Bhagavad Ramanujacharya Swami is revered as a guru to Lord Himself. At Thirumala, Lord accepted the Sankhu (Conch) and Chakra (Discuss) offered by Swami Ramanuja as a means of removing confusion centuries ago, about who is being worshipped in that temple. Generally, acharya does this process at the time of mantra initiation. Similarly, when we observe the history at few other temples, we find such instances where presiding deity considered Swami Ramanuja as His acharya. As a token of showing respect, the deities of all 108 Divya desams within Statue of Equality campus sent the alaya maryadas today to Swarna Ramanuja. This act, aptly titled “Acharya Varivasya” (Service to Guru) happened today as part of third Brahmothsavams. 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 Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji summarized the process of doing meditation to all assembled devotees.
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.
HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji gave a brief outline of today’s scheduled events.
Swamiji graced Teertha goshti to the assembled devotees after Aradhana.
While the Theertha goshtthi was happening, HH Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji and Sriman Nepal Krishnamacharya Swamiji spoke and explained the importance of today’s programs.
Yaga sala is a sacred space. Swamiji prostrating before entering the yagasala for first time during the day
Rutwiks performing the sankalpam and Pranayamam rituals at the start of Prayers
Grod is worshipped as antaryami to the fire within homa kundam
Mangalasasanam after morning prayers
We enjoyed the bliss of 18 Garuda sevas yesterday evening. The Lord in 18 forms belonging to Divyadesams 37 to 54 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.
As if to show how we need to respect our Gurus, the Lord Himself is doing service to Swami Ramanuja in an event called “Acharya Varivasya”.
From each of His 108 temples, Lord sends the vastram, Sri Sathari and alaya maryada to Swami Ramanuja and shows respect.
Jeeyar Swamiji explained about each deity that was sending the offerings to Swami Ramanuja. At the time the Perumal was offering the grace to Swami Ramanuja, our Swamiji made all of us chant the name of that Perumal.
Towards the end of this program the sesha-malas were offered as token of appreciation to the people who are behind this Statue of Equality complex. Swamiji recounted the enormous service that these people had been doing.
The first offering is from Lord Rama of Divya Saketam
Swami Ramanuja is fondly looking at the offerings sent by Ramachandra Prabhu
Lord Ranganatha (DD-1) sent his offerings next through Archaka Swami
Lord Venkateswara from Swarnagiri (near Bhongir) sent Alaya maryadas too
Perumal is appearing in 3 forms in Divya Saketa Kshetram – Lord Rama on Ground floor, Lord Ranganatha on first floor and Lord Vaikunttha natha in second floor. Alaya Maryadas from Divya Saketam here.
Mangalasasanam to Sriman Raghudatta Swamiji – the main archaka Swami at Divya Saketam who ensured that all archaka swamis were well trained in this complex
Upendracharya Swami of Divya Saketam
Sriman Sravana Kumaracharya from Swarnagiri Venkateswara Swami temple
Evening sessions started with collective chanting of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotram.
Lord Rama of Divya Saketam arrived at the venue on his Gaja-vahanam, the elephant vehicle.
Swami Ramanuja on his Hamsa vahanam was facing Lord Rama while fetching the Lord to venue. Thus, Ramanuja was walking backwards while watching Rama coming forward.
The Lords of second 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:
55 Thiru Varaguna Mangai (Naththam) / Om Varaguna Mangai kshetra nivasaya Varaguna Mangai Nayakee sametaaya Sri Vijayaasanaaya namaha
56 Thirukulandai (Perunkulam) / Om Srimath Kulanda nagara nivasaya Kulanda vallee sametaaya Sri Ascharya Nataaya namaha
57 Thiru Kurungudi / Om Vamana pura nivasaya Kurungudi vallee sametaaya Pancha rupaaya Sri Vaishnava Purnaaya namaha
58 Thirukkolur / Om Sri Kolur nagara nivasaya Pallava nayakee sametaaya Sri Nikshepa vittaaya namaha
59 Kanchipuram / Om Kaanchee pura nivasaya Perumdevee sametaaya Sri Varada Raja Swamine namaha
60 Thiru Van Parisaaram / Om Vaajisaara pura nivasaya Kamala vallee sametaaya Sri Vaasa Vakshaaya namaha
61 Thiru Kaatkarai / Om Thiru Kaatkara nivasaya Vaatsalya vallee sametaaya Sri Kaatkarai Appan Swamine namaha
62 Thiru Moozhi kkalam / Om Sri Sookthi pura kshetra nivasaya Madhura Venee sametaaya Sri Sookthi Natha Swamine namaha
63 Thiru Puliyur / Om Thiruppuliyur nivasaya Kanakalathaa sametaaya Sri Ascharyopakaaraaya namaha
64 Thiru Chengunrur / Om Sengannur nivasaya Semkamala vallee sametaaya Sri Deva deva Swamine namaha
65 Thiru Naavaay / Om Naavaay pura nivasaya Malar Mangai Nayikaa sametaaya Sri Naavaay Mukundaaya namaha
66 Thiru Valla vaazh / Om Sri Vallabha Kshetra nivasaya Vatsalya Nayakee sametaaya Sri Sundara Deva Swamine namaha
67 Thiru Van Vandur / Om Thiru Van Vandur nivasaya Kamala Vallee sametaaya Sri Paambanai Swamine namaha
68 Thiru Mogur / Om Mohana Kshetra nivasaya Mohana vallee sametaaya Sri Kalamegha Swamine namaha
69 Thiru Thiruvithuvakkodu / Om Vidwat Goshtthee pura nivasaya Vithuvakkodu vallee sametaaya Sri Abhayaprada Swamine namaha
70 Thiru Kadiththaanam / Om Kati Sthaana pura nivasaya Kalpaka vallee sametaaya Sri Adbhutha Narayanaaya namaha
71 Thiru Vaaran Vizhai / Om Thiru Vaaran Vizhai nivasaya Padmasana vallee sametaaya Sri Upakaaraka Vaamanaaya namaha
72 Thiruvahindra Puram / Om Ahindra pura nivasaya Hemambuja vallee sametaaya Sri Deva Nathaaya 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.
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