A day in Sri Sannithi - Part 4

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Sri:

Sri Lakshminrisimha parabrahmaNE nama:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha divya paduka sevaka

srivan satakopa sri narayana yatindra mahadesikaya nama:

 

A day in Sri Sannidhi - Part 4: Abhigamanam (continued)

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(This post is based on adiyEn's stay at Selaiyur where

Srimad Azhagiya Singar is presently undertaking the

9th Chaturmasya Sankalpam from July 16th to Sep 14, 2000.

The daily routine during Sancaram may not be the same.)

 

It is a sight to behold, the beauty of Srimad Azhagiya

Singar doing alangaram to Sri Malolan. With great care

Srimad Azhagiya Singar places each strand of flowers,

mixing and matching different colors. Gently HH gives

a push to the swing upon which Sri Malola sits with a

graceful smile. Then HH steps back and inspects, then

goes near Malolan and makes some adjustments and steps

back once again. HH repeats this over and over until

HH is fully satisfied with the adornments.

 

After the alangaram comes archanai. The Sannidhi

paricharaka recites the ashtotra sada nama of Malolan in

a slow and deliberate voice as Srimad Azhagiya Singar

does the archanai with golden flowers.

 

About two years ago one day two Sanyasis belonging to

the Madhwa Sampradayam came to our Sri Sannithi. After

having a Dharshan of Malolan the senior sanyasi questioned

Srimad Azhagiya Singar on sashtras. Srimad Azhagiya Singar

answered their queries with a smile. The senior Yati

then submitted two Swarna pushpam (golden flowers) and

requested Srimad Azhagiya Singar to use them for daily

archanai. Some of the sishyas witnessing the whole thing

were so overwhelmed by Srimad Azhagiya Singar's gracefulness

they also pledged to give several Swarna Pushpams. Thus

started a craze among the Sri Sannidhi sishyas to submit

swarna pushpas for Sri Malolan. The two grew to twenty,

and soon there were 108. Today there is in excess of 200

swarna pushpams for archanai. Please visit the following

site and look for the Swarna Pushpams.

 

http://www.ahobilamutt.org/2000pics/pushpa-alang.html

 

By the time the Archanai is over ThaLigai (food) is already

ready near the Mandapam. The curtain is drawn and to the

accompaniment all the Vadyams and twin Ghantai, Malolan

is offered the morning ThaLigai.

 

After the Thaligai is offered Harathi is made ready. Then,

the curtain is opened for Harati with Vadyam starting once

again. The second sound of Vadyam is the sign for all the

kainkaryaparas to reassemble in the hall. By this time the

sishya crowed has swelled to about 200, (on Dwadasi days

it will be well in excess of 500).

 

After the conclusion of Harathi Srimad Azhagiya Singar initiates

Satrumurai with " Sitram Siru kale " and the goshti thunders along

with the rest of the Satrumurai. Long strands of flower from Malolan

is cut into small pieces and distributed to everyone.

 

During this time Srimad Azhagiya Singar offers the Silver Sri Satari

to the Acaryas in the silver mandapam. Then " aruLappadu " (formal

offering of theertham and satari to Acaryas) is offered. " aruLappadu "

is only for Srimad Azhagiya Singar everyday. However, on the

thirunaktram day of the month for Athivan Satakopan, Srimad Injimedu

Azhagiya Singar, Srimad Devenar Vilagam Azhagiya Singar, and Srimad

Mukkoor Azhagiya Singar, arulappaadu is offered to them first, and

then to the current Azhagiya Singar. As Srimad Azagiya Singar takes

Perumal Theertham and places the Golden Sri Satari upon HH's divine

crown, the Goshti pauses the recitation of Satrumurai and the

officiating Aradhakar Swami renders,

 

" Vedamarga pradhishtApanAcArya,

Paramahamsa ParivrAjakAcArya,

Sarva tantraswatantra ubhayavedAntAcArya,

sri bhagavat rAmAnuja siddAnta nirdhAraNa sArva bowma,

Sri Lakshminrisimha Divya pAdukA sevaka SrivaN Satakopa

Sri nArAyaNa yatIndra mahAdesikan arulappaadu. "

 

Then, the goishti resumes satrumurai. Srimad Azhagiya Singar

now commences offering the golden Sri Satari to the goshti,

starting with the officiating Aradhakar Swami, followed by

the other Aradhakar Swamees and panditAs who may be present.

Then comes the rest of the devotees now standing in rows are

offered. As Srimad Azhagiya Singar makes the round offering

Sri Satari to everyone the two mrith kainkaryaparas use the

silver rod to keep the devotees in line preventing them from

accidentally touching Srimad Azhagiya Singar . One of the

Sri Sannidhi paricharakas follow along with a lamp. Sri

Satari comes out of the Silver mandapam only with the

accompaniment of a lamp.

 

It is important to note that only Srimad Azhagiya Singar

offers Sri Satari and only after Abhigamanam. Sri Satari

is not offered at any other time during the day.

 

In parallel, Perumal Theertam is served by the Sri Sannidhi

paricharakas. Also, ThirumadappaLLi paricarakas now distribute

dried leaves for prasadam. The goshti is still continuing with

the Satrmurai. The satrumurai consists of the following:

 

Thiuppavai

Sitram Sirukalae, Vangak kadal

Periya Thirumozhi - Ahobilam

nallai nence, singavel kunrudaiya

Periya Thirumozhi - Thiruvallur

pandhirukkum, indaikondu

Periya Thiumozhi - Naimisaranyam

Unudai, Edhamvandhu

Adaikkalappattu

thirumagalum, ARu payan

Athivan Satakopan adaikkalappattu

agalame, patthiyulla, AthimaRai

lakshminrisimhan adaikkalappattu

patthu, anaitthulagam

PallaaNdu

Sarvadesa, Vedanta Desikan Vazhi Thirunamam

Sarvadesa, Athivan satakopan Vazhi Thirunamam

Srimad Vedanta Desikan Mangalam

Srimad Athivan Satakopan Mangalam

Sri Sannidhi Guruparambarai Thaniyan

Sri:pati, Sri:, Viswaksenar, Satakopan,

Nathamuni, Pundarikakshar, Ramamisrar,

Sri Alavandhar, Mahapurnar, Bhashyakarar,

Embar, Parasara Bhattar, NanjIyar, Nampillai,

Vadakku Thiruveedhippillai, Sri Rangeswarar,

Kesavacaryar, Kamalavasar, Kesavacaryar,

Athivan Satakopan, followed by 44 Srimad

Azhagiya Singars.

Dasavataara Stotram

 

By the time Satrumurai is over Prasadam is already served.

 

Then devotees who are ready for Samsrayanam line up near

the Silver maNdapam. After Thapa and puNdara samskaram

Srimad Azhagiya Singar takes HH's throne. The rest of the

samskarams are completed near the throne. Here the sishyas

who undertook Samsrayanam are offered Sri pAda tIrtham by

Srimad Azhagiya Singar as part of the Samarayanam. If you

are attentive you can also receive Sri pAda tIrthm. The

way to receive tIrtham is to bow down for Srimad Azhagiya

Singar to sprinkle the tIrtham on your head. Then you extend

your hand for receiving the tIrtham.

 

Sri pAda tIrtham is gathered everyday during Abhigamanam.

Srimad Azhagiya Singar while seated on a stool extends

HH's divine feet out. One of the Sri Sannidhi paricharakas

pours some water on HH's thiruvadi and collects the divine

water in a silver vessel. This is consumed to purify oneself.

 

While at the Sri Muth, Kainkaryaparas work every single

day, i.e. there is no weekend off or anything like that.

However, they do get about 50 to 60 days annual vacation.

Whenever they take vacation they have to go to the Ashramam

and get Manthrakshadai from Srimad Azhagiya Singar before

leaving. Srimad Azhagiya Singar will enquire about the

reasons for taking vacation and if appropriate will even

give money for expenses. When they return from their

vacation they can join duty only after purifying him

by consuming Sri pAda tIrtham from Srimad Azhagiya Singar.

 

After the conclusion of Samsrayanam Srimad Azhagiya Singar

usually delivers a brief upanyasam. The upanyasam is very

simple and captivating. Often it is about the beauty of

Malolan; how even in a remote place like Selaiyur so many

devotees come because of the attraction of Malolan; how so

many people are undertaking samasrayanam and prapatti; etc.

 

During this time those who want to perform Saranagati get

ready and await Srimad Azhagiya Singar. After the

upanyasam HH goes back to the Silver mandapam and

performs Saranagati on behalf of the waiting devotees.

Depending upon the adhikari it will either in the mode

of Ukti Nishtai or Acarya Nishtai.

 

Abhiganam thus comes to an auspicious conclusion.

Srimad Azhagiya Singar returns to Ashramam to the

accompaniment of auspicious Vadyam.

 

 

.... to be continued

 

srimad azhagiya singar thiruvadigaLE saraNam

 

-- adiyEn ramanuja dasan