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Krishna Premi

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Vijay_Srinivasan • October 7, 1997 


Dear Prapatti Group Members and Shri Krishna Kalale:

I have heard Krishna Premi's Ramanuja Vaibhavam (compiled in 14 Audio
cassettes).  It is really a classic.  Krishna Premi Maharaj is no doubt a
gifted speaker.  I learn that he is a smartha by birth and gradually
reached (through his Acharya's grace) what is "Sarathamam", to quote his
own words.  His birth place is Kumbakonam.  Krishna Premi has also
delivered a series of lectures on Vaishnavism (where he includes Adi
Sankara as one of the Vaishnavite Saints).  Like Anantha Rama Dikshitar, he
is also a great devotee of Guruvayoorappan.

I liked your quotes from Appaya Dikshitar.  Whenever or wherever Narayana's
glory is spoken, one cannot escape being happy about it.  I have also heard
it said that Kanchi Paramacharya during his final days continuously heard
the chanting of Vishnu Sahasranamam alone.

A few years back, Paramananda Bharati (a great saint from Sringeri Mutt)
gave a wonderful lecture at Buffalo.  He appeared to me more open and a
greater devotee of Sriman Narayana than even most of the Vaishnavite saints
who visit this town. When I asked him whom should we meditate on when
chanting Gayatri Mantra, he quoted Adi Sankara saying that Narayana alone
should be meditated upon "Dhyeyas Sadha Savitru Mandala Madhyavarthi
Narayana......".  Also he narrated an incident from Adi Sankara's life - a
conversation between Sankara and his mother when she was in her death bed -
where Sankara explains to his mother saying that everyone and everything
originates from Maha Vishnu and finally they go back to him and therefore
why worry.  When Paramananda Bharati quoted those famous words of Adi
Sankara the whole audience was visibly moved.  But all these experiences
seem to have only a temporary effect.  Like Nammalwar says "..Avaravar
Vidhi Vazhi Adaiya Nindranare..", people continue to do what they have been
habituated to do.  The turning point can come through His grace alone (Yam
Evaisha Vruneethe Tena Labhyaha:")

Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan
Buffalo, NY.