Report on Chaturmasya Sankalpam of Srimath Andavan Swamigal

[Guest guest]

A Brief report on Chaturmasya Sankalpam celebrations at

Alwarthirunagari of Srimath Andavan Swamigal.

 

18th July 2003 was a great day in the history of Srirangam Srimath Andavan

Ashramam at Alwarthirunagari, the sacred place of Sri Nammalwar, our

Ashramam has its own residential property. A couple of old houses on

the outer street of Sri Aadhinaathar Temple were bought and with the

support of TVS family, a fully renovated building has been

consecrated by His Holiness to accommodate both Srimath Andavan

Ashramam and Sri Ranganatha Paduka Vidyalaya. Devotees from all over India,

including a large contingent from Mumbai, started arriving one day

before itself to witness the commencement of Chatumasya Sankalpam of

His Holiness on 18th July. The renovated buildings with all the facilities

have come out very nicely, thanks to the coordination efforts done by

our NEC Chairman Sri R Rajagopal and the efforts of a dedicated team

workers deputed by T.V.S., who worked day and night for

the last 2 months to complete the facility to be ready for occupation

well before the commencement of Sankalpam. Opposite to our Ashramam

is the famous Sri Aadhinaathar Temple, within which lies the

famous " Urangaapuli " tamarind tree, which was the abode of Sri

Nammalwar and from where the famous Thiruvoimozhi paasurams originated This

tree continues to exist even today from the time

Nammalvar around 5000 years ago.

 

Behind our Ashramam is Tambirabarani River, which is the lifeline of

the entire Tirunelveli District.

 

In these pleasant surroundings our Ashramam started functioning at

Alwarthirunagari, which is central to the famous Nava Thirupathi

Divyadesams.

 

From the early morning itself on the 18th July, hundreds of devotees

started assembling at Ashramam. Sri Karyam Swamy, Sri

Narasimharaghavachariar, Sri R.Rajagopal,.Sri Vaduvoor Srinivasa

Desikachariar, Sri Kalyanapuram Aravamudachariar, Sri Villoor

Karunakarachariar were all in the center stage in organizing all

matters connected to the event.From Sri Paduka Charities,Sri

S.Vasudevan,Secretary, Sri Sarangarajan,Sri Kasturirangan, Sri Krishnan,Sri

Parthasarathi,R.Srinivasan and Sri V.Srinivasan were in attenadance.(Sri

Narayanan of Srimath Andavan Trust, a native of adjacent Keezhnaththam,was also

present.

 

After the usual mornings anushtanam, Srimath Andavan performed

Perumal and Paduka Aaradanams. Sri Venugopalan araadanam was

performed by aaraadakar Sri Calcutta Krishnamurthy swamy. After this

it was theertha ghoshti for the devotees.

 

 

 

 

Next event was Mrithsankramanam, the collection of earth by Srimath

Andavan, Sri Vaduvoor Desikahariar swamy did the sankalpam ceremony

for HH. All the devotees attentively participated in this even and

considered the same as a great blessings in their life time.

 

On completion of this, H.H, went for " Thirumudivilakkam " on the banks

of river Tambirabarani. After taking bath at the river and "

Thirumankappu " . H.H. returned back to Ashramam in a procession and

at the entrance H.H., was received with Mangala Aarathi by the ladies

present there.

 

During this period, several vidwans present in the Hall, gave

discourses for the devotees. Several other devotees went to the

nearby Divyadesa Temple of Sri Adinathar and the sannathi of Sri

Nammalwar.

 

All these events were followed by Pancha Santhi by vedic scholars and

Divyadesa mariyaadais for H.H., Among them were Srivilliputhur,

Kancheepuram, Thirukkudanthai, Uppiliappan Koil, Thiruvananthapuram,

all the nine divyadesams of Nava Thiruppathi, Vanamaamalai dand

Thirukkurungudi etc., Srikaryam Sri Narasimha Raghavachariar Swamy

presented all these temple honours to H.H.

 

After this H.H. delivered His anugrahabashanam.

 

At the end of these, a grand Thadeeyaaraadanam was arranged for all

the vedic scholars and devotees.

 

On conclusion of all these events, H.H., gave manthratchadai to all

the devotees and blessed them.

 

Thus concluded the first day of Chaturmasya Sankalpam. The devotees

who attended this function, had a great opportunity to visit all the

9 divyadesams of Nava Thirupathi and the adjacent Vaanamaamalai and

Thirukkurungudi.

 

The devotees had the opportunity of visiting Nava Thirupathi. The

credit of renovation and excellent maintenance of all of them goes to

the big three letter word T.V.S., and particularly under the giant

Industrialist and grand son of TVS, Sri Venu Srinivasan. Every one

in those villages speaks very high of TVS. It is a great sight to

see the new vibrant Nava Thirupathees now. Every where spic and

span, discipline and right as per time schedule. Those who have not

visited these kshetras and may now take this great opportunity

provided by H.H., who is now camping there for two months. You can

get blessings of Srimath Andavan Swamigal, as well as visit the

Divyadesams. No worry about food, there is Andavan Ashramam for you

there. Nearer to this there are 2 other divyadesams of

Thirukkurungudi and Vaanamaamalai. At Thirukkurungudi apart from the

well known five Nambi temples, please do visit Parivattapparai of Sri

Ramanuja and Brindavanam of Sri Thirumangai Azhwar. You can take

this opportunity to pay respects Srimath Vaanamaamalai Jeer Swamy

and Srimath Thirukkurungudi Jeer Swamy also. In short, three

Vaishnavaite Yatheewaras are observing their Chaturmasya Sankalpam on

the banks of river Tambirabarani and it will be our bhaagyam to get

their blessings.

 

Nearer to Srivaikuntam there is a famous Sri Venkateswara Temple

atop a small hill, in a place called Karungulam,visited as a

prarthanai sthalam by many devotees.