Acharya Day 2003

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs :

 

A grand celebration was concluded at

Washington D.C . The theme was

AchArya Day . Many devotees from

all Acharya Parampais were there

and it was a most enjoyable sathsangam.

 

The detailed report from a particpant is

attached for your information.

 

V.Sadagopan

-

" chitramalola " <chitramalola

 

Tuesday, September 09, 2003 5:20 PM

Acharya Day 2003

 

 

> Srimathe Sri Lakshminrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha

> Srimathe Sri Lakshminrusimha Divya Paduka Sevaka

> Sri VaNsatakopa Sri Narayana Yatheendra Mahadesikaya Namaha

>

> Acharya Day 2003 (Aug 30 & 31, 2003)

> Washington, DC

>

> What better day can Sishyas have other than their Acharya

> Thirunakshathram

> What better way can it be than to celebrate it with other Bagavathas!

>

> Tradition was set three years ago, when the disciples of Sri Ahobila

> Matam started celebrating Acharya Thirunakshathram during the Labor

> day weekend as a way of expressing their abhimanam to their Acharya.

> This year, the sishyas of Sri Ahobila Matam in U S A had this blessed

> opportunity to celebrate Acharya Thirunakshathram near Washington DC

> on August 30th and 31st, 2003. The celebrations brought together

> sishyas and abhimanis from far away places.

>

> This year was unique for couple of reasons. The 30th of August

> happened to be the Thirunakshatram of Srimad Mukkur Azhagiyasingar,

> and for the first time in USA, the padukaas of 1st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th

> and 45th Srimad Azhagiyasingars were present for the celebrations.

> After duly consecrated by Aradhakas in Sri Ahobila Matam, the divine

> Padukaas arrived just in time for the function.

>

> The function was a grand success. With the benign blessings of Lord

> Lakshminrusimhan and Srimad Azhagiyasingar, the events held at The

> Ross Boddy Community Center in Sandy Spring, Maryland, went off very

> well.

>

> The two-day celebration comprised of Thirumanjanam, ArAdhanam and

> Dolothsavam to PerumAl, Paduka ArAdhanam and cultural programs with

> emphasis on Vaishnava Sampradayam. Excellent teamwork and conscious

> effort to accommodate people of varying background and interests

> attracted many participants and full praise from the gathering.

>

> Day 1: Aug 30, 2003

>

> Divinity descended in the venue in the presence of our Srimatam's

> Navaneetha Kannan. After due sanctification of the venue, the

> celebrations commenced with resonating rendition of Srimatam's

> Nithyanusandhanam by goshti. During NavakalasaThirumanjanam to

> Navaneetha Krishnan, the goshti recited Thaitriyoupanishad which was

> followed by Thirumanjana Kattiyam. The recitation also included

> Perumal Thirumozhi and Thirumalai. The goshti comprising of more

> than forty sishyas of various Sri Vaishnava Acharya paramapara and

> other abhimanis needs a special mention. Their rendition of the Vedam

> and Prabhandham created the ambience of being back home in India.

>

> The Aradhanam was concluded with Satrumurai, Theertham, and Acharya

> Sambhavanai. Later, Acharya Sri Padha Theertam was distributed. At

> this time, as a tribute to Srimad Mukkur Azhagiyasingar, shlokas

> composed by H.H were recited.

>

> The afternoon program started with the playing of taped Upanyasam by

> Srimad Mukkur Azhagiyasingar. The upanyasam was peppered with gentle

> humor and deep philosophical thought. The nostalgic memories of the

> Mahan left a lot of moist eyes.

>

> The upanyasam was followed by a taped message (Sri Mukham), from the

> present Srimad Azhagiyasingar bestowing HH's benign blessing.

>

> The next program was a play on the life of Swami Desikan. The play

> was fully cast by children. One wondered how those playful children

> would perform in a play on the life of Swami Desikan. With Swami

> Desikan's grace and dedication from the team of coordinators, the

> children put up a wonderful performance. The play, interlaced with a

> lucid narration, depicted delectably the important incidents in the

> life of Swami Desikan.

>

> Later, Dolothsavam was performed to Krishna. Apart from the

> devotional music by the devotees, a group from ISKCON treated Lord

> Krishna and the audience with lilting bhajans. The day came to a

> conclusion with evening Aradhanam, Satrumurai, and Prasadam.

>

> Day 2: August 31, 2003

>

> The next day started with Aradhanam for Lord Krishna. Sevakalam

> included Nithyanusandanam, Amalan Athipiran, Ramanuja Nootrandhadhi,

> and selected compositions from Sri Desika Prabhandham. The morning

> Aradhanam was concluded with Satrumurai, Theertham, and Acharya Sri

> Padhaa Theertham.

>

> The afternoon program started with well-appreciated quiz show, in

> Jeopardy format, on Bagavatham, Ramayanam, Srivaishnava Sampradayam

> etc. The professionally planned show filled the hall with roaring

> enthusiasm.

>

> Later, kids got to display their talents and play games. Some of

> them had drawn cute and lovely pictures of Lord Krishna and

> Lakshminrusimhan. The tiny tots spoke about their pictures. Others

> rendered shlokas and songs. The next event to enthuse the audience

> was the charades game. Apt miming and quick fire response from the

> audience made the event colorful.

>

> " Sri Krishna Vaibhavam " , a dance program followed the talent show.

> The thematic program vividly portrayed select incidents from

> Krishnavatharam. This treat for the eyes was followed by a treat to

> the ears. A divine Krishna Ganam by Smt. and Sri D.K.Nagarajan and

> their disciples filled the heart and soul of the gathering. Evening

> ArAdhanam to PerumAl drew the curtains on the celebrations.

>

>

> As is the custom with the Sri Matam, devotees were served with

> Prasadam on both the days, which was great in quality and quantity.

> Plenty of Puliyodharai, tasty Thirukannamudhu, delicious Dadhyonnam,

> etc. were enjoyed by bagavathas together (koodi irundhu) the way

> Andal wanted.

>

> Those who attended the celebrations came forward voluntarily to

> help. But for their help it would not have been possible for the

> event to be a success. Sri Ahobila Matam thanks them all. Special

> thanks to all the volunteers who helped in every possible way such as

> cooking, cleaning, hosting the guests, providing pick-up and drop-off

> for the guests.

>

> Thus concluded the Acharya Thirunakshathra Mahothsavam 2003 the

> memories of which would linger for a long time.

>

> Azhagiyasingar Thiruvadigale Charanam! Azhagiyasingar Thiruvadigale

> Smaranam!!

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka

> Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

>

>