"Walk chanting Vishnu Sahasranamam!", were His orders!

The day of 1978 April 16th, Thirty seven years back!
Starting as usual at three in the early morning, after having darshan at Shri Kamakshiamman temple, and then at Sureshvaracharya's sannidhi--divine abode, at Shrimatham, He started his Satara Padayatra--travel on foot, towards a gramam--village, called Kizhambi. Kanchipuram-vasis--residents of KanchIpuram, assembling in large numbers, supplicated to him in tears, not to go on yatra for bahuduram--long distance.
Periyaval was observing kashta maunam--complete, inactive silence. Without showing any signs, He continued to walk. From a place called Chinnappa Samudram, on the way to Anantapur, we stayed in a village called Katri. In this village, there is a puratana--ancient, Lakshmi Narasimha temple.
Starting from Anantapur and arriving at Sanghamesvaram, we then proceeded and stayed in a dilapidated mandapam--pavilion, in a place called Tammapuram.
The date of June 27, 1978 is one that cannot be forgotten in my life! On that auspicious day, I had the fortune of having darshan of Maha-Periyaval and Pudhu-Periyaval together. In that small mandapam in disrepair, the trikala--thrice a day, ChandramaulIshvara puja was performed in a grand manner.
From Tammapuram, through the place called Dadi-badri, we arrived at a place called Kutthi. A grand reception for Periyaval in that town. The chippantis--staff, and the town people had made elaborate facilities for our stay. Everyone was in utsaham--joy.
Then, from that place, we reached a small village named Rajapuram, at a distance of five kilometers. It was a day (13.7.78) of alpa-dvadashi: that is, dvadashi lasted only up to ten in the morning on that day. So, finishing our paranai--(Tamizh) food, before ten o' clock, we started towards a village called Timmanjcharia, thirty kilometers away. Without stopping anywhere en route, we were walking slowly. The time of night arrived. In addition, it started raining heavily! Hailstorm with thunder!
The path ahead was totally invisible! No sight of the ups and downs on the road was possible, and the legs slipped often. A good building was seen nearby. We had the yearning if Periyava would tell us, "We can stay there".
"Walk chanting Vishnu Sahasranamam!", were His orders! In other words, it was understood that we were not going to stay anywhere en route!

At that time, Panampattu Kannan and I were going in the front, dragging the cycle rickshaw. Shrikanthan mama and Shri Balu mama came behind, along with Periyava, pushing the rickshaw. Mettur Rajagopala mama came behind, on the right side of the rickshaw. Leading us was Shri Chandramauli (Chinu mama's son), signalling us through our passage with an electric torchlight.
It was eleven-thirty at night when we reached Timmanjcharia! The next morning we reached a bigger place called Gundakkal. The mukham--camp, was at Gundakkal. A day after, I had to get back to Kutthi for a task. I went looking at the road I passed through. Only then it was known that the path we walked through two days back was a pukka jungle path!
*****

author: Shri Induvasan
compiler: Shri T.S. Kothandarama Sarma
translator: Shri Saidevo
source: Maha Periyaval darisana anubhavangaL v03-p033-055
publisher: Vanathi Padhippaham (May 2005 Edition)

For the Satara Vijaya Yatra Swamigal had actually left Theynambakkam on April 15th, 1978 for Kanchipuram Matam and from the Matam He continued His yatra. It will be interesting to note that Swamigal retruned to Kanchi on Tamil New Year day April 14th 1984, thereby exactly completing 6 years of the Vijaya Yatra! In the above picture Periyava is seen near the Rickshaw with Devotees at Miraj in Southern Maharashtra during His Satara Vijaya Yatra.

"Come, I will show you Lord Shiva!"

Pradosham Mama and Mami

On my wedding anniversary last week I was praying to Appa as always saying, "I want only 

Your Padhuka. Nothing else like a saree or gold interests me any longer". And after I did 

the Pooja I settled down for my afternoon siesta.And my Guru Pradhosham Mama came! I 

am standing inside some temple. Mama comes to me (I have not seen him in my life) and 

says, "Vaa, unakku sivanai kattaren, Come, I will show you Lord Shiva!", and walks inside 

the Garbagraham, the innermost Sanctum Santorum.

I hesitate and ask him, "Can ladies come inside?"

He replies, "Nee vaa, naan kuttindu poren, You come, I will take you inside!"

And I cross the steps made of gold and enter the Garbagraham with him!

Inside I see an open space full of sand and Appa sitting with His Dhandam. I exclaim, "It is 

so hot, why can't someone hold an umbrella for Appa?"

Mama starts exclaiming in a loud voice, "Annamalayane, Arunachala, Mahaprabho!" And 

these are the same expressions Mama used to address Appa during their divine 

interactions in real life! Now suddenly it dawns on me it is indeed Lord Shiva I am looking at!

At this point I woke me up from the middle of my sleep.

But I had Darshan of my Guru and Appa and was dazed for a few hours. I still can't believe 

that my Guru has blessed me by coming in my dream along with our Mahaguru!

The following part happened on Sunday the March 15th. I had planned to go to Kanchi only 

on Monday. Today around 1 pm I called Rajaji mama and told him that I am planning to go 

to Kanchi on Monday March 16th. He requested me to pray for his daughter as he cannot 

travel much. I told told him that I will surely do. Within 5 minutes Mama called me again and 

said, "Shall we go to Kanchi around 2:30 pm today itself? My car and driver are free!"

I was shocked and said, "Yes I will come!"

My husband said, "If Appa is calling you now something must be in store!" I never imagined 

I will get His Padhuka then.

We arrived at Kanchi Matam at around 4:45 pm. Mama prayed for his daughter and I 

prayed for my nephew! While leaving, as always, I asked Hari mama (he is one at the 

Adhishtanam) to whisper into Appa's ears that I should get His Padhuka soon! Hari Mama 

told me, "Will you do it if I tell you to do something?"

I said Yes.

He said, "Go and meet HH Pudhu Periyava and tell Him you want Appa's Padhuka for 

doing  Pooja at home. He may or may not give, but if He gives it, bring them to me!"

Rajaji mama advised me thus: "You tell HH Pudhu Periyava that Appa has done kanya 

pooja for you when you were a little girl. And that now, you want to keep His Padhuka at 

home and pray. You must bless me!" When I entered Pudhu Periyava's darshan place and 

saw Him words failed me! Slowly I collected myself asked Him the same. He looked at me 

for a few minutes intently and then started giving Prasadam to other devotees. I was 

standing there for a few minutes. Then He called His Kaingaryam person, showed His feet 

in gesture and also a lock and key by hand gestures!

The Kaingaryam person went inside and got the Padhukas. Pudhu Periyava Swamigal kept 

it in a plate put lot of kumkum and blessed me and asked me to keep it at the Adhishtanam 

and then take it!

<Shankara. I am finding it impossible to type now!>

I started crying and by the time I came to Adhishtanam I was crying loudly! <Shankara>

Hari Mama asked, "Padhuka kedachudha? unakku kudukkama ungappa vera yarukku 

kuduppa! Did you get the Padhuka? Will your Appa ignore you ever?"

He kept it at Appa's feet, got a vastram cloth of Appa from Adhishtanam and kept the 

padhuka on it and did Ashtothram archana filling it completely with flowers! When he 

finished the Ashtothram a big bunch of flowers fell from Appa's head on to the plate! The 

devotees around exclaimed AAAAHHHH !!!!!

<Shankara. Is it possible for anyone not to cry now!>

My joy knew no bounds! Crying I carried Him around the Adhishtanam. I have never felt this 

happy in life. Rajaji Mama and Mami are such genuine and pure souls and were elated to 

witness this! I told mama that Appa has decided that He has to come to my home in a car. 

That's why He has made us plan this trip suddenly!

<Shankara>

Went to Kamakshi temple and Pradhosham mama's place too yesterday. They were also 

happy that I got Appa's Padhuka. What I had prayed there on last Anusham (last month) 

has come true! And pradhosham mama my Guru had come in my dream on Monday and 

indicated this to me !!!!! I only failed to realise this....

*****

The top picture shows His Padhukas that Chithra was blessed with, the one below shows 

the Padhukas placed at His Lotus Feet at the Adhistanam.

Even devotees like Vikku Vinayakaram Mama and his brothers and other devotees like 

violinists Ganesh and Kumaresh used to go to the feet of their Guru Pradosham Mama, if 

they wanted something from Swamigal. They never used to approach Swamigal directly. If 

Pradosham Mama blessed them, then Swamigal would surely grant their wishes. That is 

how much Pradosham Mama was in sync with Swamigal. This is what has happened 

to Chithra V Subramanian too!

I have been spellbound at His infinite grace for devotees like Pradosham Mama, Pollachi 

Jayam Patti, her son Shri Chandrashekar, Thiruvannamalai Gowrishankar Mama, Rajaji 

Mama, Mecheri Pattu Sastrigal, Ramadurai Mama, Ramanathan Chettiar Mama, Smt 

Kamala Gourishankar Mami and her husband and many, many others, countless of them, 

when He was in the Sthoola Shariram.

I was not there physically to witness His grace upon the devotees mentioned in the 

previous paragraph, but now I am blessed to have a ringside front seat to witness His 

magical grace upon His sweet child Chithra. I am more spellbound now, given that He is 

not in His Sthoola Shariram now.

One of the most happiest days of my life. Shankara.

"'Tomorrow, I am going to meet all three Shankaracharyas!"

Raja told me that once my brother (Shri L Vaidyanathan) took him to Mookambika. 

My brother used to go there regularly. My brother told him, 'Even though you do not believe 

in God, you just accompany me once!'.

Raja told me once he stepped in, something happened to him and he felt some 

vibrations. Even though he was already a composer by that time, post his visit, there was a 

big change and transition in his compositions. From then on, everything he composed 

clicked with the public and his life changed. Raja then also went to Tiruvannamalai and he 

told me that after going there, whatever questions he had, got answered. Raja became 

completely spiritual and used to go to these two places from that time onwards. Raja has 

been one of my closest friends.

Once he came to my concert and told me:

"Tomorrow, I am going to meet all three Shankaracharyas. Would you like to come?"

I went with him and that is the first time I met all three of Them together! I had once 

played for the senior Shankaracharya many years back and I was shocked when He looked 

at me and immediately recognised me!

Raja and me sat with Him in the dark with just a little candle for a lot of time and Raja 

also contributed to the building of His Gopuram (top part of the Srirangam temple).

*****

Source: Times of India

Narrated by eminent violinist Shri L Subramanian. 'Raja' is legendary music composer 

Shri Ilayaraja! The occasion was, when for the first time in the history of the 

Sri Kanchi Matam, the three Acharyas performed Vyasa puja at Kurnool in the year 1983.

Shri L Subramanian was honoured with the title 'Tantri Nada Mani' by Kanchi 

Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram in 2009.

Pollachi Jayam Patti's blessed Godavari Pushkarani Snanam! It is here in 2015...

Once I was in Andhra Pradesh to have His darshan. After 2 or 3 days I told Him I wanted to go home and requested Him to give me Prasadam. He said, "Stay for one more day and leave tomorrow!" No more words from me! Paanaampettai Kannan, His Kaingaryam, also wanted to leave with me that day. He refused him too.
The next day, we got up very early and all of us started to walk with Him to the Godavari river. He walked up to the Koti Lingam temple by the banks and started to climb the steps into Godavari. We followed.

As usual, He drew a Chakra on the waters and had a dip! We also had our dips immediately!
And then He told me, "Do you know why I asked you not to leave yesterday? Today is Godavari Pushkarani Day. Kannan, you also wanted to go yesterday to do Hiranya Sraartham for your ancestors. But all of you who had snanams with Me now, all your deceased Ancestors' souls have transcended today as a result your Snanams in Holy Godavari! So it is not necessary to do any Sraarthams at all. But you may do it for your own satisfaction!"

Shankara.

After the snanams we came back to the Mutt. He completed all the Poojas by 9 am. He called me aside and said, "You wanted to go home yesterday, but if you had done so, would you have got the Bhagyam of today's snanam! That is why I did not allow you to go. Also, yesterday only Kannan would have escorted you. But today you have Natarajan (another Kaingaryam) also!!"
I was so innocent that I could not even tell Him, "When I have You, why do I need those two"!

*****

I am simply dumbfounded at Pollachi Jayam Patti's blessings. Shankara.

Godavari Pushkarani occurs once in 12 years.The pushkaram festival was last held in the year 2003. This year 2015 it is supposed to be between July 14th to July 25th, but please do check the exact dates with our Periyavas in Kanchi Matam.

Received a communication from Shri D Sivasubramanian of Kanchi Matam that Puskara Pravesham is on July 14th, 2015 at 6.26 am and ending on July 25th, 2015 until Surya asthamam on that day.

This year Pushkarams is called Maha Kumbhamela, which occurs once in 144 years. The first 12 days of Godavari pushkaram is called Aadhi pushkaram and the last 12 days of Godavari pushkaram is called Anthya pushkaram. These 24 days are very pious to devotees,as pushkaradu travels during these days. 

During Godavari pushkaram pilgrims from all over the country will have a holy dip with the belief that they would be relieved from all sins, and perform rituals to departed souls.It is believed that during pushkaram all deities and rishies take holy dip, a holy dip in Godavari which will enhance one's spritual, mental and physical abilities. 

"But all of you who had snanams with Me now, all your deceased Ancestors' souls have transcended today as a result your Snanams in Holy Godavari! So it is not necessary to do any Sraarthams at all!"

Like Swamigal has said above, please do not miss this golden opportunity to have a Dip and be blessed!

"There is a surprise awaiting you!"

Jan 31st, 2015 was easily one of the happiest days of my life.

Four days prior to that date, there was a mail from one Anila Thomas at office to the Indians Mailing list, requesting if anyone knew a good cook who can make 50 Rotis and a non-vegetarian Biryani for 40 people. She wanted the food to be delivered to her home in Foster City, which is about 30 miles away from my place.

Nothing unusual about the mail, it was a routine request. But what was not routine was, it was the first time I replied to such emails! 

Before replying to the email I called up Rachana and asked if she would be willing to make 50 Rotis for my office person. She was very happy to do it, but she excused herself saying she will not be able to drive that far to Foster City to deliver the food. It was understandable. 

Well, who is Rachana?

I replied to Anila (who, by the way, was not my acquaintance that time), saying my wife's friend Rachana Sharma is a good cook. That she was suffering in a bad marriage. That her husband had deserted her and her two children. That their divorce proceedings were afoot. That she was managing the household somehow, by cooking at other people's homes etc. And that she can make the 50 Rotis. And I wrote something which I have never done before in my life: I told Anila that I will drive to her home and deliver the food! (Anila's home was approximately 30 miles from my Apartment).

Her situation is much worse than what I had written, and I will leave it there. Rachana is originally from Madhya Pradesh. Concerned for her, my wife had even advised her to do a Suvasini Pooja; she helped and guided her to do the pooja approximately three months back! And per advice of Kanchi Swamigal, my wife suggested that Rachana recite Shiva Sahasranamam so that problems in a family are alleviated.

Moved by my email, Anila replied to me within 2 hours, saying she would love to place a bigger order with Rachana, for an appetizer, a vegetable curry and the rotis! Two days later Anila called up Rachana and altered the order, now for a much bigger one!

This time it was for:

--- Vegetable biryani - 1 full tray

--- Muttar paneer - half tray
--- Kheer - half tray
--- 60 Rotis

--- Pakoras -1 full tray

Shankara!

The above order was modestly priced by Rachana at $173 US dollars. 

Saturday January 31st had arrived. My wife and myself went to Rachana's home at 4 pm.  (Not sure how long she can call that home, as plans are in place by her husband to sell it). We carefully loaded the aromatic trays of the food in our car and started for Foster City. I have never driven so slowly in my life! As I wanted the food to be intact and not spill. It was as if a new born baby was in the car.

Reached Anila's place by 5 pm. Carefully took all the trays and placed them on the kitchen counter in her house. This was the first time I am meeting Anila. She is a Malayali Christian and she said there was a prayer meeting that evening at her place and that is why she ordered the food! 

Now here is how an act of kindness is contagious and how it spreads.

Despite being a non-vegetarian she cared enough to place a full vegetarian order with Rachana! And when I was about to leave, Anila gave me $200 US dollars, 27 more than what the order was priced at!

My wife and self  were on cloud 9, flush with happiness. True Happiness. While driving back I was telling my wife that I wanted to taste Rachana's food. And that when we plan to go to a restaurant next time, we must skip that and instead order the food from Rachana. But we will tell her that the food is for someone else, for only then she will accept the money from us.

We came to Rachana's place and handed her over the $200 dollars. "Please, 200 dollars is a lot of money for me", she said. I said, it was Anila's way of showing her kindness. She said she earns $400 to $600 per month by making food, but now she got $200 in just one day! Very rarely have I seen a more contented and happy face, that was on Rachana. And then I broke away from my plan and told Rachana that one day I wanted to taste her food. She gave me a knowing, joyful smile and said, "Go to your home and see. There is a surprise awaiting you!"

We rushed home. And on the table we saw a packet of Muttar Paneer, a packet of Biryani and a portion of Kheer. Given the context of the whole thing, they had never tasted better!

Let us live for others, without expecting anything in return. It is pure, unalloyed happiness. And kindness spreads. These are not mere empty words.

Shankara.

Chandi Pooja details (in English and Tamil)!

Those of us who want to have phalan of Chandi Homam without doing any sacrifice, we can perform a following pooja with only pooja dravyams and a deepam with 13 mukham. This pooja I learnt from a Shree Vidya Upasaka Shri Venkatesha shastrigal who had His adhyayanam from our Kanchi Matam.

To drive away all the bad spirit, bad vibration around us Chandala Sumangali dosham and have the full blessings of Chandi Devi who is in roudra (full of anger) as she destroys all the demons in the universe to give peace and harmony to the people , we perform this pooja. All cannot perform Homam as it needs a lot of preparation and time too. For this Devi mahamtyam which describes Devi's destruction of all asuras can be chanted with a good pandit who is well versed in Sanskrit , followed with a Deepa puja chanting Lalitha sahasranamam by 10 sumangalis doing Archana too.

Devimahatmyam consists of 3 parts, Kavacham, Keelakam and Argala being the 1st part that is the preface, 2nd part being the main 13 chapters 700 shlokas in which 4th and 11 th are Devi sthuti and the rest all vadham (destruction) of Asuras that all we know. The 3rd part is Pradhanya rahasyam, Vaikrutika rahasya and moorthi rahasyam and to end with Devi kshama prarthana (begging pardon of Devi for what all mistakes we did while doing pooja and chanting.

The pooja thus starts with Ganapathi pooja and Book Devimahatmyam. Place a very big Deepam with 13 mukha and ghee full , decorated with flowers ornaments and a small skirt so as to look like a girl. Prepare 13 different offerings(naivadyam) like chitrannam, vadai, sarkarai pongal panchamrutam, panakam, different kinds of fruits and so on. Invite 10 Sumangalis , do pada puja to them and shodasopachara to those ladies. Do aavahanam of Devi in the Deepam. When the Pandit is doing parayanam each chapter ends do a neivadyam and Harathi. In this way we can offer 13 types of offerings to Devi.

When the parayanam is done start with Sahasranama archana with kumkumam by all the 10 ladies starts. finally offer Suddhannam, Panakam coconut, betel leaves with nut ,milk with haldi(manjal) elaichi powder and sugar. With Harathi and prostration the Devi pooja ends. Then serve food for the ladies invited with utter dedication. Do prostration and circumbulation to the ladies and do Harathi too. Provide them with all mangala dravyams like betel leaves, nuts, manjal 5 in counts coconut and fruits and blouse piece or saree whichever possible .

13 Mukhams lit in the Deepam represent 13 main chapters . For sumangalis at the end of puja mehandi (marutani) also must be given along with other mangala dravyams.

Thus the elaborate pooja comes to an end. This way you can please Devi in rudra roopam and get rid of all the hurdles in your life and the bad spirits around us. This way I follow as per Venkatesha Shastrigal's advice. I have suggested people around me and some of them followed this.

Please click on this link for details in Tamil: Chandi Pooja details in Tamil

Devi sharanam.

Ya Devi sarva bhutheshu Mathru roopena samstitha Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha||

*****
Thanks a bunch to Saraswathi Thygarajan Mami for meticulously compiling the pooja details!

"Bhajare Gurunatham" --- Song on Mahaperiyava, composed by Periyava

The song Bhajare Gurunatham was composed by Sri Periyava, within a couple of months of Sri Mahaperiyava attaining Maha Samadhi. We (me, my brothers and sisters) were witnesses to HIS composing the lines. He just dictated the lines to a devotee and taught us to sing it in the same tune as Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra's "Bhajare Yadunatham" set to Misra Peelu raaga and Adi tala (by Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer). Initilally, He always asked us to sing "Bhajare Yadunatham" first and then "Bhajare Gurunatham", so that we got the tune correct.

The above was narrated by a Devotee, I forget who.

Bhajare Gurunaatham, maanasa bhajare gurunaatham 
Bhasma rudraakshaadi alankruta sareeram 
Bilva maalaadi alankruta siraskam 
Bhajare Gurunaatham maanasa bhajare gurunaatham 

Manthra mahaamani manthra swaroopam 
Pranava payodhara pranava swaroopam,pranava swaroopam 
Bhajare Gurunaatham maanasa bhajare gurunaatham 

Mandahaasa mukham mandaaksha veekshanam 
Raajaadhi raajam jagadguru roopam kaamakoti roopam 
Bhajare Gurunaatham maanasa bhajare gurunaatham


Here it is in Shri T.M. Krishna's melodious voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqQsh6nzRb8


Here is my crude translation with help from others:

*****

Oh Mind, chant the name of the Guru
The One whose body is decorated with Rudraksham beads and Vibhuti Holy Ash
The One on whose Head adorns Vilvam Leaves

The One who is the Form of the Holy Manthras
The One who is the embodiment of Omkara. He is Pranava himself like the water-bearing cloud.

The One whose Face is enveloped in Bliss
The One who is King of Kings
The One who is the Jagadguru
The One who is Kamakoti!
Oh Mind, chant the name of the Guru


*****