Swamijis Birthday celebrations
Nalangu
Nalangu is the most
essential and delightful part of beginning in every event, in Indian household
and festivals, especially in South India.
Hands and feet are first embroidered with mehendi and all mangala
dravyams- like turmeric, vermillion, sandal paste, betel leaf and nuts, lamps,
flowers and fruits are placed before a peetam, a holy seat. Swami will adorn the seat, accompanied by
divine music and musical greetings. Senior sumangalis will wish him with
tilakam, flowers, sandal solution, garland and scented water, after decorating
the feet with turmeric and kumkum pastes. Auspicious beginning ensures extended
propitious spirit throughout the event making it joy-filled and successful.
Nalangu performers and participants are privileged with honorarium and special
gifts.
Grand reception
After bath and
routine rites at Ashram, he proceeds and reaches the coronation venue, where
thousands wait with joy and reverence to offer a grand reception, encompassing
all prescribed forms. From entrance gate to the hall, ornamental arches, flower
decorations, lights and welcome banners beautify the ambience. Devotees and
guests stand on both sides and shower flowers. With all elements of insignia
like flags, emblem, twin umbrellas and a white parasol, and a chamaram (fly
whisk), he proceeds to the event hall.
Hundreds of devotees, from various parts of the nation, sing bhajans in
different languages. Sumangalis welcome
him with Harathy. Grandeur of his entry boosts the spirit of all inmates in the
venue to receive and relish the entire gaiety of the celebrations. Mangala Vadyam
Music, a vital
part of our traditional worship, is classified as harsh, hyper vibrant, simple,
melody base and auspicious, based on their sound nature. Instruments like
Veena, flute and percussion tools like mrudangam are auspicious. Endowed with
rich volume, divine vibrancy and efficiency in eradicating negative forces,
nadaswaram accompanied by thavil belong to super auspicious category (mangala Vadyas).
In every private and public function, mangala Vadyam is an associate of every
significant movement. Its soul stirring
waves drive away deleterious thoughts and assemble focus in the listeners’
minds. Similarly horn, ekkalam and conch serve melody blended with majesty. On
Swami’s arrival, the symphony of all of these instruments charge us with
ecstatic beatitude. Purna Kumbham
The Vedic
tradition elucidates the importance of receiving great personalities endowed
with wisdom, valour and devotion, in a grand ceremonial way. In spite of
equality of all before divine view, those who represent Him with their yeoman
services receive special attention. Purna Kumbha or ‘fullness pot’ filled with
rice or water, with mango leaves surrounding a coconut in the top, is
traditional way of reception. The pot indicates greatness of the guest and
ensures the guest, sustained and enhanced greatness with grace influence. Vedic
scholars welcome the dignitaries with Vedic prayers and wishes and escort them
to the centre. Swami is always received with Poorna Kumbham on his arrival with
Vedas, stotras and Prabandham (Tamil version of Vedas), rendered by a giant
battalion. Go-Ashwa-Gaja Pooja
Divinity is more
visible in natural forms like divine spots and water sources, plants like
Tulsi, animals like cows, elephants and horses and in humans, holders of wisdom
and mercy and enlightened pure souls. Especially Vedas glorify cows as
distinctive residences of Sri Mahalakshmi as well as abode of all deities.
Cows, horses and elephants, representing piety, majesty and royalty traits, enrich
the dignity in temple services and even in public functions and processions. In our event, the triad (occasionally
accompanied by camels) are worshiped with offerings and honoured by decoration
with royal and divine symbols. In the entrance, Swami worships the cow and
after welcomed and garlanded by elephant, enters into the ritual platform after
his circumambulation of elephant and horse. Harathy
Thoughts of envy,
hatred and enmity emerging from surroundings disturb health, peace and progress.
Harathy, an organized fire flame absorbs all evils and provides auspiciousness.
In households, harathy is taken when significant issues are commenced and completed.
Even God is protected from evil eyes through Harathy, by sensitive devotees.
The plate or bowl in which substances like camphor, lotus or cotton thread and
flame is centred, is filled with a solution of vermillion and turmeric. A lamp
vessel holds the flame base or a bunch of betel leaves holds element like
camphor. Flame held in front of the
person is rotated thrice in clockwise, anti-clockwise and vertical directions.
Swami receives harathy in the beginning as well as a grand harathy in the
concluding session.Seer Bakshanam
There can be no
festival without sweets. Temples compete in counts and varieties of dishes,
sweets and savouries offered to their resident deities. In sweet sources also,
ingredients like ghee and jaggery have positive forces known as ‘satva’
qualities. Satva principle has tremendous receptivity and attraction of
goodness. Offering and sharing of sweets, the vital component of all festivals,
are transactions of grace. Savouries with alternate tastes, as indicators of
life tastes and boosters of sweets, also form a part of offerings. ‘Seer’, a
collection of edibles, is a mark of honour submitted along with all other
offerings. Seer varieties include paruppu thengai, thengai, tiratti pal, appam,
adirasam, murukku, mysore pak and manoharam in attractively huge sizes.
Bhagavad Aradhanam
Pancharatra and
Vaikhanasa agamas are authoritative works on religious discipline, temple
architecture, instillation and worship of deities and many more. Both schools
of worship are employed in our worship, rituals and public festivals with equal
reverence. Worshipping divine in deity forms is a source of immense bliss,
power and grace. When the divine form is assembled through any material
structure and vivified with potential mantras and adulated with faith, love and
dedication, Supreme emerges from the structure with his fullest opulence.
Deities are decorated with gorgeous jewels, flowers and garlands and royal
robes, and served with fly whisk, fan, umbrella, incense, camphor and even
recitations, music and dance. Delicious dishes are also offered. Veda Parayanam
Vedas are
powerful sound combinations in an immutable and orderly format. Its learning, recitation and ritualization provide
immense benefits to the performers, organizers, supporters and participants.
Recitation of Rig, Shukla and Krishna Yajus, Sama and Atharvana Vedas, along
with Dravidian scriptures, epics, puranas and stotras electrify the hall. Just
seeing the galaxy of learned will fill our hearts and souls. We can feel the
vibrancy of simultaneous and mass recitation of all these scriptures permeating
the entire ambience. Apart from personal and universal benefits, organizing
mass recitation is the best way to restore our heritage and encourage religious
learning and services. Establishment and enrichment of temples without
preservation of scriptures are stupid tasks.Kalasa Pooja
Kalasam or holy
pot is a vital component of every worship and ritual. Similar to Poorna Kumbam,
this pot is also filled with pure water and specially enriched with aromatic
and herbal substances like cardamom, edible camphor and fragrant roots. Water
inside is amalgamated with all major elements of worship like milk, butter and
honey. Outer surface of the pot is tied by thread in a perfect geometric fashion.
Top of the pot is adorned by mango leaves and coconut. Water inside accommodates
all holy waters, deities and the supreme himself through a special
sanctification and energization process with mantras, conducted through a bunch
of darbha grass. Holy water kept in Kalasam is a panacea for all ills and is
applied in shower, sprinkling and intake processes.
Homam
Fire is a superior
mediator between grace and needs. Fire offering is hundred times powerful than
recitation of mantras. Sacrificial fire is distinguishable from normal fire as
it emerges from a divine churning process, fed by selected wood sources and
herbs, nourished by cow’s ghee and invigorated by chanting of mantras and
prayers. There are special ingredients that are offered as per our demands.
Ritual fire carries the subtle ingredients of our offerings along with our
wishes and essence of our performances to the deity invoked. Homams induce
positivity, purity of environment and prosperity. Viswa Shanti Homam, performed
for the wellbeing of entire Universe is more powerful because of rich mantras,
congregational synergy and finally nobility of purpose.Purnahuti
Purnahuti is the
concluding offering in a ritual. Supreme is known as Purna, the complete
personality. It is mentioned that the supreme Himself who was immanent in the
mantras, deities addressed, fire and offered elements, manifest on the occasion
of final offering. A set of all ingredients that were separately offered
earlier, along with expensive presentations forms the purnahuti package. Nine
metals, nine grain and sub-grain sources, nine gems, costly clothes and fruits
are offered to the supreme in the form of fire as an offering of a grand bunch
in purnahuti. Unlike other aahutis (offerings), purnahuti is given with
exclusive and mighty mantras. Purnahuti fructifies all earlier offerings and
the entire event as well as compensates deficits, if any.
Thirumanjanam
Paramatma
relishes love and involvement behind every sincere attempt and act of worship
and extends his infinite grace. Enriched bliss of God also enhances joy
quotient of religious as well as universal inmates. Sacred and/or sanctified
water filled in special pots are showered on the deities after a brief
preparation. All aromatic and herbal
ingredients are mixed in water and influenced with holy mantras. Water is
poured through a thousand-hole plate, from conch and disk shaped containers.
After a milk, honey, curd, tender coconut water and fruit salad shower, He is
served with turmeric and sandal paste before a final cascade. After receiving fruits, betel nuts, incense
and harathy, He rejoices a private bath and gives darshan with graceful decoration
and flowing resplendence. Mangala Snanam
Scriptures
mention the salient feature of empowered water; the power to destroy internal
and external dirt and evils. Holy waters from Ganga, Yamuna, Cauvery, Narmada,
Brahmaputra and other sources are kept in ritual pots during the sacrifice. The
main pot is for divine bath (thirumanjanam) and second pot is carried for holy
bath of Swamiji. Remaining one is for public distribution. The pot and Swamiji
are duly taken on a procession from the ritual field to the bath space, adorned
with umbrellas, emblems, fans, fly whisks and other accessories, accompanied
with music and recitations. Water is showered through a separate shower plate (sahasradhara).
This privilege is provided to Swamiji, only as a representative who receives
and distributes grace of this bath to everybody.Peetarohanam
Peetams or seats
made of divine grass, wood, silver or gold and other materials, serve as
facilitators and intensifiers of worship, prayer and meditation effects. In
context of public and religious administration and lineage, Peetam or Simhasana
(throne) is a seat of authority. Religious throne, duly animated with mantras,
rituals and austerity of its candidate, induces sanctity, high level
endurances, grace management and executive potential. Swami adorns his well
decorated ‘Sudarsana Acharya peetam’ throne on an auspicious muhurtam (time),
embellished with crown, bracelets, necklaces, anklets and gorgeous rings.
Amidst a vibrant Vedic chanting, all devotees and elders shower mantrakshada
and offer their choicest wishes. Gold-pearl-gems shower
Gold, silver and
gems like pearl and diamonds are special due to their divinity rather than
their market value. Actually such
valuables are meant only for God. Wealth
attributed to God and duly safeguarded is reciprocated as social prosperity and
security. Rulers who represent divine authority and governance are given the
privilege to handle this splendour. Apart from these provisions, those who are
holding greater wealth in the forms of wisdom, compassion and divinity and
possessing the rare combination of ‘richness-detachment and charity’ are
‘wealth of wealth’ and hence they deserve the honour. In them such attractions
create humility and generosity instead of usual pride and avarice. After
enthronement and crowning, Swamiji is honoured with the shower.Anugraha Bhashanam
After ascending the
throne, Swami delivers ‘Anugraha Bhashana’ (benedictory address) for about an
hour in Sanskrit, the God’s language. Sanskrit scholars from various parts of
the country are honoured on the occasion and eventually it becomes the
appropriate language for Swamiji and assembly. Sanskrit is selected for its
divinity and power to transmit the same and also to revive and encourage
Sanskrit communication that is fading. This great spiritual and literary treat embraces
all facets and intricacies of our culture, customs, traditions and philosophy.
Even though delivered in an unknown or unacquainted language, it is being
relished and understood due to familiarity of many Sanskrit words in common
use, as well as its mellifluousness and rich emotional-presentational outlet. Mangalaasaasanam
In religious
life, one has a serious onus of gaining wishes and blessings from human divine
sources like Acharyas, pontiffs, erudite personalities and mature devotees.
Other side of the same venture is to distribute the same to all nearest and
needy. Swami’s speech is followed by a wishing and blessing session
(mangalaasaasanam). Experts in Vedas and other scriptures, rituals and
philosophy, from all parts of the country render their messages in Sanskrit,
Hindi, English, Tamil and other languages. They share their reverence and experiences
with Swamiji, wishing him long life, health and prosperity and also highlight
the need for and benefits of preservation, protection and propagation of Vedic
studies.
Divya desa Maryada
On Swamiji’s
birth anniversaries, temple maryadas (garlands, robes and other offered
prasadams) arrive from various divyadesams (unique divine stations glorified by
super sages or Alwars) and other holy temples of Sri Narayana. After Anugraha
Bhashana, temple priests representing the deities themselves, deliver the
honours to Swami, with the concerned priest’s brief introduction about the
temple and its glory, accompanied by Dravidian hymns and stotras. Swami receives
them with utmost humility and gratitude on our behalf. It is a fortunate
opportunity to witness priests and prasadams from nearly 200 temples in a
single venue and event. Sathumarai (concluding scriptural recitations) follows
temple honours and then prasadams are distributed. VIP Felicitations
Swami’s birth
anniversary celebrations are rejoiced by devotees, great intellectuals,
think-tanks, social activists, scholars, scientists, academicians, leaders,
NGOs and others. Eminent personalities from various fields enthusiastically
participate in the discussion forums organized after the religious rituals and
deliberations. Analysis and solutions are presented in areas of education,
ethical development, environmental care, health issues, Inter faith harmony,
political renaissance, peace and all other topics on social reforms and
welfare. Handling both religious and social pursuits for global welfare is
uniqueness of our event. Guests share exultant experiences derived from Swami’s
association concluding with their heartfelt wishes for success in all of his
noble ventures. Ashwa-Gaja-Palanquin-Chariot
In the list of
traditional honours, procession also occupies a dominant place. Horse ride,
elephant ride, camel ride, palanquin and chariot drive are very much common in
temple processions and also extended in marriage and other events. Revered
people are lionized with grand gatherings and rich processions. In the evening
session of birth anniversary, Swami also rides on horse, elephant and then on a
palanquin and finally on his own chariot. Flocks of elated devotees merge into
the procession consciousness, leading and following the same by dancing,
singing, chanting and thus making the whole show a visual treat to everyone’s
eyes. Entire ambience becomes entertaining, vibrant and divine by musical shows
and visual amusements that enhance this royal treat. Cultural programs
Music, dance,
drama, painting, sculpture, literature and other art divisions are simple,
smooth and sweet means for approaching and assimilating divinity. In our religious
celebrations, equal preference and significance are offered to cultural events also.
Entire gamut of Indian dance forms like oddissi, kuchupudi, bharathanatyam and
kathakali and music like Hindustani and carnatic compositions of Thyagaraja,
Annamacharya and instrumental symphony rules the space for three days. Folk
arts like puppet shows and stick dance (kolattam) are also conducted as part of
our revival program of fading traditional arts. Dramas in Tamil, Kannada,
Telugu and Marathy holding anecdotes from epics and mythologies like Prahlada,
Bhaktha Hanuman, Sita Kalyanam are staged by eminent artists. Public celebrations
The entire
program is directed and conducted by priests, pundits and artists. Hence,
devotees just remain as mute spectators. Even though, they enjoy the spiritual,
intellectual and cultural grandeur, their inner urge to celebrate the events by
themselves in their own ways is justifiable and deserves a space. Devotees too
sing keerthans and bhajans as well as render their own compositions as poems
and songs. Their dances performed as gap filler between events electrifies the
gaiety of celebrations and hilarity of all participants. A bit of
non-traditional and modern forms of celebrations like foam spray and bubble
amusements are equally prevalent. A traditionally prepared grand cake ceremony
is a highlight of their personal delight.
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