HH Sri PoundarIkapuram Andavan's forthcoming 80th Birthday Celebrations : Part II
From the Bhakti List Archives
• November 27, 2000
Dear BhakthAs :
I am enclosing a note from U.Ve. Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan(VNV) ,
a devout Sishyar of Srimath ParamahamsadyEthi Gopala Desika
MahA Desikan currently adorning the PoundarIkapuram Aasrama
Peetam .Dr.VNV and his family are our family's closest
friends and well wishers for number of decades .
Poundarikapuram is where my ancestors come from . They
settled in the early part of this century at Oppiliappan
Koil. Infact my grand father was known as PoundarIkapuram
Bruhaspathi . PoundarIkapuram and Lord Oppiliappan have tight
links . This will be beautifully brought out in the final
posting (Part III) on this background information postings
assembled with great care and affection by Dr.VNV.
I have the greatest reverence for Srimath PoundarIkapuram
Andavan and His many MahOpakArams that he has done for
the protection of the magnificient Sri Sookthis of
our PoorvAchAryAs , stressing the importance of VedAdhyanam ,
strict observance of AachAram and anushtAnam and so many other
upakArams for the Aasthikaa Community . All the other senior
AchAryAs including adiyEn's AchAryan (Srimath Azhagiya Singar)
have the highest regards for Srimath PoundarIkapuram and
are going to be there in person at Srirangam to celebrate
Srimath Andavan's 80th Birthday on March 30 , 2001.
I would like to join with sihyAs of Srimath PoundarIkapuram
Andavan to help celebrate the planned five day celebrations
at Srirangam and request all abhimAnis of this AchArya
Saarvabhouman to support the many projects that He has
in mind for the coming decade . Sriman MuraLi Rangaswamy
of Srimath Andavan Sishya Paramparai will be key point of
contact for us all here to receive instructions on how to send
our Tax deductible samarpaNams for this important occasion .
May I request Srimans I.V.K. Chary and Sudarshan to help us
with coordinating the support for this Kaimkaryam on behalf
of AasthikAs in the Middle East? Thank you all !
The special note prepared for this occasion by Dr.VNV is attached:
A Note on
> Sri Paravakkottai Srimad Andavan's Satabhisheka (30.3.2001)
>
>The lineage of Acharyas down from the first patriarch, Nammazhvar, to this
>day is unbroken; continuous; highly holy even for mere mental remembrance.
>There are many branches; all are indeed great. The one that flows from
>Satakopa via Ramanuja and Vedanta Desika is truly a tradition that attaches
>to Karma, Jnana, Discipline, Bhakti and Prapatti path a high degree of
>importance without ignoring one or the other. The Maths of Ahobila and
>Parakala are clear-cut streams, well organised, well-supported, deservedly
>so, and truly intensely engaged in propagation of the system and inspiring
>the devotees.
>
>The one, that remains, is the so-called Munitraya tradition. The three
>lineage streams (for Rahasyatrayasara, Bhashyas and Bhagavad-vishaya
>respectively) flow into the water-shed, namely Thirukkudanthai Desikan from
>whom again a number of streams flow. One among them is the Andavan
>Tradition particularly made popular by a central figure, namely Sri
>Poundarikapuram Andavan. His Asramam, like a hermitage of an ancient sage,
>is situated on the southern bank of the Coleroon river, near Sri
>Ranganatha's shrine and some 200 yards west of Sri Dasavataran Sannidhi of
>Sri Ahobila Mutt. The present Acharya in this Asramam is Sri
>Paramahamsetiyadi Gopaladesika Mahadesikan (Sri Paravakkottai Andavan).
>His Sathabhishekam falls on 30.3.2001. Elaborate arrangements are being
>made to celebrate it in a fitting manner at the Asramam premises.
>
>Readers have got to be told a few unknown things in this connection. They
>should not read any unintended comment in these words that are necessary
>for the occasion. There are disciples to this Asramam. Scattered all over
>and steadfast over three centuries; they will come to the Asramam once in a
>way, for initiation, submitting invitations, for receiving blessings or for
>reviving old connections on a pilgrimage to Srirangam. May be, the
>disciples belonging to other traditions outnumber the Asramam disciples in
>reckoning these visits. The Andavan shows the same kindness to all,
>blesses them all for good auspices, encourages them to partake of meals ;
>indeed persons sticking to a high level of orthodoxy have had the best
>place for food! But for this, the Acharya has no opportunity of meeting
>disciples and devotees. Not only the present Andavan, but his predecessors
>as well had been following this practice mostly so.
>
>One may wonder why, Their interest is in preserving the personal discipline
>of the ascetic; performing the pooja for Perumals and Acharya Padukas every
>day; giving Sri Bhashya and other discourses every day; guide and help in
>publication of religious texts like Rahasyatrayasara; and their discipline
>in regard to ascetic order , sandhya at the right moment, baths every day
>thrice, fast on Ekadesi and austere days etc. which is adhered to very
>tenaciously even to this day. Their lack of concern for monetary
>acquisition -- for this very reason their total neglect of any prospective
>programme of expansion, which would involve money that they do not have!--
>summarises their philosophy. But yet things go on.
>
>The Andavan is, however, interested in promotion of the Veda and Vedic
>pandits. Daily parayana, Achidra -asvamedha and kataka (on Ekadasi/
>Dwadasi days), the fast disappearing sadas pattern of Sri Bhashya debate,
>Sanskrit education and spiritual training to the next generation of youth.
>Only when these projects are spelled out, he agrees to fund-collection,
>hesitantly though. We, his disciples, fortunately possessing a proper
>perspective for the sustenance and future development of the Asramam,
>especially as a centre of religious sanctity and beacon-light to all
>spiritualists, have chalked out a number of projects to achieve the
>earlier-mentioned laudable goals.
>
>I need not elaborate on the respectability and reputation of Sri
>Paravakkottai Andavan in the eyes of Sri Azhagiyasingars (the 44th and
>45th) Srimad Andavan of Srirangam Periasramam. Sri Parakala Matt swamy and
>Sri Rangapriya Swami not to speck of great householder swamis scattered
>throughout. All the four Ascetic Acharyas are Patrons to our Satabhisheka
>committee; all will grace the occasion. never can such a unique festivity
>be imagined. Many improvements in the Asramam are mandatory for future.
>Youths have got to be developed for orthodox line of activity: this can
>possibly be dreamt of only at a place like Srirangam. The spring of pious
>religious life remains in Srirangam even as the spring of funds and
>monetary support is only in the US. It cannot be the other way! If such
>pristine punity, discipline or scholarship are not encouraged, what would
>happen to the future, even if you are all earnest seekers of religious
>initiation? You may belong to any school, to which you may have to help
>liberally. The cause I espouse does not compete; it is supplementary to
>the other causes; this is the right occasion too. Hence I appeal, in the
>name of Sri Desika for causes dear to His heart, at the critical hour, for
>a quantum around US Dollars 1,000 from each one of your benevolent hands.
>You may earmark it for any specific project dear to you, even if not spelt
>out so far by us. This help may assuredly prove your major service to the
>cause of our sampradaya for a long time to come.
V.N.VedAntha Desikan
West Mambalam , Chennai .
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- SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
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