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81st Tirunakshatram Celebrations of H.H. Srimad Poundarikapuram Andavan Swami

From the Bhakti List Archives

Muralidhar Rangaswamy • December 20, 2000 


Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Dear Bhaktas,

Adiyen is delighted to see the recent appeal of Sriman Madhavakkannan 
Swamin for the 81st TN 
celebrations of Asmadacharyan, H.H. Sri Paravakottai Andavan Swami of 
Srimad Poundarikapuram 
Ashramam. H.H. is known for his uncompromising attitude reagrding 
anushtanam. The compassion and 
Vatsalyam of H.H. are limitless. Their welfare is foremost in his 
mind. H.H. Sri 
Gopaladesika Mahadesikan Swami tends to the yogakshemam of shishyas 
and abhimanis in the same 
spirit as Krishna (Gopala-the Supreme Protector of the cows) guarded 
the cows of Brindavan.  
This in turn motivates him to unremittingly remind all shishyas and 
abhimanis the anushtanam 
required of them. In this post adiyen will focus on the uncompromising 
attitude of H.H. with 
regard to Trikala Sandhyavandanam. 

At the outset, adiyen wishes to point out that H.H. is the foremost 
practitioner of what 
he preaches and is widely regarded as a Vashishta for his anushtanam. 
Throughout, he has led a life in strict accordance with the Shastraic 
prescriptions. 

Adiyen is most grateful to H.H. for constantly reminding him of the 
importance of trikala 
Sandhyavandanam. During adiyen's visit to India for Bharanyasam, H.H. 
gave a wonderful 
upadesham focussing on this subject. Another person (AP)  belonging to 
a pre-eminent 
Swayamacharya lineage, also wished to have his Bharanyasam performed 
at the same time as 
adiyen. H.H. gently enquired of this person 
"Do you perform TrikAla Sandhya ?" 
AP (remorsefully): "No. I somehow gave it up"
H.H. "How did this happen?"
AP "Work pressure left no time for this"
H.H. "Did you give up your meals due to work pressure?"
AP "No"
H.H. "Partaking of daily meals is a Vedic rite. Consequently, 
traivarnikas cannot perform this 
rite without performing Sandyavandanam. The Smritis declare Sandhya 
hIna: nithya ashuchi 
(He who does not perform regular Sandhyavandanam is forever impure. 
Therefore, he is unfit to 
perform any ritual. Therefore, one who is impure forfeits his right to 
daily meals! 
Furthermore, a Chandala is one who is exempt from performing 
Sandyavandanam. This is due to 
his profession. Therefore, he is called a janma chandala. However, a 
Brahmin who gives up 
performance of Trikala Sandhya becomes a Karma Chandala (He who 
becomes a chandala by failing 
to perform the rites enjoined for a Brahmin). This is a miserable 
state for him,  as a result 
of which he becomes undeserving of the title BrahmaNa. A true friend 
is one who is very much 
concerned about his comrade's welfare. He need not provide his comrade 
with expensive gifts to 
show display affection/concern. However, the greatest service he can 
render for his comrade is 
the performance of Sandya of the latter's behalf, when the latter is 
in a state that does not 
permit him to do his daily duties (BrahmaNatvattai kApAthi 
kudukarradu). 

Lord Narayana has declared in that the 
Shastras (Shruti and Smriti) are verily His commands.  Those who 
violate these commands are 
verily traitors and even if they are His Bhaktas, they do not endear 
themselves to Him. In 
this respect the Lord acts very much in the manner of a father 
concerned about the welfare of 
his children. There is no doubt that the Lord has utmost affection for 
his children. Will a 
father tolerate it if his children do not go to school and study well? 
Absolutely not. 
The Lord's statement with respect to anushtanam is similar.  The 
foremost Mantrams of Vedic 
origin are Gayathri and Ashtaksharam. The former is necessarily a 
prelude to the latter in 
terms of recitation. Thus Gayathri Mantram plays a pivotal role in 
realizing Lord Narayana. 

You come from a lineage that is known for its scholarship and 
anushtanam. You enjoy special 
previleges (Mudal teertham) at  (unspecified on purpose)  Divyadesham. 
Should you not have the 
anushtanam to go with these previleges? When gruhastas come to me, I 
instruct their wives do 
not give your husband coffee in the morning. First insist that he take 
his bath and wait for 
him with Sandhyavandana Shombu filled with water. Similarly, when he 
returns from work in the 
evening do not give him coffee. Wait for him with Sandhyavandana 
Shombu filled with water. 
Also tell him that food will not be served unless Sandyavandanam is 
completed. Therefore, 
there is no excuse for not performing Trikala Sandhyavandanam. Do you 
read fluently in Tamizh 
or Sanskrit?"

AP: "Tamizh"
H.H. "Take this book on Sandhyavandanam along with you, read them well 
and master them. 
Come back after ten days, and I shall ask you to recite these 
Mantrams. We can then discuss 
the performance of Bharanyasam." Throughout this upadesham, there was 
not a trace of anger on 
the face of H.H. Instead, his demeanor was most gentle but firm and 
uncompromising. Adiyen was 
deeply touched by the words of H.H. 

H.H. then enquired of adiyen "Nee Trikala Sandhya PaNNaraya"
Adiyen "Avashyam PaNNarEn"
(It was well into the evening hours and adiyen had just then arrived 
by car from Bangalore)
H.H. "Inniki sayam Sandhya yenga paNNai"
Adiyen "mAnasikamA paNNEn"
H.H. "uLLai poyi shombu vayndu Sayam Sandhya Pannittu vA prasadam 
sapadarthukku. Whenever 
you are in a situation where you cannot peform Sandhyavandanam by the 
proper method, at the 
first available opportunity you must offer prayaschitta arghyam and 
perform the Sandyavandanam 
before partaking of meals"

Recently, adiyen was informed that H.H. wrote a series of articles on 
Sandyavandanam and its 
importance at various times in the Kanchi PeraruLalan periodical. 
Currently efforts are 
underway to compile these articles in the form of a book. The book 
release is planned for the 
near future (next 1-2 months). In addition, H.H. has appointed great 
scholars in places like 
Chennai, Bangalore, and Delhi to teach the principles and practice of 
Trikala Sandyavandanam. 

Such a great Mahan, Anushtana Chakravarthi! His compassion towards 
aparadha 
chakravarthi, adiyen, is most touching. He continues to reform and 
redeem several suffering 
jivans like adiyen. Is it not our duty to support Him, and nourish the 
roots of this 
institution for maintaining such high Sampradayic standards? Please 
donate generously to the 
cause of the 81st Tirunakshatram celebrations planned for March 24-31, 
2001. Contributions 
from the USA are tax exempt. Please mail your checks to

SMSA Inc,
c/o Smt. Nagu Satyan,
7821 W Alder Drive
Littleton, CO 80128

Please indicate on the memo of your check that your contribution is 
for Srimad Poundarikapuram 
Ashramam. H.H. will be delighted if all asthikas, shishyas, and 
abhimanis attend the function 
in 2001. Please mark this event on your calendar. 

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan




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