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//
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SRI RANGA SRI VOL.07 / ISSUE # 05 dated 14th December 2005
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IN THIS ISSUE:
EDITORIAL:
1. A SECOND SATHABHISHEKAM?
2. IMPORTANT DAYS IN MAARGAZHI (DHANUR) MONTH
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ISSUES RELEASED
So far, 181 Regular issues of SRS have been released apart from Special
Issues:
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 and
04 Issues of Vol. 7
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1. A SECOND SATHABHISHEKAM?
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About 35 families of Bhagavatas in and around Atlanta desired to celebrate
adiyen?s Sathabhishekam in Atlanta since some of them could not make it to
Cleveland where the religious event took place on a Wednesday (a working
day). They organized the event on Saturday, the 10th December 2005.
This was mostly religious in the sense that short of doing Homams etc.,
Mantra Pushpam, Pancha Sooktams and Srimad Ramayana Sri Rama PaTTabhishEka
Sarga Parayanams etc. were recited in the morning session during
Tiruvaaaraadana kramam.
The evening session reverberated with the group recitation of various
Stotrams like Sri Vishnu Sahasranamamam, Ashtothrams and Desika Stotras,
select Paasurams from Nalayira Divya Prabandam and Desika Prabandam and
concluded with Sattrumurai (both Vadakalai) and Tenkalai), Desika Mangalam
and Sambhavanas for Perumal, Thayar and Acharyas.
It was also ?Social? in the sense that some in the audience belonged to
Non-Srivaishnava background and could not follow the recitations. Also some
had no exposure to either Sanskrit or Tamil but had assembled only out of
love and affection for adiyen (some of them having been influenced by a
reading of ?Hinduism Rediscovered? book in English)
Though I did not wish to give a talk as requested by some Bhagavatas, this
factor necessitated my giving short explanations now and then on what the
recitations were all about.
Provided below are some of the random thoughts and comments provided to
them.
Hope you will also find them interesting, though most of you would be aware
of these already.
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1. RECITATION OF SAHASRANAMA STOTRAM:
SAGE VYASA?S GREATNESS:
The reference to Sage Vyasa: Some are renowned by virtue of the greatness of
their parents, grandparents or great grand parents. But, Sage Vyasa was
famous not only because of these credentials but also because he was the
father of the great Tapsvi SukhaBrahma mahrisihi:
?Vyaasm vasishTa naphtaaram, SaktEh poutram akalmasham
Parasara aatmajam vandE Sukha Thaatham TapOnidhim?
Did not Sage TiruvaLLuvar say in TirukkuraL 70?
?Magan thanthaikku aatrum udavi ivan thanthai
enn nOtraan kol enum sol?
Meaning:
? The way a son makes his father proud is to conduct himself in such a
manner that the world would wonder what amount of good the father had done
to beget such a wonderful son?
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2. CAN WOMEN RECITE SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM?
There are two views on this issue.
The orthodox view is that they should not. Obviously, this is based on the
query of Paarvati:
?KenOpaayEna laghunaa vishnOr naama sahasrakam/
PATYATE PANDITAIR nityam SROTUM icchaami aham prabhO//
?I would like to HEAR the easy manner in which the PANDITS READ (recite) Sri
Vishnu Sahasranaamam??
To this query, Iswara replies:
?Sri Rama Rama RamEti ramE raamE manOramE/
Sahasranaama tath tulyam raama naama varaananE//?
That she wanted to HEAR and NOT RECITE perhaps gives them the clue that
women should not recite the StOtram.
The other view (that I am inclined to agree with) is that anyone can recite
?Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam?.
Let us consider the ?Rahasyams? (those that can be told secretly within
closed doors) and ?Sadasyams? (those that can be told in an open assembly).
The Three Great Rahasyams are Ashtaksharam, Dvayam and CharamaslOkam
i) ASHTAKSHARAM: is allowed to be recited as a 'Tantrik' for all including
Stris and Sudras. Whether uttered with Pranavam or without it, it is said to
carry the same effect. What is prohibited is administering Upadesam with
Pranavam to those considered ineligible for this. In any event, nobody in
this forum is seeking to administer any Upadesam to anybody. Therefore,
there seems to be no bar to explaining the meanings treating it or reciting
it as a Tantrik recital.
ii.) DVAYAM: can be uttered by anyone (since it does not contain Pranavam).
So, there seems to be no harm in explaining the meanings of Dvayam to and
recited by those who desire to learn.
iii.) CHARAMASLOKAM: is taken out from Bhagavad Gita which itself is a part
of Mahabharata, an Itihasa. Saastras that prohibit the study of Vedas in
certain circumstances by certain people recommends to all, the study of
Puranas and Itihasas to clearly understand the contents of the Vedas. Thus,
there can be no bar to explaining the meanings or in reciting of
CharamaslOkam.
Therefore, it is believed that there can be no objection to explaining our
Siddhantam as revealed in the Granthas of our Swami Desikan which seek to
dispel doubts arising out of a study of the three great Mantras mentioned
above.
None others had so widely popularized the recitation of Sri Vishnu
Sahasranaamam in every household than a WOMAN, the great Sangeeta Kalanidhi
Late Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi. I wonder whether, but for her, the recitation
would have become such a roaring and thundering rendering in the hearths and
homes of the Aastika world today!
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3. WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL ABOUT RECITING SAHASRA NAAMAM AND SATHA NAAMAM?
It is said that the various Yugas have their own unique Dharmas that bestow
the same benefits. What can be achieved in one Yuga can be obtained by
adopting a different strategy in the other yugas as follows:
KRITA YUGA: Yoga NishTa or Dhyana (Concentrated meditation)
TRETA YUGA: Yagjna (Severe penance and Sacrifice).
It may be noted that we come across several references to Yaagas and Yagjnas
in Srimad Valmiki Ramayana.
DVAPARA YUGA: Archana (Intense worship by offering)
We have the story of Arjuna offering flowers in Archana to the Siras (head)
of Lord Siva and how the same were seen at the Paada (feet) of Lord KrishNa.
KALI YUGA: Naama Samkeerthanam (Reciting the names of Bhagavaan) and Daanam
(Gifts to the needy). The ?Naama? of the Lord is said to be more powerful
than the Lord Himself!
We have the story of how Rama had to build a bridge to cross over to Lanka
whereas by mere Rama Naama smaraNa, AanjanEya could jump across the vast
ocean.
Also, Thaayumaanavar explains the phenomenon by citing a mundane example. He
says just like a ripe banana in a bunch ripens the rest, Bhajans involving
group Naama Samkeerthanam would transform in due course even a
non-participant into an avid participant!
Thus, the shortcut to achieve maximum effect with minimum effort, in
Kaliyuga is Naama Samkeerthanam
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4. STHUTI AND SRUTI
We recited the StOtrams that invariably concluded with ?Phala Sruti?,
literally, the fruits of recitation of the Sthutis. The question arises as
to what is the difference between the two.
While the ?Sthuti? part, like the Vedas praise the qualities of Bhagavaan
(GuNa anubhavam), the ?Phala Sruti? details the fruits of reciting the
?Sthuti? that would accrue to those who recite as well as those who ?hear?.
That is, probably, why they are called ?Phala Sruti?. Human tendency is that
one would be interested in doing something only if and when one becomes
aware of the fruits of doing that something. At least hearing the benefits
would encourage people to take recourse to reciting the Sthutis. Thus, it is
a kind of psychological introduction!
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5. WHY RAMA, KRISHNA AND LAKSHMI ASHTOTHRAMS?
SRI RAMA ASHTOTHRAM:
Asmad Acharyan His Holiness Srimad Andavan of Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam,
a great Rama devotee who has written ?Ramapiraanai KarpOm? directed me to
recite Sundara KhanDam of Srimad Vaalmiki Ramayanam. I did this in 8 days
starting from Friday, 11th November 2005 and concluded on Friday 18th
November 2005 with Rama Pattabhisheka Sargam. This Sargam was again recited
in the morning to be followed by the AshTottaram in the group recitation.
SRI KRISHNA ASHTOTHRAM:
Swami Desika, who praised the glory of all Avataras in his Dasaavataara
Stotram, pays special tributes to Krishna Avatara and says:
?Nathaayaiva Namah Padam bhavatu? meaning ?The only one to whom I would
offer my obeisance is Lord Krishna?. This does not, however, mean that other
Avataras are any less important!
SRI MAHALAKSHMI ASHTOTHRAM:
Everybody wants wealth! Hinduism does not shun wealth. Of the four
objectives of life (Purushartas), ?Artha? (Wealth) and ?Kaama? (desire) are
adroitly sandwiched between ?Dharma? (righteousness) and ?Moksha?
(Liberation) to indicate that if artha and kaama are enjoyed on dharmic
lines, one would become fit for the final liberation. Who else can bless us
with such wealth than Sri Mahaalakshmi?
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2. IMPORTANT DAYS IN MAARGAZHI (DHANUR) MONTH
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DATE/ENGLISH)/DAY/NAKSHATRAM/ (THITHI)/ EVENT/ REMARKS
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01/ Margazhi/12.16.05 / Friday / Mrigasirsham / Pratamai
/ Dhanur Masa Puja begins
02/ VaiyattuVaazhveergaaL/12.17.05/ Saturday/ Tiruvadirai/ Dviteeyai/
03/ Ongi Ulagu/ 12.18.05/ Sunday/ Punarvasu/ Triteeyai/
PARASURAMA JAYANTI
04/ Aazhimazhai/ 12.19.05/ Monday/ Pushyam/ Chaturti/
05/ Maayanai/ 12.20.05/ Tuesday/ Magham/ Ayilyam/ Panchami/
06/ PuLLum/ 12.21.05/ Wednesday/ ShashTi/
07/ Keesu/ 12.22.05/ Thursday/ Pooram/ Saptami/
08/ Keezhvaanam/12.23.05/ Friday/ Uthram/ AshTami/
09/ Toomani/ 12.24.05/ Saturday/ Hastam/ Navami/
10/ Notru Suvargam/ 12.25.05/ Sunday/ Chitrai/ Dasami/
11/ katrukkaravai/ 12.26.05/ Monday/ Swati/ Dasami-Ekadasi/
12/ KanaithiLam/ 12.27.05/ Tuesday/ Visakam/ Krishna Paksha
EKADASI/SRI RANGANATHA SATAKOPA YMD (AM)
13/ PuLLINvaai/ 12.28.05/ Wednesday/Anusham/ Dvadasi/
14/ UngaL PuzhakkaDai/12.29.05/ Thursday/ Kettai/ Trayodasi/
TONDARADIPPODI AZHWAR, PERIYA NAMBIGAL
15/EllE!ILamkiLiyE!/ 12.30.05/ Friday/ Moolam/ Chaturdasi- Amavasya/
SARVA AMAVASYAI, SRI HANUMAT JAYANTI
16/ Naayakanaai/ 12.31.05/ Saturday/ PooraDam/ Pratamai/17/
17/ AmbaramE/ 01.01.06/ Sunday/ UtraDam/ Dviteeyai/
18/ UndumadakaLir/ 01.02.06/ Monday/ Tiruvonam/ Triteeyai/
SRAVANA VRATAM, PERIYA TIRUVADIGAL
19/ KutthuviLakku/ 01.03.06/ Tuesday/ AviTtam/ Chaturti/
AZHAGIYA MANAVALA PERUMAL NAYANAR
20/ Muppattumoovar/ 01.04.06/ Wednesday/ Sadayam/ Panchami/
21/ Yetrakalangal/ 01.05.06/ Thursday/ PooraTTadi/ ShashTi/
LAKSHMI NRISIMHA SATAKOPA YMD (AM)
22/ AngkaNN Maa/ 01.06.06/ Friday/ UthraTTadi/ Saptami/
KAL GARUDASEVAI
23/ Maarimalai Malai/ 01.07.06/ Saturday/ Revati/AshTami/
24/ Anrivvulagam ALandaai/ 01.08.06/ Sunday/Aswini-Navami/
25/ Oruthimaganaai/ 01.09.06/ Monday/ BharaNi/ Dasami/
26/ MaalE MaNIvaNNa! / 01.10.06/ Tuesday/ Kaartigai/ Sukla Paksha
VAIKUNTA EKADASI
27/KooDaarai Vellum/ 01.11.06/ Wednesday/ RohiNi/ Dvadasi/
KOODARAI VALLI
28/ Karavaigal pin/ 01.12.06/ Thursday/ Mrigasirsham/ TrayOdasi/
29/ Sitram SirukalE/ 01.13.06/ Friday/ Tiruvadirai/ Chaturdasi/
BHOGIPPANDIGAI
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Thai
01/ VangakkaDal/ 01.14.06/ Saturday/ Punarvasu/ PourNami/
UTTARAYANA PUNYA KAALAM, PONGAL PANDIGAI, MAKARA SANKRANTI
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