in time for Saatrumurai and Prasaadam. VISIT TO TIRUVAHEENDRAPURAM >From there, I proceeded to Tiruvaheendrapuram and had good Darsanam of Sri Devanyaka PerumaaL, Swami Desikan and Sri Hayagriva perumaaL (on top of the Oushadagiri) and returned to Chennai around midnight. RETURN VISIT TO SINGAPORE On 17th instant, I left Chennai for USA via Singapore where a grand gathering of Bhaagavatas had assembled at Sri Madhava Kannan’s home. An interesting question and answer session lasting about 2 hours kept us engaged. I was amzed at the depth of knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication of Singapore Bhaagavatas. You can read about the discussions in Sri Mukundan’s posting (Vide message # 3917 d/04/24/04 and in Sri Madhava Kannan at message #3930 d/ 04/26/04) in SRS archives. LANDED AT PHILADELPHIA AT LAST! And, I landed at Philadelphia on 19th instant to stay with my son and his family for sometime. Thus, ended a hectic but fulfilling trip to India. Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy _______________ Watch LIVE baseball games on your computer with MLB.TV, included with MSN Premium! http://join.msn.com/?page=features/mlb&pgmarket=en-us/go/onm00200439ave/direct/0\ 1/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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