SrI Ranganatha Temple , Celebrations of Lord Srinivasan's and Swamy Desikan's birth days

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs:

 

Yesterday at the Pomona , NY Temple of Lord Ranganathan ,

there was a grand celebration of the birthday of Lord

Srinivasa and His ghantavathaaran, Swamy Desikan.

 

First , there was a grand Sudarsana Homam performed

by SrIman Venkat Kanumalla in the most traditional manner.

 

While that homam was going on , the Thirumanjanam

for Lord SrInivasan , His divine consorts and Swamy

Desikan was performed to the delight of every one's

eyes and hearts by SrIman Varada Bhattar of Bangalore.

He was assisted by three more Bhattars . It was a blessing

to witness this Thirumanjanam.

 

In front of Swamy Desikan sannidhi, a dozen devotees

recited Swamy Desikan's beautiful Tamil Prabhandhams .

SrImans Poondi Vijaya Raghavan , Thirukkudanthai Rengarajan ,

Shyamsunder , Veeraraghavan Naarayanan and adiyEn as well as

8 more male devotees and 2 lady devotees joined in this

powerful and moving recitation. The Desika Prabhandhams

in particular for Lord DhaivanAyakan of ThiruvahIndhrapuram

(MummaNikkOvai and Nava MaNi Maalai ) and Meyvirada Maanmiyam

about Kaanchi Varadhan stole the heart of the reciters.

 

Next followed Swamy Desikan's sthOthra Paatams recitations by

a group headed by SrIman Shyamsunder Sreenivasan in a most

melodious manner.

 

Now ThirukkalyANam for Lord SrInivAsan began and it was

another memorable experience done in the most traditional

manner . SrIman Venkat Kanumalla explained the various

stags of a Vaidhika VivAham to the assembled audience of

more than 200 devotees , who listened with wrapt attention

and followed the different steps of the Thirumanjanam.

Vedic sooktams and PeriyAzhwAr paasurams were recited

in grand unison duirng the Thirumanjanam .

 

adiyEn recited the entire Desika Sahasra Naamas in

front of Swamy Desikan's archa moorthy seated

next to Lord SrInivAsan . This unique Sahasra Naamam

has been bequeathed to us by the Founder of the Munithraya

Tradition, SrI Thirukkudanthai Desikan , another avathAram

of Swamy Desikan soime 300 plus years ago.

 

There was a grand SaaRRumuRai inside the sannidhi of

Lord RanganAtha thereafter . PiLlai anthAdhi of

Sri Kumaara VaradAchaar , the son of Swamy Desikan

was an item that was especailly included. Taniyans for all

AchArya pramparais ( SrI Matam, Sriamd PeryANDavan

aasramam, SrImad PoundarIkapuram Andabvan aasramam,

SrImad RangapriyA swamy aasramam , TennAchArya

samprahdAyam , SvayamAchArya sampradhAyam /Taatha

Desikan Vamsam ) were recited . Swamy Desikan was

seated close to Lord Ranganatha in the sanctum along with

all the 12 AzhwArs and other AchAryAs . The whole

SaaRRumuRai lasted almost 45 minutes. At the conclusion

of the grand SaaRRumuRai, TadhiyArAdhanam took

place in the Ranga mantapam downstairs.

 

In the evening , there was a recitation of Koil

Thirumozhi and Swamy Desikan's vigraham was taken

in procession around all the 12 sannidhis in a manner

reminiscent of Swamy Desikan's MangaLAsAsanams of

the various sannidhis at Kaanchipuram on His

birthday .

 

Appropriate sthOthrams infront of individual sannidhis

rang out. For instance , Garuda DaNdakam was recited in

front of Garudan Sannidhi , SrI Sthuthi and Goda sthuthi

in front of SrI RanganAyaki and Andal. Recitations

like Raghu Veera gadhyam in front of Raamar Sannidhi,

Gopala Vimsathi in front of KrishNar sannidhi,

KaamaasikAshtakam in front of Narasimhar Sannidhi

and other sannidhis took place before Swamy Desikan

returned to His aasthAnam.

 

It was a memorable and beautiful celebration.

 

Many special events such as the Birthday celebrations

for Swamy Desikan and the Lord of Seven hills are in

plan duirng the rest of the year (DipavaLi , Mudhal

AzhwAr Thirunakshathram, adhyayana Uthsavam,

New Year day , SrI Vaikunta EkAdasi et al). Please join

the Bhaktha ghOshti on these occasions. The details of

the dates for these celebratiions are available at

www.ranganatha.org

 

SrI RangsanAthO Jayathi,

 

Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan