As part of third Brahmothsavams at Statue of Equality, devotees had a great opportunity today, to practice Aradhana to Mother Lakshmi themselves under the guidance of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji. Today being a Friday, that too with Purva phalguni nakshatram (birth star of Goda devi), it was very appropriate to perform this Samuhika Aradhana (Collective worship) to Lakshmi. The experience of collective chanting of Gadya Thrayam added to the mood of festivities as many devotees and students were trying to learn it by heart since past few months. Gadya Thrayam consists of three literary works of Bhagavad Ramanujacharya Swami – Saranagathi Gadya, Sriranga Gadya and Vaikunttha Gadya – in prose form, in Sanskrit language. Here is a detailed report of today’s events.
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.
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.
Devotees proceeded towards yaga sala after japam. Morning prayers were offered.
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 Gadya Thrayam. He later graced Teertha goshti to the assembled devotees.
Vedic students doing morning prayers at yaga sala.
Seva kalam
Teertha Goshti. Notice a very old lady who is bent over and walking with the help of a stick, seeking Theertham on this auspicious Friday
Yugandharacharya Swami singing devotional songs during Theertha goshti
Sriman Nepal Krishnamacharya Swami spoke in Hindi and Nepalese and explained about the events
Purnahuthi materials getting readied to be offered to God in Kundam
Nithya Purnahuthi
Prayers at the end of morning homam session
We enjoyed the bliss of 18 Garuda sevas yesterday evening. The Lord in 18 forms belonging to Divyadesams 55 to 72 graced us with this seva.
It is customary to offer abhishekam, divine showers to Lord after returning from Garuda seva. Since we are having Garuda seva uthsavams in the evenings during this event, the Lord in 18 forms accepts evening prayers and rest for the day at their abodes. So the thirumanjanam event happens the next day morning.
During this event, which is anniversary of Swami Ramanuja appearing in form of magnificent Statue of Equality, it is appropriate that we also chant some literary work written by him.
Gadya Thrayam is a set of three such works, written in prose form in Sanskrit:
Some devotees chant this Gadya Thrayam as part of their daily aradhana too.
HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji gave a brief gist of what is explained in these three works.
Saranagathi Gadya explains the process of Surrendering to Lord. It explains the qualities of God, the parivaram of God, their duties, how we should request for Surrendering, etc. It also tells us how gracefully God accepts us and gives assurance.
Sriranga Gadya explains about the form of God before whom we need to do this Saranagathi (surrendering). It is the archa-form of God that we need to surrender to.
Vaikunttha Gadya explains about the greatness of God in Parama padam and describes His abode in great detail. It provides the essence of Vedas.
As this is in prose form, to ensure that all of us pause the chanting at pre-determined words, volunteers gave small boolets to all assembled devotees which had punctuation marks.
Samuhika Lakshmi Puja
Swamiji walked up to devotees and provided them with small murthis for their worship. As this was going on, Dr. Samudrala Ranga Ramanujacharya Swamiji gave a nice discourse explaining the essence of Gadya Thrayam.
Swamiji explained each and step of aradhana in detail while performing the aradhana himself. Devotees followed these directions and enjoyed doing this service collectively.
At the end of this event, the devotees took home, the archa murthis provided as a souvenir.
Devotees proceeded to have lunch after this event, with hearts full of gratitude and happiness.
Mother Lakshmi and Lord Srimannarayana arrived to grace us
Devotees all set to practise Chanting and Aradhana
HH Devanatha Jeeyar Swamiji explained the importance of Lakshmi Puja and Gadya Thrayam
All set to start the service
Swamiji walked up to devotees and provided them with small murthis for their worship.
Dr. Samudrala Ranga Ramanujacharya Swamiji gave the essence of Gadya Thrayam
All the material needed to perform puja was provided to each devotee by the volunteers
‘Anuyagam’ is the process of consuming the prasadam, which was offered to God during Aradhana.
Evening sessions started with collective chanting of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotram.
Lord Rama of Divya Saketam arrived at the venue on his Ashwa-vahanam, the horse vehicle.
Bhagavad Ramanuja on his Hamsa vahanam welcomed Rama to venue.
The Lords of fifth 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.
Perumal blessed us with the Garuda sevas in the following 18 forms today:
73 Thirukkovalur/ Om Kovalur pura nivasaya Pushpa vallee sametaaya Sri Dehaleesa Swamine namaha
74 Thiruvananthapuram / Om Anantapura nivasaya Srihari Lakshmee sametaaya Sri Ananta Padmanaabhaaya namaha
75 Thiru Ashta bhujam / Om Ashtabhuja kshetra nivasaya Alarmel Mangaa sametaaya Sri Adi Kesavaaya namaha
76 Thiru Thanka (Thoopul) / Om Thiruththankaa pura nivasaya Marakatha vallee sametaaya Sri Deepa prakaasaaya namaha
77 Thiru Velukkai / Om Velukku pura nivasaya Amrutha vallee sametaaya Sri Mukunda Narasimhaaya namaha
78 Thiru Paadagam / Om Paadaga Kshetra nivasaya Rukminee – Satya bhaamaa sametaaya Sri Pandava doota Swamine namaha
79 Thiru Neeragam / Om Neerakaa pura nivasaya Nila Mangai lathaa naathaaya Sri Jagadeeswara Swamine namaha
80 Thiru Nila Thingal Thundam / Om Nilaa Thingal Thunda nivasaya Sri Chandra chuda nayikaa sametaaya Sri Chandra Chuda Swamine namaha
81 Thiru Ooragam / Om Sesha pura nivasaya Amrutha vallee sametaaya Sri Jagadvikrantha Swamine namaha
82 Thiru Vekka / Om Thiru Vehka pura nivasaya Komala vallee sametaaya Sri Yathoktakaarine namaha
83 Thiru Kaaragam / Om Kaaraka pura nivasaya Padmaa Mani vallee sametaaya Sri Karunaakaraaya namaha
84 Thiru Kaarvaanam / Om Kaarvaana pura nivasaya Komala vallee sametaaya Sri Navaneetha Choraaya namaha
85 Thiru Kalvanur / Om Kalvanur nivasaya Amsila Vallee naathaaya Sri Adi Varaahaaya namaha
86 Thiru Pavala Vannam / Om Pravaala pura nivasaya Pravaala vallee sametaaya Sri Pravaala Varnaaya namaha
87 Thiru Parameshwara Vinnagaram / Om Parameswara Vinnagara nivasaya Vaikunttha nayakee sametaaya Sri Vaikunttha naayakaaya namaha
88 Thiru Putkuzhi / Om Jataayu pura nivasaya Marakata vallee sametaaya Sri Vijaya Raghava Swamine namaha
89 Thiru Ninra voor / Om Srinivasa kshetra nivasaya Majjananee naathaaya Sri Bhakta Vathsalaaya namaha
90 Thiruvallur (Thiru Evvuloor) / Om Evvuloor pura nivasaya Kanaka vallee sametaaya Sri Veera Raghava Swamine 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.
After all Garuda sevas were assembled, Dr. Ranga Ramanujacharya Swami spoke about Garuda vaibhavam, continuing his series of lectures on this topic since past couple of days. When Perumal goes on any vehicle (like Surya Prabha, ratham, Kalpa vrusksham, etc.) – Garuda is invoked (aavaahana) to be part of that Vahana before it becomes eligible to carry the Lord. Thus, Garuda is the real and ultimate vehicle of Perumal. He is the embodiment of Vedas which show the God.
HH Devanatha Jeeyar Swamiji spoke about the famous Kanchi Garuda seva.
The assembly came to conclusion when Sriman Yugandharacharya Swami sang a devotional song about Garuda.
Swami Ramanuja bid farewell to Lord Rama and 18 Perumals so that they could go back to their abodes.
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