Search:
Bhakti List Archives

FACE TO FACE WITH YATHIVARAS

From the Bhakti List Archives

VVijay236 • July 17, 1997 


FACE TO FACE WITH YATHIVARAS

Dear Bhagavatas,

NOTE : I had the opportunity of having intimate discussions with almost all
Yathivaras  as well as several Acharyas, Scholars and  Friends belonging to
our  Siddhantam during my sojourn in India.
The subjects discussed and the range of breadth and depth of the insights
gained are too staggering to be included in a short write- up like this.
I will present them  in due course and   in the appropriate contexts.

THIS WRITE UP IS ON THE YATHIVARAS WHOM I WAS PRIVELEGED TO MEET DURING MY
SOJOURN IN INDIA :
(1)  HIS HOLINESS SRIMAD ANDAVAN OF POUNDARIKAPURAM ASRAMAM:,SRIRANGAM: THIS
ACHARYA IS THE ONE WHO  ' SAVED MY SOUL ' THROUGH ' BHARANYASAM '. 
I met with him 3 times:

(i) 17/3/97: I had a  long discussion on a variety of matters. He handed over
his copy of "Kanchi Perarulalan"- MASI Issue containing a write up about our
activities here

(ii)  24/3/97: When I went to Srirangam for the famous  Panguni Uthram
festival.He gave me an essay of about 30 pages of foolscape size paper
WRITTEN IN HIS OWN HANDWRITING  as also the VEDA MALAR Souvenir issued during
the Centenary of  Vennatrankarai Swami (his  immediate Acharya) detailing the
glorious Guru Parampara of Sri Poundarikapuram Asramam, with permission to
flash it on the internet for the info. of our members. 
I shall do this in a separate series of postings later.

(iii) 10/4/97: Tirunakshatram of this Swami (Panguni Rohini). A Sadas was
held in which several scholars took part. Sri V.S,Karunakaran gave a
brilliant talk. (About this also, later please) 

(2) HIS HOLINESS THE AZHAGIYASINGAR OF AHOBILA MUTT:

BEFORE COMING TO USA, I HAD THE PRIVELEGE OF LEARNING AT THE FEET OF THIS
ACHARYA (IN HIS POORVASRAMAM)- THROUGH HIS KALAKSHEPAMS THE ENTIRE GAMUT OF
SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA, BHAGAVAD VISHAYAM AND RAHASYA TRAYA SARAM OF SWAMI
DESIKA. 

LATER ON, I SHALL WRITE A SERIES ABOUT MY INTERACTION AND THE INNUMERABLE BUT
MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES WITH THIS YATHIVARA WITH WHOM I MOVED PERSONALLY FOR
OVER A DECADE - 
BEFORE DURING AND AFTER HIS SANNYASA SWEEKARANAM.
I met with him also  3 times:

(i) 3/4/97: The Jeeyar was camping at Tirumalai for the Annamacharya
Vardhanti celbrations. He was so kind as to spare me audience for a
considerable time in spite of his busy schedule and we had some very personal
and intimate discussions. Sri K.Devanathan, Editor and Publisher of the
Telugu edition of Nrisimhapriya, Hyderabad  was with me during the
discussions.(More about these later, please)

(ii) 30/4/97: The Jeeyar was camping at Tiruvaheendrapuram and we continued
our discussions. Sri Devanathan had come again and took part in the
discussions.

(iii) 28/5/97: Sri K.G.Krishnan ( Son-in-law of Uthamur Swami) and myself
took my sister for her Bharanyasam to Tirukkallam, where the  Jeeyar was
camping. The Jeeyar explained why no charge was specified  for Bharanyasam
while charges were required  for Dolai and other events.

In the evening, we proceeded to Tiruvallur with the Jeeyar where he released
an Audio Cassette on Sri Veeraraghava Suprabatham. He beckoned me and ordered
that I should receive the first Cassette along with Sri K.G.Krishnan.

(3)  HIS HOLINESS ABHINAVA VAGEESA BRAHMATANTRA SWATANTRA SWAMI OF PARAKALA
MUTT:
I met with  him on two occasions.

(i) 19/3/97: When I visited the Mutt at Mysore, the Swami heartily received
me and spent nearly the whole day discussing various matters.(More about
these later, please). He was sorry that our letter seeking his Srimukham for
our  Conference was not submitted to him and promised to send his blessings
for our efforts here. I understand that this has since been received by Sri
Jagannath Bharadwaj.

THE SWAMI DESIRED THAT I SHOULD ACCOMPANY THE VAIRAMUDI IN THE MUTT VAN AND
AFTER THE SEVA AT MELKOTE TO RETURN BY THE SAME VAN FOR HANDING OVER THE
VAIRAMUDI AT THE DISTRICT TREASURY AT MANDYA.  I DEEM IT A GREAT HONOR TO
HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO ESCORT THE HOLY VAIRAMUDI  TO ADORN THE LORD AND BACK
TO THE TREASURY FOR SAFE CUSTODY.

(ii) 2/6/97: I met with the  Swami again at the reception accorded to him at
Srimad Andavan Asramam, Mylapore  and again he spent quite a while with
continuing the earlier discussions.

(4) HIS HOLINESS SRIRANGAM SRIMAD ANDAVAN (SRIMUSHNAM SWAMI): I met with him
also twice:

(i) 13/3/97: The Sadas for the Tirunakshatram of Tirukkudanthai Swami was
about to begin when I barged in to offer my Dendasamarpanam. In spite of his
hurry, he gave me audience for a while and told me that he was sorry he could
not spend more time and enquired whether I could come to Bangalore, where he
was due to camp in the 3rd week of March. He was also sorry that due to his
constant Sancharam, he missed out our letter seeking his Srimukham and
ordered his assistants to see that details of our efforts be incorporated in
the "SRI RANGANATHA PADUKA" monthly journal  of the Asramam, without fail.
The article appeared in the VAIKASI issue and will be repeated again.

(ii)  23/3/97: As desired by the Swami, I met him again at Andal Koil in
Jayanagar, Bangalore. He spent a good part of the day discussing various
matters bearing on our Siddhantam.(Again, more about these later, please)

(5) HIS HOLINESS SRI RANGAPRIYA SWAMI OF ASHTANGA YOGA KENDRAM, JAYANAGAR,
BANGALORE:

22/3/97: I took the opportunity of meeting with this Yogi at his Kendra at
Jayanagar, Bangalore. He gave a talk in Tamil interspersed with a sprinkling
of brilliant expressions in English. He explained how we, Jeevas sought to
match our  6 evil tendencies of Kaama, Krodha, Moha, Lobha, Madha and
Maatsarya with the 6 auspicious qualities of the Lord viz., Gnana, Sakti,
Bhala, Aiswarya, Veerya and Tejas and how we could sublimate even our evil
tenencies in the service of the Lord and cited several examples. Truly an eye
opener! (Details, later please)

(6) HIS HOLINESS YADHUGIRI YATHIRAJA JEEYAR, MELKOTE : 

28/3/97: This Swami inaugurated the seminar on Srivaishnava Aagamas 
(both Pancharatra and Vaikhanasa) in the Madras University premises. I met
with the Organizers viz., Sri M.A.VENKATAKRISHNAN, EDITOR "GEETHACHARYAN"
MONTHLY JOURNAL and READER and SRI M. NARASIMHACHARI AND SRI
V.K.S.N.RAGHAVAN, both Professors of Department of Vaishnava studies,
University of Madras. 

Several scholars specializing in the Aagama Saastras and Sthapathis of repute
spoke on the different aspects  like Aalaya Prathishta, Silaa Sthaapana,
Netra Unmeelana, Samprokshanam, Pooja Vidhaanam etc. 

I had occasion to put forth a few questions (e.g) whether the Srivaishnava
Agamas approved of  the modern trend of constructing ' Siva -Vishnu ' temples
and installation of Devatantaras in Sri Vaishnava temples. Such searching
questions were provided suitable answers.(More about this later, please)

(7) HIS HOLINESS VANAMAAMALAI JEEYAR SWAMI:

29/3/97: This Swami delivered the valedictory address at the close of the
Seminar. He explained a few aspects relating to Srivaishnava Aagama Sastras
and cleared several doubts raised by the audience and thanked the organisers 
==============================================================================
=======
FACE TO FACE WITH ACHARYAS will follow
==============================================================================
=======
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy