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//
Dear Friends,
JUST RETURNED FROM VAIKUNTAM!
Would you believe if someone were to tell you that he / she had been
to "VaikunTam" (a.k.a "Paramapadam" and "Nitya Vibhooti" and just
returned?
There is a proverb in Tamil which says:
"KaNDavar ViNDathillai; ViNDavar KaNDathillai"
Meaning
"One who had gone there never returned to report and the
One who dared to report had never gone there!"
But, the claim at the commencement of this posting that "I just
returned from "VaikunTam" is also true to an extent ? NOT Srirangam
reputed to be "BhoolOka VaikunTam", but Sri Ranganatha Temple at
Pomona, New York.
People describe Pomona as a replica of the grandeur of Srirangam.
But those who were fortunate to witness the first BrahmOTsavam
celebrated there from 3rd to 8th July 2007 would agree that Pomona
had excelled the "Original BhoolOka VaikunTam".
This is no exaggeration nor does it seek to denigrate the holy
status of Srirangam consecrated by all the Azhwars and which will
forever remain truly original.
But, the thorough manner of the rites and rituals were organized by
"Paramaikanti Sarvabhouman" Sri Venkat Kanumalla Swami and his
dedicated band of Trustees like Sri Srinivas Tanikalla Swami, Sri
Murthy Ayyala Swami and scores of volunteers was really for "Gods to
see"!
The BrahmOTsavam (that was already overdue) had to be celebrated
hurriedly before the end of Uttarayanam that was fast approaching in
the next few days, arrangements had to be made at short notice. But
thanks to due diligence and dedication of the volunteers every
detail was meticulously attended to without skipping any essentials.
Anyone who was someone worthy of being mentioned as "Bhagavata" was
present at the premises coming as they did from far flung areas
between the East coast and the West coast. This was a telling
attestation of the Slokam in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.48.31 which says
that bath in sacred waters and even worshipping Archa moorthis in
temples can purify one's soul only in due course but the very sight
of the congregation of Sadhus can do the same almost instantly.
Na hi ammayaani therthaani na devaa: mrith silaa mayaa:/
tE punanti uru-kaalEna Darsanaad Eva Saadhava: //
I may mention in this regard that my connections with this temple
are special for the following reasons -
- Firstly, it was at the feet of Prakritam Azhagiya Singhar
(in His Poorvaasramam) that I had the Bhaghyam of learning through
Closed-circuit KaalakshEpamas Grantha ChatushTayams that any
VaishNava ought to learn in one's lifetime.
- Secondly, it was my own nephew, Late Sri Ranganathan
Kuppuswami who dreamed of raising a temple for Sri Ranganatha in the
USA (as per the wishes of H.H. 44th PaTTam Mukkur Azhagiya
Singhar).He was also instrumental in providing necessary motivation
in the first place.
Special mention should be made of the following:
1. PRIEST SERVICES
It was a daring attempt to embark on conducting this huge festival
(Brahma+ Utsavam) with just 2 or 3 priests. Yet, the devotion and
dedication with which the priests conducted the various Homams like
Vaasudeva Homam, Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Homam, Srimad Ramayana Homam,
Mahalakshmi Homam, Maha-Sudarsana Homam, Kalyana Utsavams. Pushpa
Yaagam etc with meticulous attention to every detail were indeed
breathtaking. The Alankarams (costumes) for the Lord for Purappadus
(Circumambulation) both in the morning and the evening were
matchless. The services of Sri Srinivasa Raghavan Swami from Andhra,
Sri Naryana Bhattar Swamin from Karnataka and Sri Upadhyaayam
Srinivasan (Vasu) Swamin from Tamilnadu were particularly noteworthy.
2 MASTERS OF CEREMONIES
It is discipline that differentiates an orderly brigade from a
motley crowd. Even the Lord is assisted by Sri Vishwaksenar in
organizing his devotees. We had a couple of such "Masters of
ceremonies" in Sri K.V. Narayanan and Sri A.M.R. Kannan who spared
no efforts to regulate the proceedings with razor sharp precision at
every stage.
3 MUSIC GALORE
The Nadaswaram party consisting of two Vidwans on the pipe and two
on percussion (Thavil) was ever ready with their enchanting music.
The Tavil Vidwan who performed in sync with the modulations of
recitation of the mantras set to music by Sri Srinivasa Raghavan
Swami is absolutely unforgettable.
4. SRIMAN THAANGIGAL
The volunteers who bore the Pallakkus housing the Divya Dampatis
during circumambulations were all highly placed officers in their
professional careers but were amateurs in this job. "Sriman
Thangigals" at Srirangam, however, are hailing from generations of
experts in the art. Yet, the performances of these amateurs excelled
those of Srirangam professionals! When the Lord danced our hearts
danced in unison and some were tempted to dance physically too! Such
an enthralling experience it was!
5. NADAI, UDAI, VADAI
It used to be said that the gait (naDai) of Sri Ranganatha (in
Srirangam), costume (UDai) of Kanchi Varadaraja and the edible cake
(VaDai) of Tirumalai TiruvenkatamuDaiyaan are famous. In Pomona
BrahmOTsavam all there was a combination of the best of all the
three!
6. FOOD
Food was aplenty and always available on all the days FOR FREE to
all those who attended the Utsavam. "Even an army marches on its
stomach"
The never ending stream of visitors was fed with a variety of items
to heart's content. The food was as filling in the belly as the
Darshan of the Lord in various Sannidhis was filling to the heart.
The credit for the preparation of such delicious fare goes to Sri
Muralikrishnan Swami, who toiled day and night untiringly and with a
smiling countenance at all times.
7. ENTERTAINMENTS
There were a number of entertainments in music and dance which kept
the audience spell bound in the afternoons.
8. VAAHANAMS (MOUNTS)
The most essential requirement of BrahmOTsavam is the provision of
Vaahanams (mounts) on which the Lord goes about giving Darshan even
to those who could not or would not come to the temple. I believe
that the temple is at present having only GaruDa Vaahanam.
I will conclude this report with a request to all devotees to donate
liberally for acquiring Vaahanams (Mounts) for the temple like Aswa
(Horse), Gaja (Elephant), Simha( Lion) SEsha (Serpent), Hanumatha
(Anjaneya), Karpaka Vriksham (The Wish- yielding tree), Surya Prabha
(The Sun dial), Chandra Prabha (The Arc of the Moon), Hamsa ( Swan)
besides Rathams (Chariots). This done, the future BrahmOTsavams
would be really what they ought to be.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
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