Srimathe Ranga Ramanuja Maha Desikaya Namaha:
Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama Sametha Sri Venugopala Para Brahmane Namaha:
Report on Prana Pratishtapana Mahothsavam Celebrations held in Edison, NJ on
September 11th 2004
The Uthsavam celebrations for Prana Pratishtapana of Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama
sametha Sri Venugopala Perumal started 10 days earlier i.e., from September 1st
2004 in Edison, New Jersey with grand parayanams of sri sookthis arranged for
the occasion. This included Swami NammAzhwAr's ThiruvAimozhi,Sri Valmiki
RAmAyanam's Sundara KAndam, SwAmi DEsikan's entire DEsika prabhandham and
DEsika Sthothram.These recitations took place every day from Sept 1st 2004 for
2 hours between 07:30 PM to 09:30 PM ET. On the 10th day of the Uthsavam (Sep
10th), entire Sri Ranganatha Paduka Sahasram recitation took place in the
morning.
It was a wonderful sight to see so many bhagavathas turning up for each day of
the uthsavam with lots of dedication and bhakthi even it was a weekday. Also so
many bhagavathas far and wide across the country had the fortune of
participating in the uthsavam every day albeit remotely through the telebridge
facility.
The religious rituals started on the 9th day of the uthsavam ie on Sep 9th for
the prana pratishtapana of Sri Venugopala Perumal. Jaladhivasam,dhanyadi vasam,
homams and kalasa pujas were performed by Sri Sampath bhattar of New Jersey to
mark the occasion.
On the day of prana pratishtapana of Sri Venugopala Perumal, purnahuthi was
performed after the conclusion of kalasa puja and homams. Perumal with His
Parivaram that comprises of thayars-Sri Rukmini and Sathyabhama, Garudan,
Bhagavath Ramanuja,Swami Desikan left for a Hall nearby where the mahothsavam
was arranged. Perumal with His parivaram were majestically seated in a Silver
Dolai(swing) during the purappadu.
It is interesting to note that Perumal and entire parivaram along with silver
dolai was specially prepared under the direct supervision of His Holiness
Srimath Srimushnam Andavan Himself ! Adiyen is astonished by the beauty of
perumal and his parivaram that one should definitely pray to get a glimpse of
Him !
On the morning of 11th Sept 2004, The mahothsavam started off sharply at 08:30
AM with traditional seva kalam recitation followed by Sri Vishnu Sahsranamam
and Sri Lakshmi Ashtothram. Following this, the important event of Prana
Pratishtapana muhurtham took place between 10:35 AM and 10:45 AM where Netra
UnmeeLanam(opening of eyes) for Perumal took place. At this time, a special
chAya darsanam( through a kannAdi-Mirror) was arranged for the bhagavathas to
see Him through it. Slowly by then bhagavathas started pouring in and it was
amazing to see a huge turn out (close to 300 bhagavathas) to have the darshan
of Perumal.
Immediately after the conclusion of prana pratishtapana, a GRAND thirumanjanam
was performed for the deities by the bhattar amidst veda gosham reverberating
the ambience. Pancha sooktham with taitriyopanishad were recited with full
fervor during Perumal's neerattam. We had more than 60-70 bhagavatha goshti
alone in the sathsangam.
The atmosphere was filled with energy and devotion from the bhagavathas which
took us literally to being in a divya desam in India during an uthsavam. One
has to experience to say this ! It was adiyen's bhagyam to have been present on
such an auspicious occasion.
During the alankaram of Perumal and bhashyakarar, divya prabhandham was recited
as songs by couple of devotees in a melodious, lilting tone to please the
perumal.
At the completion of alankaram, a GRAND THIRU KALYANA UTHSAVAM was performed
for perumal and thayars. This was truly a rare occasion witnessed in North
America far away from our Holy motherland where close to 150 bhagavathas
sponsored for the FIRST KALYANA UTHSAVAM of Sri Venugopala Perumal. Indeed the
bhagavathas were blessed to be part of this holy kainkaryam !
At the conclusion of Thiru Kalyana Uthsavam of Sri Venugopala Perumal, a grand
sathumurai took place chanting sri sookthis of our purvacharyas. The resonance
it carried was a treat to ears ! This was immediately followed by Acharya
Sambhavana for all our PurvacharyAs.
Theertha goshti followed this where Swami Desikan's and Srimath Periandavan's
vazhi thirunamam was recited followed by Sri Desika Mangalam and Srimath
Periandavan Mangalam. As it has been a customary recitation here in the United
States by Srimath Andavan sishyas, the entire dhanian of all our purvacharyas
of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Periashramam was recited during the theertha
goshti. It was amazing to see all the assembled bhagavathas line up in queue to
wait for their turn to have the Perumal theertham, SatAri, Sri Bhashyakar
theertham and paduka theerthams of the all the purvacharyas of Srirangam
Srimath Andavan Periashramam. Adiyen is not exaggerating - it took almost an
hour to distribute the theertha prasadam for the assmbled bhagavathas. The
discipline followed by them was truly exemplary !
A special Maryadhai for the perumal came from Sri Ranganatha Temple, Pomona,NY.
Some sweets were also brought from the temple as "seer" for the Kalyana
Uthsavam of perumal.
A grand feast(prasadam) was arranged for all the devotees who came for the
uthsavam. It was amazing to see that with so many devotees turning up, no one
went back disappointed without having food. Such was the meticulous preparation
undertaken by organizers.
A grand Dolothsavam(swing ceremony) was performed for Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama
Sametha Sri Venugopala Perumal who were seated in the silver dolai decorated
with beautiful flowers. The alankaram done for the deities was truly a great
sight to behold. Cultural events were organized during the dolothsavam. Soul
stirring Songs were rendered on Perumal by various devotees that included small
children also. Nama sankeertharnam was also arranged which went for about 30
minutes. Finally the mahothsavam concluded with a captivating 45 minute play on
Sri Koorathazwan which was organized by devotees who came from Washington DC
area for the occasion.
This uthsavam was truly once-in-a-life time event which the devotees will
cherish in their memories for years to come. The entire credit goes to the
organizers and volunteers who worked through minute details to have
successfully arranged the event of this magnitude !! So many devotees had a
heavy feeling that the uthsavam was coming to end. They were longing for more
and more of this sathsangam on a frequent basis. adiyen is sure Sri Rukmini
Sathyabhama sametha Sri Venugopala Perumal will show us a way in realizing
their wishes.
Dasan,
Venkat Sreenivasan
For Sri Ramanuja Mission of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Asramam
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