THANJAVUR (TAMIZH NADU)

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘upanyas’ on “Bhakta charitra” at the above venue. The conveners of the function and the local people offered a very warm welcome to His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji. On the first day, His Holiness spoke on Nãma prabhava (glory of the Name of the Lord) and on Sri Bhagavan Nãma Bodendra (one of the pontiffs of the famous Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam) who spread the glory of Nama sankirtan at the behest of His Guru Sri Atma Bodendra. On the following days His Holiness spoke on Sri Ekanatha, Tukkaram, Maha Periyava and completed the five-day ‘upanyas’ with Ãndãl ‘kalyãnam’.

30th May, 2003
Ganapaty Agraharam

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji visited Ganapati Temple as also the new Ãgama Pãtasãla at Ganapaty Agraharam (near Tiruvaiyãru).

At Tiruvaiyãru, His Holiness visited Sri Thiagaraja Samadhi and the adjacent Sri Sivapraprakasa Anandagiri Swami Samadhi. His Holiness then visited Sãmarãya agrahãram in Tiruvaiyãru where several devotees invited and honoured Him at their homes. Here, His Holiness visited Sri Raghavendra swami ‘mruthige’ Brindavanam and a private Sri Rama Temple.

31st May, 2003
8.15 a.m.

All the devotees had gathered at 8.15 a.m. at the Ganesha Temple, Tanjore and chanted Vishnu Sahasranama in the Presence of His Holiness.

4p.m.-6 p.m.

	“Shatakratu” means "pãrãyana" (reading) of Srimad Bhãgavatam for 108 times or “pãrãyana” by 108 Bhãgavatãs. One such “Shatakratu” (with 108 Bhãgavatãs) was first performed in Bangalore on Sri Maha Periyava Jayanti. The next Bhãgavata Shatakratu was performed at Guruvayoor. This event at Guruvayoor has been an memorable one that is spoken of by all participants even today. It was conducted with such devotion. The next “Shatakratu” was performed at Vrindãvan.
This year it was decided to celebrate Sri Maha Periyava Jayanti with Maha Sãmrãjya Pattabhishekham. To perform ‘pãrãyana’ of the Ramayana 24 times is called Sãmrãjya Pattabhishekham and when done 124 times is called Maha Sãmrãjya Pattãbhishekham. This time 124 Bhãgavatãs did ‘pãrãyana’ of Ramayana at Malleswaram, Bangalore, from 5th June to 13th June, 2003.
	4th June, 2003 This evening His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji inaugurated the function with the lighting of the ‘kuthu villakku’. His Holiness expressed His desire to conduct this kind of Maha Sãmrãjya Pattãbhishekham at Rameswaram. Thousands of Bhãgavatãs and devotees from all over the country had gathered here to enjoy the Presence of Divinity during these 12 days.
On the first day and on the day of Pãduka Pattãbhishekham there was a heavy rain. ‘Anna dãna’ to all visitors was a special feature of this 12-day long function. Go puja, Gaja puja, Aswa puja, Dampati puja, kanyã puja and vadu puja were all performed. ‘Go dãna’ was performed.

Daily routine: 5th June to 13th June, 2003

• 5.30 a.m. ‘Prabodanam’

• 6.30 - 12.00 noon Ramayana Pãrayana

• 2.00 - 4.00 p.m. Veda pãrãyana

• 4.00 - 5.30 p.m. Sri Chandrasekhar Sarma performed ‘upanyas’ on the day’s Ramayana pãrãyana

• 5.40 p.m. Vishnu Sahasranama pãrãyana

• 6.30 - 8.30 p.m. Classical musical concert by various famous musicians

  • 5th June - Saxophone by Sri Kadri Gopalnath

  • 6th June - Flute recital by Vidwan Dr. N. Ramani

  • 7th June - Vocal by Vidwan Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan

  • 8th June - Vocal by Vidushi Jambu Krishnan

  • 9th June - Vocal by Vidwan Maharajapuram Srinivasan

  • 10th June - Vocal by Vidushi Bombay Sisters

  • 11th June - Veena by ‘Tarangini Veena’ Dr. Suma Sudheendra

  • 12th June - Vocal by Trichur V. Ramachandran

• 8.30 - 10.45 p.m. Divya Nãma sankirtan by our Satsang Sumant Bhagavata and party

• 10.45 p.m. Dolotsav

This day was performed “Pãduka Pattabhishekham” to Sri Rama’s Pãduka. The part in Ramayana where Bharata receives the Pãduka of Sri Rama, carries it to Nandigrãm and performs Coronation of ‘The Pãduka’ seating it on the throne in place of Sri Rama, was read. Accordingly, a silver Pãduka was placed on a ‘peetah’ and ‘abhishekha’ performed to ‘IT’. This evening there was a heavy downpour of rain!

6.00 p.m.- 7.00 p.m. Young children performed Sanskrit drama depicting Bhagavat Bhakti.

7.30 p.m. Shri G.K. Ramamurthy - Founder, GKR Charities Mumbai-Chennai - the philanthropist, was honoured with the title of “Dharmãtma” on behalf of our Mission. Shri G.K. Ramamurthy received this title from His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji. Shri G.K. Ramamurthy was accorded this title in appreciation of the‘dharma’ being performed by him in several fields.

13th June, 2003 - Maha Periyava Jayanti
‘Pattãbhishekha’ (Coronation) of Sri Rama along with Sita

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘Tirumanjanam’ for Lord Rama and Sita.
Amidst Veda ‘gosha’ (sound) ‘Kanakãbhishekha’ (‘abhishekha’ with gold) and Maha Sãmrãjya Pattãbhishekham were performed to Sri Rama by His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji.

In the afternoon His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji spoke on the subtle dharma in Ramayana.

In the evening the Lord was taken on a grand procession on the main roads of Malleswaram. Fire works, ‘karagãttam’, a baby elephant, two horses carrying guards were special features of the procession. Thousands of devotees joined the procession. The young devotees of His Holiness performed Nãma Kirtan as the Lord was being taken in procession. People gathered on both sides of the roads and enjoyed Bhagavãn and the Bhaktãs.

14th June to 15th June, 2003 - BHAJANA MELA

Beginning at 6.00 a.m. from the 14th instant ‘akhanda bhajana’ was performed until the dawn of 15th instant! Several Bhãgavata groups from all over the country participated in this Bhajana Mela.

14th June, 2003

• 6.00-7.30 a.m. Thodaya mangalam, Gurutreyam-- Bombay Sri Hari Bhãgavat & Party

• 7.30-9.00 a.m. Other Guru Kirtans -Udayalur Kalyanarama Bhãgavata & Party

• 9.00-10.30 a.m. Jayadev Ashtapathy -Thanjavur Sri Thiagaraja Bhãgavata & Party

• 10.30-12.00 noon Tharangam - Sri Vijaya Deekshitar & Muthu Bhãgavata & Party

• 12.00- 1.30 p.m. Badrachala Ramdas kirtans - Kovai Sri Jayarama Bhãgavata&Party

• 1.30-3.00 p.m. Purandaradasa kirtans - Sri Radhakrishna Bhajana Mandali, Hosur

• 3.00- 4.30 p.m. Kirtans of Sadashiva Brahmendra, Gopalakrishna Bharati, Thiagaraja Bhagavata - Sri Rajasimha & Party

• 4.30 - 6.00 p.m. Marati abhang - Pãpanãsam Ramani & Party

• 6.00 - 7.30 p.m. Ganeshadi dyanam - Srivanjiyam Muralidhara Bhãgavata & Party

• 7.30 - 9.30 p.m. Puja - Brahmashree Ravi Bhãgavata & Party, Pudukottai along with Hyderabad Sri J.V. Eswara Prasad

• 9.30 - 1.30 a.m. Divyanama Sankirtan - Sri O.S. Sunder Bhãgavata & Party

• 1.30 - 5.00 a.m. Dolotsav - Erode Sri Rajamani Bhãgavata & Party

• 7.00 - 8.30 a.m. Unchavruthi Bhajan - Pudukottai Sri Ravi Bhãgavata

• 9.30 a.m. onwards Sita Kalyanam by all the Bhãgavatãs under the guidance of His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

  

• 1.30 - 3.00 p.m. Nalangu

• 3.00 - 7.00 p.m. Pavvalimpu, Vasanta kellikai, Anjaneya Utsav

• 7.30 p.m. Mangalam.

Sri Murty of Banglore was responsible for all the arrangements in connection with this gala Holy function. On this concluding day Sri Murty was honoured for his selfless, devoted service.

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji presided over the grand installation ceremony of the colossal ‘Panchamukha’ Sri Anjaneya at Pãpanchãwadi, near Pondicherry. “Dharmãtma” Shri G.K. Ramamurthy of GKR Charities participated in the function. A special plane circled above and showered flowers on the Deity! Thousands of devotees attended the big event.

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed upanyas on the life histories of great devotees of the Lord from 7 to 9 p.m. at Sri Rama Temple, Ram Nagar, Coimbatore. His Holiness was accorded a grand welcome and every evening the venue overflowed with devotees eager to listen to the words of His Holiness. All these devotees were ‘parama rasikãs’ (enjoyers of the highest order) who enjoyed the ‘upanyãs’ with great devotion. His Holiness felt very happy to narrate bhakti-filled charitrãs to such ‘rasikãs’. ‘Ram Nagar Bhajana goshti’ management had arranged for this visit of His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji.

While at Coimbatore, His Holiness visited Sri Seshadri swami’s Satsang and performed a brief ‘upanyãs’ on Sri Seshadri swami charitra.

His Holiness also visited a suburban school where He was accorded a warm welcome on behalf of the students. Here, His Holiness spoke a few words of ‘anugraha’ to the children: “Faith is the foundation of life. It is the basis for everything. Mental strength (‘mano balam’) is the need of the hour for children.”

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed discourse for a day at Kalpãkkam Township, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

His Holiness spoke on the glory of Bhagavan Nãma. His Holiness’s narration of the life of the hunter woman Sabari was an eye-opener to all doubting Thomas. A rustic, uneducated woman from the class of hunter, Sabari attained to the highest through Guru Bhakti! His Holiness pointed out that the association of a Sadhu (Satsang) turned a crude woman born in a hunter family into a great tapasvi whom Lord Rama came searching for! Lord Rama who never permitted any woman but Sita to touch Him, permitted Sabari to perform ‘Pãda puja’ to Him and Lakshmana. If Rama, at first, did hesitate to permit this it was only for two reasons viz. Sabari was an old lady and she was a great tapasvi.

His Holiness then narrated the life history of Sri Bhagavan Nãma Bodendra Swami who spread the glory of Bhagavan Nãma at the behest of His Guru Sri Atma Bodendra Swami.

On the morning of ‘Ekãdasi’ His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘Tirumanjanam’ to Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi at Mathurãpuri Ashram. In the evening from 6.00 p.m., after Sahasranãma parãyana, Bhajan was performed by the Satsang Bhãgavat Sumant Bhãgavata. Divya Nãma sankirtan was performed from 8.30 p.m. to 9.45 p.m. Dolotsav was performed at 9.50 p.m.

Sri Sri Kalyãna Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Mathurãpuri Ashram

As usual Special ‘Ekãdasi’ puja was performed to Sri Sri Kalyãna Srinivasa Perumal.

26th June, 2003 (‘Dwãdasi’)

‘Unchavruti’ was taken by a Bhãgavata on this morning of ‘dwãdasi’.