A report onSri Venugopala Perumal Prana Pratishtapana held in New Jersey on 11th September 2004

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Srimathe Ranga Ramanuja Maha Desikaya Namaha:

Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama Sametha Sri Venugopala Para Brahmane Namaha:

 

 

 

 

Report on Prana Pratishtapana Mahothsavam Celebrations held in Edison, NJ on

September 11th 2004

 

 

 

The Uthsavam celebrations for Prana Pratishtapana of Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama

sametha Sri Venugopala Perumal started 10 days earlier i.e., from September 1st

2004 in Edison, New Jersey with grand parayanams of sri sookthis arranged for

the occasion. This included Swami NammAzhwAr's ThiruvAimozhi,Sri Valmiki

RAmAyanam's Sundara KAndam, SwAmi DEsikan's entire DEsika prabhandham and DEsika

Sthothram.These recitations took place every day from Sept 1st 2004 for 2 hours

between 07:30 PM to 09:30 PM ET. On the 10th day of the Uthsavam (Sep 10th),

entire Sri Ranganatha Paduka Sahasram recitation took place in the morning.

 

It was a wonderful sight to see so many bhagavathas turning up for each day of

the uthsavam with lots of dedication and bhakthi even it was a weekday. Also so

many bhagavathas far and wide across the country had the fortune of

participating in the uthsavam every day albeit remotely through the telebridge

facility.

 

The religious rituals started on the 9th day of the uthsavam ie on Sep 9th for

the prana pratishtapana of Sri Venugopala Perumal. Jaladhivasam,dhanyadi vasam,

homams and kalasa pujas were performed by Sri Sampath bhattar of New Jersey to

mark the occasion.

 

On the day of prana pratishtapana of Sri Venugopala Perumal, purnahuthi was

performed after the conclusion of kalasa puja and homams. Perumal with His

Parivaram that comprises of thayars-Sri Rukmini and Sathyabhama, Garudan,

Bhagavath Ramanuja,Swami Desikan left for a Hall nearby where the mahothsavam

was arranged. Perumal with His parivaram were majestically seated in a Silver

Dolai(swing) during the purappadu.

 

It is interesting to note that Perumal and entire parivaram along with silver

dolai was specially prepared under the direct supervision of His Holiness

Srimath Srimushnam Andavan Himself ! Adiyen is astonished by the beauty of

perumal and his parivaram that one should definitely pray to get a glimpse of

Him !

 

On the morning of 11th Sept 2004, The mahothsavam started off sharply at 08:30

AM with traditional seva kalam recitation followed by Sri Vishnu Sahsranamam and

Sri Lakshmi Ashtothram. Following this, the important event of Prana

Pratishtapana muhurtham took place between 10:35 AM and 10:45 AM where Netra

UnmeeLanam(opening of eyes) for Perumal took place. At this time, a special

chAya darsanam( through a kannAdi-Mirror) was arranged for the bhagavathas to

see Him through it. Slowly by then bhagavathas started pouring in and it was

amazing to see a huge turn out (close to 300 bhagavathas) to have the darshan of

Perumal.

 

Immediately after the conclusion of prana pratishtapana, a GRAND thirumanjanam

was performed for the deities by the bhattar amidst veda gosham reverberating

the ambience. Pancha sooktham with taitriyopanishad were recited with full

fervor during Perumal's neerattam. We had more than 60-70 bhagavatha goshti

alone in the sathsangam.

 

The atmosphere was filled with energy and devotion from the bhagavathas which

took us literally to being in a divya desam in India during an uthsavam. One has

to experience to say this ! It was adiyen's bhagyam to have been present on such

an auspicious occasion.

 

During the alankaram of Perumal and bhashyakarar, divya prabhandham was recited

as songs by couple of devotees in a melodious, lilting tone to please the

perumal.

 

At the completion of alankaram, a GRAND THIRU KALYANA UTHSAVAM was performed for

perumal and thayars. This was truly a rare occasion witnessed in North America

far away from our Holy motherland where close to 150 bhagavathas sponsored for

the FIRST KALYANA UTHSAVAM of Sri Venugopala Perumal. Indeed the bhagavathas

were blessed to be part of this holy kainkaryam !

 

At the conclusion of Thiru Kalyana Uthsavam of Sri Venugopala Perumal, a grand

sathumurai took place chanting sri sookthis of our purvacharyas. The resonance

it carried was a treat to ears ! This was immediately followed by Acharya

Sambhavana for all our PurvacharyAs.

 

Theertha goshti followed this where Swami Desikan's and Srimath Periandavan's

vazhi thirunamam was recited followed by Sri Desika Mangalam and Srimath

Periandavan Mangalam. As it has been a customary recitation here in the United

States by Srimath Andavan sishyas, the entire dhanian of all our purvacharyas of

Srirangam Srimath Andavan Periashramam was recited during the theertha goshti.

It was amazing to see all the assembled bhagavathas line up in queue to wait for

their turn to have the Perumal theertham, SatAri, Sri Bhashyakar theertham and

paduka theerthams of the all the purvacharyas of Srirangam Srimath Andavan

Periashramam. Adiyen is not exaggerating - it took almost an hour to distribute

the theertha prasadam for the assmbled bhagavathas. The discipline followed by

them was truly exemplary !

 

A special Maryadhai for the perumal came from Sri Ranganatha Temple, Pomona,NY.

Some sweets were also brought from the temple as "seer" for the Kalyana Uthsavam

of perumal.

 

A grand feast(prasadam) was arranged for all the devotees who came for the

uthsavam. It was amazing to see that with so many devotees turning up, no one

went back disappointed without having food. Such was the meticulous preparation

undertaken by organizers.

 

 

A grand Dolothsavam(swing ceremony) was performed for Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama

Sametha Sri Venugopala Perumal who were seated in the silver dolai decorated

with beautiful flowers. The alankaram done for the deities was truly a great

sight to behold. Cultural events were organized during the dolothsavam. Soul

stirring Songs were rendered on Perumal by various devotees that included small

children also. Nama sankeertharnam was also arranged which went for about 30

minutes. Finally the mahothsavam concluded with a captivating 45 minute play on

Sri Koorathazwan which was organized by devotees who came from Washington DC

area for the occasion.

 

This uthsavam was truly once-in-a-life time event which the devotees will

cherish in their memories for years to come. The entire credit goes to the

organizers and volunteers who worked through minute details to have successfully

arranged the event of this magnitude !! So many devotees had a heavy feeling

that the uthsavam was coming to end. They were longing for more and more of this

sathsangam on a frequent basis. adiyen is sure Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama sametha

Sri Venugopala Perumal will show us a way in realizing their wishes.

 

 

 

Dasan,

Venkat Sreenivasan

For Sri Ramanuja Mission of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Asramam