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SrI:
SrimatE Raamaanujaaya Namaha //
SrimatE Nigamaanta Mahaa Desikaaya Namaha //
SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya/
SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya//
KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava: /
SrI RanganAthO jayathu Sri Ranga Sri cha VardhathAm//
====================================================================
SRI RANGA SRI VOL.08 / ISSUE # 15 dated 17th February 2007
====================================================================
EDITORIAL 1
Dear Bhaagavatas:
We have great pleasure in informing you that our Co- Moderator, Sri 
Madhava Kannan Swamin of Singapore has been awarded the title 
of   "SampradAya prachAra dhurantharar" by Asmad Acharyan His 
Holiness Srimad Andavan, Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam, Srirangam on 
the occasion of the Rajat Jayanti (Silver Jubilee- 25th Anniversary) 
of Sannyasa SweekaraNam of His Holiness celebrated last week. 

Reproduced below is the mail from Sri V. Sadagopan Swami, New York. 
Please join us in congratulating Sri Madhava Kannan who richly 
deserves the honor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL -2
Recently, I was asked to talk on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee 
of Wedding for Mrs. Hema- Dr Suresh of Cleveland, Ohio. The following 
is an excerpt from the talk delivered live from Atlanta through 
Conference call. Hope you will enjoy reading the same.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ISSUES RELEASED
With this issue, about 242 Regular issues of SRS have been released 
so far, apart from numerous "Special Issues" as indicated below:
27 Issues of Vol. 1
15 Issues of Vol. 2
42 Issues of Vol. 3
35 Issues of Vol. 4
28 Issues of Vol. 5
30 Issues of Vol. 6
50 Issues of Vol. 7 and
15 Issues of Vol. 8 (including this)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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"Sri Ranga Sri"
===================================================================
1.      "SampradAya prachAra dhurantharar" Title conferred on 
Sri Madhava Kannan Swamin, Co- Moderator of Sri Ranga Sri" 
Report from Sri V. Sadagopan Swamin of New York
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SrI:
Dear Sri VaishNavAs:

It is with great pleasure adiyEn wants to share with You all the 
wonderful news about Srirangam Sri MadhavakkaNNan's valued 
contributions to our glorious Sri VaishNavite SampradhAyam being 
recognized by his revered AchAryan , Paramahamsa ParivrAjaka Sriamth 
Poundareekapuram Andavan during the occasion of His Silver Jubilee 
celebration this week at Srirangam.
 
The distinguished title conferred on Sri MadhavakkaNNan is :  
"SampradAya prachAra dhurantharar"
 
It is a matter of great joy for us to know that the many likhitha 
Kaimkaryams of Sriman MaadhavakkaNNan has been recognized by his own 
AchAryan in front of his Parents and SishyAs at the Dhivya Desam of 
Srirangam.
 
NamO Sri RanganAthAya 
=====================================================================
2.      SILVER JUBILEE OF WEDDING: 
Tele-Bridge Talk on Sunday, 11th February 2007
by Anbil Ramaswamy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SIGNIFICANCE OF MARRIAGE
All Saastras proclaim the importance of the Grihasta-Asrama as the 
fulcrum of all other Asramas. Even as a mother supports all her 
children, Grihasta-Asrama supports all the other 3 Asramas of 
Brahmacharya, Vaanaprastha and Sannyaasa. People in these other 
Asramas depend heavily on the Grihasta for support and sustenance 
required to carry out their respective duties. The life of a Grihasta 
is, therefore, considered a 'Jiva yagjnya' - a lifelong saga of self-
sacrifice for the benefit of others in society. 

The fact that 26 out of the 40 Samskaaras prescribed in the Saastras 
relate to marriage and after, highlights the importance of Grihasta-
Asrama. 

Marriage is not meant as a means to satisfy carnal craving. It is 
regarded as a means to spiritual glory, a `sin qua non' for the 
development of lineage - a necessary link between the "dead past" and 
an "unborn future" that must come alive to be undertaken as a part of 
spiritual duty with devotion to perpetuate the family tradition. 

Marriage is an integral part of a Grihasta for it is said that no 
ritual is efficacious without the presence of the wife, the "Saha 
DharmiNi". The wife always accompanies the husband in discharging his 
duties. 

Marriage is no doubt, primarily for begetting children but it was 
also required for the proper performance of worship. Marriage is not 
only a contract between individuals but also a contract between 
families. Marriage is in NOT a license for sexual pleasures but a 
holy and irrevocable contract not only between the man and wife but 
also casts the burden of ensuring it to be so, till the very last, on 
the community comprising of the families of both sides. 

"Marriage is marriage" and is not a mere "love affair" which is 
nothing but an infatuation. Love affair is a relationship just for 
pleasure and when the pleasure wears out, the affair is gone. 

But, marriage is a life commitment to yourself, to your other half 
and represents the prime concern of your life. If you make a 
sacrifice, you are not sacrificing to that person. It is a sacrifice 
to a permanent relationship. If pain there is in such relationship, 
there is also life in it. Love bears all, endures all. If the 
relationship has pains, remember that life is also not all that 
blissful all through all the time. 

The stronger the love, the more pain it is prepared to bear and 
ultimately the pain would turn out to be even enjoyable.

Partners who enter in wedlock are not 'paragons of virtue' as they 
appear in the first flush of enthusiasm. None is perfect and to seek 
for perfection in the partner is like `seeking a mirage in the 
desert'. Perfect relationship is created by conscious effort and not 
discovered all on a sudden. The incompatibilities have to be resolved 
by a continual mutual adjustment and reconciliation by a willing 
attitude of 'give and take'.   

Those that end in divorce or separation are misfits who fail 
in 'making it work' and deserve the real pain, indeed the devastating 
trauma attaching thereto.  May be this trauma is not really so 
traumatic so far as American society is concerned because of the kind 
of family values practiced. 

For example, a lady may be celebrating the birthday of her child born 
of her say, third or even fourth husband and some of the earlier 
husbands might actually turn up to sing "Happy birthday to you" to 
the baby and present a bouquet too! Such a scenario cannot even be 
imagined in India! 

Conversely, the American society is not able to digest the practice 
in India that a husband and wife could continue to remain as husband 
and wife and also celebrate the Silver or Golden jubilee of their 
wedding, `without changing horses at midstream'! 

The difference in the family values as between those obtaining in 
India and in the West would reveal how different the expectations 
about marriage in these two cultures are. 

MARRIAGE RITES
There are several rites to be observed in sequence prescribed in the 
10th MaNDala of the Rig vEda and the Grihya Sutras and Kalpa Sutras 
and compiled by Sage Aaapatsthamba are purely religious- like 
Sumangali Praarthana, Pandakkaal, Nishcyataartham, Vratam, Jaatakama, 
Naama karma, Laaja hOma, GrihapravEsam, Ammi midittal, (flat grinding 
stone) Arundati Sighting, Paalikai, Wearing MeTTi (silver toe-rings) 
etc. There are other observances that are mainly social like Kaasi 
Yaatra, Oonjal, and Tiru maangalyam. 

The most significant part of the wedding ceremony as prescribed in 
the ancient texts are "PaaNigrahaNam" and "Sapta-Pathi" without which 
no marriage could be considered to be complete. 

The well known SlOkam that is invariably recited during tying of 
the "MangaLa Sutram" (including in TV Serials!) is NOT A VEDIC 
MANTRAM but it is recited by way of tradition.           
"maangalyam tantunaanEna mama jeevana 
hEtunaa/                                                     
kaNTE badnaami subhagE tvam jeeva saratas 
satam//"                                                     
(vide page 23 of Vivaaha Mantraartha Bodhini" pub: Lifco Associates 
Reprint 1991)                                                  

"PAANIGRAHANAM"                                                       
     

This consists of 4 Mantras invoking celestials like Bagan, Aryama, 
Savita, Indra Agni, Surya, Saraswati and Vaayu praying for their 
blessings. There is a famous sloka in Srimad Ramayanam on this. King 
Janaka requests Sri Rama to grasp with his right palm, Sri Sita's 
right palm including all her five fingers. 

"iyam Sita mama suthaa saha dharma charee 
tava/                                                        
Prateecha cha yENaam badram tE paaNnim griheeshva paaNinaa//"

Once this grasping of hand commences, the grasp cannot be given the 
go by till at least 
after "Saptapathi".                                                   

"Nowadays, it is the norm to hold the reception on the eve of the 
wedding. It is, however, NOT a desirable practice to introduce the 
couple as husband and wife, even prior to the marriage ceremony. 
There is a tendency among the guests to rush to the dais, to shake 
hands with the couple, immediately after the "Maangalya DhaaraNam" is 
over. Instead, they should wait till the immediate post-marriage 
rituals including the "Seven steps" are completed, when alone the 
marriage gets fully solemnized."                                      
(Page27 of "Lakshmi Kalyaana VaibhogamE' Supplement to Nrisimhapriya 
Jan. 2005)  

"SAPTAPATHEE"                                                         
This literally means seven steps. The groom is required to hold the 
right toe of the bride with his right hand and make her take 7 steps 
towards the north or east of the "hOma kuNdam"(fire-pit) reciting the 
relevant mantras for each step as follows:
1. EkamishE VishNus tvaa 
anvEtu//                                                              
                    
 "Oh! Fair maiden! With this your first step, May Lord VishNu come 
with you to bless you with plentitude of grains etc. for a life 
without hunger"
2. dvE OorjE VishNus tvaa 
anvEtu//                                                              
         
 "With this second step of yours, May Lord VishNu come with you to 
bless you physical and mental strength and health in life" 
3. treeNI vrataaya VishNus tvaa 
anvEtu//                                                              
     
"With this third step of yours, May Lord VishNu come with you to 
bless you with the power and energy to do all your religious duties 
diligently"
4. chatvaari mayO bhavaaya VishNus tvaa 
anvEtu//                                                              
                  
"With this fourth step of yours, May Lord VishNu come with you to 
bless you with all happiness to at all times"
5. pancha pasubhyO VishNus tvaa 
anvEtu//                                                           
 "With this fifth step of yours, May Lord VishNu come with you to 
bless you with wealth in cattle"                            
6. shad ritubhyO VishNus tvaa 
anvEtu//                                                              
 "With this sixth step of yours, May Lord VishNu come with you to 
make all the seasons good and favorable for you"             
7. sapta saptabhyO hOtraabhyO VishNus tvaa 
anvEtu//                                          
"With this seventh step of yours, May Lord VishNu come with you to 
give you the ability to fulfill all your duties in life by performing 
all the prescribed hOmas"

After taking these seven steps, the groom says to the bride:   
(Meanings given after the SlOkas)                                 
sakhaa sapta padaa 
bhava,                                                                
                 
sakhaayou sapta padaa babhoova,
sakhyantE gamEyam, 

sakhyaath tE maa 
yOsham,                                                               
sakhyaan mE 
maayOshTaah,                                                          
                       

samayaiva sankalpaa 
vahai,                                                                
                    
sam priyou 
rOchishNoo,                                                           
                              
su-manasya 
maanee,                                                               
                                       

eesham oorjam abhi sam 
vasaanou,                                                             

sannou 
manaagumsi,                                                           
                                     
sam vrataa sam uchittaany 
aakaram,                                                              
             

saa tvam asya 
mooham,                                                               

amooham asmi saa 
tvam,                                                                 
                          
dhyour aham 
prithveetvam,                                                         
                                    
rEto aham rEtO 
bhrutvam,                                                             
                      
manO aham asmi vaak 
tvam,                                                                 
                
saama aham asmi 
ruktvam,                                                              
                                           

saa maam anu vrataa 
bhava,                                                                
                    
pugumsE putraaya 
vEttavai,                                                             
                                
sriyai putraaya 
vEttavaa                                                              
                                                                      
yEhi 
soonrutE//"                                                           
                                         
 Meaning:
"Having taken these seven steps with me, you have become my friend. 
Once we have taken these seven steps together, we have become 
partners. I take your friendship. I will not leave your side under 
any circumstances. Neither do you leave me. Let us be together 
always. We will live with mutual love and affection for each other. 
We will live with good intentions. We will enjoy our life together. 
We will be of one mind. We will do our Vratas (religious duties) 
together. Our wishes will be of the same kind. I will be the music 
and you will be the lyrics of the song of life. I will be the sky and 
you will e the earth. I will be the voice and you will be the mind. 
Oh! Maiden with sweet words! We will obtain all that is good in life. 
Please come with me"

Saastras say that on taking seven steps together, friendship 
blossoms. Since the couple should remain friendly to each other 
throughout their lives, it is a vow addressed to the sanctity of this 
friendship. 

What is friendship? 
In weal and woe, the couple should stand united, face the joys and 
sorrows of life together without blaming each other, thus promoting 
perfect understanding between them. Just like "Rik" and "Saamam" are 
inseparable forever, the mantras seek to emphasize that the couple 
should remain inseparable at all times.

ANDAL:                                                                

Andal, the bridal mystic in "VaaraNam Aayiram" of her "Naachiyaar 
Tirumozhi" declares "I have a dream" and proceeds to narrate the 
sequence of the various rituals in her marriage with Lord Ranganaatha 
she sees in that dream. This is being sung invariably in all wedding 
functions of Hindus.

SWASTI ASEERVAADAM 
{NOTE: When the person reciting the Aseervada Slokams reaches the 
word "anugrihNNantu", the elders in the audience should 
say "Tathaasthu" (equivalent to "Amen" in English)}

Swaaminah svasti mantraas sathyaa: sa phalaas santu iti          
bhavantO mahaanto anugrihNNantu/*

anayOr dhampatyOr vEdOKtam Dheergham aayushyam bhooyaat iti          
bhavantO mahaantO anugrihNNantu/*

Vivaaha Pancha Vimsati Poorthi Aseervachana muhoorthas 
sumoohoorthOstu iti 
bhavantO mahaantO anugrihNNantu/*

Tal lagnaapEkshayaa aadityaadeenaam navaanaam grahaaNaam bhagavad 
aanukoolyam bhooyaat iti 
bhavantO mahaantO anugrihNNantu/*

yE yE grahaah subha sthaanEshu sthitaah tEshaam grahaaNaam 
aaanukoolyam bhooyaat iti 
bhavantO mahaantO anugrihNNantu/*

asmin grihE maasi maasi subhatrayam bhooyaat iti              
bhavantO mahaantO anugrihNNantu/*

anayOr dhampathyOh sarvaabheeshTa siddhiprado bhooyaat iti        
bhavantO mahaantO anugrihNNantu/*

SarvE janaah sukhinO bhavantu/ 
Samastha San mangaLaani santu/
utharOttaraapi vriddhir astu/
Harih Om/
======================================================================
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