TIRUANBIL DWAJASTHAMBAM KAINKARYAM - TRIP FROM 05/192006 to 08/27/2006-Part 3

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TIRU ANBIL DWAJASTHAMBAM KAINKARYAM

TRIP TO INDIA FROM 05/192006 to 08/27/2006 – PART 3

 

Dear Bhagavatas:

 

15th June 2006: Article on “Teaching methods in the Upanishads” (left out in

my previous posting):

 

On the day of my leaving U.S.A (19th May 2006) I got a mail from the

Sathabhisheka Committee of Prakritam Azhagiyasinghar, requesting me to send

an article on “Teaching Methods in the Upanishads” for inclusion in the

Souvenir to be released on the occasion on 30th November 2006.. They

stipulated that the article should reach them by 31st May 2006. As soon as I

landed in Chennai, I contacted them to ask for time till 15th June 2006.

They kindly agreed.

 

By 15th June 2006, I had prepared the article on “Teaching methods in the

Upanishads” and sent by email and also sent a hard copy to Nrisimhapriya

Office and they promptly acknowledged receipt.

 

The text of the article will be posted separately in “Sri Ranga Sri” for

your information.

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2nd July 2006: Visit to Tiruvallur Sri Vaidhya Veeraraghava Swami Koil:

 

This was another Red letter day for me. From early morning, I was trying to

call Sri P.N. Parthasarathy Iyengar Swamin, Manager, Tiruvallur Kovil (who

was my colleague during my service) to inform him about my proposed visit to

the temple that day. But, none picked up the phone. Anyway, I decided to go.

Only when I reached Tiruvallur, I was faced with a pleasant surprise. Srimad

Azhagiya Singhar had come to Tiruvallur to open the new Ahobila MaTam

building for the pilgrims. Sri Parthasarathy Iyengar was attending on

Azhagiyasinghar, who was giving a Pravachanam on the occasion. That was why,

none picked up the phone when I called. I had an excellent Darsanam at the

temple. I joined the GoshTi in the Tadeeya Aaraadanai in the old MaTam

premises. By the time we finished taking food and returned, Azhagiyasinghar

had retired to his private quarters. As I had some urgent work at home, I

had to hurry back to Ambattur. Therefore, I could not have my usual private

audience with Azhagiya Singhar.

 

5th July 2006: Visit to Hyderabad Ahobila MaTam:

 

At the invitation of Sri Devanathan Swami, Chairman in charge of Ahobila

MaTam for the entire Andhra Pradesh, I arrived at Hyderabad on 5th July 2006

for participating in the mammoth “Sudarsana Homam” conducted at the

Hyderabad Branch of Ahobila MaTam, as part of the Sathabhishekam

celebrations of Azhagiya Singhar.

 

Sri Devanathan Swami received me at the Railway Station and took me to his

house and subsequently to the venue. It was a sight for Gods to see. It was

“Swaati” Nakshatram that day and the Tirunakshatram of Tiruvaazhi Azhwaan.

The Sudarsana Homam function was done by a large number of Vedic pundits,

with meticulous attention to details and strictly according to the rules.

A large gathering of devotees participated in the function.

 

Sri P.Srinivasachariar Swami, Manager and his dedicated band of volunteers

including Sri Janardanan Swami (Chief Archakar) showered all courtesies on

me and made my visit really memorable.

 

During the interval, they arranged to take me in a car to see a close

relative of mine who was undergoing treatment at the ICU at Jubilee Hills

Apollo Hospital.

 

In the evening, I was asked to present a talk on “The Significance of

Sudarsana Homam”. The MaTam authorities honored me with a shawl and

Sambaavanai.

 

A summary of the talk will be posted separately in “Sri Ranga Sri”

 

6th July 2006: Visit to MaTam at Kurnool and Ahobilam Divyadesam:

 

Sri Devanathan Swami took me by car to Kurnool Branch of the Ahobila MaTam

where we met with Smt. Vanaja, Treasurer and Smt. Siromani, Secretary of the

Kurnool Branch of Ahobila MaTam. The two ladies are very devout Bhaktais of

Lord Nrisimha. Their wholehearted dedication should be seen to be believed!

 

Sri Chaitanya Swami, Archakar did a really wonderful Archanai to PerumaaL.

The Vigraham here is so beautiful that we could not take our eye off the

PerumaaL there. The temple authorities honored me with a beautiful silk

shawl.

 

We proceeded to Ahobila KshEtram that evening itself. Sri Devanathan had

arranged for our stay in the Guest House in Ahobilam, where Sri Badri

Narayanan Swami and Sri Ramanujam Swami are the managers. Sri K. P. Ramesh

Swami is the Chief Archakar at the temple. He is the brother of Sri Badri,

Manager.

 

The long journey from Hyderabad to Kurnool to Nandyal to Allagadda to

Ahobilam was tiresome and arduous (for me!) and this had its effect on my

health. I was so tired that I was mentioning to Sri Devanathan Swami

jocularly that I may not be able to visit all the nine Sannidhis and wished

that I would be happy if the Nava Nrisimhars could come down and offer their

Darsanam at Lower Ahobilam itself.

 

As we entered the temple at lower Ahobilam, I was pleasantly stunned to see

that as desired by me, the Utsavamurthis of all the Narasimhars (except

Malolan, who was in Sancharam with Azhagiyasinghar) were enjoying their Aani

Tirumanjanam at Lower Ahobilam. It was an eye filling and thrilling

experience to witness the Tirumanjanam that took a good two and half hours,

done with utmost care and attention by Sri K.P. Ramesh and his band of

Archakas. Thereafter, we had a sumptuous Prasaadam lunch and returned to the

Guest house.

 

In the evening, we visited 3 Sannidhis that were in Lower Ahobilam and

vicinity.

 

7th July 2006: Visit to other Nrisimhar Sannidhis on the hills

 

In the morning, we visited a few more Sannidhis on the hills and along the

Bhavanaasini River. We could not climb further up to the Sannidhis of Jwala

Nrisimhar and Paavana Nrisimhar

 

That night itself, I left Ahobilam for Tirupathi by train.

 

8th July 2006: Visit to Tirumalai:

 

On arriving at Tirupathi, in the early morning, I could not catch a bus to

Tirumalai due to heavy rush, A good Samaritan saw my predicament and

arranged for a seat in another bus. As usual, it was my good fortune to have

a close and leisurely Darsanam of TiruvenkaTam uDaiyaan in the Saatrumurai

GoshTi with the Koil Jeeyar Swami

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