Asmad Acharyan's 81st birth anniversary celebrations in New Jersey.
From the Bhakti List Archives
• April 5, 2001
Asmad Acharyan Paravakkottai Andavan Sri Poundareekapuram Sri Gopala Desika Maha Desikan's 81st birth anniversary celebrations in New Jersey, on April 1, 2001. SrI: SrImatE GopAla Desika MahA DesikAya nama: Adiyongal, sishyas of Prakrutham Srimad Paravakkottai Andavan who could not be in Srirangam during the Acharya's Thirunakshatram celebrations bow to our Acharya and would like to place before the group an account of Asmad Acharyan's 81st birth anniversary celebrations in New Jersey. With the anugrahams of Srimad Paravakkottai Andavan, Emperumanar, and Sri Ranganayika Sametha Sri Ranganathar, Srimad Paravakkottai Andavan's sishyas in New Jersey celebrated Asmad Acharyan's 81st birth anniversary celebrations in the residence of Sriman T.R.Govindarajan on April 1, 2001. The functions were held in Sriman Govindarajan's house main hall beginning at 9:30 a.m. The hall was decorated suitably by Srimathi Sumithra Govindarajan and her son Raghav. Sri Ramanujar, Sri Vedantha Desikar and Sri Manavala Mamunigal adorned the walls with Piratti and Periya Perumal. A large Sankhu and Chakram drawn by hand by Srimathi Sumithra and colored golden yellow flanked either sides of Perumal and was nice to behold. On the wall we had pictures of all prominent Acharyas of Sri Vaishnavam. The pictures of Asmad Acharyan Sri GopAla DesikA MahA DesikAn, Srirangam Periyasrmam Srimushnam Andavan, Srimad Azhagiya Singar (45th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt), Sri Sri Sri Tridandi SrimanNarayana Jeeyar, and Sri RangaPriya Swamy decorated the wall. The pictures of other Acharyas who have attained paramapatham were also there. Two glowing "PanchaMukha Kuttuvillaku" gave illumination to already brightly lit hall, flickering lightly as if beckoning everyone and the all important 'kolam' shined on the table with Acharyas' portraits. The functions started with the recitation of Thanians of all Acharyas of Sri Poundareekapuram Ashramam. Sarvashree Lakshmanan, Govindarajan, and Ramkumar Gopalaswamy recited the Thanians. This was followed by Nithyanusanthanam recitation of Thiruppallandu, Thirupalliyezhuchi and Thiruppaavai by us with Sri Manivannan, Sriman Dr. M.G. Prasad, and Sri Poondi Vijayaraghavan joining the ghoshti. We recited paasuram on Periyazhwar from Prabhandhasaram(9) after reciting Thiruppallandu, paasuram on Sri Thondaradippodiyaazhwar from Prabhandhasaram(11) after reciting Thirupalliyezhuchi, and paasuram on Sri Andal from Prabhandhasaram(10) after Thiruppavai. This was followed by recitation of Adaikkalapattu. Next recitation was Adhikarasakiraham. Sri Manivannan led the ghoshti in the recitation of Upadesa Ratthinamalai which was appreciated by all. By this time many other sishyas had joined us. Shanti Mantram PruthIvI shAnthA was recited followed by Sikshavalli, Briguvalli, led by Dr. Prasad. Veda parayanam was concluded with recitation of Shanti Mantram again. Desika Stotrams were recited next and the ghoshti was led superbly by Srimans Shyam Sundar Srinivasan and Venkatanathan Srinivasan. The following Desika Stotrams were recited: Shristuti, Bagavadhyana sopanam,Sudarsana ashtakam, Shodasayutha stotram, Srikamasika ashtakam, and Sri Mahavira vaibhavam. Everyone was deeply moved when the rendering of Sri Mahavira vaibhavam was done signifying Sri Rama Navami(April 2). It is to be noted AsmadAcharyan likes recitation of Srimad Ramayanam and all that is connected to this great epic. This was followed by a brief talk by adiyen with the intention of introducing AsmadAcharyan to the sishyas of other Ashrams who had assembled there. Adiyen was planning to speak for only five minutes and was thinking adiyen was not having any material for five minutes even. All the listeners were paying so much attention, adiyen did not notice time passing so quickly that adiyen had to be told that twenty minutes had passed. Adiyen concluded the talk at this time. It is only AsmadAcharyan's anugraham adiyen could say a few words about AsmadAcharyan, his life and work. All the sishyas gathered got a glimpse of AsmadAcharyan's greatness especially his steadfastness to Anushtanams. Recitation/ of Sri Lakshmi Ashtottara Sathanama Stotram and Sri VishnuSahasrnamam was done next in an excellent manner by all those assembled which included Sriman Poondi VijayaRaghavan and his wife Srimathi Pankaja, Sriman Gopala Kannan and his wife Srimathi Viji, Sri Srinivasa Raghavan and his wife Srimathi Viji, Srimathi Veena and Sriman Mohan, Sri Sambasivan and his wife Janaki, Sri Govindarajan Kadambi and his wife Revathi, Sri Manikantan and his wife Srimathi Visalakshi, Sri SreePraksh Rengarajan and his wife Lakshmi(newly married), Sri Parthasarathy Srinivasan and his wife Subha,Sri Manivannan, Sri Murali Parthasarathy, and Sri Jayakumar. The ghoshti was ably led by Srimathi Geetha Prasad and her sister Veena. Dr. M.G. Prasad then gave an illuminating talk on Acharya Bhakti. He stressed the need for an Acharya for every body and gave examples of Acharya Bhakti. Most of us residing in New Jersey/New york area and almost all those assembled on that day to pay respects to AsmadAcharyan have learnt at the least a Stotra, a Suktha, or a part of Veda from Dr. Prasad. For all of us he is another Acharya to be respected. It is very appropriate that Sriman Govindarajan asked Dr. Prasad to speak on Acharya Bhakti that day. Thaligai was offered to Perumal. Being the hostess, Srimathi Sumithra Govindarajan had done most of the items. Srimathi Pankaja, Srimathi Vijaya, Srimathi Revati and Srimathi Janaki also contributed to Thaligai. Sattrumurai was then offered to Perumal. The Sattrumurai paasurams from the following was done: Thiruppavai, ThiruPallandu, Adhikara sangraham, Prabhandha saram, Adaikkalapathu, and Pillai Andadi. Srimans Shyam Sundar Srinivasan and Venkatanathan Srinivasan. led the ghoshti in performing Acharya Sambhavanai. Sambhavanai was done to our Purva Acharyas of Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam, and Srimad Paravakkottai Andavan Sri Gopala Desika MahaDesikan. This was continued with Acharya Sambhavanai to these Acharyas:Srirangam Periyasrmam Srimushnam Andavan, Srimad Azhagiya Singar (45th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt), Sri RangaPriya Swami, and Sri Sri Sri Tridandi SrimanNarayana Chinna Jeeyar. Sri Vedantha Desikan Vazhi Thirunamam was then recited, followed by Peria Andavan and Sri Manavala Mamunigal Vazhi Thirunamam. The celebrations concluded with recitations of Sri Vedanta Desika Mangalam, and Srimad PeriAndavan Mangalam, and Thanians of Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam and of Prakrutham Andavans. Additional notes: As the ghoshti of 32 dispersed, the euphoria of Bhakti in general and Acharya Bhakti in particular was prevalent in everyone's mind. It is Asmad Acharyan's "aasigal" (blessings). Personally adiyEn feels that is what counts. The recitations have been a great catalyst in giving a boost to that feeling. One couple who attended Acharya's celebrations said they should be invited for all future such Satsangams like this. Sriman Govindarajan had made copies of all the stotrams, pasurams/vedams recited so everyone could refer to the texts. All those present could participate in the recitations since everyone knew some Stotra or sloka or paasurams if not all that we recited. This is what our Acharya has stressed. We are all Vaishnavas and should be united. If a person from another tradition is following our tradition willingly, we should honor him by following his tradition also. This our Acharyan has told is important, especially in foreign countries where there are only few who follow the Vaishnavite traditions and much less adopting our tradition. Sriman Govindarajan and Srimathi Sumithra Govindarajan honored everyone who had assembled with traditional "vetrilai pakku" and gifts. vachaka dosha: kshantavya: Sriman Emperumanar thiruvadigale Saranam Asmad Acharyan Tiruvadigale Saranam adiyEn Lakshmana dAsan -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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