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Pittsburgh Bhaktha Sammelanam , May 23-24, 1998

From the Bhakti List Archives

Sadagopan • May 25, 1998 


Dear BhakthAs of Sri VenkatEsA :

I can not thank you enough for the substantive contributions
that you made to make the Pittsburgh Conference a delectable
anubhavam and grand success that it is . Thank you for your
acceptance of my invitation to particpate in this conference
and cover the topics assigned to you to make the whole conference
an integrated essence of Sri Bhagavadh RaamAnuja SiddhAntham .

>From the feedbacks that all of us have received , it is clear
that the participants and the audience had a wonderful time
appreciating the great contributions of AzhwArs , AchAryAs 
and NadhOpAsakaas for celebrating the glories of the Lord
of Sapthagiri .Personally , it was a moving experience
for me and I thank you for all of your co-operation 
and courtesies extended during the organizational 
phase of the conference as well as the support during 
the two days of the conference itself.

Our special thanks are to our host Dr.Narender Reddy and 
the Executive Board of the Temple for supporting 
this confernce in every way they can and for deciding 
to have these SammElanams annually .The topic for 
next year would be Srimadh Bhaagavatham . Dr.Narender Reddy 
has helped us immensely at every phase of the organization of 
this conference . I extend to him , my personal thanks 
as well . The recognition of the participants by 
the President and all other officials at the end of the 
sessions with Veda Manthrams recited by Sri Saaranaatha Bhattar 
was a memorable experience .

We started with Chathur Vedams , followed it with 
Divya Prabhandham recital and had twice the most
beautiful naadha NaivEdhyam by VidvAn Madhurai Sundar
and party as well as by Dr. Myhtili Krishnan .
We concluded the function with Ghanam rendering
and thus Veda GhOsham ( Sanskrit an Tamil) were
enjoyed at the beginnings and end of these sessions .

Sri Madhurai Sunder's taste in the selection of AzhwAr krithis 
abnd other krithis appropriate to DasAvathAram of
Lord VenkatEsa and his exquisite muscial talent 
and Bhaavam in rendering these krithis are very much appreciated .

This musical NaivEdhyam continued wiht the rendering of the two
Purandara Daas Krithis by the musicians associated with 
Professor M.G.Prasad's group .The final Naada NaivEdhyam was
provided by Dr.Mythili Krishnan , who rendered the bhakthi-laden
padams of AnnamAchAryA , who received the BharanyAsam 
from the First Jeeyar of AhObila Mutt . That lovely 
lec/dem fitted very wel with the central theme of 
the conference (viz)., SaraNAgathi at the Lotus feet of 
Sriman NaarAyaNA . 

Every one of the speakers brought special insights 
into the topics assigned to them and gave spirited 
and enjoyable presentations . The care they took 
and the cogency with which they drove the central 
messages of their talks were noteworthy .Thanks one and
all for your most appreciated contributions .

Our Special thanks to Dr. Bindhu Madhavan , Srimathi
Jahnavi Madhavan and Dr.Gajavalli Srinivasan and
Srimahti ShobhA Srinivasan for their wonderful 
hospitality to many of us and inviting us to join 
in the prAtha: kaala AarAdhanam and sharing of 
Bhagavadh PrasAdham at the end of these AarAdhanams 
on the Dwaadasi day and the next day . The hospitality 
of this family is legendary and our prayers to
Sri VenktEsA and Udippi KrishNA to bless this 
family with every soubhAgyam . 

personally , IT WAS A GREAT BHAAGYAM FOR ME TO BE BLESSED BY 
SRI VENKATESAA TO BE THE CHAIR OF THIS CONFERENCE THAT
FOCUSED ON HIM AS THE PRESIDING DEITY OF THE PITTSBURGH 
TEMPLE . HE USED ME AS HIS INSTRUMENT TO ORGANIZE THIS
EVENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS BHAKTHAAS . HIS DARSANAM
AFTER HIS THIRUMANJANAM ALONE ON SUNDAY WAS SUFFICENT REWARD
FOR THIS KAIMKARYAM THAT HE COMMANDED US TO DO TOGETHER .

Thanks for all of your support in creating a trend-setting
conference in support of Sri Bhagavadh RaamAnuja SiddhAntham 
at America's renowned VishNu temple , where Pittsburgh Gireesan
presides .

Sarvam KrishnArpaNam asthu .
Govindha Naama Sankeerthanam , GovindhA , GovindhA !
Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan