Acharya Day 2003

[Guest guest]

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!!