Description of Sri maTham AchArya TN celebrations 2001 - III

[Guest guest]

Dear bhaktas:

 

As many of us are aware, a dOlai navaneetha krishnan

santicfied by the karasparsham of prakrtham Azhagiya

Singar has reached this part of our planet and it has

been the bhagyam of numerous devotees to witness and

participate in utsavams for this dolai kaNNan during

the past few months. Please see:

 

http://www.ahobilamutt.org/dolai/dolai-us.html

 

This navaneetha krishNan was very much part of the

two-day AchArya thirunaksatram commemorations held at

the Rajdhani Mandir in Centerville VA, from September

01 through September 02, 2001. The beautiful dolai

kaNNan's presence during these two days fostered a

natural environment of devotion among attendees, which

alongwith the other activities - made for a fitting

tribute to our venerable 42nd through 45th Azhagiya

Singars whose thirunakshatrams were being celebrated.

 

UpachAram to dolai kaNNan consisted of morning thiru-

ArAdhanai involving prabandha pArAyaNam, navakalaSa

thirumanjanam and veda pArAyaNam followed by SARRumurai

and prasaadam. Dolotsavam for navaneetha krishNan was

then held in the evening - truly a memorable occasion.

 

On the morning of September 01, 2001 - thiruvArAdhanai

began shortly after 8:00 am. NithyAnusandhAnam was

performed, followed by pArAyaNam of periyAzhwAr thiru-

mozhi, kaNNinunchirutthAmbu, and irAmAnusa nURRanthAdhi.

adiyEn was quite a non-participant in the prabandha

pArAyaNam, being still on " learning track " where AzhwAr

pAsurams are concerned... however was able to assist

with madapaLLi kainkaryams in the adjoining kitchen.

 

The temple complex was huge, and the entire basement

consisting of a large hall, kitchen, 2 rooms and bath

rooms had been rented for this purpose. I had rarely

ever seen such large kadArams, vANais and other vessels

in my 31 years of life devoid of heavy-duty culinary

experience!! Amidst experts like Smt. Vimala Rajaji

and Smt. Malathi Dileepan, adiyEn could only assist in

lifting of huge vessels, washing them, pouring boiling

water, stirring large quantities of uppumAvu/vegetable

and so on. It was one of those inspiring occasions

when several SriVaishnavas in traditional garb worked

in the madapaLLi all morning...

 

Would return to the hall in time for veda paaraayaNam,

where adiyEn could participate to some extent. The

ghOshTi had about half dozen people on either side, with

prominent persons such as Sri Nadadur Madhavan and Sri

Anbil Ramaswamy. My greatest contribution towards all

the pArAyaNam was not in person, but by means of inviting

Sri Balaji NarasimhAchAri Raman from Austin TX, and by

having him attend these celebrations - thereby becoming

part of this ghOshTi. Sri Balaji is a shishya of Srimad

Abhinava Ramanuja Brahmatantantra parakAlaswAmi (35th

pattam), and his family are the caretakers of parakAla

maTham in thirupathi. So was this bhakta well versed

in most of the nithyAnusandhAnam and other pAsurams +

the taittrIyopanishad and pancha sooktams, that he

(Balaji) became a very welcome addition to the ghosTi.

 

Following the veda pArAyaNam was SARRumurai and prasAsam.

Around 1:00 pm on the first day, we were all formally

welcomed to the occasion by Sri Raghavan Rajaji, who

gave an excellent description of the current activities

of Abhobila maTham, its various responsibilities, and

the projects undertaken by prakrtham AzhagiyaSingar to

ensure smooth operation of this ancient institution.

There was a fervent appeal to support this maTham with

financial contributions in order to help Srimad Azhagiya

Singar's plans to reach fruition. Please see:

 

http://www.ahobilamutt.org/usa.html

 

After this there were five speeches of about 20 minutes

duration each, on Sri Sannidhi AchArya paramparai by Sri

Parthasarathi Dileepan, on Bhagavad rAmAnuja by SrIkanth

Raghavan, on Swami VedAnta deSikan by Srinath C. (adiyEn)

on AdhivaNN SatakOpan vaibhavam by Sri Raghavan Rajaji,

and on Sri Sannidhi/SriVaishnavam by Sri Anbil Ramaswami.

These talks were very inspiring, informational and well

received by the audience. On both sides of the lecture

hall were exhibits of rAmAnujar and vedAnta deSikar's

life story in pictures - a treat for yound and old alike.

Also alongside the swAmi deSikan exhibit were numerous

books on Sri Sannidhi and SriVaishnavam related subjects;

these were on sale for very subsidized prices and their

proceeds directed towards Sri madhurAntakam vedic school.

 

There wasn't a dull moment in all of the two days; no

matter where one turned inside the lecture hall, there

was something unique to behold - be it participants in

the ghOshTi on both sides of the stage, be it navaneetha

krishNan as centerpiece, surrounded by padams of Sri

maalola nrusimhar and various ahobila maThAdipathigaL,

the pAdhukais of lakshminrusimhar and those of AchAryas,

be it off-stage with the audience, most of whom were in

traditional attire, be it on both sides along the walls

where there were exhibits of udayavar/deSikar or books

for sale... why, even the kitchen right at the entrance

of the lecture hall was one centerpiece of activity...

Not to mention the fact that the dolotsavam during the

evenings was an unforgettable sight altogether.

 

Then everyone joined into five different groups for an

afternoon QUIZ on sampradAya vishayam, divya deSams, etc.

wherein Sri Raghavan Rajaji was quizmaster, and adiyEn

alongwith Sri Anbil Ramaswami were the judges! Was very

fortunate to be a judge, since I would've never survived

the quiz itself[!] a very enjoyable & learning experience

for all participants - this quiz continued onto the 2nd.

day, much like all the other acitivities did. By about

5:00 pm in the evening, we were ready to witness the

dolothsavam of the beloved navaneetha krishNan.

 

To be continued...

 

SeeronRu thooppul thiruvEnkatam udayAn

pAronRAic chonnap pazhai mozhiyuL

OronRu thAnE amaiyAthO thAraNiyil vAzhvArkku

vaanErap pOmaLavum vaazhvu

 

(Believed by many to be a thaniyan composed by

piLLai lOkAchAryar in honor of swAmi deSikan)

 

Truly,

-Srinath C.