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7.30 a.m
Premika Varadan-Madhuri Sakhi were taken in procession on ‘Kudirai Vãhanam’.
The only Nãmasankeertanam this morning was
‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’
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Around 20 young men from Gudalur participated in the day’s celebrations.
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8.15 a.m. - 11 a.m
Sri Swamiji led the Sampradãya Bhajan.
Beginning with ‘Thodaya mangalam’,
Guru Kirtans were sung - ‘Bãgyam aho! Bãgyam, Bodendra!’
Click here for an audio clipping of Sri Swamiji and the devotees performing 'Radhe Shyam! Radhe Shyam!' bhajan
‘Gangadhara! Gangadhara!’
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‘Katãksham chakre Venkataramana!’
‘Bãgavatam patata!’
‘Ãgachha! Ãgachha! Sajjana sangam!’
followed by Ashtapati Bhajan led by Sri Swamiji, with devotees seated in a huge circle around Him.
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11.00 a.m.
Thirumanjanam was performed to Premika Varadan-Madhuri Sakhi with the Bhãgavata Saptãha theertam from
the ‘Kalasam’. Sri Swamiji then blessed all the devotees with theertha prasad.
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1.00 p.m.-3.30 p.m.
Sri Swamiji continued the Ashtapati Bhajan.
16 Ashtapatis were sung.
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5.00 p.m
Nãdaswaram by Cuddalore Sri Balachandar / Bãlamurugan and party.
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6.00 p.m.- 9.30 p.m. - ‘Jãnavãs’
The exquisitely dressed Groom, Premika Varadan sat majestically on the palanquin listening to the
smooth flow of music from the duo’s Nãdaswaram -
‘Pandureeti goluviyyavayya Rama’,
‘Nãn oru villaiyãtu bommaiyã’
‘Alaipãyude Kanna’
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‘Chakkani Rãja Mãrga’
‘Thilãna’
‘Nagumomu’
‘Ramanãma sãmrãjyamu’
‘Krishna nee begane bãro’
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Relaxed and enjoying the fine play of Nãdaswaram by Cuddalore Sri Balachandar and Balamurugan,
a kilometer away from Mathurãpuri Ashram on the road leading to Mãhãnyam, with just the ‘theevatti’
lighting the place, open fields on either side of the road, cool gentle breeze blowing, the Lord seemed not
in a hurry to join Madhuri Sakhi in Bhãgavata Bhavanam! Fireworks lit up the sky! Elders and children
alike enjoyed the bursting of crackers, flying of ‘rockets’, lighting of flowerpots, etc.
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After an hour or so,
the Divine Groom, His mates and rest of the party moved slowly towards Mathurãpuri Ashram. Not to be
outdone the Divine Bride, her Sakhiis and rest of the party came up to the entrance ‘slowly’ to receive the
‘seemingly’ ‘relaxed’ and ‘indifferent’ Divine Groom!
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At the portico of Bhãgavata Bhavanam sat the Divine Groom and the Divine Bride, on their respective palanquins,
facing each other. Sri Mallikãrjuna Sarma and the Patasãla students chanted Yajur Veda. Sri Swamiji,
with a bright red coloured broad bordered thick ‘jariid’ silk shawl covering His shoulder, stood
between the two palanquins overseeing the function. Madhuri Sakhi moved towards Premika Varadan
and going around Him, came up beside Him to His left. Both, the Divine Groom and the Divine Bride,
with their ‘indifferent appearance’ melted away, entered Bhãgavata Bhavanam together.
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A colourful
silk carpet had been rolled out from the entrance to the ‘oonjal’ (swing) placed in front of the stage.
Flowers were strewn throughout the length of the silk carpet. Stepping onto the carpet together, Madhuri
Sakhi was carried forth upto the ‘oonjal’ while Pemika Varadan stayed at the end of the Hall. As the
auspicious Nãdaswaram played “Notes”, Sri Swamiji removed the garland from Madhuri Sakhi and
followed by the Divine Bride moved upto the Divine Groom and offered the garland to Him. |
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The Bride
then walked back to her place on top of the Hall. The Divine Groom now followed Sri Swamiji from the
end of the Hall, in step with the tune to the “Notes” and Sri Swamiji removed a garland from around the
Groom’s neck and offered it to the Bride. The Divine Groom then moved back to His place at the end of the
Hall. This was repeated thrice at the end of which the Divine Bride came around the Divine Groom and
stood to His left.
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The Divine Couple together moved, in smooth dancing steps in tune with the “Notes”
being played, up to the head of the Hall where the decorated ‘oonjal’ awaited them. The Divine Couple
were softly seated on the ‘oonjal’. Sri Swamiji swung the ‘oonjal’ smoothly and gracefully while the
ladies sung ‘teasing’ songs depicting the ‘feelings’ of the Divine Couple.
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One by one, several elderly
ladies performed ‘pidi chuttru’ - rice mixed with kumkum giving a red colour and rice mixed with turmeric
giving a yellow colour are rolled into balls and holding a ball of rice in each hand it is moved in a circle
around the Divine Couple once clockwise and once anti-clockwise and dropped down to the floor.
The Divine Couple was then carried back to their place on the stage.
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Divya Nãmasankeertanam by Sri O.S. Sundar Bhãgavata and Sri Mallikarjuna Bhãgavata.
