TIRU ANBIL DWAJASTHAMBAM KAINKARYAM - TRIP FROM 05/192006 to 08/27/2006- PART 1

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TIRU ANBIL DWAJASTHAMBAM KAINKARYAM

TRIP TO INDIA FROM 05/192006 to 08/27/2006 - PART1

Dear Bhagavatas:

 

I left Atlanta, U.S.A. (with my son and his family) on 19th May 2006 and

returned on

27th August 2006. A number of you have been asking me to write on the events

in India during this period. I am, therefore, offering some rambling of the

salient events from the scribbling in my diary in the hope that you may not

find my personal observations, too boring!

 

The stress and strain involved in the hectic trip and the incessant

activities in India at my advanced age had taken a heavy toll on my health

as never before. At first, I thought that it was just jetlag. But no. It was

more than that. Dizziness that would not go away; sleep that would not come

easily by, inexplicable aversion to food coupled with nausea etc. have

literally immobilized me for a whole week. That’s why I could not post the

promised travelogue. Even now, I have not fully recovered.

 

On the other hand, the onward journey from U.S.A. to India was totally

“jetlag-free”. May be, the prospect of “going home” had infused in me a

psychological stamina! In fact, during my frequent trips in the last 3 or 4

years, people in India used to joke how right from the moment of landing in

India, I used to be on my feet, up and going places without a break!

 

This time was no exception because several events kept me busy and restless,

like -attending a couple of weddings, Sathabhishekam of a friend and

relative, delivering Pravachanams on invitation, in Chennai, Hyderabad,

Pondicherry, Srirangam, Ulundurpet etc., besides the usual rounds of visits

to Divyadesams and Abhimana Kshetrams. The crowning piece, however, was the

personal involvement from Day One to the final dénouement in the

“Dwajasthamba Kainkaryam” of Tiru Anbil Sundararaja PerumaaL Koil which

Asmad Achaaryan had commanded me to undertake. In the midst of such crowded

programs, however, I had to compulsorily take a little off now and then for

several “sittings” for dental treatment and surgeries for “Sebaceous Cysts”

etc.!

 

The Onward journey was on 19th May 2006 from Atlanta to JFK by Delta

Airlines and from JFK- Dubai – Chennai by Emirates Airlines and arrived in

Chennai on 21st May.

 

FIRST VISIT TO SRIRANGAM AND TIRU ANBIL

After attending to some private commitments in Chennai, I made straight to

Srirangam

on 26th May. Since I was not familiar with the procedural matters involved

in the Dwajasthamba renovation Kainkaryam, Asmad Achaaryan H.H. Srimad

Andavan, Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam, Srirangam personally arranged

through one of the Trustees of Srirangam temple for securing necessary

official permissions from the Devasthaanam and the HR & CE Board of the

Govt. of Tamil Nadu for carrying on the work. Simultaneously, he called for

and discussed with a number of artisans specializing in such temple

construction and renovation works and obtained comparative estimates of the

costs after spot inspection by them of the site for taking measurements. The

work was finally entrusted to one Sri Karuppaiah Achaari of Srirangam who

agreed to incorporate all the suggestions and modifications advised by Asmad

Achaaryan. H.H also kindly deputed again Sri Seshadri Iyengar Swami, Manager

of the Asramam to personally verify and report on the accuracy of the

measurements and the requirements. We proceeded to Tiru Anbil along with the

Achaari for the purpose and reported back to H.H. The Achaari agreed to

complete the work in about a month’s time but only after the receipt of the

official sanction and after the delivery of the required materials at his

doors. The Achaari also referred to a supplier of Brass / Copper sheets in

Chennai (who was supplying materials for similar works in various temples),

giving details of specifications.

 

VISIT TO PONDICHERRY AND TIRUVAHEENDRAPURAM

A couple of days before leaving U.S.A, I received an invitation from Sri

Uruppattur Soundararajan Swami for participating in the dedication function

of Mahamandapam at Tiruvaheendrapuram on 1st June 2006. Immediately, I

responded by email saying that I wished to have the Darsana Sowbhaghyam of

the function, and endorsed a copy to Smt. Vishnupriya Chari and Sri

R.S.Chari (Retd. Chief Secretary to Govt. of Pondicherry) enquiring whether

they were planning to attend.

 

Since I was coming to Cuddalore en route to Tiruvaheendrapuram, they

requested me to visit Pondicherry first, stay with them for a couple of

days. I could not deny myself the opportunity of meeting with such close

family friends of over 40 years. So, on 30th May, I arrived at Pondicherry

and proposed to leave for Tiruvaheendrapuram the next day.

 

The devout couple had constructed a beautiful temple for Lord Hayagriva and

they insisted on my staying for one more day and proceed to

Tiruvaheendrapuram on 1st June to be right in time for the dedication

function. At that time, I did not know that they had planned for a talk by

me. I was surprised when they mentioned that I should do a Pravachanam at

the temple on 31st evening. However, I agreed and the topic assigned was

“The Mighty and the Almighty – A clash of wills?” dealing with Man’s Free

will as juxtaposed with God’s Supreme will. I did not expect to address a

huge gathering. The hall was full and the attendees appreciated the

Pravachanam, an extract of which is being posted separately.

 

On 1st June 2006, I left Pondicherry for Tiruvaheendrapuram, participated in

the dedication function there and returned to Chennai that evening itself. I

had good Darsanam of Sri Deavanatha PerumaaL and Swami Desikan (the icon

made by Swami himself) as also Lord Hayavadana PerumaaL on top of the

Oushadagiri. I was presented with a dollar containing the image of Hayagriva

on one side and Swami Desika on the other as a momento.

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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