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Re: Some questions regarding some of our customs ...

From the Bhakti List Archives

Ramanbil • October 12, 1999 


Dear Bhagavatas

I have heard and been told that one has to do SAshtAnga DhaNDa SamarpaNam to 
Yathivaras until they say "Enough"and I have been following this. 
Compassionately, I have found their hurrying to tarry me from further 
prostration after just one or two.

Srimad Azhagiya Singhar once remarked soon on assuming ThureeyAsramam that he 
could not bear to see great Bhagavatas (some of them senior to him in age) 
prostrating repeatedly at his feet and was quick to say "Porum". 

He continued "Perhaps, because I am new to this, I feel a little embarrassed. 
May be, when I get used to this, I may not care to say "Porum" as quickly as 
I do now!".

During BharaNyAsam in the Sannidhi of Perumal in the PounDarikapuram 
Ashramam, while he was pleading to the Lord within the Sannidhi to accept my 
Prapatti, my Acharya asked me to continue this SAshtAnga DhanDams as many 
times as I could (repeating the mantram he had just then initiated me into) 
but also advised with genuine concern that should at any stage I felt too 
tired, I could take some respite and continue when I felt a bit relieved! I 
was about 60 years of age at that time and this probably prompted him to 
extend this concession!

Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy