Sri Haresh Balasubramanian's wonderful and humble offering on Sri Rangapriya Swami's Thirunakshathram (thai makam) today

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

Dear Sri Madhavakkannan,

 

Unfortunately, I am not able to be in Bangalore today. Adiyen had just sent

letter in expression of my gratitude to Acharyan . I am expecting the Ashrama

Volunteers to deliver this to Swamiji. Hopefully he receives it. I am not workty

of writing such anubhavams, but nontheless I wanted to make up for my not being

there.

 

Dasan

Haresh

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Haresh Balasubramaniam <haresh.balasubramaniam

Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 1:55 PM

Acharyan Thirunakshatram

Venkatesan K <venkat.blore

 

 

sri:

 

Dear Venkat,

 

I have written a short essay today in light of our acharyan's birthday. Will you

be able to hand it over to your father for taking over to Swamiji ? As my wife

was not able to attend this week, we are both unable to be in Bangalore for the

celebrations. Thanks in advance for your help. Adiyen.

 

B.Haresh

 

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Expression of Gratitude to my Acharya , Sri Rangapriya Maha Desika

 

 

Om Ajnana timirandasya jnananjana shalakaya|

Chakshur unmeelitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah ||

 

The above verse is taught to vedic students when they commence their studies of

the ancient scriptures. The verse illustrates how one is immersed in the

darkness known as ignorance , and his eyes are opened by the light of spiritual

knowledge administered by the guru or acharya. In the spirit of this ancient

prayer, I would like to take a few moments today on account of his birth day (

Thirunakshatra) to honor my acharya, HH Sri Rangapriya Mahadesika of Ashtanga

Yoga Vijnana Mandiram of Bangalore.

 

Like many a lost soul, I experimented with various spiritual practices and

traditions for years. Little did I gain from those efforts , as each path led me

to a dead end. In January 2004, I had the opportunity of meeting HH Swamiji for

the first time. After, offering namaskaras, I lifted my head to look at the

mahatma seated before us .His eyes were full of compassion , yet piercing. He

had offered to answer any questions that were in my mind. By that time , all the

questions had already vanished. I felt that at that moment, without a doubt

that I have found the one who will free me from the darkness known as " ajnana "

or ignorance. I fell at his feet and requested to undergo Pancha Samskara- the

initiation rites of the Sri Vaishnavas. He agreed to perform my pancha samksara

after my Dhivya Kshetra tour.

 

After visits to Melkote, Thondanur and Sri Rangapatna, Swamiji formally

initiated me into the Ramanuja Sampradaya . Thereafter with Swamiji's blessings

, I visited Madhya Ranga and Satyagalam. It was in Satyagalam, I had the

opportunity of performing the first Ashtakshara Mantra Japa under the Jnana

Aswatha Tree . It was under this very tree , on the banks of the Kaveri that the

great Acharya Vedanta Desika used to perform his anushtanams. By visiting

Melkote and Satyagalam, Swamiji ensured that I received the blessings of both

Acharya Ramanuja and Swami Desika. I returned to visit swamiji again, after my

visit to Satyagalam. From then on, I did not look back . In 2005 , I moved to

India from Singapore, on account of professional duties and have remained here

since. I made it a point to visit Swamiji whenever time permitted. Over the

years, I developed a somewhat intimate Guru-Sishya relationship with His

Holiness.

 

In my various interactions with Swamiji, I came to understand that his approach

to spirituality did not lie in the theoretical reading of spiritual texts or

blind recitation of the various Sanskrit and Tamil verses. Swamiji, having a

strong foundation in the ancient system of Ashtanga Yoga, paid more attention to

the experiential aspect of spiritual life. It was in one of our personal

conversations where he pointed out – Puja, Stotra, Japa, Dhyana and Samadhi

were the rungs of the spiritual ladder. He would often question my consistency

in mantra japa in contrast to the other practices, (which I am embarrassed to

say is not up to the mark). However he was also ( and still is) very encouraging

of nitya aradhana (Puja) and Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam (Stotra). Each of

these practices involve engaging our senses totally in the service of God, the

difference being in the intensity. The goal of all such spiritual activity is to

establish an unwavering

relationship with the Paramatman.

 

Let us take a few moments today on his Thiru Nakshatra, or Birthday to thank

Lord Srimannarayana and Goddess Mahalakshmi, for placing in our midst, such an

Acharya who is full of compassion for the fallen souls. Let us all take a few

minutes each day to reflect on our Acharya's glories, recite his Guru Mantra and

make our best effort in following his teachings. Srimate Rangapriya

Mahadesikaya Namah:

 

Dasan

 

Haresh Balasubramaniam ( Srimannarayana Dasan)

Thai , Makham, Feb 10 2009, Mumbai