Fwd: Thiru Adi Pooram Festival

June 25, 2009

---------- Forwarded message ----------Narasimha Bhattar <nbhattarThu, Jun 25, 2009 at 2:19 PM

Thiru Adi Pooram FestivalSRS Dear Sri Ranga Sri Members!

My Sastanga Namaskrams to Ever our Periya Perumal Sri Ranganatha and Periya prattiyar Sri Ranganayaki Thayaar.I am writing to you all about Thiruvadi Pooram and Andal Thirukalyanam.

This event is a perfect example of affection and dedication towards the Lord. Andal is one of the 12 azhwars and is the only female among the azhwars. She came down to earth and was found by Periya Azhwar in the temple garden, in Srivilli Puttur, under Tulasi (Basil) plant. Periya Azhwar used to grow all varieties of flowers in this garden, of which, he used to make garland for Sri Ranganatha.

Andal was brought up by periya azhwar in an atmosphere of love and affection for Sri Krishna Bhagawan. She was taught all pastimes and philosophies of Godhead, andÂ was also taught tamil literature. The impact of all this was so deep in Andal that she lost herself in the thoughts of Sri Krishna Bhagawan and got deeper and deeper in her resolve to marry none other than the Lord Himself. She started living in her own imaginary world where she fantasized about marrying the Lord.

When it was age to get her married, periya azhwar's decision to find her a groom upset her very deeply. She began retorting that when the Lord could be everything to her, why not her husband! Periya Azhwar's efforts explain to her that humans can only get married to mortals went in vain. She began to slip in to the imaginary world more and more.

She used to deliver the garlands that periya azhwar made everyday, to the temple in Srivilli Puttur. In her affection for the Lord, She began feeling that the garlands must be offered to the Lord only after she personally inspected their quality by wearing them. She made it a habit thereafter, to try the garlands herself before delivering. One day, when the garland was being offered to the Lord, there was a strand of hair in it. Since this is considered sacrilegious, periya azhwar chastised her and urged her to quit this habit of hers at once. The lord is said to have appeared in Periya Azhwar's dream the same night and told him that He enjoyed those garlands that Andal tried on herself before offering and wanted that to be continued in future.

Andal performed the Nombu during margazhi month, which was believed to have the power to attract the attention of the Supreme Lord! With this intention, Andal even wrote Thiruppavai and Varanamayiram. Periya Azhwar began to get worried about his daughter's obsession with the Lord, as he believed that the Lord will not come down to marry his daughter, whom he thought, was a normal human. But the Lord appeared to periya azhwar and assured him that He would marry Andal. Simultaneously, the Sri Rangamannar commanded the priests in Sri Rangam to prepare for the grand wedding. On the day of the wedding, Andal, who got impatient waiting for this occasion, is said to have run towards the Lord in the sanctum sanctorum and merged in to Him.

It is at this point that periya Azhwar composed Thirupallandu. When periya azhwar expressed his pain to Garuda, that he could not witness his daughter's wedding with Sri Rangamannar, the Lord came back with Andal to Srivilli Puttur on Garuda and got married to Andal with Garuda as the witness.

Today, in this kaliyuga in Virodhi nama samvathsara, such a great even is going to repeat itself. This is in view of Loka kalyanam. The great wedding that periya azhwar and Garuda got to witness, is now going to take place right among us. This is indeed a blessing, for all of us to witness what only Garuda could witness.

Saturdays are very auspicious to Sri Maha Vishnu because of which we perform thirumanjanam every Saturday. But on 25th July 2009, they day of Thiruvadi Pooram, it gets even more auspicious. In addition to the regular thirumanjanam that is performed to Sri Venkateswara swamy, there would be thirumanjanam for Andal also!! There would be kalyanotsavam, rathotsavam and Ekantha seva!!

As mentioned, this ustavam is for loka kalyanam which means that it would bring goodness to the world. Even though we perform such utsavams for the pure pleasure of doing seva to the lord, we would certainly obtain the fruits of the devotion. Devotees who witness this uthsavam and longing to get married wouldÂ have their prayers answered. Ones longing for a child would have their prayers answered too. People who want to live a peaceful life without fears of any calamities like earthquakes, financial melt down, job insecurity etc will be assured of a strong and fearless life once they witness this great festival. All the planets that govern one's life would be calm and bless the people with all goodness.

All day long, when the festival is going on, there are various spacial times when devotees can deeply submit their worries and surrender to the lord -Â - The first part, Suprabhatha seva in the morning is the time when we wake up Perumal and Thayar. We all know how Arjuna got the boon of Krishna's presence during the war, just as HE woke up form sleep!!

Â - Second part isThirumanjanam for Perumal and Andal, and the Alankaram that follows. We perform this seva which pleases Perumal and Thayar. This is another time of they day when the lord is in a very pleasant mood to bless HIS devotees.

Â - The third part is Kalyanothsavam. Since we are getting perumal and thayar married in front of a huge crowd of devotees, perumal and thayar would be pleased with us and bless usÂ - The fourth part is the purappadu for Rathothsavam. This is when all the devotees must make the best use of the chance given to serve the Lord and Thayar, directly. Rathothsavam is the part of the day when the Chariot that carries Perumal adn Thayar is pulled by the devotees. This is an act that pleases the universal parents!!

Â - Finally, Ekantha seva is a very special and powerful time for devotees to be present and submit their applications to the Perumal and Thayar at the same time!!This celebration on account of Thiruvadi Pooram is a rare chance for all devotees to be present right in front of Perumal and Thayar all day long and do service to them to the fullest extent possible through a variety of sevas.

So, I request one and all to please visit Sri Venkateswara temple at Malibu and stay with us the whole day and be one of the witnesses like Garuda, for the divine wedding ceremony. This is an opportunity that comes only once a year. This year is very special because this festival falls on a Saturday, which enables everyone to be present to be a part of the celebrations. Please consider this a Maha Bhagyam given to you all by the Lord Himself and make it a point to bring all your friends and family!!

Adeyen Dhaashan,Narasimha Bhattar

Malibu Hindu Hindu Temple Society of southern Califonia.

Â

-- R Narasimhabhattar

4 of 4 Photo(s)