The First day of MahA SamprOkshaNm and MalOla Paadhukaa Vandhanam

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs:

 

Today with SANKALPAM (undertaking a Vow to perform

a sacred rite for the delight of the Lord) and ANUGNAI

( Seeking the permission of the Lord to perfrom a sacred

rite ), the MahA SamprOkshaNam at Lord RangaAthA temple has

commenced.

 

All the Vaidhika karmaas have Sankalpam by an

YajamAnan , who performs the Sankalpam to perform

a Kaimkaryam and seeks the blessings of Dhivya

Dampathis to have the Bhakthi, Sakthi and dhravyam

(wealth)to initiate and conclude a Bhagavath Kaimkaryam

such as the MahA SamprOkshaNam at Sri RanganAthA Temple

at Pomona , NY.

 

Next follows Sri VishvaksEna AarAdhaanm , where

the third in the line of Sri VaishNava AchAryAs after

the Lord and MahA Lakshmi , is invoked and worshipped to

start the Kaimkaryam involving the sacred fire.

 

The next in the series of ceremonies are Mruth SangrahaNam.

Mruth means fresh clay or fresh earth , which is

collected for the YaagasAlA use in any auspicious

festivals like Uthsavam . By a leap of imagination ,

one can connect Mruth (Earth), the basis of all growth to

Samruddhi ( Prosperity , opulence and affluence),

which might be what the YajamAnan might be seeking

for the engagement in Bhagavath-BhAgavatha-AchArya

Kaimkaryams. The fresh earth is collected in this

ceremony called Mruth SangrahaNam for Yaj~nams and

Uthsavams.

 

The Yajamaanan and the Vedic priests (Rthviks) helping

to perform the kaimkaryam then enter the specially

constructed hall for performing the Homams for the offering

of oblations into the fire with veda manthrams . This special

hall is known as Yaagasaalaa .The grounds of the YaagasAlA

are consecrated with PuNyahavachanam with prescribed Veda

Manthrams. This consecrated ground within the temple

precincts would be the site of Sacred homams on all

the five days of MahA samprOkshaNam at Pomona .

 

AnkurArArpaNam and PaalikA pooja follow. The placement

of seeds in earthern pots containing the fresh earth

and offering of salutation to the sprouting seeds ( Paalikaa

poojaa) takes place.PaalikA means the tip of the ear

( the shape of the freshly sprouted seeds).

 

Then archanai and aaraadhanam for one of the seven main

Kumbhams (Silver or Copper pots) follows.This Kumbham

is Known as Soma Kumbham and the ceremony is known

as Soma Kumbha PoojA .The sacred fire is established

next in a ceremony called " Agni prathishtai " .There are

three kinds of Agnis and the one chosen for this MahOthsavams

like this one is established .

 

There are ten forms of Agni ( Sacred Fire); the first

five are of natural forms and the second set of fives

are of ritual form. First among the ritual forms is

BrahmA-Agni ( the Fire of Immensity). The rest of

the ritual Agnis are PrAjApathya-Agni (BrahmachAri's fire

for performing AgnihOthram after sacred thread ceremony) ,

DakshiNAgni ( ancestor's fire) used by Householders

(GruhasthAs) et al.

 

BrahmAgni is kindled by rubbing two special fire woods

using AnaNi manthana manthram. Agni PrathishtA is made

from this spark of fire .

 

A special article on " why we perform Homams " has been

posted earlier and is available in the archives .

 

On the first day , the dhivya prabahndham and Veda PaarAyaNam

start . The progressive stages of MahA SamprOkshaNam follow

on the subsequent days upto the finale on May 27 with

the Maha (Great )Sam ( beautiful ) prOkshaNam ( sprinkling

of consecrated water).

 

The NaalAyira Dhivya prabhandham ( the sacred collect of 4,000

Paasurams of AzhwArs and RaamAnusa NooRanthAdhi in Tamil )

along with parallel sessions on Veda PaarAyaNam will start

on the first day and conclude on Friday.

 

Please particpate and enjoy the vedic/Agamic ceremonies

and the cultural events scheduled for this MahA samprOkshaNam.

 

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE Saranam,

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Satakopan