TIRUANBIL DWAJASTHAMBAM KAINKARYAM -TRIP FROM 05/19/ to 08/27/2006 – PART 4

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TIRU ANBIL DWAJASTHAMBAM KAINKARYAM

TRIP TO INDIA FROM 05/19/ to 08/27/2006 – PART 4

 

12th July 2006: Attended Wedding and Mani Krishnaswami Foundation function:

 

This day, I was blessed with a double bonus in meeting with two stalwarts

who have been unfailing support for me personally and for “Sri Ranga Sri”,

namely Sri Madhavakannan Swami of Singapore and M.K. Sudarshan Swami of

Kuwait. I am eternally indebted to both of them.

 

Sri Vasudevachariar Swami of Srirangam (of Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam)

and his son, Sri Madhava Kannan Swami of Singapore (Co- Moderator of “Sri

Ranga Sri”) had earlier invited me to attend the wedding of the former’s

grand daughter plus the latter’s cousin at Andal Kalyana ManTapam, LB Road

Adyar. I attended the marriage in the morning. The marriage was a gala

function followed by a sumptuous lunch. It was a great pleasure for me to

meet with them all, especially Sri Madhava Kannan Swami after his taking

over as the Co- Moderator.

 

In the evening, I attended the 4th Memorial event of Sangita Kalanidhi Smt.

Mani Krishnaswami, at the Auditorium of P.S. High School, Mylapore, for

which I had been specially invited by Sri M.K. Sudarshan Swamin. A large

number of great personalities in the field of music had gathered both on the

dais and in the audience. Glowing tributes were paid to Smt. Mani, the doyen

of Carnatic music. A monograph on “The Life and works of Tallapaka

Annamacharya” written by Smt. Mani Krishnaswami was released by Dr (Mrs)

Mani Krishnaswami Foundation, Chennai 600 018. This is a well researched

document bringing out the life and works of the great Composer and the great

Bhakta of TiruvenkaTamudaiyaan Sri Annamacharya. It is, indeed, a treasure

for all music lovers.

 

17th July 2006: 7 Sturdy books on the 4 Vedas published by "Alaigal

VeLiyeettagam":

 

AlaigaL VeLiyeeTTagam, (Sri P. N. Sivan) 25/36 South Sivan Koil St,

Kodambakkam, Chennai (Phone: 2481 5474) have brought out all the 4 Vedas in

Tamil with English commentaries in 7 Volumes

(2 for Rik Veda, 1 each for Saama and Yajur Vedas and 2 for Atharva Veda)

each Volume running to around 1000 pages and costing around Rs.2500/= only

for the entire set.. This is a boon (especially for those who do not know

Sanskrit) to understand the purport of the original Vedas. I secured one set

for my library and sent by Registered. Book Post by Sea Mail, since the set

weighs about 10 kgs.

 

21st July 2006: Sathabhishekam of Sri M. Krishnaswami

 

This was another great day for me. I had the good fortune to attend the

Sathabhishekam of Sri M. Krishnaswami (my relative and father of Sri M. K.

Sudarshan of Kuwait). This was held in the Narayani Ammal Kalyana ManTapam,

Mandaveli. There was a huge crowd of fans coming from all walks of life,

everyone vying with each other to receive the blessings of the Octogenarian

Swami. In spite of his frail health, he managed to respond to every one of

them and blessed them wholeheartedly.

 

Some of the members of “Sri Ranga Sri” who attended the function were Sri G.

K. Ramakrishnan and Mrs. I.V.K Chari (both of Kuwait).

 

As part of the celebrations, the famous “Achiddra- AswamEdha PaaraayaNam”

was recited in the morning. Sri Sudarshan had earlier requested me to talk

on the importance and need for reciting this PaaraayaNam and its relevance

in the context of Sathabhishekam. For want of time, this could not take

place.

 

An extract of the talk (that could not be delivered on the occasion!) will

be posted later in “Sri Ranga Sri” for the information of members. Please

stand by!

 

A set of 4 Panchaloka Vigrahams (Small size) of Sri Laksmi Narayanan, Sri

Lakshmi Hayagrivan, Sri Lakshmi Nrisimhan and Sri Varaahap PerumaaL (costing

about Rs. 8000/= in all) were purchased from "Indra Brass Pooja Metal

Stores” No.6 Sannidhi St, Mylapore (Contact Sri Sivaraman, Phone 2495 4245)

for installation at my home in Atlanta.

 

A ShODasaOpachaara set including Chaamaram, KuDai, AalavaTTam etc were

purchased from Giri Trading co. also at the same premises (Phone: 2464 0376)

for use during Tiruvaradanam at my home in Atlanta.

 

Members in and around Atlanta area or passing through the same are cordially

invited to view these beautiful Vigrahams and the ShODasOpachaara set.

 

22nd July 2006: Mother’s Ceremony:

 

My mother’s Annual Sraddham was performed at Ahobila Matam, Car Street,

Triplicane.

 

23rd and 24th July 2006: Another call to Tirupathi!

 

Quite unexpectedly, my Sambandis had arranged for Kalyana Utsavam at

Tirumalai and were coming from Bangalore. They wanted me to come from

Chennai. I took it that TiruvenkaTamuDaiyaan’s Sankalpam was to gift me

“Punar Darsanam”! I left immediately and reached Tirumalai by night itself.

My son in law from Cleveland, Ohio, who came to India to see his uncle in

Apollo Hospital at Jubilee Hills, had also come to Tirumalai. There was a

kind of family reunion and we had the pleasure of Saatrumurai Sevai of

PerumaaL once again on the 24th July! After Darsanam, I returned to Chennai.

 

26th July: Dispatched “Hinduism Book” to Atlanta by Sea Mail

 

Since stock of “Hinduism Rediscovered” book brought to USA earlier had

dwindled, a few more copies that were remaining in India were collected and

dispatched by Sea Mail to Atlanta. They are likely to reach in about 90

days, when copies can be made available to those who require the same..

 

28th July 2006: Surgery at noon: Pravachanam in the evening:

 

As already mentioned, I had a surgery for removal of a “Sebaceous cyst” on

my back. It took about one hour from 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm. Last year about

this time, I had the same surgery at the same spot in Emory Hospital,

Atlanta. I was charged USD 2100/= (apart from what the Insurance paid). And,

the Surgeon had not removed the cyst completely. I learned that, if the sac

containing the cyst is not scooped out completely, the problem would recur.

And, this is what happened. You will be surprised to know that for the

entire surgery plus medicines in India, it cost me about Rs.500/= (in terms

of USD, it works to approximately $10.00) against USD 2100 claimed by the

American Hospital!

 

It was Tiru AaDip Pooram day. Sri Gantamani (Son of Sri Seva SwamigaL and

Editor, “Sri Desika Seva”) had earlier fixed up my Pravachanam at Mani

ManTapam, Villiwakkam for the evening. In spite of the surgery, I proceeded

to Villiwakkam and somehow managed to deliver a talk on “Geetaiyum GOdaiyum”

comparing Bhagavad Gita with Tiruppaavai. The audience was impressed and

this has also been reported in the Editorial of August 2006 Issue of “Sri

Desika Seva”

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