August 25, 2001 - Madhuramurali Bhavanam at Thirunangoor
Thirunangoor is a village about 7 kms from Sirgãzhi. In this village, one finds a DIVYA DESAM(Vaishnavite temple sung by the Ãzhwãrs) in almost every street corner. In all, there are 11 Divya Desams in Thirunangoor of which Arimeya Vinnagaram, Thiruthetriambalam, Semponsei Kovil, Kãvalampãdi and Thirumanikoodam have been recently renovated at the behest of Sri Swamiji.
Madhuramurali Bhavanam, Thirunangoor, stands in picturesque scenario
surrounded by Divya Desams. Just about 100’ away to its right is Vanpurushottaman
temple. Behind it is Vaikunta Vinnagaram. To its left in the next lane is Semponsei
Arangar Temple. Arimieya Vinnagaram and Thiruthetriambalam are also situated
close at hand.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Nãma Bhiksha Kendra commenced its work at Madhuramurali Bhavanam, Nangoor on 25th August 2001. In this beautiful spacious traditional Indian house,
"Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare"
- Mahãmantra is chanted everyday. Local children and children from the
neighbouring villages come every morning and chant, "Hare Rama......" from 6:30
am to 9:00 am. In the evening Vaishnavites perform Vishnu
Sahasranãma pãrãyana. This is followed by
chanting of "Hare Rama...." by local children and students
of Nangoor study centre. Sri Venkatesan and Sri Kannan narrate to these children
life histories of saints who followed the path of Nãma Sankirtan.
On Sundays, the Nãma Sankirtan group goes on procession performing
bhajan. They begin their 'Veedhi Bhajan'(Nãma Sankirtan on the streets
as a procession) from one of the Divya Desams. The energetic children
wearing a tulasi mãla around their necks and gopi chandan on their
foreheads move from house to house singing the Lord's Nãma, clapping
their hands and dancing in tune. The scene reminds one of Ãzhwãr's pasuram - "Veda mudhalvanai pãdi, veedhigal thorum thullãdhãr!" (sing the name of the Lord and dance on the streets!)
The bhajan concludes with distribution of prasad.
August 26, 2001 - Radhãshtami Utsav, Madhurapuri Ashram
Rãdhãshtami is the ‘Janmãshtami’ (the Day of Birth) of Sri Radha Rani.
This is the day when Radha - the form of Prema bhakti incarnated as the daughter of Vrishabhãnu Mahãrãjã, the ruler of Barsãna. Radhashtami is celebrated on the Shukla paksha Ashtami in the Tamizh month of Ãvani.
6.15 pm
The evening began with the chanting of Vishnu sahasranãma by 35 students of our Patasala.
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6.35 p.m.
Sri Swamiji performed Thirumanjanam to Sri Premika Varadan-Madhuri Sakhi.
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6.45 p.m. - 8.15 p.m.
Sri Muralidhara Sarma discoursed on ‘ The greatness of Krishnãvatar and Radhashtami’. During the course of the lecture he said ‘Bharata desam’ is a temple.
Vrindavan is the sanctum sanctorum of the Temple that holds the Presence of Vrindãvaneshwari-Radha Devi’.
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9.00 p.m. - 11.30 p.m.
Sri Premika Varadan - Madhuri Sakhi were seated on the ‘oonjal (swing),
beautifully decorated with jasmine and kanakãmbara flowers.
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Bhajan, led by Sri Muralidhara Sarma, was performed till11.30 p.m.
Bheeja dhãnam was performed by Sri Shankaranarayanan of Bangalore.
This was followed by dolotsav.
