Sri Paaduka Sahasram ekadina Mahatosavam with photos

[Guest guest]

|| Sri: || Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Para Bramhane Nama: Srimate Ramanujaya Nama: Srimate Nigamanta Maha Desikaya Nama: SrimadAdivaN Satagopaya Nama: Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Divya PAdukA Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana YatIndra Maha Desikaya Nama: On 25th December, 2008 – about 2500 of us got to witness a unique event at Sri Venugopala Krishnaswamy Temple, Malleswaram, Bangalore. Under the guidance of Sri U.Ve. Dr. M.V.Ananthapadmanabha Swamy, Sri Babu Bhattar and his Archaka goshti have taken up the performance of a unique “Swami Desikan Thiru Adi thozhal utsavam”. Sri Ananthapadmanabha swamy has created an opportunity for everyone to witness some of the significant events during Swamy Desikan’s lifetime – aptly complemented by the entire Archaka Goshti. This was also called as “PAdukA Sahasra Utsavam” – as entire PAdukA Sahasram was recited by the participants on that day. The Utsavam began with a purappadu for Sri Emberuman with Ubhaya Nachimar and Swamy Nammazhwar. Swamy Nammazhwar was righteously positioned at the “Thiru Adi” of Emberuman. Emberuman sends in a “Niyamanam” to Swamy Desikan to compose the “PAdukA Sahasram” through his Mala Mariyadai. Swamy Desikan then arrives at the Sannidhi. He receives the “Ahvana tambulam” from Emberuman and settles in front of the Emberuman and his PAdukA (Swamy Nammazhwar). Sri Parivattam is then adorned to Swamy Desikan. Archaka Swamy then adorns the parivattam to Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy as Sri Vedanta Desikan’s representative and invokes the recitation of “PAdukA Sahasram” as a “niyamanam” from the Almighty himself. Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy starts reciting the PAdukA Sahasram. While he and a few other adhikara purushas recited the “munnadi”, the rest of the adiyaars at the temple premises were reciting the “pinnadi”. It was a great experience to listen to the recitation of the “Maha Kavyam” by more than 1000 people in a single tone. For each of 32 Paddatis in PAdukA Sahasram, Archakar has done 32 thiru arAdhanams. For every paddati, Emberuman’s archanai was done with a different flower. A different variety of fruit and a different kind of thiruppaniyaaram was offered to Emberuman for Nivedanam – as per Swamy’s instructions. The colour of the pushpam for each paddati was carefully chosen according to the name of the paddati. Just to name a few – “davanam” was used for Marataka paddati, “Neelamabari” was used for Indra Neela Paddati, and Golden flowers from the temple were used for Kanchana Paddati and so on. Swamy had given a brief explanation of why a particular flower was being used for a Paddati. In one of the Slokams (Nirveda Paddati – 31, slokam 19, #969), Swamy Desikan pleads Emberuman that he comes to be known as “Paaduka Sevaka”, by those who are engrossed in the nithya kainkaryam of the Sri Ranganatha. (kAlE janthUn kalusha karaNE kshipramAkAra yanthyA – GhOram nAham yama parishadO GhOshamAkarnayEyam – srImadrangEshwara charaNayOrantharangai: prayuktham – sEvAhvAnam sapadishruNuyAm PAdukA sevakEthi). Swamy paused the recitation just before the slokam, explained the significance of the same. The Slokam was recited, and the title was conferred to Swamy Desikan by a special Mala Mariyadai and Sri Satari from Emberuman amidst Mangala Vadyams. The concluding Phalapaddati was recited when Swamy Desika was in “Kaithala Sevai” (He was carried by Archakars on their hands). Swamy Desika was taken around EmberumAn and Nammazhwar. After every slokam, Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy announced the arulappadu outlining life time events of Swamy Desikan. (“Swami Hechcharikai, arulappAdu sarvathanthra swathantrarAna Thooppul nigamAntha mahA Desikan” and so on). During this Sevai, Swamy Desikan was conferred with titles “KavithArkika simham” and “sarva thantra swathantran” before he attained the “upEyam of the upEyam” (upAya phalAkAshta – the limit of what can be attained in mOksham) which is the attainment of Thiruvadi of Swami Nammazhwar who is none other than Bhagavath PAdukA. At the moment of the “Thiru adi Thozhal” there was “Pushpa Vrishti” – raining flowers of different colours.

It was a great sight to witness the “pushpa vrishti”, and then the “Darshan” of Swami Desikan at the feet of Nammazhwar, who was at the feet of Emberuman amidst colourful flowers. It was both an emotional and the delightful moment for everyone present at the event. A closer look at the archa thirumenis of Acharyan, Azhwar and Perumal in the photographs – it will be tough to say which one of them look more satisfied than others. It was heartening to see thousands of adiyaars who are well versed with PAdukA Sahasram and the dedication with which it was recited. Bhakthas arrived at the temple much before the commencement time of 9:00am from all over Bangalore – and also from various places in Kerala and Tamilnadu. The whole recitation took more than 6 hours – the temple premises was jam packed with bhakthas with little leg room. Yet, no one moved or got up during the six hours. Volunteers (Saran Sevaks) made sure that people are seated around the temple without too much crowding at some spots. There was enough walking space to carry the flowers and prasadams after every Paddati. Every fruit was pre-cut (thanks to the volunteers) and then offered to Perumal.

The utsavam concluded with thadeeyaradhanam, where all the participants got Bhagavath prasadam. The speakers at the end of the utsavam remarked that this is a “na bhootho na bhavishyathi” experience. In my humble opinion, this may true only in the context of an individual – because it has been reenactment of what happened during the life time of Swamy Desikan, so it cannot be “no bhootha:” – at the same time, this seems to be a very appropriate utsavam for swamy Desikan – I hope many readers of this will be inspired to conduct it at their choicest archavathara moorthi’s thiru adi – so it may not truly be “na bhavishyathi”. But there is no doubt that this Utsavam was first of its kind. Please click thelink http://picasaweb.google.com/vidyavuru/DropBox?authkey=58Olp9o2c70#5287032989045484578 Adiyen, Sudershan Vuruputoor