Report: Rayara Aradhana at DurgaMandir 8-12-2006

[Guest guest]

pUjyAya rAghavendrAya satyadharma ratAyacha |

bhajatAm kalpavRukshAya namatAm kAmadhEnave ||

 

Namaskara:

 

By the grace of Sri Hari, Vaayu, and Gurugalu, the

aradhana of Sri Raghavendra Swami was celebrated in a

grand way for the first time in the greater Washington

DC area..

 

Responding to the invitation, around 250 devotees

participated in remembering Sri Raghavendra Swami,

arranged in the auditorium of Sri Durga Temple in

Virginia. Sri Harish Baipadithaya performed the pooja

and abhisheka under the chanting of veda mantras and

Sri Hari Vaayu Stuti and other stotras. Many devotees

participated in the chanting of Sri Vishnu

Sahasranaama stotra and Sri Raghavendra Stotra.

 

Sri Raghavendra Batni and his students played the

veena to the tunes of many haridasa songs. This was a

significant tribute to Guru Raghavendra Swami who

himself is an accomplished Veena player. Dr. Balaji

Hebbar spoke about Sri Raghavendra Swami's

contributions to Dvaita philosophy and the

contribution of maadhva yatis to the vedic philosophy

and the Hindu culture. He also emphasized the need

for the next generation to be aware of Indian cultural

and philosophical richness.

 

Sincere namaskara and thanks to Sri Harish

Baipadithaya for conducting the grand

pooja. In a brief talk during the pooja, he talked

about Sri Raghavendra Stotra. He also talked about

the symbiotic relationship between religion and

society by comparing them to the relationship between

tree and its leaves. He too emphasized the need for

safeguarding traditional values for richer and

stronger

society.

 

The aradhana function concluded with maha

mangalaarati, thirtha and prasada for all devotees

gathered.

 

Aradhana Samithi thanks all devotees who actively

participated and volunteered to help in many ways to

make this celebration a grand success.

 

 

Namaskara

 

Sri Krishnarpnamasthu...

 

ps: Please find some of the photos during the Ardhana

Celebrations here...

 

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