Guest guest Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 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.07 / ISSUE # 05 dated 14th December 2005 ==================================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: EDITORIAL: 1. A SECOND SATHABHISHEKAM? 2. IMPORTANT DAYS IN MAARGAZHI (DHANUR) MONTH ==================================================================== ISSUES RELEASED So far, 181 Regular issues of SRS have been released apart from Special Issues: 27 Issues of Vol. 1 15 Issues of Vol. 2 42 Issues of Vol. 3 35 Issues of Vol. 4 28 Issues of Vol. 5 30 Issues of Vol. 6 and 04 Issues of Vol. 7 ==================================================================== xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ==================================================================== 1. A SECOND SATHABHISHEKAM? ---- About 35 families of Bhagavatas in and around Atlanta desired to celebrate adiyen’s Sathabhishekam in Atlanta since some of them could not make it to Cleveland where the religious event took place on a Wednesday (a working day). They organized the event on Saturday, the 10th December 2005. This was mostly religious in the sense that short of doing Homams etc., Mantra Pushpam, Pancha Sooktams and Srimad Ramayana Sri Rama PaTTabhishEka Sarga Parayanams etc. were recited in the morning session during Tiruvaaaraadana kramam. The evening session reverberated with the group recitation of various Stotrams like Sri Vishnu Sahasranamamam, Ashtothrams and Desika Stotras, select Paasurams from Nalayira Divya Prabandam and Desika Prabandam and concluded with Sattrumurai (both Vadakalai) and Tenkalai), Desika Mangalam and Sambhavanas for Perumal, Thayar and Acharyas. It was also “Social” in the sense that some in the audience belonged to Non-Srivaishnava background and could not follow the recitations. Also some had no exposure to either Sanskrit or Tamil but had assembled only out of love and affection for adiyen (some of them having been influenced by a reading of “Hinduism Rediscovered” book in English) Though I did not wish to give a talk as requested by some Bhagavatas, this factor necessitated my giving short explanations now and then on what the recitations were all about. Provided below are some of the random thoughts and comments provided to them. Hope you will also find them interesting, though most of you would be aware of these already. ---- 1. RECITATION OF SAHASRANAMA STOTRAM: SAGE VYASA’S GREATNESS: The reference to Sage Vyasa: Some are renowned by virtue of the greatness of their parents, grandparents or great grand parents. But, Sage Vyasa was famous not only because of these credentials but also because he was the father of the great Tapsvi SukhaBrahma mahrisihi: “Vyaasm vasishTa naphtaaram, SaktEh poutram akalmasham Parasara aatmajam vandE Sukha Thaatham TapOnidhim” Did not Sage TiruvaLLuvar say in TirukkuraL 70? “Magan thanthaikku aatrum udavi ivan thanthai enn nOtraan kol enum sol” Meaning: “ The way a son makes his father proud is to conduct himself in such a manner that the world would wonder what amount of good the father had done to beget such a wonderful son” ---- 2. CAN WOMEN RECITE SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM? There are two views on this issue. The orthodox view is that they should not. Obviously, this is based on the query of Paarvati: “KenOpaayEna laghunaa vishnOr naama sahasrakam/ PATYATE PANDITAIR nityam SROTUM icchaami aham prabhO// “I would like to HEAR the easy manner in which the PANDITS READ (recite) Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam?” To this query, Iswara replies: “Sri Rama Rama RamEti ramE raamE manOramE/ Sahasranaama tath tulyam raama naama varaananE//’ That she wanted to HEAR and NOT RECITE perhaps gives them the clue that women should not recite the StOtram. The other view (that I am inclined to agree with) is that anyone can recite “Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam”. Let us consider the “Rahasyams” (those that can be told secretly within closed doors) and “Sadasyams” (those that can be told in an open assembly). The Three Great Rahasyams are Ashtaksharam, Dvayam and CharamaslOkam i) ASHTAKSHARAM: is allowed to be recited as a 'Tantrik' for all including Stris and Sudras. Whether uttered with Pranavam or without it, it is said to carry the same effect. What is prohibited is administering Upadesam with Pranavam to those considered ineligible for this. In any event, nobody in this forum is seeking to administer any Upadesam to anybody. Therefore, there seems to be no bar to explaining the meanings treating it or reciting it as a Tantrik recital. ii.) DVAYAM: can be uttered by anyone (since it does not contain Pranavam). So, there seems to be no harm in explaining the meanings of Dvayam to and recited by those who desire to learn. iii.) CHARAMASLOKAM: is taken out from Bhagavad Gita which itself is a part of Mahabharata, an Itihasa. Saastras that prohibit the study of Vedas in certain circumstances by certain people recommends to all, the study of Puranas and Itihasas to clearly understand the contents of the Vedas. Thus, there can be no bar to explaining the meanings or in reciting of CharamaslOkam. Therefore, it is believed that there can be no objection to explaining our Siddhantam as revealed in the Granthas of our Swami Desikan which seek to dispel doubts arising out of a study of the three great Mantras mentioned above. None others had so widely popularized the recitation of Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam in every household than a WOMAN, the great Sangeeta Kalanidhi Late Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi. I wonder whether, but for her, the recitation would have become such a roaring and thundering rendering in the hearths and homes of the Aastika world today! ---- 3. WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL ABOUT RECITING SAHASRA NAAMAM AND SATHA NAAMAM? It is said that the various Yugas have their own unique Dharmas that bestow the same benefits. What can be achieved in one Yuga can be obtained by adopting a different strategy in the other yugas as follows: KRITA YUGA: Yoga NishTa or Dhyana (Concentrated meditation) TRETA YUGA: Yagjna (Severe penance and Sacrifice). It may be noted that we come across several references to Yaagas and Yagjnas in Srimad Valmiki Ramayana. DVAPARA YUGA: Archana (Intense worship by offering) We have the story of Arjuna offering flowers in Archana to the Siras (head) of Lord Siva and how the same were seen at the Paada (feet) of Lord KrishNa. KALI YUGA: Naama Samkeerthanam (Reciting the names of Bhagavaan) and Daanam (Gifts to the needy). The “Naama” of the Lord is said to be more powerful than the Lord Himself! We have the story of how Rama had to build a bridge to cross over to Lanka whereas by mere Rama Naama smaraNa, AanjanEya could jump across the vast ocean. Also, Thaayumaanavar explains the phenomenon by citing a mundane example. He says just like a ripe banana in a bunch ripens the rest, Bhajans involving group Naama Samkeerthanam would transform in due course even a non-participant into an avid participant! Thus, the shortcut to achieve maximum effect with minimum effort, in Kaliyuga is Naama Samkeerthanam ---- 4. STHUTI AND SRUTI We recited the StOtrams that invariably concluded with “Phala Sruti”, literally, the fruits of recitation of the Sthutis. The question arises as to what is the difference between the two. While the “Sthuti” part, like the Vedas praise the qualities of Bhagavaan (GuNa anubhavam), the “Phala Sruti” details the fruits of reciting the “Sthuti” that would accrue to those who recite as well as those who “hear”. That is, probably, why they are called “Phala Sruti”. Human tendency is that one would be interested in doing something only if and when one becomes aware of the fruits of doing that something. At least hearing the benefits would encourage people to take recourse to reciting the Sthutis. Thus, it is a kind of psychological introduction! --- 5. WHY RAMA, KRISHNA AND LAKSHMI ASHTOTHRAMS? SRI RAMA ASHTOTHRAM: Asmad Acharyan His Holiness Srimad Andavan of Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam, a great Rama devotee who has written “Ramapiraanai KarpOm” directed me to recite Sundara KhanDam of Srimad Vaalmiki Ramayanam. I did this in 8 days starting from Friday, 11th November 2005 and concluded on Friday 18th November 2005 with Rama Pattabhisheka Sargam. This Sargam was again recited in the morning to be followed by the AshTottaram in the group recitation. SRI KRISHNA ASHTOTHRAM: Swami Desika, who praised the glory of all Avataras in his Dasaavataara Stotram, pays special tributes to Krishna Avatara and says: “Nathaayaiva Namah Padam bhavatu” meaning “The only one to whom I would offer my obeisance is Lord Krishna”. This does not, however, mean that other Avataras are any less important! SRI MAHALAKSHMI ASHTOTHRAM: Everybody wants wealth! Hinduism does not shun wealth. Of the four objectives of life (Purushartas), “Artha” (Wealth) and “Kaama” (desire) are adroitly sandwiched between “Dharma” (righteousness) and “Moksha” (Liberation) to indicate that if artha and kaama are enjoyed on dharmic lines, one would become fit for the final liberation. Who else can bless us with such wealth than Sri Mahaalakshmi? ===================================================================== xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ===================================================================== 2. IMPORTANT DAYS IN MAARGAZHI (DHANUR) MONTH ===================================================================== DATE/ENGLISH)/DAY/NAKSHATRAM/ (THITHI)/ EVENT/ REMARKS ===================================================================== 01/ Margazhi/12.16.05 / Friday / Mrigasirsham / Pratamai / Dhanur Masa Puja begins 02/ VaiyattuVaazhveergaaL/12.17.05/ Saturday/ Tiruvadirai/ Dviteeyai/ 03/ Ongi Ulagu/ 12.18.05/ Sunday/ Punarvasu/ Triteeyai/ PARASURAMA JAYANTI 04/ Aazhimazhai/ 12.19.05/ Monday/ Pushyam/ Chaturti/ 05/ Maayanai/ 12.20.05/ Tuesday/ Magham/ Ayilyam/ Panchami/ 06/ PuLLum/ 12.21.05/ Wednesday/ ShashTi/ 07/ Keesu/ 12.22.05/ Thursday/ Pooram/ Saptami/ 08/ Keezhvaanam/12.23.05/ Friday/ Uthram/ AshTami/ 09/ Toomani/ 12.24.05/ Saturday/ Hastam/ Navami/ 10/ Notru Suvargam/ 12.25.05/ Sunday/ Chitrai/ Dasami/ 11/ katrukkaravai/ 12.26.05/ Monday/ Swati/ Dasami-Ekadasi/ 12/ KanaithiLam/ 12.27.05/ Tuesday/ Visakam/ Krishna Paksha EKADASI/SRI RANGANATHA SATAKOPA YMD (AM) 13/ PuLLINvaai/ 12.28.05/ Wednesday/Anusham/ Dvadasi/ 14/ UngaL PuzhakkaDai/12.29.05/ Thursday/ Kettai/ Trayodasi/ TONDARADIPPODI AZHWAR, PERIYA NAMBIGAL 15/EllE!ILamkiLiyE!/ 12.30.05/ Friday/ Moolam/ Chaturdasi- Amavasya/ SARVA AMAVASYAI, SRI HANUMAT JAYANTI 16/ Naayakanaai/ 12.31.05/ Saturday/ PooraDam/ Pratamai/17/ 17/ AmbaramE/ 01.01.06/ Sunday/ UtraDam/ Dviteeyai/ 18/ UndumadakaLir/ 01.02.06/ Monday/ Tiruvonam/ Triteeyai/ SRAVANA VRATAM, PERIYA TIRUVADIGAL 19/ KutthuviLakku/ 01.03.06/ Tuesday/ AviTtam/ Chaturti/ AZHAGIYA MANAVALA PERUMAL NAYANAR 20/ Muppattumoovar/ 01.04.06/ Wednesday/ Sadayam/ Panchami/ 21/ Yetrakalangal/ 01.05.06/ Thursday/ PooraTTadi/ ShashTi/ LAKSHMI NRISIMHA SATAKOPA YMD (AM) 22/ AngkaNN Maa/ 01.06.06/ Friday/ UthraTTadi/ Saptami/ KAL GARUDASEVAI 23/ Maarimalai Malai/ 01.07.06/ Saturday/ Revati/AshTami/ 24/ Anrivvulagam ALandaai/ 01.08.06/ Sunday/Aswini-Navami/ 25/ Oruthimaganaai/ 01.09.06/ Monday/ BharaNi/ Dasami/ 26/ MaalE MaNIvaNNa! / 01.10.06/ Tuesday/ Kaartigai/ Sukla Paksha VAIKUNTA EKADASI 27/KooDaarai Vellum/ 01.11.06/ Wednesday/ RohiNi/ Dvadasi/ KOODARAI VALLI 28/ Karavaigal pin/ 01.12.06/ Thursday/ Mrigasirsham/ TrayOdasi/ 29/ Sitram SirukalE/ 01.13.06/ Friday/ Tiruvadirai/ Chaturdasi/ BHOGIPPANDIGAI ====================================================================== Thai 01/ VangakkaDal/ 01.14.06/ Saturday/ Punarvasu/ PourNami/ UTTARAYANA PUNYA KAALAM, PONGAL PANDIGAI, MAKARA SANKRANTI ==================================================================== xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ==================================================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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