The Lighting of Maa ViLakku on PurattAsi SravaNam days -- Part III(Final)

[Guest guest]

Swamin,

 

All the three parts are very informative.

 

Can you please enlighten whether Maa Vilakku can be lit on Pitru Paksha

Saturdays - i.e. 2nd & 9th Oct.

 

Dasan

 

Ravi

 

 

 

 

Sadagopan

<sgopan (AT) computer (DOT) Ponnappan

<Oppiliappan>, SRS

net> <Srirangasri>,

Sgt

<saranagathi>

09/26/2004 04:09 cc:

AM The

Lighting of Maa ViLakku on

PurattAsi SravaNam days --

Part III(Final)

 

 

 

 

 

SrI:

 

Dear SrI VenkatEsa BhakthAs :

 

It is still PurattAsi Saturday . In a couple of hours ,

the Sun will set and SandhyA Kaalam will arrive . Let me

share with you the final thoughts on the Maa ViLakku

lighting from another perspective .

 

Every day at Thirumala , there is a sEvai known as

"Sahsra DhIpAlankAra sEvai" .

 

This Seva is performed in the Oonjal MaNtapam

outside the temple.This sevai is different from

the Oonjal SEvai performed at the request of BhakthAs

in the hall of mirrors .

 

Prior to Malayappa Swamy's arrival with Ubhaya NaacchiyArs

at this Oonjal MaNtapam for Sahasra dheepAlankAra Sevai,

one thousand eartheren lamps are lit . It is a sight to see

the Temple staff light the 1000 lamps in quick succession

and to visualize the lit flames from the lamps gently swaying

in the evening breeze . The Oonjal is then set up . The devotees ,

who have paid to witness this sEvai take their seats in the marked

arena and asked to sit .Soon after the sound of MangaLa Vaadhyams

are heard and one sees Malayappa Swamy arriving at the MaNtapam

borne on the shoulders of the Temple staff and is positioned on

the Oonjal. The priests rock the Oonjal and the Lord hears

the Veda PaarAyaNam as the golden yellow evening light

offer their salutations to Lord VenkatEsa and His Devis .

The mellow rays of the evening sun match the jyOthi from

the 1000 earthern lamps . The thousand lit lamps remind us

of the AzhwAr Paasuram, where the Poyghai AzhwAr visualizes

the earth as the holding vessel (ahal) , the waters of the surrounding

Ocean as ghee for the lamp and his bhakthi as the wick , which is lit by

Sooryan's rays.

 

The Veda PaarAyaNam is followed by clarinet music accompanied by Tavil .

After VedAnjali is NaadhAnjali for the Lord . The Oonjal is swung by

the Bhattars gently in the background of the JyOthi of the 1000 lit lamps .

This is a blessed sight to behold and enjoy by the Bhagavath soundharya

aanubhava Rasika Saarvabhoumaas .AshtAnga Yogis witness this JyOthi

in their heartlotuses. We are ayOgis and can not see the antharyAmi

Brahman residing in our heart lotuses . For our benefit , the Lord appears

visible to us in an external sense on top of SeshAdhri as JyOthi Tatthva

Svaroopan in this SahasrAlankAra DhIpOthsavam daily . Such a darsana

soubhAgyam of the Lord from His sacred feet to His Crown will erase

all of our vishaya Vaasanaas ( KuvAsanaas) ascommented by an AchAryan:

 

" AapeeDAn MouLi Paryantham PurushOtthamam pasyatha : khalu

kuvasanAdhi nirAsa: sambhavEth ".

 

One ascends the ladder of PrEmai ( Bhagavath Vishaya Kaamam)

and prays for undiminished bhakthi to Him always .

 

People who paid for this service are now blessed with one UtthirIyam (

Upper garment)

and a blouse piece along with 5 laddus as PrasAdham by the DEvasthAnam

on behalf of the Lord of the Seven Hills . Exactly 30 minutes after His

arrival

at the Mantapam , the punctual Malayappa Swamy starts back on His

journey into the inner sanctum of His temple . The 1000 lamps are

extinguished

one by one and this is the equivalent of the " Malai yERRam " by BhagavAn

during the Maa ViLakku ceremony ( the ascent of the Lord to

His aasthAnam after the Sahasra DheepAlankaara SEvai) .

 

This SahasrAlankAra SEvai at Thirumalai every day is enacted at our

homes during the four PurattAsi Saturdays , since they are the Saturdays

of the month of the BrahmOthsavam at Thirumala .

 

Those who are observing Maa ViLakku Vratham are requested to post

a message on how the Maa ViLakku is prepared for this Vratham in

their homes .

 

NamO SrI VenkatEsAya ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Ranganathan:

 

Yes , both can be fitted together .

One(Maa ViLakku) is initated by the ladies of the house

and the other ( MaaLaya Paksha TarpaNams)

is performed by appropriate male members .

 

Pithru LOkam is a specific unit in Dharma

SaasthrAs of SarvEswaran's ( ThiruvEngadamudayAn's

akhilANDa Koti BrahmANDam) creation . Bhagavan Sriman NaarAyaNan

(Standing as Archa Moorthy on top of the seven hills) is the creator of

all these lOkams ( including Pithru lOakm) and as such

is to be recognized and worshipped on all days in general and

PurattAsi Saturdays in particular .

 

Those who can not create Maa ViLakku in the authentic way

can light a dheepam with ghee and offer their prayers with

SrI VenkatEsa AshtOttharam .

 

NamO VenkatEsAya ,

V.Sadagopan

 

V.Sadagopan

-

"Ravi Ranganathan" <Ravi.Ranganathan

"Sadagopan <sgopan" <sgopan

Cc: "Ponnappan" <Oppiliappan>; "Sgt"

<saranagathi>; "SRS" <Srirangasri>

Tuesday, September 28, 2004 2:45 AM

Re: The Lighting of Maa ViLakku on PurattAsi SravaNam

days -- Part III(Final)

 

 

>

>

>

>

> Swamin,

>

> All the three parts are very informative.

>

> Can you please enlighten whether Maa Vilakku can be lit on Pitru Paksha

> Saturdays - i.e. 2nd & 9th Oct.

>

> Dasan

>

> Ravi

>

>

>

>

> Sadagopan

> <sgopan (AT) computer (DOT) Ponnappan

> <Oppiliappan>, SRS

> net>

> <Srirangasri>, Sgt

>

> <saranagathi>

> 09/26/2004 04:09 cc:

> AM The

> Lighting of Maa ViLakku on

> PurattAsi SravaNam

> days -- Part III(Final)

>

>

>

>

>

> SrI:

>

> Dear SrI VenkatEsa BhakthAs :

>

> It is still PurattAsi Saturday . In a couple of hours ,

> the Sun will set and SandhyA Kaalam will arrive . Let me

> share with you the final thoughts on the Maa ViLakku

> lighting from another perspective .

>

> Every day at Thirumala , there is a sEvai known as

> "Sahsra DhIpAlankAra sEvai" .

>

> This Seva is performed in the Oonjal MaNtapam

> outside the temple.This sevai is different from

> the Oonjal SEvai performed at the request of BhakthAs

> in the hall of mirrors .

>

> Prior to Malayappa Swamy's arrival with Ubhaya NaacchiyArs

> at this Oonjal MaNtapam for Sahasra dheepAlankAra Sevai,

> one thousand eartheren lamps are lit . It is a sight to see

> the Temple staff light the 1000 lamps in quick succession

> and to visualize the lit flames from the lamps gently swaying

> in the evening breeze . The Oonjal is then set up . The devotees ,

> who have paid to witness this sEvai take their seats in the marked

> arena and asked to sit .Soon after the sound of MangaLa Vaadhyams

> are heard and one sees Malayappa Swamy arriving at the MaNtapam

> borne on the shoulders of the Temple staff and is positioned on

> the Oonjal. The priests rock the Oonjal and the Lord hears

> the Veda PaarAyaNam as the golden yellow evening light

> offer their salutations to Lord VenkatEsa and His Devis .

> The mellow rays of the evening sun match the jyOthi from

> the 1000 earthern lamps . The thousand lit lamps remind us

> of the AzhwAr Paasuram, where the Poyghai AzhwAr visualizes

> the earth as the holding vessel (ahal) , the waters of the surrounding

> Ocean as ghee for the lamp and his bhakthi as the wick , which is lit by

> Sooryan's rays.

>

> The Veda PaarAyaNam is followed by clarinet music accompanied by Tavil .

> After VedAnjali is NaadhAnjali for the Lord . The Oonjal is swung by

> the Bhattars gently in the background of the JyOthi of the 1000 lit lamps

> .

> This is a blessed sight to behold and enjoy by the Bhagavath soundharya

> aanubhava Rasika Saarvabhoumaas .AshtAnga Yogis witness this JyOthi

> in their heartlotuses. We are ayOgis and can not see the antharyAmi

> Brahman residing in our heart lotuses . For our benefit , the Lord appears

> visible to us in an external sense on top of SeshAdhri as JyOthi Tatthva

> Svaroopan in this SahasrAlankAra DhIpOthsavam daily . Such a darsana

> soubhAgyam of the Lord from His sacred feet to His Crown will erase

> all of our vishaya Vaasanaas ( KuvAsanaas) ascommented by an AchAryan:

>

> " AapeeDAn MouLi Paryantham PurushOtthamam pasyatha : khalu

> kuvasanAdhi nirAsa: sambhavEth ".

>

> One ascends the ladder of PrEmai ( Bhagavath Vishaya Kaamam)

> and prays for undiminished bhakthi to Him always .

>

> People who paid for this service are now blessed with one UtthirIyam (

> Upper garment)

> and a blouse piece along with 5 laddus as PrasAdham by the DEvasthAnam

> on behalf of the Lord of the Seven Hills . Exactly 30 minutes after His

> arrival

> at the Mantapam , the punctual Malayappa Swamy starts back on His

> journey into the inner sanctum of His temple . The 1000 lamps are

> extinguished

> one by one and this is the equivalent of the " Malai yERRam " by BhagavAn

> during the Maa ViLakku ceremony ( the ascent of the Lord to

> His aasthAnam after the Sahasra DheepAlankaara SEvai) .

>

> This SahasrAlankAra SEvai at Thirumalai every day is enacted at our

> homes during the four PurattAsi Saturdays , since they are the Saturdays

> of the month of the BrahmOthsavam at Thirumala .

>

> Those who are observing Maa ViLakku Vratham are requested to post

> a message on how the Maa ViLakku is prepared for this Vratham in

> their homes .

>

> NamO SrI VenkatEsAya ,

> Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

>

>

>

>

>

>

Links

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>