What is Sravana Viradham........

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Muniandy :

 

I am glad to know that you want to know about

the significance of SravaNa vratham .

 

SravaNam or ThiruvONam is the nakshathram associated

with Sriman NarayaNa . It has therefore very auspicious

overtones . SravaNam is celebrated particularly in

Oppiliappan Koil and Thirumalai ( and all other Sri VenkatEsa

sannidhis .

 

Many Sri VenkatEsa BhakthAs observe UpavAsam and do not

take any food and send a significant portion of the day reflectign

on the glories of Sriman Narayanan .

 

SravaNa Vratham and associated fasting is not as mandatory as

the observance of EkAdasi Fasting and DhvAdasi breaking of fast .

Sri Venkatesa BhakthAs observe it . Sri Oppiliappan at Oppiliappan

Sannidhi is DakshiNa VenkatEsan .

 

On SravaNam day , there is a huge assembly of BhakthAs at

Oppiliappan Sannidhi and SravaNa dheepam is lit and carried around

the temple precincts . The devotee carrying the lit dheepam close to his

chest is in a state of trance and has the links to Oppiliappan . The Lord

enters into him for that duration and devotees with all kinds of problems

inn their lives approach the Swamy Carrying the lit SravaNa dheepam

and recieve responses to their questions and act accordingly .At the end

of the procession , the dheepam holder quenches the flames in

the AhOrAthra PushkaraNi and waits for the lighting of the Dheepam

during the next SravaNam . The pious devotee carrying the dheepam lives

in Srirangam and comes to Oppiliappan Sannidhi on SravaNam days . He is

over 80 years in age and has been performing this kaimkaryam for many years .

His carrying of the naked flame close to His body is an unforgettable sight .

 

The Dheepam represents the JyOthir Maya Tatthvam

of Bhagavan( Brahman of the Upanishads ) . The Mundaka

Upanishad says in this context : " Him the shining One, every thing ( the Sun ,

the Moon and all the other luminary bodies) shines after , by this light ,

all these lights are lit ".

 

This SravaNa dheepam also represents the inner Jyothi in our heart lotuses ,

which is the indwelling Brahman: "Now the light , which shines above this heaven

( at Sri Vaikuntam as Param JyOthi or Param Sudar , Sriman Narayanan ) , is

the highes tof all lights in all the worlds , verily , that is the same light , which is

with in the heart lotus in the minutest of forms ". This is the antharyAmi Brahman

and the other is the AkhaNDa Brahman .They are one and the same . This is

the tEjOmaya Brahman worshipped on the Kaarthigai dheepam day .

 

Ther eis much more to this Jyothis Tatthvam , which will make this note longer .

Hence I stop here .

 

Sri SravaNa VenkatEsa ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

Oppiliappan Koil V.Sadagopan

 

 

-

Muniandy

Sunday, December 24, 2006 1:00 AM

What is Sravana Viradham........

 

 

vanakkam,will you please kindly explain the details of sravanaviradham and for what we do and what are things tofollow and any story behind this.i need the information pls,thanks...