Creation of a New : Oppiliappan on this Sarva EkAdasi day.

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

namO NarAyaNa

 

Dear BhakthAs:

 

Today is Sarva EkAdasi and Tomorrow is

SravaNa DwAdasi . Bhagavan's Janma Nakshathram

is SravaNam .It is very sacred for meditation on

Sri Oppiliappan and Thirumalai VenkatEsan.

 

Tomorrow (March 10) is SravaNa DhvAdasi .

The svaroopam and the UpavAsam on SravaNa

DhvAdasi day has been discussed at great length

by Padhmam , VishNu PurANam , NaaradhIyam ,

Smruthi Saara Samucchayam , Aniruddha Samhithai

and Dharma Vrutthi. Prakrutham SrImath Azhagiya Singar

discusses this SravaNa DhvAdasi observances with

quotations from the above sources at considerable

length to instruct us on the ways to observe this

important Vratham.

 

The central message is that Sravana DhvAdasi UpavAsam

(Fasting) can be substituted for the regular EkAdasi

UpavAsam as it yields the boons of observing

10,000 Regular EkAdasi UpavAsams.Those who can not

observe EkAdasi or SravaNa DhvAdasi fasting due to

number of saasthra-accepted reasons are

permitted to take milk, Fruits and other food items

permitted on EkAdasi days.

 

On the sacred eve of SravaNa DhvAdasi , adiyEn would like

to dedicate a new named " Oppiliappan " .

This group is dedicated to focus on the teachings

of ALL Vaishnavite AchAryAs and our 12 AzhwArs .

Veda Manthrams , Upanishads and other PramANams

as well as the SthOthrams of Swamy AlavanthAr,

KurEsar , ParAsara Bhattar, Swamy Desikan will be

some of the topics that will be covered in this

group mails and exchanges. Fund raising for Dhivya Desams ,

Mutts and AabharaNa Kaimkaryams at individual Dhivya

Desams will be additional areas of activity.

 

This group will coexist with all other outstanding private

and Public List groups like Bhakthi List, SrI Ranga SrI ,

ThiruvEngadam ,Malolan ,Nrhari and ParakAla Matam and

others serving SrI VaishNavA Community around the world .

adiyEn will continue to contribute articles to one or more of

the above groups on appropriate occasions. AdiyEn will

focus my main activities however to Oppiliappan Group ,

SaraNAgathy Journal with its current emphasis on

the ChillaRai Rahasyams of Swamy Desikan following

the treatise of Vaikunta Vaasi Sri U.Ve, VidvAn,

Vangipuram NavanItham SrIrama DesikAcchAr Swamy.

 

All of you interested in the above topics dear to

SrI VaishnavAs are invited to Join Oppiliappan

by sending a note to :

 

Oppiliappan-

 

All the members can post messages by sending

a note to " Oppiliappan " .

AdiyEn will serve as a Moderator of this group.

 

Sathsanga PraNAmams on this Sarva EkAdasi day to You All ,

Srimath Azhagiya Singar's Thiruvadi,

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SaThakOpan (SadagOpan).

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Sriman Sadagopan Swamin,

 

Congratulations on forming the group for Oppiliappan Swamy! Adiyen

welcomes your proposed framework for the group. In view of the fact

that the right hand of Lord Oppiliappan Swamy bearing the inscription

of " mAm ekam sharaNam vraja " and due to the Charma Shlokam

association of the Lord of Seven Hills (from Swami Alavandar's Siddhi

Trayam) adiyen suggests that the focus of the postings be directed

towards SharaNagati-unconditional total surrender to the Lotus Feet

of Lord Venkatesha. Kindly permit adiyen some indulgence here.

 

First, it is important to understand the significance of the word mAm.

Who is it that is denoted by mAm? The Upanishads glorify him as one

who knows no second (na dvitIyOsthi kaschith), One whose greatness

cannot be fully described by words, One whose vast glory cannot be

comprehended by the mind (yathO vachO nivarthanthE aprApya manasA

saha), He who is the Purusha glorified by the Vedas (vedAha mEtham

puruSham mahAntham), thou art that (thath thvam asi-i.e., that by

knowing which everything becomes known and that by not knowing which

nothing becomes known), He who is jnAna maya, He who is anAnda maya,

He who is the supreme being known as Lord Narayana (narayana param

brahma tathvam narayaNa: para:), He who is replete with innumerable

auspcious qualities, He who is responsible for antharvyApthi and

bahir vyApthi (anthabahischa thath sarvam vyApya nArAyaNa sthitha:),

He who is the emperor of the entire universe (akhilAnda kOti

brahmAnda nayakan), He whose Feet are constantly beheld by the

Gayathri Saman and He who is glorified by the AshtAkshara mantram.

 

EkAM-alone. This suggests to the exclusion of all else as exclaimed

by the Mudal Azhwar tribute " sudarayankkE " , Swami NammAzhwar's formal

SharaNagati at the Lotud Feet of Sheshadri Nayakan through the

famous " adikeezh amarnthu pughuzhndEnE " , Andal's Tiruppavai

declaration of " unakkE nAmAtchaivOm " and Tiruppan Azhwar's exquisite

anubhavam of " yen amudhinai kanda kangal marronrinai kANAvE "

 

SharaNam vraja-Surrender, reflecting the fact that the easiest margam

for attaining Him is that of unconditional total surrender to His

Lotus Feet with the five angas of

(1) Acting in ways pleasing to Him (anukUlasya sankalpam)

(2) Avoid everything that displeases him (prathikUlasya varjanam)

(3) Unflinching, firm faith that Lord Narayana will protect the

supplicant at all times, under all circumstances (maha vishvAsam)

(4) Being totally dependent on Lord Narayana for everything

(KarpAnyam)

(5) Being a destitute without His support (gOpthruta varaNam)

and the angi of Atma nivEdanam.

 

These subjects have been the focus of a number of Sri sookthis from

Acharyas listed in your post and provides an unending stream of ever-

rejuvenating nectar to parched throats of suffering jivans. Adiyen

looks forward to reading your insightful, bhakti-filled, anubhavam-

laden postings from these Sri sookthis.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan