Dear Devotees of Lord Oppiliappan:
Oppiliappan is eulogized by Thirumangai AzhwAr
as " Pothalar Nedumudi PuNNiyan " or the One who
has the garland constructed from just blossomed
flowers on His nedumudi (long crowned head).
From the Nedumudi , the garland strteches all the way
to His sacred feet and is known as Nila Maalai .
SrIman Sampath RengarAjan , a devout bhaktha of
SrI Oppiliappan refers in his essay below about his
family's Nila Maalai Kaimkaryam on SravaNam days ,
which takes us to Oppiliappan Koil on the SravaNam
days.
SravaNa dheepam is symbolic of the Svayam JyOthi/
Param JyOthi tatthvam of ThiruviNNagarappan , the Lord
of Oppiliappan Koil. This JyOthi Tatthvam of Brahman
celebrated in Upanishads is the Supreme Personal God
at ThiruviNNagaram , SrI Oppiliappan. Of Him , the Mundaka
Upanishad states " Him the shining One , everything shines
after, by this light all this is lighted " .The SravaNa dheepam is
symbolic of the cosmic tatthvam recognized by the name JyOthi
( " VarENyam BhargO Devasya " included in the meditation of
the sacred manthram of Gaayathri ). BruhadhAraNya Upanishad
salutes this Param JyOthi as " the JyOthishAm JyOthi: ".
When SravaNa dheepam Swamy and Vaal dheepam swamy carry this
JyOthirmaya Brahmam close to their heart , they remind us of the passage
in ChAndhOgya Upanishad referring to the cosmic principle recognized as
Svayam JyOthi/Param JyOthi : " Now the light which shines above this
heaven,
above all , above every thing , in the highest worlds beyond which there
are
no
higher worlds ; verily that is the same as the light which is here within
the person".
The external dheepam carried by SravaNa dheepam Swamy is a manifestation
of this antharyAmi Brahman , who in ArchA form is standing majestically
adorning Nila Maalai on the SravaNam day.
The SravaNa dheepam is also symbolic of one of six main guNams of
The Supreme Being : tEjas which is same as JyOthi . Tejas is one of
the six guNams of SrIman NaarAyaNan : " Jn~Anam (Omniscience) ,
Sakthi ( Omnipotence) , Bala (Strength ) , Aisvarya ( Lordship) ,
Veerya ( Energy) and Tejas ( Splendour). AzhwArs have referred to
this Jyothirmaya tatthvam as " Sudar oLi Moorthy" , when they perform
eulogies ( MangaLAsAsanams) to Dhivya Desa ArchA Moorthys .
When Thirumangai addresses the tejas aspect of Para Brahman ,
he addresses the Lord as "NandhA ViLakku ". This is the Nandha
ViLakku inside the Garbha Graham used to light the SravaNa dheepam ,
which the Swamy carries around the PrAkArams of Oppiliappan.
May we have the blessings of purifying our lives on this earth by
the darsana soubhAgyam of this SravaNa dheepam carried
around by the PuNyasAlis and take part in the TadhiyArAdhanam
performed by them in the spirit of Bhagavath Kaimkaryam !
The SravaNa dheepam Swamy's anna dhAnam on the SravaNam day
is quite distinct from the daily anna dhAnam scheme set up by
the Government of TamilnAdu . This Swamy has been conducting this
special anna dhAnam for many years and it is the first time , we are able
to join in this Kaimkaryam . Let us join in this kaimkaryam and recieve
the blessings of SrI Bhumi DEvi SamEtha ThiruviNNagarappan !
Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
P.S: The autobiographical essay from SrIman Thirukkudanthai
Sampath Rengarajan folloes below:
Reflections on Sravanam Days in Oppiliappan Koil
***************************************
By Thirukkudanthai Sampath Rengarajan
********************************
It is the most wonderful day to begin with.
Nothing can go wrong on this day. Whatever happens
on this day, such is happening for the good only.
The huge "nilai maalais" or long garlands arrives the previous
night from swami malai at our house . The garland maker has been
doing this routinely for the last 15 years now. He will receive a post
card from my dad about the sravanam date. Thats all.
He will be there the previous evening with all the maalais.
He had not seen our Lord Sri Oppiliappan even once so far.
But he had been making the "nilai maalai" all the time that
fits HIM very well. He brings "maalais" for thaayaar and uthsavars
as well. At 5:40 AM , we leave the house by our usual auto or taxi
and arrive at 6:00AM at the sannithi. The viswa roopam is just about
to begin sometime or it is over. Couple of brisk Ushers whisk us
through the special entrance whispering " PerumAL is waiting for your
maalai!". Looking at the PerumaaL, it looks as though PerumaaL could not
hide HIS happiness and rushes in sporting a broad smile seeing the "nila
maalai". The bhattars are obviously elated and immediately get to
work and adorn the "nila maalai". The "gambeeram" of the PerumaaL
takes the centre stage now with the adorning of the "nilai maalai".
Not that our PerumaaL is not posing gambeeram without the "maalai", but
the sight of Sravana Oppiliappan with the "nilai maalai" brings
joy and tears in everyone's eyes. Several years ago during one sravanam it
was seen that Sri Oppiliappan did not have this "nilai maalai" and we felt
very very
bad to see him like that. At the same time the sravana Oppliappan deepam
swAmin garlanded my parents with His own maalai during deepam and
many sEvaarthis began falling at the feet of adiyEn's parents for
blessing on this occassion. Ever since adiyEn took the vow to
garland HIM with "nilai maalai" every sravanam rain or shine and
adiyEn's parents are executing it for several years now.
Several people do "anga pradhakshinam" and the Sravanam goes on.
The Ursava moorthis move to the kalyaana mandapam so that archanaas
can be facilitated there. Now the moolavar and thaayaar Sri MarkandEyar
are all seen in full view. On important Sravanam days (like
Panguni, Aipasi, Maargazhi, Thai etc) several such nilai maalais are
garlanded subsequently. But for all the other Sravanams He is sported
with only one "nilai maalai". Around 11:00 AM Our Deepam swamins, Sri
Srinivasa Gopalan (Ney deepam of Sri Oppiliappan) from Kodai vaasal
(now in Srirangam) and City Union bank Sri Ravi from Kumbakonam
(his father used to do the "vaal deepam" that he now does) goes into
the garba gruham. At this time no public is allowed inside. After prayers
and lighting of the deepam they come out fully charged. There are lots of
people gathered near the entrance at the "UL praahaaram" and they
throng to these deepam swAmins and seek their guidance and blessings.
They shout "Oppilaippaa, Oppiliappaa" on seeing them and tries to go
near them. First the traditional Naadaswaram and mElam leads them
in procession as similar to PerumaaL purappaadu. We always pray
to them that these Perumaals bless as many people as possible and that
everyone's reasonable dreams come true through Sri Oppiliappan.
The swamins go around once in the "uL praakaaram" and then on
to the outer praakaaram. It is notable that the "ney deepam"
(Sri Oppiliapan Deepam) swamin walks merely on his two
toes only sometime. It is like a Raaja nadai. No science can explain this.
One has to see this and expereince themselves. The "thEjas" in their
face as reflected by the rays of the deepam are remarkably great.
adiyEn was asked by Sri Oppiliappan deepam Swamin when adiyEn met him
during Srimadh Poudnrika puram Vinnaarrangari Andavan and Sri Andal
sannithi prathista at Srirangam last year that adiyEn be present during
Sravana deepam. adiyEn and our family usually goes back home after
our morning darshan and nila maalai samarppaNam. This time, adiyEn
came back again for deepam. Swamin spotted adiyen
and asked adiyEn to come along. adiyEn went with Him in the inner
circle. At the end of the inner circle , adiyEn moved away so that
so many persons who were thronging to have his dharshan and
"aruL vaaku" to get a chanceto approach him When Swamin came
near the perfect completion of inner suRRu, just oppsite to Sri
Oppiliappan
between Sri Ramar aand Sri Hanumaan sannithis, called for
adiyEn by using signs. Since adiyEN was far way , adiyEn struggled
to reach. Swamin asked everyone to give way so that adiyEN
can go near. Swamin grabbed adiyEn's hand firm with the
thulasi from his maalai soaked in ghee and said "dEvareer
kanikaryangalai naam vERRi karamaaga nadatthik koduppOm".
adiyEn was moved. adiyEn had in mind atlaest 1 major kainkaryam
for Sri Oppiliappan that time. Usually Swamin never "talks"
in His aruL vaakku. He only conveys by "signs". adiyEn was
thrilled that swAmin talked real words to adiyEn this time
during his "aruL vaakku". This swAmin had predicted about
very important happenings in the past. This swAmin later mentioned
to adiyEn that it was predicted during one of the sravanams
earlier about acharyaas adorning the peetam etc as well.
There are totally three deepams. The "vaal deepam" burns
so tall (to 3 feet !!) and Sri Ravi hold it up on His
shoulders. With this deepam on his hands and shoulders
He also gives "aruL vaakku" to many. The third deepam is
the "satti deepam" where the fire is in the solid form ("thaNal").
Both these swAmins are the living examples of vairaagyam
that swami desikan had explained in VairAgya Panchakam.
adiyEN does not know much about the other deepam swamin).
They never asked for any help ! Only the officials in the temple
and well wishers asked adiyEn to help them. But even before
they asked, adiyEn already had in mind to help them
on this anna dhaanam scheme.
They have been doing anna dhaanam for decades on Sravanam
dates!!! In addition they both have their own ubhayams
in the temple in a very large scale (pushpa yaagam,
mega thirumanchanam etc). adiyEn talked to Sri Ravi
swAmin first and requested him to give an estimate of the
cost. adiyEN also requested the temple authorities that
the ParichArakAs who cook and take prasaadhams to the Lord
must have shikaas. They said they will issue a notice to that
effect. Both these swamins are equally sharing the costs
of anna dhaanam so far. So, whatever one wants to give towards
sravana anna dhaaanam must be shared between them. Once aidyEn
had the estimate , adiyEn offered to pay them the same as long
as aidyEn could either personally or through friends.
adiyEn wants to make a few notes here about anna dhaanam.
The anna dhaanam is "Sravana anna dhaanam" done by the
two deepam swamins. No matter who gives money , adiyEn still
wants this to be in the two swAmin's name only for two strong
reasons. We are simply helping them in their offerings and we
thank the Lord for providing an oppurtunity for the same. No
individual shall seek recognition for this effort. They have
been doing this for a very long time like their own ubhayam and
they will continue to do it in their name ONLY. There were times
when they took personal and bank loans to facilitate
this. We can not act like usurpers . adiyEN is playing
a role only now. No matter, anyone wants to accept these terms or
not adiyEn shall always support them as long as adiyEn could,
in these terms.
Second thing is that, the State Govt in Tamil Nadu under
the CM Chi. Jayalalitha's scheme, are offering anna dhaanam
in various select temples and Sri Oppiliappan kOil is
one of them. These temples have a hundi for anna dhaanam
as well (including Sri Oppiliappan kOil). To the best of adiyEn's
understanding, adiyEn believes that no one can solicit donations
for anna dhaanam for any of these temples including Sri Oppiliappan temple
when Government is doing such a scheme. Such action may land
everyone in legal trouble. So adiyEN does not
want anyone to get confused over the two different schemes.
No one reading these appeals in the net or web,
should be confused with the "Sravana dina anna
dhaanam" that these two swamins had been doing for several
years even before the Govt sponsored anna dhnaanam scheme
came into existence. We very much thank the Govt., the CM
and the temple authorities for doing that scheme very well.
But the sravana anna dhaanam is a very massive private project that
is organised by these two deepam swamins only. adiyEn
does not want to involve them or adiyEn in any competing
efforts of anna dhanam with the temple and Govt. by making this
appeal as a very general appeal. This anna dhaanam is very
specific. adiyEn had been holding it tight and asking only
a very few so far. Sri Sadagopan swAmin felt that members of
Sri Oppiliappan list may be given a chance to participate in
this kainkaryam and hence his appeal.
adiyEn began chipping from aippasi sravanam. adiyEn already
have undertaken to do it (for three full months) from adiYen's
own for aippasi (Sri Oppiliappan thiru kalayaanam) and thai
(Sri Oppiliappan's leela vibhuthi i.e thoppam incidentally adiyEn's birth
day) and Panguni Sravanams (Sri Oppiliappan's vivAham and
thEr festival). In addition adiyEn will also cover up for any shortage
anytime so that they are supported for all the Sravanams as long as
adiyEn could. We have so far helped them continuously
in the last 8 sravanams. 6 sEvarrthis from USA have helped for
5 sravanams and adiyEn has filled in the remaining. None of them
have ever asked for any recognition of any kind so far. adiYen is also
sure that none of those who had currently come forward to contribute
seek any recognition of any sort so far. On the floor, the anna dhaanam
will be done by the two swAmins only and all the recogntion goes
to these two swAmins only all the time. adiyEn will
continue to do the same as long as adiyEn can. They do not have
a tax deductible account so far. adiyEn is releasing money
from adiyEn's own account in India so far. Sri Sadagopan
had agreed to spilt one sponsorship for maasi and purattaasi
sravanams .
Finally when Sri Krishna bhattar asked adiyEn
during sankalpam in front of the Lord, he was replied that
"loka shEmatthukkaaga nallaa mazhai peyyanum". Swamin
replied "kodiyilai oru prArtthanai ithu athanaala swAmiyOda
viNNappatthai Oppiliappan kattaayam niRai vERRuvaar".
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