Sri:
Dear Sri Madhavakkannan,
Unfortunately, I am not able to be in Bangalore today. Adiyen had just sent
letter in expression of my gratitude to Acharyan . I am expecting the Ashrama
Volunteers to deliver this to Swamiji. Hopefully he receives it. I am not
workty of writing such anubhavams, but nontheless I wanted to make up for my
not being there.
Dasan
Haresh
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Haresh Balasubramaniam <haresh.balasubramaniam@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Subject: Acharyan Thirunakshatram
To: Venkatesan K <venkat.blore@xxxxxxxxx>
sri:
Dear Venkat,
I have written a short essay today in light of our acharyan's birthday. Will
you be able to hand it over to your father for taking over to Swamiji ? As my
wife was not able to attend this week, we are both unable to be in Bangalore
for the celebrations. Thanks in advance for your help. Adiyen.
B.Haresh
********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Expression of Gratitude to my Acharya , Sri Rangapriya Maha Desika
Om Ajnana timirandasya jnananjana shalakaya|
Chakshur unmeelitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah ||
The above verse is taught to vedic students when they commence their studies of
the ancient scriptures. The verse illustrates how one is immersed in the
darkness known as ignorance , and his eyes are opened by the light of spiritual
knowledge administered by the guru or acharya. In the spirit of this ancient
prayer, I would like to take a few moments today on account of his birth day (
Thirunakshatra) to honor my acharya, HH Sri Rangapriya Mahadesika of Ashtanga
Yoga Vijnana Mandiram of Bangalore.
Like many a lost soul, I experimented with various spiritual practices and
traditions for years. Little did I gain from those efforts , as each path led
me to a dead end. In January 2004, I had the opportunity of meeting HH Swamiji
for the first time. After, offering namaskaras, I lifted my head to look at
the mahatma seated before us .His eyes were full of compassion , yet piercing.
He had offered to answer any questions that were in my mind. By that time , all
the questions had already vanished. I felt that at that moment, without a
doubt that I have found the one who will free me from the darkness known as "
ajnana " or ignorance. I fell at his feet and requested to undergo Pancha
Samskara- the initiation rites of the Sri Vaishnavas. He agreed to perform my
pancha samksara after my Dhivya Kshetra tour.
After visits to Melkote, Thondanur and Sri Rangapatna, Swamiji formally
initiated me into the Ramanuja Sampradaya . Thereafter with Swamiji's blessings
, I visited Madhya Ranga and Satyagalam. It was in Satyagalam, I had the
opportunity of performing the first Ashtakshara Mantra Japa under the Jnana
Aswatha Tree . It was under this very tree , on the banks of the Kaveri that
the great Acharya Vedanta Desika used to perform his anushtanams. By visiting
Melkote and Satyagalam, Swamiji ensured that I received the blessings of both
Acharya Ramanuja and Swami Desika. I returned to visit swamiji again, after my
visit to Satyagalam. From then on, I did not look back . In 2005 , I moved to
India from Singapore, on account of professional duties and have remained here
since. I made it a point to visit Swamiji whenever time permitted. Over the
years, I developed a somewhat intimate Guru-Sishya relationship with His
Holiness.
In my various interactions with Swamiji, I came to understand that his approach
to spirituality did not lie in the theoretical reading of spiritual texts or
blind recitation of the various Sanskrit and Tamil verses. Swamiji, having a
strong foundation in the ancient system of Ashtanga Yoga, paid more attention
to the experiential aspect of spiritual life. It was in one of our personal
conversations where he pointed out â Puja, Stotra, Japa, Dhyana and Samadhi
were the rungs of the spiritual ladder. He would often question my consistency
in mantra japa in contrast to the other practices, (which I am embarrassed to
say is not up to the mark). However he was also ( and still is) very
encouraging of nitya aradhana (Puja) and Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam (Stotra).
Each of these practices involve engaging our senses totally in the service of
God, the difference being in the intensity. The goal of all such spiritual
activity is to establish an unwavering
relationship with the Paramatman.
Let us take a few moments today on his Thiru Nakshatra, or Birthday to thank
Lord Srimannarayana and Goddess Mahalakshmi, for placing in our midst, such an
Acharya who is full of compassion for the fallen souls. Let us all take a few
minutes each day to reflect on our Acharya's glories, recite his Guru Mantra
and make our best effort in following his teachings. Srimate Rangapriya
Mahadesikaya Namah:
Dasan
Haresh Balasubramaniam ( Srimannarayana Dasan)
Thai , Makham, Feb 10 2009, Mumbai
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