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The First day of MahA SamprOkshaNm and MalOla Paadhukaa Vandhanam

From the Bhakti List Archives

Sadagopan • May 23, 2001 


Dear BhakthAs:

Today with SANKALPAM (undertaking a Vow to perform 
a sacred rite for the delight of the Lord) and ANUGNAI
( Seeking the permission of the Lord to perfrom a sacred 
rite ), the MahA SamprOkshaNam at Lord RangaAthA temple has
commenced. 

All the Vaidhika karmaas have Sankalpam by an
YajamAnan , who performs the Sankalpam to perform
a Kaimkaryam and seeks the blessings of Dhivya
Dampathis to have the Bhakthi, Sakthi and dhravyam
(wealth)to initiate and conclude a Bhagavath Kaimkaryam 
such as the MahA SamprOkshaNam  at Sri RanganAthA Temple
at Pomona , NY.

Next follows Sri VishvaksEna AarAdhaanm , where 
the third in the line of Sri VaishNava AchAryAs after 
the Lord and MahA Lakshmi , is invoked and worshipped to
start the Kaimkaryam involving the sacred fire.

The next in the series of ceremonies are Mruth SangrahaNam.
Mruth means fresh clay or fresh earth , which is 
collected for the YaagasAlA use in any auspicious 
festivals like Uthsavam . By a leap of imagination ,
one can connect Mruth (Earth), the basis of all growth to
Samruddhi ( Prosperity , opulence and affluence),
which might be what the YajamAnan might be seeking 
for the engagement in Bhagavath-BhAgavatha-AchArya 
Kaimkaryams. The fresh earth is collected  in this
ceremony called Mruth SangrahaNam for Yaj~nams and 
Uthsavams.

The Yajamaanan and the Vedic priests (Rthviks) helping
to perform the kaimkaryam then enter the specially
constructed hall for performing the Homams for the offering
of oblations into the fire with veda manthrams . This special 
hall is known as Yaagasaalaa .The grounds of the YaagasAlA 
are consecrated with PuNyahavachanam  with prescribed Veda
Manthrams. This consecrated ground within the temple 
precincts would be the site of Sacred homams on all
the five days of MahA samprOkshaNam at Pomona .

AnkurArArpaNam and PaalikA pooja follow. The placement
of seeds in earthern pots containing the fresh earth
and offering of salutation to the sprouting seeds ( Paalikaa
poojaa) takes place.PaalikA means the tip of the ear 
( the shape of the freshly sprouted seeds).

Then archanai and aaraadhanam for one of the seven main
Kumbhams (Silver or Copper pots) follows.This Kumbham 
is Known as Soma Kumbham and the ceremony is known 
as Soma Kumbha PoojA .The sacred fire is established
next in a  ceremony called "Agni prathishtai".There are
three kinds of Agnis and the one chosen for this MahOthsavams
like this one is established .

There are ten forms of Agni ( Sacred Fire); the first 
five are of natural forms and the second set of fives 
are of ritual form. First among the ritual forms is 
BrahmA-Agni ( the Fire of Immensity). The  rest of
the ritual Agnis are PrAjApathya-Agni (BrahmachAri's fire 
for performing AgnihOthram after sacred thread ceremony) ,
DakshiNAgni ( ancestor's fire) used by Householders 
(GruhasthAs) et al.

BrahmAgni is kindled by rubbing two special fire woods
using AnaNi manthana manthram. Agni PrathishtA is made 
from this spark of fire .  

A special article on "why we perform Homams " has been
posted earlier and is available in the archives .     

On the first day , the dhivya prabahndham and Veda PaarAyaNam
start . The progressive stages of MahA SamprOkshaNam follow
on the subsequent days upto the finale on May 27 with
the Maha (Great )Sam ( beautiful ) prOkshaNam ( sprinkling
of consecrated water).

The NaalAyira Dhivya prabhandham ( the sacred collect of 4,000
Paasurams of AzhwArs and RaamAnusa NooRanthAdhi in Tamil )  
along with parallel sessions on Veda PaarAyaNam will start 
on the first day and conclude on Friday.

Please particpate and enjoy the vedic/Agamic ceremonies
and the cultural events scheduled for this MahA samprOkshaNam.

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE Saranam,
Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Satakopan  

   



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