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PRAKRITAM AZHAGIYA SINGHAR (PART 10)

From the Bhakti List Archives

Ramanbil • December 8, 1998 


PRAKRITAM AZHAGIYA SINGHAR, 
MY ACHARYA, FRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDE (PART 10)

Dear Bhagavatas,
Presented below is Part 10 on the above subject being excerpts from my talk
during the 600th Anniversary Celebrations of Ahobila Matam held at New York
during the first week of September 1998.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
=============================================================

NEXUS OF AHOBILA MUTT WITH 
POUNDARIKAPURAM ANDAVAN ASRAMAM

· The nexus that exists between Ahobila Mutt and Poundarikapuram Andavan
Asramam is indeed very long standing. The heads of the two institutions have
always held each other in very high esteem despite overzealous Sishyas and
vested interests outside trying to engineer disaffection between them.

· The 42nd Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt, Srivann Satakopa Sri Sriranga Satakopa
Yathindra Maha Desikan, otherwise known as Sri Injimettu Azhagiyasinghar whom
we celebrate today for founding the Malola Vidwat Sadas, Madurantakam College,
Nrisimhapriya monthly journal etc. was initiated into Sannyaasa Asramam by
Vennatrankarai Srimad Andavan Srinivasa Maha Desikan of Poundarikapuram Swami
Asramam in April 1929 as per the Niyamanam of 41st Jeeyar Sivann Satakopa
Lakshmi Narasimha Satakopa Yatindra Maha Desikan of Ahobila Mutt.

· The Prakritam Paravakkottai Swami had just then assumed charge as the
Pontiff of the PP Asramam when he had not even known personally the Sishyas
belonging to the Asramam. Yet, the 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt, Srivann
Satakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yathindra Maha Desikan wanted him to bear the cost
of the 12th tier of the Rajagopuram, which was being built by him at
Srirangam. Undaunted, Paravakkottai Swami raised almost instantly the funds
needed for this and submitted it at the feet of Azhagiyasinghar. Thus, the
12th tier of the Rajagopuram was the Kainkaryam of Prakritam Andavan of
Poundarikapuram Asramam.

· When someone went to court to debar Poundarikapuram Andavan from using the
honorific " Andavan", the 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt, Srivann Satakopa Sri
Vedanta Desika Yathindra Maha Desikan called the litigants and challenged them
to dare initiating proceedings first against those outside the pale of
Srivaishnavism using the term "Andavan" (like Nagoor Andavan, Meyvazhi Chalai
Andavan etc) before seeking PP Asramam Swami to drop the hereditary title
successively adorning the Acharyas of Poundarikapuram Asramam It was only when
the head of the opposite party was called to take the stand in the Court that
they withdrew the case !

· During the Sannayasa Sweekaranam and subsequent Pattabhishekam and Peeta
Aarohanam of our Prakritam Azhagiyasinghar, 45th Jeeyar of Ahobila mutt, they
were performed under the Adhyaksham and immediate presence of Prakritam
Andavan of PP Asramam, Paravakkottai Sri Gopala Desika Maha Desikan who
sprinkled holy waters uttering the holy Rama Pattabhisheka Slokam
"Abhishinchya Nara Vyaagram".

· When I went to offer my obeisance to PP Andavan soon after the Sannyasa
Sweekaranam, he remarked (albeit jocularly) 
" Ungalavar Peeta Adhipathi Aagi Vittaar. Ungaluku Enna Kuraichal?"Meaning 
"You have nothing to worry. Your friend has become the Pontiff of Ahobila
Matam"
I replied " Swami! Neengal Anuppithaane Antha Swamyidam Kalakshepam Ketkap
Ponen". Meaning
" Only as per your directions, I went to that Swami to listen to Kalakshepams"

He smiled and agreed. If my Acharya were to say thus, it only shows how much
Azhagiyasinghar should have spoken to him affectionately about me. Can there
be a greater bhagyam than this?

(To Continue)