Sri Rangam - A journey to remember - 1

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Sri Ranganatha Divyamani Padukabhyam namaha !!!

Swamy Deshikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam !!!

 

Dear Bhakta-s

 

AdiyEn had written something he knew on pAduka Sahasram on the celebrated

day of mArgazhi vishAkam to mark pAdukA avathAra thirunAL. Due to Sri

RanganAthan's anugraham, adiyEn had the bhAgyam of visiting Thiruvarangam

this weekend for 3 days. An experience of a life time, to say.

 

It was late in the evening, we had already crossed Uttamar Sannidhi curve

and were enjoying the distant view of the rAjagOpuram which is sufficient

enough to give one, a spiritual awakening. As soon as we entered Arangam, we

made our journey straight to Srimad PoundarIkapuram Andavan Ashramam. H.H

was observing pradOsha mounam. We then proceeded towards the temple to have

the darshanam of PirAtti and PerumAL. It was a very busy day at the temple

with lots of devotees thronging to have perumAL sEvai.

 

There were special alankArams at all sannidhis on account of DhanurmAsam.

 

Entering from ThAyAr sannidhi one could feel the spiritual fragrance and

ambience that is so thrilling, which, mere words cannot tell. At the

sannidhi, it was almost time for " aravaNai sEvai " . The feeble chant of

" ashtAksharam " was very enchanting. We were blessed to have the " thaila

kAppu " sEvai " at the sannidhi of thAyAr that day. We had a considerably long

stay at thAyAr sannidhi. After receiving manjal, theertham and prasAdam at

thAyAr sannidhi, we proceeded towards Arangan sannidhi. Moving from thAyAr

sannidhi to perumAL sannidhi, one gets to see chandra pushkariNi, paramapada

vAsal, dhanvanthri sannidhi, Ayiram kAl mantapam, yathOkthakAri sannidhi and

garuda mantapam on the way.

 

On reaching the mukhya dwAram, at the dhwajasthambham, one is greeted with a

divine fragrance that imparts a mystic reverberance into the atmosphere. The

same that all our Alwars and AchArya-s would have experienced during their

times. After passing through two prAkAra chathushkam-s, we now drew closer

to the sannidhi. The mild chant of " dwayam " was truly captivating. At the

sannidhi it was the most divine experience to see Aranga on His AdishEsha

Shayanam. In front of Him, stood NamperumAL with His consorts. Moolavar

AranganAthan adored a pattu peethAmbaram alankAram while utsavar, Azhagiya

ManavALan stood bejeweled and as resplendent as ever.

 

One can see two huge pillars just at the entrance of the moolavar sannidhi.

These pillars have lot of divinity attached to them. It is said that one of

the Azhwars fainted at the sight of Arangan and had to cling to these

pillars to support himself.

 

After having a beautiful sEvai of Arangan and thAyAr, it was time to retire

for the day

 

The next day started very early. It was a blissful experience of awakening

oneself by listening to ThiruppAvai, which is played all around !

The teertha gOshti assembled at the Ashramam at around 6:15 AM. The gOshti

ended with perumAL theertham and prasAdam at about 6:45. Srimad Andavan's

thiruppAvai upanyAsam can be heard everyday morning on AIR Trichy.

 

After the teertha gOshti, it was now time for the vishwaroopa darshanam at

periya kOvil. RanganAthar darshanam was not possible due to heavy crowd, but

thAyAr sEvai was excellent. It is a thrilling experience to see three

thAyAr-s one behind the other and one might get an impression whether they

are contesting with each other to bless the bhaktA-s who come to them.

 

It was now time to be at Deshikar Sannidhi inside the temple. A huge

bhAgavatha gOshti assembles everyday for DhanurmAsa ArAdhanam. The gOshti

ended with the recital of gOdA sthuthi of Swamy Deshikan.

 

It was now time for Srimad PoundarIkapuram Andavan's kAlakshEpam on " Sri

BhAshyam " . After the kAlakshEpam we proceeded towards VaduvUr and

MannArgudi.

 

VaduvUr has a beautiful temple built for Sri Ramar. The utsava moorthy is

most beautiful. There is also a beautiful Sannidhi for Deshikar and

HayagrIvar. A few kms drive from VaduvUr is MannArgudi, the birthplace of

Srimad PoundarIkapuram Andavan. PerumAl is RajagOpAlan or RajamannAr as He

is popularly known as. After a wonderful sEvai we were back in the night at

the Ashramam in Sri Rangam,

 

Continued...

 

atra Eva SrirangE sukhamAsva |||

 

Sri Ranganatha Divyamani Padukabhyam namaha.

vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai |||

 

dasan,

Balaji

SIEMENS Communication Software

 

P.S - Nice quote

Lord ! There is nothing that can happen to me, that, you and I together

cannot handle.