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                    Srimathe Sri Ramanujaya Namaha | 
                       SRI RAMANUJA MISSION,INC. 
                 OF SRIRANGAM SRIMATH ANDAVAN ASHRAMAM (SRI) 
                 
                Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi Celebrations 2007
               Annual Award Announcement "Kaimkarya Rathnam" 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Bhagavathas,

With the onset of the month long celebrations of Sri Ramanuja 
Jayanthi (which falls on Chithirai, Adhirai ? Sunday, April 22, 2007) 
by Sri Ramanuja Mission, Inc. of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Ashramam 
(SRI), it is time to remember, thank, and honor someone who has 
dedicated his time, energy, and life to promote the awareness of Sri 
Ramanuja Siddhantham outside India. 

According to SriVaishnava philosophy, individual soul attains 
Paramapadham (Vaikuntam) by surrendering to Sriman Narayana through a 
Sadacharya. 

Until the soul is liberated from this world, we can experience the 
bliss of Vaikuntam in one of the foremost Divya Desams ? Sri Rangam, 
known as Bhoologa Vaikuntam. This is the only Divya Kshetram 
celebrated by all 12 Azhwars, Sri Ramanujacharya, and also by Sri 
Shankaracharya and Sri Madhavacharya. Among the numerous verses 
glorifying the importance of SriRangam, the following are well-
known:  

ghushyate yasya nagare ranga-yAtrA dinE-dinE |
tamaham SirasA vandE rAjAnAm kulaSEkharam || 
                        (Mukuntha Malai by Sri Kulashekara Azhwar)

Srimanna Sriranga Sriyamanubhadravaamanudinam samvarthayaa
Srimanna Sriranga Sriyamanubhadravaamanudinam samvarthayaa
         (by Sri Ramanujacharya ? recited daily as part of Satrumurai)

Until 1998, the only way for bhagavathas in the US to experience 
Bhoologa Vaikuntam was to visit Sri Rangam. However, someone felt the 
need to extend the benefit of experiencing Sri Rangam here in the US 
and worked tirelessly by dedicating his entire life and resources to 
make this dream come true. This individual was single-handedly 
responsible for planning, massive fund-raising, reaching out to the 
bhagavatha community throughout the US, and traveling 14 hours 
between work and temple for over three years to oversee the temple 
construction and sustain religious activities. Thanks to his tireless 
efforts and Acharya anugraham, today we have a prestigious DEBT-FREE 
Sri Ranganatha Temple at Pomona, New York truly representing Sri 
Ramanuja Siddhantam and its values. The mention of Sri Ranganatha 
Temple brings to mind the towering personality of Sri Venkat 
Kanumalla Swamin. 

Sri Ramanuja Mission, Inc. of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Ashramam 
(SRI) is extremely pleased to honor the lifetime accomplishment and 
services of Sri Venkat Kanumalla in nurturing Sri Ramanuja philosophy 
outside India by conferring upon him the title of "Kainkaryam 
Rathnam." 

Besides his service to Sriman Narayana, his urge for bhagavatha 
kainkaryam does not go unnoticed when one visits the temple. His love 
and hospitality has touched all devotees every time.

The unquestionable faith Sri Venkat Kanumalla has in Sri Ramanuja 
Siddhantham is reflected in the mission statement of Sri Ranganatha 
Temple ? a simple, single sentence which reads, "Absolute surrender 
to Sriman Narayana."

This title carries with it an honorary plaque and blessings from HH 
Sri Rangaramanuja Mahadesikan and will be presented during Sri 
Ramanuja Jayanthi celebrations at SSVT, MD, on Sunday, April 29th in 
the presence of Udayavar, Sri Venugopala Perumal, Sri Nrusimha 
Sudharshana Chakrath Azhwar, Purvacharya Padukas and fellow 
bhagavathas with full honor.  SRI president Sri Poondi Vijayaraghavan 
will be presenting the award.

We request fellow bhagavathas to join us in honoring Sri  Venkat 
Kanumalla Swami and in praying to Sri Ranganatha Divya Dampathi and 
Purvacharya Padukas to bestow upon him and his family a long life and 
continued service in the years to come.    

Nadadur Mathavan
Secretary, SRI
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sri Venkat Kanumalla has a PhD in Experimental Nuclear Physics and is 
currently working as a Physicist at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, 
Massachusetts. 

We asked him a few questions about his influences, personal 
experiences with HH 44th and HH 45th Jeer of Sri Ahobila Mutt, the 
challenges he faced in temple construction, and the award. Herein we 
present the excerpts from that conversation: 

Q:  Tell us about your parents and any of their influence you can 
recall.

SVK:  Mother's name is:  Smt. Varalakshmi, Father: Vaikuntha-Vasi: 
Sriman Simhadri, a great Sri Lakshmi-Nrusimha UpAsaka.  Adiyen only 
son and has 4 sisters. I was greatly influenced by my father, who 
taught only two scriptures: Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam ( A 
to Z about  Saranagati ) and initiated Sri Lakshmi-Nrusimha PrANa-
Mantra Upadesam to me.

Q:  Can you recall when and where you met HH 44th Azagiya Singar? 

SVK:  My first meeting with HH 44th Jeer was in 1984 for SamAsrayanam 
& Prapatti.  HH 44th Jeer's Special  instruction to me was -  ONLY 
two lines from Divya-Prabandham: one from Thiruppavai - " 
unakkEEEEEEEEEE nAmAtcheyvom " and second " en amudhanai kanda kangal 
matrondinai kAnAve " and told me VERY STRICTLY that these are the 
ONLY two lines adiyen has to by-heart and can NEVER forget, and that 
my Vaikuntha-prApti is gauranteed. 

HH other instruction to adiyen is: even if someone studied all the 
FOUR Vedas and / or also all the 4000 pAsurams, BUT do not verbatim 
follow the above two lines and resort to anya-Devata pooja or even 
visiting those anya-devata functions or even nava-graha poojas or 
japams etc.., that devotee is JUST like a FROG making noise in the 
rainy season, BUT that someone will NEVER get Moksham and that is all 
my upadesam.

Some additional questions regarding temple construction posed by HH 
to adiyen are:

1: do you have the GUTS to stick ONLY to Sriman Narayana ?? 
2: Can you withstand the criticism you will face, not even from other 
avaishnavas orsmarthas or non-devotees etc.., BUT even from the so-
called supposed to be vaishnavas who are currently resorting to 
Pillayar, nava-grahas, etc.. 
3: Can you withstand accusations, character-assassinations, calling 
you names etc.. "
4: say good-bye to all your old habits and  old relationships with 
non-vaishnavas, even if they are your own father, mother, sister, 
wife, son or daughter etc.. and lead a good-vaishnava life

Finally HH said, Sri-Vaishnavism is NOT for weak fellows, BUT for 
ONLY those who are STRONG-WILLED and gave me ONLY one verse from 
Bhagavad-Gita " out of a thousand devotees, only one will try to 
become a PURE devotee and out of Thousands of devotees trying to 
become pure-devotees, only one will ultimately reach Lord Sri 
Krishna  - manushyANAm sahasreshu kaschit yatati siddhayet - 
yathathAmapi siddhAnAm kaschin mAm veti tattvatah "

Regarding 45th Jeer: HH is the mahAtma who blessed adiyen with Sankha-
Chakras and taught me and commanded adiyen to do samAsrayanam ONLY.

Regarding other Jeers: adiyen received blessings from HH Srimad 
Andavan swami, HH sri Poundarikapuram Andavan swami, HH Sri ParakAla 
Matham Jeer swami and HH Sri Ranga-Priya Swami and HH Andhra Jeer Sri 
Chinna Jeer Swami.

Q:And how do you feel about this recognition?   

SVK:  adiyen is over-whelmed with the affection and I do NOT deserve 
at all. 

adiyen is just s servant of Srimad Azhagiyasingar and all credit 
should go to Him alone.

Adiyen




 
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