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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00105 Oct 2003

 
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Dear bhagavathas,

This posting is about our thirumala experiences.

By the time we reached the Tirumala hills it was around 7PM and it 
was drizzling. We have booked our accomodation at Ahobila mutt and 
first we went there and left our luggage. Then went to Padmavadhi 
Guest house to collect our original seva coupons, as our booking was 
thru internet.After this we went to Pedda Jeeyar mutt which is just 
next to the Pedda Anjeneyar koil but we could not meet the 
bhagavathas referred by Sri Chinna Jeeyar swami. However we met one 
bhagavatha by name, Ramaswamy and he told us to be near the entrance 
by 6.30AM and he will come over there for Jeeyar seva. Later adiyen 
learnt that the he is an Ekangi and they only conduct the Jeeyar seva 
these days and Jeeyar swami comes once in a while only. We took 
darshan of Sri Anjeneya and went to room to retire for that day.

Next day in the early hours we went to the temple to have darshan of 
the Lord. Our seva was archanantra seva. After waiting for about 2 
hours we could go close to the sannidhi. adiyen could complete the 
recitation of entire nityanusandhanam by that time. Also adiyen was 
reciting desika
stotras and in the early morning along with thousands of devotees who 
has come from every corner of the country, it was a thrilling 
experience waiting to have the darshan of the lord. Earlier adiyen 
used to think that why should we wait for such long time to this 
Perumal only. But when adiyen learnt that thirty million devas are 
standing in a queue to have darshan of Ksherabhi nathan in 
Thirupparkadal, adiyen thought that our waiting is not that bad.

Now we have come close the main sannidhi and we could see HIS kreedam 
and the big thiruman and the HIS divya thirumeni, although we are 
still near the entrance only. There are many Scout volunteers who are 
just pulling the devotees to move fast and more than the shouting of 
Govinda we could hear the shouting of "Jaraku" or "Jarakandi" meaning 
move fast. Every one was pulled close to the deity by one Volunteer 
and in a fraction of second you will be pushed out by another and you 
have to capture HIM in your heart in that split second. All the 
months of planning and eagerness to have darshan of 
Thiruvenkatamudaiyan will be just for that second. Once you are out 
that's all. You can only see HIM only during your next trip.

When adiyen came close to the deity, the volunteer whos was pulling 
the devotees saw me in traditional attaire with 12 thirumans etc, 
held her hand out and with respect told me politely to have quick 
darshan and leave. This gave me little more than 10 seconds to see 
HIM from the foot to head and adiyen was in divine ecstasy. If we 
have to see this perumal then we have to become a "padi" just outside 
his sannidhi as Kulesekara azhvar wanted to be. The crowd around us 
did not matter at that moment and adiyen for a moment felt i am 
standing in front of HIM alone and HE is telling to me " See, I am 
standing alone here waiting for you. Keep coming". Probably HE has 
read my mind about the crowd and assured me of HIS darshan all the 
times. Tears were
rolling down my cheeks and the crowd behind you pushed us out of the 
sannidhi.

We came out and after having darshan of Sri Bhashyakara and Sri 
Narasimha we came out of the sannidhi. The srivaishnavas were waiting 
for Jeeyar seva and adiyen and my father stood in the queue. They 
were around 100 bhagavathas. After waiting for about half an hour, we 
went in and had the darshan of Perumal once again and we were blessed 
to recite Sarrumurai in front of HIM
and thiirtham and satari was provided for all of us. Then ther 
sarrumurai seva was performed at Sri Ramanujar sannidhi. This is the 
first time adiyen is participating in Jeeyar seva and it was indeed a 
memorable experience. We had prasadam and came out of the temple.

By 12.30PM, we came again for arjitha brahmotsavam. After brief 
waiting we were allowed to have darshan of Moolavar again and this is 
the third darshan in 6 hours. After this, we were asked to wait in 
the mandapam for our seva. The waiting was for long time as the 
proceedings were running behind time.

Finally the Utsavar along with his consorts came to mandapam. They 
were kept at the entrance and only the perumal was taken inside and 
he was placed on the Garuda, Hamsa and Sesha vahanas for a moment and 
harathi was performed. adiyen felt bad since the Sri Bhu devi thayars 
were just left at the entrance and they did not accompany the 
perumal. No one is bothered to have darshan of the Utsavar and the 
main attraction is moolavar only. People are pushed and pulled out of 
main sannidhi and not even allowed a second to be with moolavar, but 
the crowd runs to HIM only. Whereas the Utsavar is coming to us in 
the mandapam but no one is even bothered to go close to HIM for 
darshan and the consorts of HIM are just standing alone near the 
entrance. adiyen understood that the consorts will accompany the 
perumal for Unjal seva which will be performed after the arjitha 
brahmostava seva. The whole seva was over in 10 minutes but it wasn't 
impressive. adiyen after seeing the perumal in different vahanams 
with beautiful alankarams, could not enjoy the name sake utsavam like 
this. It appears that all the utsavams are made to enable the 
devotees to have darshan of moolavar.

We came to room and took rest for a while. Appa left for Madras and 
we stayed back to attend the upanayanam next day. Since we were not 
allowed to sit inside the temple even for 10 minutes adiyen could not 
recite the daya shatakam sitting in side the temple. But in the 
evening sat in front of Malolan, Srinivasa and adiyen's acharya 
Srimad Azhagiya singar and recited the verses. In every room, a photo 
with Malolan, Srinivasan and Srimad Azhagiya singar has been kept.

Next day morning, adiyen again went to Jeeyar seva as I could not 
control myself to miss this seva. Since we were staying close to the 
temple, in 5 minutes adiyen was in the queue waiting for the Jeeyar 
seva. That day preparations were going on for sahasra kalasa 
abhishekam and there was some delay. adiyen could recite dasavatara 
stotram, Hayagreeva stotram and Vishnu
sahasra namam etc while waiting and adiyen felt that the seeing so 
many srivaishnavas itself is a divine blessing. Finally adiyen had 
darshan of Perumal and recited the sarrumurai in the goshti. On the 
way back to sri ahobila mutt, went to Sri Varaha swami sannidhi and 
then returned to the
mutt. We also went to srimad Andavan ashramam and had darshan of Divya
padukas there.

In short the trip was memorable and adiyen will be cherishing the 
time spent in Thirumala for the years to come till my next trip. It 
was possible by HIS blessings and all the azhvars (except Thondar adi 
podi) cried to him for his blessings and we too pray to HIM following 
the azhvar's path.

Next will be adiyen's trip to Thirunangur divya desams.

regards
dasan venkat





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