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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00103 Oct 2003

 
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Dear bhagavathas,

pranamams.

7th,8th and 9th July Thiruppathi and Thirumala

It has been adiyen's long pending desire to visit 
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan. Adiyen's earlier trip was in 1999. But that 
trip was not planned well. We went by afternoon train from chennai 
and booked for suprabhata seva in the early morning and returned by 
morning train back to chennai. Since it was Friday, the Jeeyar 
Sarrumurai seva was not at 7 AM and we could not stay back since we 
were to catch the train at Thiruppathi.

In 2001, when my wife fell seriously ill with Hepatitis A, adiyen 
prayed to HIM for her speedy recovery and starting observing vratam 
on every sravanam till such time we go to HIM at Thirumala. Also 
adiyen took a vow to recite the entire Daya shatakam of Swami Desika 
sitting in the temple.

This time we had planned to spend a day or two in Thirumala to have 
peaceful darshan of Sri Srinivasa. It got extended by one more day as 
one of our friend was doing upanayanam for his son at Sri Ahobila 
mutt in Thirumala. Further adiyen wanted to spend some time with Sri 
Chinna Jeeyar swami in Thirumala as adiyen read about his untiring 
efforts to preserve the traditional Sarrumurai seva for Srivaishnavas 
who present themselves in Srivaishnava LakshaNam. Also there was an 
article in Sri Nrusimha priya about the Ramanujar sannidhi enroute 
the hilltop and Sri chinna Jeeyar swami had taken efforts to renovate 
this sannidhi and he had invited every one to have darshan of Sri 
Ramanuja. There was a fourth reason to meet him as one of his 
poorvasrama relative who is our satsangh member (Sri Vijaykumar) 
wanted to offer saffron and Cardamom etc for thiirtha parimalam. So 
we had planned to spend some time with him apart from our darshan of 
Srinivasa.

Now the entire world thrives on Internet. We can even book our seva 
tickets online from TTD's web site. Though the process is very 
cumbersome, (If you are five in a group, you have to book one by one 
only) adiyen managed to do this two months ahead of time from Bahrain 
itself. The another drawback is that you have to carry your original 
passport to claim the entry ticket on reaching Thirumala. Carrying 
the original passport in that crowded town is very risky but there is 
no option. Later adiyen managed to have ticket for one more seva as 
my father had an unexpected opportunity to visit Thirumala to 
accompany our neighbor in chennai. So we had Archanantra seva booked 
thru net and Arjitha brahmostavam booked by giving a demand draft 
drawn at the Vijaya bank counter,Thirumala. Both sevas were on 8th 
July.

We left chennai on 7th early morning as adiyen wanted to go to 
Thirumala by foot, although there was no prarthana like that. Before 
starting our trip, we had contacted Jeeyar swami thru telephone and 
he himself took the phone and informed us that he will be camping at 
Lower thirupathi as some utsavam was going on at Sri Varadaraja swamy 
temple. When we have expressed our desire to attend Sarrumurai seva, 
he told that although he will be at Lower thirupathi only till 9th of 
July, somehow he will try to arrange for the seva, he promised.

We have landed at Thirupathi around 10 AM and the Sri chinna Jeeyar 
madam was very close to Sri Govindaraja swamy temple, just opposite 
to Sri Ahobila mutt. When we went there, no one was in the chinna 
jeeyar madam and we were disappointed. What to do now? Where to meet 
him? Then we thought that of going to Sri Ahobila mutt and refresh 
ourselves and wear traditional clothing to visit the temples. May be 
it was Sri Malolan's wish that we should first take HIS blessings 
first. Sri Ramaswamy bhattar was there and he was kind enough to give 
us a room temporarily and then took the blessings of Malolan. The 
moorthy here is very beautiful and this process took half an hour. 
Then we thought of first going to Sri Govindaraja swamy temple.

When we came out of Sri Ahobila mutt, we have noticed that the door 
of the Chinna Jeeyar mutt was open although it was dark inside. 
Adiyen ventured and located one bhagavatha called Ranganathan. He 
told that Chinna jeeyar swamy is at Sri Varadarajaswamy temple and 
Utsavam is going on there. He invited us to have darshan there and we 
immediately went to this temple and we had never been to this temple. 
It is just 10 minutes drive from Sri Govindarajaswamy temple.

Once we have reached there both Pedda Jeeyar and Chinna Jeeyar swami 
were there. We had good darshan of Utsavar in the Mandapam and then 
introduced ourselves to Jeeyar swami. He was very kind and open in 
talking to us. After our darshan, he ordered the devotees there to 
give us prasadam. He advised that we shall go to Govindaraja swamy 
temple and then meet him at the chinna jeeyar mutt, as he will be 
reaching there in an hour's time.

We had prasadam and came to Govindaraja swamy temple. The temple was 
very crowded on that day. It took long time to cover all the 
sannidhis. One good thing adiyen has noticed here. All the archakas 
bless us stating that " punar darshana prAptirastu" meaning we should 
be blessed to have darshan of Perumal again and again. Since we were 
in traditional dress, in all sannidhis the archakas spent a minute 
with us and ensured that we had good darshan. The deities are so 
beautiful here and we require around 2 hours to cover all the 
sannidhis.

When we came to Jeeyar mutt, no one was around and the doors were 
open. We went inside and saw the swami was taking rest. He must be 
very tired after his long routine of the morning then attending the 
utsavam etc. So we did not want to disturb him. We sat there for 
couple of hours and once swami woke up we went and prostrated to Him. 
He immediately felt that we must have been waiting for long time and 
he felt very bad about that. He mentioned that he was too tired but 
we could have awakened him without waiting.

The next two hours spent with him was really memorable. He mentioned 
about his close association with Srimad Azhagiya singar and the 
Jeeyar seva kaimkaryam that he is doing for the benefit of all 
srivaishnavas. He mentioned that whenever Srimad Andavan or Srimad 
Azhagiya singar or Sri Parakala mutt jeeyar visits Tirumala we 
personally take them to close quarters of Thiruvenkatamudaiyan and 
give all the mariyadha with parivattam etc. He also mentioned about 
the recently renovated Sri Ramanujar sannidhi and how that kaimkaryam 
went on without any hassles. He quoted many divya prabandham verses 
and explained it in simple layman's language. In all we were blessed 
to have his audience in private for good time.

Adiyen has presented him some dry fruits, which we have carried from 
Bahrain for offering to Yativaras and Perumal and Saffron and 
Cardamam etc given by Sri Vijaykumar. Also adiyen gave one CD of 
Divya prabandham recited by our Sri Ananth and Sri Narayanan. He was 
very pleased with this kaimkaryam and mentioned that many times 
lowkeekas are doing great service in spreading such sampradayic 
matters than the scholars. He enquired about the background and how 
it should be played etc and blessed us to continue our kaimkaryams.

The another reason he was pleased was that the association of both 
sects here in Bahrain. He was indeed surprised to note adiyen can 
recite the Vazhi Thirunamam of Sri Manavala mamuni and adiyen told 
that entire goshti know both Vazhi Thirunamams by heart and it is 
recited at the end of every goshti. He jokingly mentioned that the 2 
sects (of Srivaishnavam) are like the Sri and Bhu devi thayar of 
Sriman Narayana and like none of them will be jealous when perumal is 
blessing the another, we should not have hatred to the other sect. He 
spoke very high of Swami Desika and mentioned that without Sri 
Desika, there is no Srivaishnavam today and to that extent, we should 
have great bhakti to HIM. He mentioned that this is his firm personal 
opinion and he is living to it as he preaches.

Although he had a commitment at Sri Varadaraja swamy temple at Lower 
thirupathi next day, he promised us to be with us for Jeeyar seva on 
8th. He told us that he will take us close to perumal and arrange for 
good darshan. But when he enquired about the next day's program at 
the varadaraja swamy temple, he learnt that by 9 AM he has to be 
there for mudhal thiirtham. He was disappointed as he can't make a 
trip to Thirumala with in that time. Further 8th being the 
Thirunakshatram of Sri Periazhvar, he has to be in the temple for 
utsavam. Sri Jeeyar swami apologised for his inability to be with us 
and we were shocked at his humility. He is the Jeeyar swami and we 
are just ordinary devotees and are we really qualified to have his 
blessings and concern to this extent? Jeeyar swami's gesture and 
humbleness has moved us.

He than phoned the devotees at Thirmala for arranging a good darshan. 
Unfortunately, he could not reach anyone at that time. Then he told 
us to meet couple of bhagvathas at Pedda Jeeyar mutt at Thirumala and 
tell about his orders. Adiyongal then took leave of him and continued 
our journey to Thiruchchanur. We have really enjoyed the company of 
Sri Jeeyar swami and we have taken photograph with him.

When we went to Sri Ahobila mutt, Sri Ramaswamy swamin was reciting 
Srimad Bhagavatam in his pooja room and his melodious voice was 
filling the air. The Venugopala swamy, the archa moorthy of his daily 
aradhana was very beautiful and swamin has nicely made alankaram for 
him. He mentioned that was the concluding day of recitation and he 
was pleased to receive us 
(we being sri ahobila mutt sishyas) and do little service to us.

Then we went to Thiruchchanur and we have offered vastram to Thayar. 
For a welcome change this temple was not so crowded at that time and 
the thayar was decorated with lots of jewels and adiyen was wonder 
struck at the smile on the face of HER. The divine feeling can't be 
expressed and it has to be felt. We were blessed to remain there for 
few minutes and Swami desikan's Sristuthi verses just passed adiyen's 
mind and recited the concluding verses of Sri stuthi and returned. In 
fact we were very tired and thirsty at that time. Not any more after 
seeing HER.

It was well beyond 5 PM and we have dropped the plan of climbing the 
Seven Hills by foot, as it will be late to reach the top. We had 
never ventured such trip and adiyen has to postpone this for next 
visit. Anyway we had spent the time with Jeeyar swami discussing sat 
vishyams and we have consoled ourselves.

Our experiences at Thirumala will be the next posting.

regards

dasan venkat





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