Sri Rama anuyatra

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya namaha:

Hare Krishna,

 

respected devotees,

 

Herein I forward the Sri Vaishnava devotees experience Of Sri Rama anuyatra

and adiyen wishes that everyone of us gets this opportunity to visit these

places.

regards,

Ramanuja dasan,

azhagappan

 

 

 

 

Sri Rama Anuyatra.

 

Dear Bhaktas,

Sri Rama anuyatra, a pilgrimage following the trail of Sri Rama, was

conducted between 20th Aug and 8th September. The yatra fructified with Sri

Rama Pattabhishekam at Srirangam temple with over 1000 bhaktas attending.

Adiyen thought of briefly sharing the experience with all of you.

 

Why this Anuyatra ?

Sri Rama being an Emperor, imposed exile through the boon of Kaikeyi, and

chose to travel the length and breadth of Bharata Desa. He undertook two

journeys, one for the sake of Vishwamitra yaga samrakshana and His marriage

and the other to fulfill the words of His father. A deeper study would

reveal that the objectives of the second yatra, such as dushkrita vinasa

(rakshasa vadha) would have been possible by easier means considering the

power of Sri Rama. However, Rama chose to travel experiencing agony as per

the saying rAjyAt bhramsa: vanE vAsa: sItA nashtA hatO dvija: (denied of

kingdom, forced to forest, lost Sita, Jatayu a great friend got killed etc).

Inspite of all these, Rama wanted to set His lotus feet on the entire

stretch of this desam to reinforce it as a punya bhUmi and to shower His

katAksham on the needy souls. If we name His jouney as Yatra, then any

journey following Him would be anuyAtra. Given the absolute servitude nature

of the atman, anuyatra is a pleasurable duty for everyone of us. Thus we

decided to conduct this pilgrimage and announced it a year ago.

 

Integration in many ways

This yatra took us through 8 states and 2 countries, necessitating to mingle

with Rama bhaktas of different culture and languages. The yatrikas, 350 in

number, were themselves from Srirangam,Chennai,Madurai, Coimbatore,

Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Dubai and USA. They had a great opportunity to

exchange their varied experiences. Food of different tastes, such as UP,

Bihari, nepali, marathi, mysori etc was served (cooked by our team of

Srivaishnava cooks and offered to Perumal). As a humble contribution

towards integration of rivers, we took bath in as many as 9 holy rivers

integrating their significance in our body. To name them - Ganga, Sarayu,

Gandaki, Sona,Yamuna, Mandakini, Godavari, Tungabhadra, Kaveri (lakshmana

tIrtha). To our astonishment, we found one thread weaving this multi

coloured fabric -- Rama Bhakti.

 

Mountains of difficulties turned to dust by Sri Rama

350 yatrikas at an average age of above 60 and highest age of 88, traveling

8500 kms, in 19 days, in 6 different trains and 45 different buses, carrying

around 1550 baggage, looked an uphill task when we began. But every one of

these hurdles added spices to the already tasty food. None of the trains

were delayed which is unusual in North India. No passengers were left behind

even in no electricity areas. None of the baggage were lost in spite of them

being handled in separate vans. After we returned from Sitamarhi the

bridges were broken and there was no traffic for 12 days. There was an

attack in Nepal highway the day before we went. But there was no curfew all

through our stay there. There was no case of health problem although we

bathed in 9 different rivers and consumed water at times in unhygienic

conditions . Over 100 people having blood pressure and diabetes and no

medical facility in many areas, but yet, there was no complaint. 350 people

for 19 days was almost 7000 man days. There were only two injuries, which

were immediately treated, and those yatrikas happily continued journey. In

the entire route we had to climb 4 mountains to have darsan. At chennai

during the briefing session 250 yatrikas opted to stay back in the buses, as

they cannot climb. Finally during the yatra only 8 stayed back. It was a

great sight to watch all the aged climbing the mountains. Their lip movement

revealed a secret. The only medicine we had was "Rama Namam". Sri Parasa

Bhattar in his commentary to Vishnu Sahasranama hails Rama Namam as "mrta

sanjIvanam". All the yatrikas were requested to chant "ApadAm apa

hartAram... " and Sri Rama Rama RamEti..." each 108 times daily for 32 days

starting from 8th August totalling to 2.4 million Rama nama.

 

Places and significance

1. Bittoor (near Kanpur) UP. - Valmiki asrama , birth place of Sri Ramayana

and Lava Kusa. We began the yatra from here seeking the blessings of

Bhagavatottama Sage Valmiki. Sri Vaishnavism recommends worship of bhagavata

before bhagavan. This is also the place of Druva. We had snanam in Ganges.

2. Ayodhya - the birthplace of Rama and the capital of Kosala kingdom, on

the banks of River Sarayu. Members of Janma bhoomi Ram mandir, voluntarily

came and greeted us and gave us a spirited insight on the happenings.

3. Kamasram - Following the first journey of Rama we reached this place.

This was where Manmatha was burnt by Siva. Visvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana

stayed here for a night

4. Tataka vana - where Tataka was killed by Rama and stayed for a night

5. Siddhasrama - where Visvamitra performed yagna for 6 days- Rama stayed

here for 7 nights. (4 and 5 are in Buxar - Bihar)

6. Chapra - the confluence of River Ganges and Sarayu as explained by

Visvamitra to Rama

7. Sonepur - the place of gajendra moksha and confluence of River Ganges and

Gandaki

8. Visala nagara (hajipur near patna) - where Rama was greeted by a King and

hosted for a night

9. Sitamarhi (in dharbhanga district Bihar)- birthplace of Mata Sita. From

here starts Mithila desam.

10. Janakpuri in Nepal - the place of Sita Rama kalyanam - 7 members of

bhajanai goshti came from Delhi and conducted a grand Sita kalyanam. The

whole town was awe struck watching the programme. On our return to ayodhya,

the entire Nepal route was studded with scenic beauty which we thought was

nature's gift to the newly married.

11. Ayodhya again

12. Nandigram - we visited this place out of order. This is where Bharata

stayed and ruled as a representative of Rama Paduka for 14 years. After

Ravana vadha Hanuman and Rama met Bharata here.

13. Srigiverpur - on the banks of river Ganga - the place of Guha sakhyam.

All 350 of us took a boat ride remembering that of Rama and Guha.

14. Bharadwaja asrama (in allahabad)- confluence of River Ganga, yamuna and

Sarasvati. This sage showed Rama the way to Chitrakoot.

15. Chitrakoot - any urban citizen would envy this place on the banks of

River mandakini. Rama and Sita spent happy days here. Bharata met Rama and

got blessed with paduka here.

16. Atri anasuya asrama - The first place of visit after Rama left

Chitrakoot

17. Viradha kunda - where Rama killed viradha

18. Sarabhanga asrama

19. Suteekshna Asrama

20 Agastya asrama - 18, 19, and 20 are places of unadulterated natural

beauty but very difficult to visit. Many of us were holding our breath till

we came out. (All these are near Satna MP)

21. Ramtek - Another agastya asrama near which Rama killed sambooka (uttara

kanda)

22. Nasik pancavati - where Lakshmana built a beautiful parnasala on the

banks of river Godavari. Place where Surpanakha was severed of her nose and

ears. Battlefield where Rama killed 14000 demons resulting in Sita’s

abduction by Ravana.

23. Taket - jatayu moksha sthala - a place to remember where nature has

granted all its treasures. There were anxious moments in reaching and coming

out of this place (65 kms from nasik on igatpuri road)

24. Kishkindha (hampi) – on the banks of river Tungabhadra - the monkey

kingdom, sabari asram, the spot where Rama killed vali, rishyamuka parvatam,

malyavan where Rama waited for 4 months during rainy days.

25. Lakshmana tirtha - valmiki gives the route of the large monkey

contingent as Sahya, malaya and mahendra giri. Many research publications

and official gazette of mysore confirm this place in Nagerhole national park

( 120 kms from mysore)as the mountain range where the army crossed.

Lakshmana shooting an arrow to quench the thirst of the army created todays

iruppu falls.

26. Tirukkurungudi - This is in mahendragiri, which was the last mountain in

the journey after which the army sighted the ocean.

27. Tiruppullani - the place where Rama surrendered to Samudra Raja in vain

and then on went to build the famous bridge.

28. Srirangam - The eventual abode of Sri Ranganatha. Initially, this deity

along with pranavakara vimana was in ayodhya and it was Vibheeshana who

consecrated in Srirangam. Sri Rama pattabhishekam was conducted here by our

goshti. All the 350 yatrikas along with lot more Srirangam bhaktas took a

chittirai veedi pradakshinam chanting Rama nama in the morning.

 

Parayanam and upanyasam

2 vidvans did parayanam of the whole Ramayanam in 18 days. Besides this,

about 800 slokas were chosen by Sri U Ve Tiruppullani Sundara raja Iyengar

Swamy relevant to the places of visit, and all the 350 in respective places

chanted them. Sri U Ve Parasara Badri Narayana Bhattar Swamy, Sri U Ve

Kanchi Srinidhi Swamy and Sri U Ve Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy conducted

Upanyasams about the significance of every place and happenings as per

Ramayana. It was a great experience for the upanyasaka and the listeners due

to the importance of the place. We could see tears rolling down many cheeks

on listening to the difficulties faced by Sita and Rama. Everyone was proud

of Lakshmana, which made them plead to be blessed with a trace of his

kainkaryam. Sattumurai was done at Srirangam Ranga Vilasa mandapam. Srimad

Parahamsetyadi Sriranga Narayana Jeer Swamy delivered anugraha bhashanam.

The function was held in the presence of The Joint Commissioner, Sthalathar

and hundreds of Srirangam bhaktas.

 

Objectives of this yatra

1. To remind Sri Ramayana and live with Sri Rama

2. Getting stuck to our homes, we become rigid and selfish. This got

relieved.

3. None watched TV or read newspapers for 19 days. Sri Rama, purifying our

senses, absorbed all of us.

4. A practice session to reduce our urban comforts and live close to nature.

5. To try yAdum UrE yAvarum kElIr - every place is my hometown and every

atman is bhagavat bandhu.

 

Volunteers

All these were possible by the grace of Rama and the relentless efforts of

about 25 volunteers of our Kinchitkaram Trust, who hardly slept for 19 days.

 

Prayer

Every Rama bhakta around the globe gets an opportunity to visit these

places. More importantly along with their children, to see Sri Rama and Sita

come live, and to realise the richness and validity of the great epic Sri

Ramayana. Anybody wanting to know about the route or stay facilities may

contact our center and we would be too happy to help.

 

We have videographed the whole yatra that would be released as a 6-hour

story (2 DVDs). This would be available in 2 months.

All the upanyasams are available as mp3 cds in the information centre Ph

044 -24992728.

 

 

 

Velukkudi Krishnan

 

Kinchitkaram Trust

 

 

 

 

 

| | | | | Inbox

 

Get the latest updates from MSN

MSN Home | Travel | Hotmail | Search | Sports |

E-Learning

 

_______________

Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!

http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/