Mandalãbhisheka Poorthi Sri Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal temple, Mãhãnyam
April 4th 2002 - April 5th 2002

The 48 day long Mandalãbishekam at Sri Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal temple came to a conclusion on April 5, 2002.

On the 4th, at 3 p.m, ladies from our Satsangh performed pãrãyana of Divya Prabhandam in the temple precincts, in the Presence of Sri Swamiji.

Divya nãma sankirtan was performed at night.

On the 5th morning, Sri Swamiji performed special tirumanjanam to Sri Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal and the Utsavamurthy Sri Bhakta Kuthoohalan. This was followed by Sahasranãma archana. Sri Swamiji blessed all with teertha prasad.

Sri Swamiji performing tirumanjanam to Sri Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal

Sri Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal / Utsavamurthy - Sri Bhakta Kuthoohalan

In the evening, Kalyana utsavam was celebrated. Sri Swamiji led the way as Sri Premika Varadan-Madhuri Sakhi, bedecked with jewels and beautiful garlands were brought to the temple on separate palanquins from the Bhagavata Bhavanam hall. They were placed on an ‘oonjal’ (swing) decorated with flowers, hung just in front of Perumal sannidhi. Sri Sumanth Bhãgavata and Sri ‘Pãtu’ Balaji began with Guru kirtans at the behest of Sri Swamiji. They sang,

‘Guru mãtã Guru pithã’
‘Tvameva mama charanam’
‘Vizhi kidaikkumã’
‘Sadguru Pãdukãm’

This was followed by several kirtans of Thiagaraja swami and others.

Sri Premika Varadan and Madhuri Sakhi were carried on separate palanquins to the open space (within the temple precincts) to the right side of the sannidhi. Premika Varadan and Madhuri Sakhi exchanged garlands even as the Bhagavatas sang kirtans. They were then brought back to the ‘oonjal’ and ‘kalyanam’ performed.

Sri Premika Varadhan and Madhuri Sakhi

Innumerable villagers from the local and surrounding villages participated in ‘Kalyana utsav’. All were blessed with prasad.

Premika Bhavanam - Ugãdhi (Telugu/Kannada/Marrãtti New Year’s day)
April 13th 2002

On Ugãdhi, Sri Swamiji performed archana to Sri Srinivasa Perumal and blessed all with teertha prasad. Devotees sang several Thyãgarãja krithis at the behest of Sri Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji commenced Rãghava Shatakam bhajan at 7 p.m as part of the celebration of Sri Rama Navami utsav.

Sri Swamiji led the Divya nãma sankirtan at night.

Premika Bhavanam - Tamizh New Year’s day
April 14th 2002

At 7 a.m. Sri Swamiji’s anugraha bhãshana was telecast on a satellite channel.

Keeping with tradition, ‘Vishu kani’ was set at Premika Bhavanam. Fruits such as mangoes, bananas, jackfruit, grapes and flowers were neatly decorated in front of a mirror. A lamp was lit and placed in front of the mirror. Traditionally, it is considered auspicious to have darshan of Vishu kani on New Year’s day.

Sri Swamiji performed archana to Sri Srinivasa Perumal and blessed all with teertha prasad. Sri Swamiji also blessed every single devotee with a 5 rupee coin.

At 6 p.m., Jyotisha Vidwãn Sri Seshadri Sastrigal, former Principal of Sanskrit College performed ‘Panchãnga Patanam’ and lectured on the position of the planets and their effects during the coming year.

Sri Swamiiji led Rãghava Shatakam bhajan from 9.45 p.m to 11.45 p.m.

Sri Rama Navami Utsav - Seetha Kalyanam -- Premika Bhavanam
April 13th 2002 - April 21st 2002

Sri Rama Navami is the day of avatar of Lord Sri Rama. Sri Rama Navami utsav was celebrated at Premika Bhavanam in all grandeur as a ten-day long event.

From 14th instant, every morning Sri Bhãshyam Iyengar performed Sri Vãlmiki Ramayana pãrãyana as a navãham(9 day event).

From 13th instant Sri Swamiji led Rãghava Shatakam bhajan every evening. Sri Raman Bhãgavata, Ms. Sangeeta and Ms. Janani participated in the bhajan. At Sri Swamiji’s behest, Ms.Sangita and Ms. Janani chanted several slokas, relevant to the kirtans, from Valmiki Ramayana which were explained by Sri Swamiji.

At 7 p.m., Sri Ekãmram Shastrigal discoursed on Sri Mahaperiyava. He spoke on the Rama Navami utsav celebrated by Sri Mahaperiyava.

Divya Nãma Sankirtan was performed at night.

Sri Rama Navami
April 21st 2002

Sri Rama Pattabhisheka tanjore painting, which had been worshipped by Sri S.R.K., a renowned and highly respected Vedic scholar, had been placed on the Peetha and decorated with flowers and silk clothing.

7.30 a.m. - 9.00 a.m.
Sri Swamiji performed tirumanjanam to Sri Srinivasa Perumal and blessed all with teertha prasad.

9.00 a.m.- 11.00 a.m.
Sri Swamiji led Rãghava Shatakam bhajan.

11.30 a.m - 12.30 a.m.
Sri Mallikãrjuna Somayaji and Sri Bhãshyam Iyengar performed pãrãyana of ‘Avatara kattam’ and ‘Pattãbishekam’(Chapters describing the birth and coronation of Lord Rama) from Srimad Vãlmiki Ramayanam. It is interesting to note that Bhagavan took avatar as Sri Rama at noon while, as Sri Krishna, He was born at midnight.

As directed by Sri Swamiji, Dr. Vasu showered lotus flowers on Sri Mallikãrjuna Somayaji and Sri Bhãshyam Iyengar.

Ãrati was taken by the ladies to Sri Rama placed on the peetha.

Bheeja dhãna was performed. Pãnakam(a sweet juice made with jaggery), Neermor (buttermilk) and Kosãmbari prasad were distributed to all devotees.

2.00 p.m - 6.00 p.m.
Ashtapathi bhajan was led by Sri Swamiji. Smt. Kanchana Sankaran, Mrs. Godha, Ms. Sangeetha, Ms. Janani, Bhagavata Sri Raman sang along.

6.00 p.m - 7.00 p.m
Sri Vishnu sahasranãma pãrãyana and Pancha Gitams recital was performed.

7.00 p.m - 9.00 p.m
Seetha kalyanam was performed by Sri Mallikãrjuna Bhãgavata.

Prasad was distributed to all devotees.