The day started in a serene atmosphere at about 6 AM, where the devotees, scholars and vedic students assembled for morning prayers and meditation.
HH Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji led the process of doing meditation by performing sankalpam and prayers at the beginning of session. The process is quite simple and consists of following steps – Regulating breath with Pranayamam, Sankalpam, Guru Parampara chant (Remembering our acharyas respectfully), Murthi dhyanam (contemplating on God, the recipient of our services) followed by japam. In previous days, Swamiji explained the train of thoughts that we need to have during this japam process.
We use this mechanism of daily meditation to refresh and recharge our mind and body so that we lead our life as a service to God.
HH Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji gave a summary of Japam process and guided the devotees
Morning Aradhana was performed including chanting of Thiru Pallandu, Thiruppalliyezhuchchi and Thiruppavai. Veda, Purana, Itihasa, Stotra vinnapams were doing before Lord. Mangalasasanam to Perumal was done by HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.
Swamiji gave a brief outline of today’s schedule and spoke about the importance of today’s events.
Sriman Nepal Krishnamacharya Swamiji gave details of Agama references while speaking about Vasanthothsavam and other upcoming events of this Brahmothsavams.
Sevakalam concluded with Nithya Purnahuthi. Devotees then moved on to the main stage to experience next event, Vasanthothsavam.
Yesterday evening during Theppothsavam (boat festival), we had Lord Rama and nine Divya Desa Perumals going on boat ride. Today they were offered Thirumanjanam.
Thirumanjanam to Divya Desa Perumals who graced us in Theppotsavam yesterday evening
Perumal accepting the service with a pleasant smile
Ready for Sahasra-dhara
Sriman Pranavananda Swami spoke about Acharya Vaibhavam
Nine Divya desa Perumals who accepted our Thirumanjanam service today, graced us with Oonjal seva too.
The program started with chanting of 108 names of the Divya Desa Perumals.
After the archana, HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji explained the significance of Dolothsavam. It teaches us that we need to make our own hearts as a cradle and establish God firmly. That gives us the necessary strength to lead our lives as service to God.
Devotees got a chance to come up to the stage and experience this service more closely by swinging the cradles themselves.
Evening sessions started with collective chanting of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotram.
Lord Rama of Divya Saketam arrived at the venue on his Garuda-vahanam. Thus, we get to witness a total of 19 Garuda sevas today.
Bhagavad Ramanuja on his Hamsa vahanam welcomed Rama to venue.
The Perumals of final set of 18 divya desams arrived at the venue on their respective Garuda vahanams. They went to Yaga Sala first, blessed the Nithya Purnahuthi there, did a Parikramana of Yaga sala and reached the final venue of Mangalasasanams – the main stage.
HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji gave a brief introduction of Divya desams in North India – Preethi Kshetram (Joshi Mutt / Jyotrimutt); Deva Prayaga, Badarikasramam, etc.
Perumal blessed us with the Garuda sevas in the following 18 forms today:
91 Thiru Neermalai / Om Sri Thoyagiri nivasaya Animaa malar mangai sametaaya Sri Jala parabhaaya namaha
92 Thiruvidai Vendai / Om Kalyana Varaha kshetra vaasine Komala vallee sametaaya Sri Nithya Kalyana Swamine namaha
93 Thirukkadal Mallai (Mahabali puram) / Om Mahabali pura nivasaya Nila Mangaa sametaaya Sri Stthala Sayine namaha
94 Thiruvallikkeni (Triplicane) / Om Brundaranya nivasaya Rukminee sametaaya Sri Parthasarathaye namaha
95 Thirukkadigai (Ghatikachalam / Sholingar) / Om Ghatikachala nivasaya Amrutha phala vallee sametaaya Sri Yoga Narasimhaaya namaha
96 Thirumala / Om Venkatachala nivasaya Sri Padmavathee sametaaya Sri Srinivasaaya namaha
97 Thiru Singavel Kunram (Ahobilam) / Om Ahobila nivasaya Maa Lolaaya Sri Naarasimhaaya namaha
98 Ayodhya / Om Ayodhyaa pura nivasaya Seethalingitha murthaye Sri Chakravarthi Thanoojaaya namaha
99 Thiru Naimisaranyam / Om Naimisaranya nivasaya Pundareeka vallee sametaaya Sri Devaraajaaya namaha
100 Thiru Saalagramam (Mukthinath) / Om Mukthi kshetra nivasaya Sridevee sametaaya Sri Mukthinaathaaya namaha
101 Badarikashramam / Om Badaree kshetra nivasaya Aravinda vallee sametaaya Ashtaksharee Mantra-pradaatre Sri Nara-Narayanaaya namaha
102 Thiru Kandamennum Kadinagar (Deva Prayaga) / Om Deva prayaga nivasaya Pundareekaa vallee sametaaya Sri Neelamegha nibhaaya namaha
103 Thiruppiridi (Joshimutt) / Om Jyothirmattha nivasaya Parimala Vallee naathaaya Sri Parama purushaaya namaha
104 Thiru Vada Madurai (Mathura) / Om Mathuraa kshetra nivasaya Sri Yamunaa theera rasikaaya Sri Gopalaaya namaha
105 Dwaraka / Om Dwaarakaa nagara nivasaya Ashta Mahishee sametaaya Sri Dwarakaadheesaaya namaha
106 Thiruvaayppadi (Gokulam) / Om Brundaranya nivasaya Yamunaa theera vihaara rasikaaya Sri Navamohana Krishnaaya namaha
107 Thiru Kshira Sagaram / Om Ksheerabdi nivasaya Ksheerabdi Naayikaa sametaaya Sri Vyuha Vasudevaaya namaha
108 Thiru Paramapadam / Om Parama pada nivasaya Sri-Bhu-Neeladi Nithya suri sevitaaya Sri Para Vasudevaaya namaha
Swami Ramanuja went to each Lord, did sashtanga namaskaram and did mangalasasanam by singing the pasuram pertaining to that Lord. The Lord then greeted Ramanuja by gifting him sesha-vastram and Sri-Sathari. Swami Ramanuja gleefully accepts and then passed on to the devotees who signed up as sponsors (yajamans) for this service.
Swami Ramanuja bid farewell to Lord Rama and 18 Perumals so that they could go back to their abodes.
This marks completion of Garuda sevas for all 108 Perumals, spread across 6 different days. It was a great experience watching 19 Garuda sevas today. We need to wait one more year to see such a spectacle during next Brahmothsavams!
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