Sad tidings

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sri:

Srimate Srilakhsminrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Divyapadukasevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri NarayanaYatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

First, I would like to state that most Sri Vaishnavas

from both kalais want harmony and cooperation among all

of us. As Sri. Maharabooshanam Sadagopan observed a few

days earlier Srimad Azhagiya Singar receives honors from

Azhvar Thirunagari temple during Nammazhvar Thirunakshatram.

Our own Sri Matam Aradhakar at Azhvar Thirunagari is a

Thenkalai Sri Vaishnava. With the grace of Sri Malolan

the model of cooperation and respect we witness in Azhvar

Thirunagari will be adopted in the future in places like

Sri Rangam.

 

With the above preamble I would like to present,

(i) the English translation of a news report from

Dinamani, (ii) an eye witness account, (iii) a summary

of what I heard from Sri Matam kainkaryaparars about

the incident, and finally, (iv) a brief personal

observation.

 

 

=======Translation==================================

Trichy, March 30, 2001

 

A procession was taken out by Sri Rangam Kovil Paramaparya

Padhukaappu kuzhu (Sri Rangam Temple Sampradaya Protection

Group), Thennacharya Samrakshana Sabha, and Sthalaththar Sabhai,

on Thursday (March 29), to stress that the Thenkalai namam

placed on the rajagopuram of the divine temple of Sri Ranganatha

must not be removed. The procession covered Uttirai and Chittirai

streets and ended at Sri Vanamamal Jeeyar Matam at the end of

East Chiittirai Street. At the Matam a condemnation meeting

was held.

 

Among the participants were Kanchipuram Sri Azhagiya Manavala

Jeeyar, Sriperumboothoor Sri Emperumal Jeeyar, Thirukkovaloor

Embar Jeeyar. Sri Rangam Sriranga Narayana Jeeyar also

participated along with them. They expressed their condemnation

against Sri Ahobila Matam 45th Sri Azhagiya Singar Jeeyar Swami.

Further, it was emphasized that the Thenkalai Namam placed on

the Rajagopuram must not be removed.

=================================================

 

Eyewitness account

------------------

Recently a US based bhagavatha returned from Sri Rangam and

he reported seeing the procession mentioned in the news report

above. He was travelling in a car and upon seeing several

Jeeyars walking down the road he stopped the car out of respect

for the Jeeyars and got out. Then, he noticed a group of people

carrying signs in Tamil that read, " Thenkalai oRRumai vAzhga "

(long live Thenkalai), " Vadakalai thalaieedu ozhika " (demise to

the interference of Vadakalai). At the end of this meeting

a resolution was adopted demanding that the Thenkalai namam

is not removed. The resolution was then submitted to the EO of

the temple.

 

Kankaryaparars

--------------

adiyEn also had an opportunity to speak with Sri Matam

Kainkaryaparars about this matter. What I gathered

about this incidence is as follows. During the recent

samprokshanam the Vadakalai Thiruman upon the gopuram

of Swami Sri Desikan's sannidhi was removed and just

Sri Choornam was placed in stead. A new Thenkalai

Thiruman in neon light was placed on top of the Raja

Gopuram. Srimad Mukkoor Azhagiya Singar agreed to

have Thenkalai Thiruman only for Sri Ranganatha at the

bottom level of Gopuram and never agreed for placing

a Thenkalai namam on top of the gopuram. This is the

reason why a Thenkalai Thiruman was not placed all these

years since the time of samprokshanam for the Rajagopuram.

 

Srimad Azhagiya Singar expressed disappointment about

both these new developments, viz. removal of Vadakalai

thiruman from Swami Sri Desikan's sannidhi, and placing

of Thenkalai neon sign on top of the Rajagopuram. Srimad

Azhagiya Singar appealed to the authorities to restore the

status quo ante. However, Srimad Azhagiya Singar ruled out

any legal action in the interest of avoiding nasty public

controversy. Unfortunately, the actions taken by Sthalaththars

have caused just that. Apparently, the EO of the temple has

sided with the Sthalaththars. This is where the matter stands.

Soon everyone will forget this deliberate act of breaking

the agreement between Srimad Mukkor Azhagiya Singar and the

Sthalththars, and the altered reality will take on a new

legitimacy. What sort of a unity is this?

 

Personal observations

---------------------

Hardly a month ago some of the above mentioned Sri Jeeyars

of Thennacharya sampradayam shared the same stage with Srimad

Azhagiya Sinagar and adopted resolutions of unity and

cooperation. Yet, even before the ink could dry, physical

reality that existed in Swami Sri Desikan's sannidhi and

the Rajagopuram were altered. This is reminiscent of the

Kargil conflict a few years ago when Pakistan was planning

the attack even as Nawar Sherif was shaking Vajpayee's hand.

Many long years are required to undo the damage caused by

these actions of just a few over just a couple of days.

 

For those who think this is just another fight over Thiruman,

let me assure you, Thiruman is only a symptom. The issues

are deep rooted. Thiruman just serves as a convenient outlet.

 

-- adiyEn