Report on Shri Raghavendra Swamigala Aradhane held in Livermore Temple, California

[Guest guest]

(Compiled by Shri Sateesh Jamakhandi)

The VMS-West Coast celebrated Sri Raghavendra SwamigaLa Araadhane on Saturday

16th August, 2003 at

the Livermore temple. It is said about our Sri Rayaru that he is " Karedallige

Baruva " and it

really could be felt on a summer day just like in Mantralaya with a score of

devotees to witness

and participate in the day long function.

 

The program started with most volunteers showing up early along with the

groceries. In no time,

the vegetables were cut and the food preparation started very early. The

parallel activity was to

decorate the Brindavana (Wooden replica with Reshme vastras and flowers), idols

and pictures. We

had flowers pouring in from all the devotees along with a devotee who owns a

florist business

around Livermore.

 

The stothra pathana started around 9.30 AM with taratamyokta stothras like Sri

Venkatesh Stothra,

Sri Vishnu Sahasra Naama, Sri Hari-Vayustuthi, Sri Guru Raghavendra Ashtothra,

Sri Raghavendra

Mangalashtaka and other stothras.

 

Our revered, Sri Pandurangi gave a discourse on the mahime of Sri Raghavendraru

which attracted

lot of attention from the devotees. Sameer Pandurangi gave a very impressive

discourse in English

on the life history of Sri Raghavendraru. Devotional songs on Sri Nrusimha

devaru, Sri Vayu Devaru

and Sri Rayaru provided a very lively atmosphere as the temple archaka Sri

Nagesh Shastrigalu

prepared for the Abhisheka. There were close to 200 people watching the well

organized abhisheka

for an hour amidst the veda ghoshas and Sri Rayara Ashothra.

 

The abhisheka followed the first ever Ratha Yatra of Sri Rayaru around the

temple premises. The

prayers of all the devotees here got heard when Sri Rayara Brindavana (a wooden

replica) along

with the Lord Sri Rama, Sri Hayagreeva Devaru and Sri Vayudevaru was taken in a

ratha well

decorated with flowers. The Ratha yatra was headed by a group of devotees

singing " Rathavaa

Neerida Raghavendra... " .

 

The alankara pankthi for 12 learned and elderly devotees started the food

distribution,prepared

on site in the well equipped kitchen. Many Bhakshas along with the very tasty

kootu with lot of

vyanjanas(5 sweets) made the bhojana a memorable one and lots of devotees were

remembering their

home town celebrations of Araadhane. There were about 200 devotees in the hall

served sitting on

the floor.

 

Taratamyokta Bhajane after the lunch, added glitter to the whole day's program.

We missed a lot of

our members who moved out of this place in the last few months. Sri GurugaLu

provided lot of

energy to the existing members and brought a lot of new members who relentlessly

helped make the

function a truly memorable one. We are truly indebted to the Livermore Temple

Committee for

providing us this time a whole day to celebrate the Aradhane. They were so

impressed; one of the

Temple Committee members asked us to continue this work and the temple would be

glad to provide

any assistance.

 

" Bho Yathi Varadendra...Sri Gururaya Raghavendra...Kayo enna shubha kaya

bhajisuvenu kayo tavaka

chandra...Sri Gururaya Raghavendra "