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Re: pAda-yAtra

From the Bhakti List Archives

Gopaul Lakshmanan • May 28, 1999 


Dear Bhagavathas:
Sri:
Sri Gopala Maha Desikaya namah

My wife and I had the Bhagyam of having Samshrayanam performed by His 
Holiness Srimad Poundareekapuram Andavan in September 1997.

Before proceeding to Srirangam, I asked my father whether His Holiness will 
be at the Ashramam or away on Sancharam. (so we can plan our trip).  My 
father replied that HH Andavan will always be at the Ashramam.  From this I 
presume HH Andavan does not go out of Srirangam and is always available for 
sishyas.

We went to the Ashramam from Tiruchi in the morning after taking bath, 
wearing thirumann, pancakacham and madisar respectively. HH Andavan would 
not grace us with Samashrayanam like that.  HH asked us to go to Kollidam 
river which is about a mile or so from the Ashramam and have a bath there 
and then come for the ceremony.  We did exactly as told.  (Before even 
asking us to do this HH playfully enquired "kapi mathiramthanE sappittu 
vandhe? (you had only coffee in the morning, is it?)". We replied 'no, we 
did not have anything in the morning'. Luckily for me, I did not have my 
coffee nor my wife.  Later I learnt that HH Andavan is particular that 
Samashrayanam is to be done only on empty stomach.  IT is only due to HIS 
ANUGRAHAM I did not even feel hungry till 3 p.m. when we had food in the 
Ashramam, after Samashrayanam.  We can not forget this experience and HH 
Andavan did this for us even though it was getting late in the day and he 
had upanyasam scheduled for that day.

adiYen dAsan
Lakshmanan


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