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Melkote Stay : Seventh day of the NavAham/ February 11, 2000

From the Bhakti List Archives

Sadagopan • March 6, 2000 


SrimathE RaamAnujAya nama:

Dear BhakthAs :

On the 11th of February , in the morning after 
the daily Sattumurai at the temple, 
the Mudali-Andan(MA) samarpaNam was
scheduled . MA was offered to Bhagavan Ramanuja 
was taken to the premises of the huge "Yaaga Shaalai" 
of the temple ; all the arrangements had been made there for 
the "Pratishtha" procedures according to the temple 
traditions that have been in vogue from AchArya
RaamAnujA's time .  The Main Archakar (Sri SampathkumAra
Bhattar) had made exquisite arrangements. There were 
two "goshthi-s", one for Veda Parayanam, 
and the other for Divya Prabandham.
 
Even as the chantings began, the Homam for the consecration of 
the Mudali Andanwas commenced amidst the sunAdham of 
the big Ghanta-s reminding one of Swamy Desikan's presence .  
All the priests and other Srivaishnavas of all Melkote 
sannidhis were present on this auspicious occassion, 
and it was a privelege in itself to participate in this
once-in-a-lifetime ceremony .  The Procedures, as ordained 
in our Sastras, took about two hours, and at the end of it, 
the Mudali Andan underwent "Maha Samprokshanam" with  
the sacred water of the Kalsams that had the consecrated 
holy water, even as the Purusha Suktam was being chanted.
The PurNAhuthi was a blessed sight to experience . 

After this , Sattu murai took place at the Yaaga 
saalai for the Mudali Andan with paasurams 
from Tiruppavai, and especially Ramanuja Nuttrandaadi, 
since the Satari (MA) was for Bhagavan Ramanuja.  
Then the Mudali Andan (MA) was taken 
in a procession to the main sanctum sanctorum of 
Lord Tirunarayana with Sri SampathkumAra Bhattar 
leading the way and the Mudali ANdAn resting on 
the head of a senior Bhattar .The nadhasvaram was played 
by the temple artists. When Mudali Andan reached 
the Sannidhi of ThirunArAyaNan , it was placed beside 
the divine feet of the Lord to incorporate the "Saannidhyam" 
of the Lord into the MA. Later , special naivEdhyams were 
offered to the MA in the divine presence of all 
the Srivaishnavas. KarpUra Aaratthi for the Lord 
was performed .
 
All the Sriviashnavas present on the occassion were 
honoured in a befitting manner.  Everybody present there 
were all praise for those who had conceptualised and 
realised such a moving and pioneering kainkaryam.
AdiyEn's special thanks goes to the fifteen plus 
contributors from Bangalore and many parts of USA , 
who made this dream come true. AdiyEn offers my
PraNAmam to all these BhagavathAs .After two days of 
residence at the Lord's feet , MA found his permanent
home at the side of his AchAryan , who considered
him as His Pavithram and Thiruvadi (SatAri). There 
rests our MA for times to come blessing the sEvArhtis ,
who arrive at his AchAryan's sannidhi.

Afternoon of February 11 , 2000
********************************
After lunch , we visited two places of great interest 
both from the point of Srivaishnava faith 
as well as the artistic excellence associated with
HoysaLaa dynasty..  First stop was at a place known as
Varaaha-Naatha-kalla-halli" , which is 35 miles 
from Melkote; the backroads were travelled and 
the country side looked as though not much has happened 
since India gainedindependence .  While on the way, 
we were able thus to experience what traditional 
India is like, with the farms, grazing cattle and 
the like for which rural India is famous. The serene 
atmosphere and undisturbed pace of life here is enchanting 
and can be fathomed only by experiencing it. 
 
After about an hour and half of journey, 
we arrived at a temple-like structure -- the original 
structure is in ruins now -- and the priest from 
the nearby village  accompanied us to facilitate 
the darsan of the Lord.  Even as the doors of 
the sanctum sanctorum opened , we were all stunned 
to behold the divine Moorthi of Lord Varaaha Swami, 
with Goddess Lakshmi seated on his left side .. 
the divine idol is an 18 feet monolith.  The beauty of 
the idol transfixed us and we could not  take our eyes
away from the subhAsrayam of the Lord holding 
MahA Lakshmi ThAyar with such tenderness . We could not
turn our to see anything else for a long , long time. 
Then an abridged (Laghu)Tiruvaaradhanam took place 
and prasadam was distributed to all those present there. 
Photographs have been taken and will be made available 
electronically on request.

Next, we travelled back towards Melkote, and on the way 
visited the Laxmi Narayana Temple at a place called 
"Hosa Holalu".  This temple is a miniature of the famous 
Belur temple near Hassan in Karnataka in South India, 
internationally known for its exquisite miniature 
carvings . Througout this less known temple-both inside 
and outside- there are abyndant artistic treasures 
as testaments to the HoysaLA art . This site has  been 
declared as a protected monument by the Archeological 
department of the Nation .
  
Here , there are three Sannidhis, viz. Laxmi Narayana, 
Laxmi Narasimha and Gopala Krishna respectively.  
On the nava ranga mantapam ceilings , there are 
nine diffrent types of beautiful carvings of 
diffrent gods like ashta dik palakaas et al .  
The beautiful array of stone pillars  with 
12, 24, 48, 96 edges respectively are a lasting 
tribute to the skills of the HoysalA stone carvers .  
Beautiful classical lathe work can also be 
enkoyed in other parts of the temple complex.  
This temple too is one of the great treasures of 
Karnataka and ranks among the best of "Hoysala" 
architectural treasures .

The evening was spent at the Sannidhi of ThirunArAyaNapuram 
as the priests were preparing for the Ratha Sapthami 
celebrations next day. We retired for the night 
at the most comfortable and tranquil environment of
the Melkote Sanskrit Academy .The additional events
relating to this day has been carried over to the next
posting at its beginning .

Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,
Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan 



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