Ãmbur, Tamizh Nadu
22nd April 2003 - 26th April 2003

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘upanyãs’ at Ãmbur (Tamil Nadu) This was in response to the request of the local devotees who had desired to have H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji amidst them. ‘Upanayas’ was performed every evening from 8 to 10 p.m. The local devotees accorded a warm and affectionate reception to His Holiness. During His stay at Ãmbur, H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji visited several places nearby.
23rd morning: Padaiveedu Renukadevi Temple H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji visited this and several other Temples close by. 24th morning: Srinivas Perumal Temple on Peenur hills H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji visited this Temple. Renovation works is being carried on in this beautiful Perumal Temple. Earlier there had been a Hanuman Temple here. So, His Holiness advised installation of a new Hanuman sannidhi here. Brindavan (Samadhi) of a Madhwa Swamiji His Holiness also visited this Brindavan of a Madhwa swamiji who had attained siddhi long time back. Just opposite to this Brindavan stands a Hanuman. His Holiness advised arrangement for the conduct of proper puja here. A local gentleman at once took up this responsibility and made all necessary arrangements! Here, His Holiness blessed hundreds of devotees with prasad. Pãllikondanpattu His Holiness then visited Ranganatha and Ranganãyaki Thãyar in this place.
	Annaikãttu His Holiness inaugurated a school started here by an ardent devotee of His Holiness. The devotee has named the school after His Holiness. The local people very affectionately welcomed His Holiness. His Holiness gave Benedictory address and blessed the people with prasad.
Ganesha Temple in Vinamangalam colony The same evening His Holiness visited this Temple. Here, His Holiness requested the people to sing the Maha Mantra Kirtan (“Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare! Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!) And enjoyed their kirtan for a time. His Holiness then visited Dhyaneshwar Temple. Temples in Ãmbur His Holiness visited Selva Vinayaka Temple, Ellaiamman Temple, Kaliamman Temple, Padmavati sameta Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Krishna Temple and Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple. At all the Temples people received His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji with ‘poona kumba’ and much warmth. At each Temple, His Holiness gave Benedictory address. 25th April: Hindu Primary school The sincere and affectionate chanting of the Maha Mantra “Hare Rama! Hare Krishna!” by innumerable children studying in this school touched the heart of His Holiness. After the Benedictory address, His Holiness blessed each child with a sweet.
Tuttipattu Bindumadhava Temple After the visit to this above Temple His Holiness proceeded to Mittãllam. In Mittãllam the people received His Holiness with much warmth. It was a wonderful sight to see the people here perform Nãma sankirtan. They sang abhanga even as they danced in tune with it. After visiting Oottal His Holiness returned to Ãmbur.
Azhagu Perumal Temple in Vãniyambãdi In the evening devotees of this Temple gave a grand reception to His Holiness with ‘poorna kumbha’. Sankarapuram His Holiness then visited Sankarapuram, the birthplace of Sri Venugopala swami. Here, puja was performed at the house where Sri Venugopala swami had been born. Close by is a woods (‘thoppu’) where Sri Venugopala swami used to meet with several Siddha purushãs. His Holiness visited this place also. His Holiness expressed that there is full ‘sannidhya’ in this place. 26th Morning: Hanuman Temple. His Holiness participated in the Sudarsanan homa performed here. 26th Evening: At the conclusion of the five-day ‘upanyãs’ thousands of people performed the Maha Mantra kirtan, “Hare Rama! Hare Krishna! with deep involvement.
Tiruvananthapuram, Kerala 28th April to 4th May, 2003 His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘upanyãs’ at the Ãstika Samaj in Tiruvananthapuram. On the inaugural day all the devotees residing on the street of Ãstika Samaj had decorated their doorsteps and front with big ‘kolams’ and lit lamps. His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji was welcomed with the Maha Mantra Kirtan of “Hare Rama! Hare Krishna!” This reception was sãtvic, auspicious, divine, aesthetic and novel! On the concluding day (4th May), which was ‘akshaya tritiyai’, Divya Namasankirtan and Radha Kalyan were performed. 4th May: Balaramapuram His Holiness was accorded a grand reception by the village elders in the Agastiyar Temple here. Here, His Holiness spoke on the need of Temple worship. His Holiness then blessed all the devotees with prasad. Sri Padmanãbhaswami Temple His Holiness visited this and a few other Temples. It is very joyous to find the youths here getting together to sing Pandaripura abhangs. People of various Satsangs chanted/sang Nãrayaneeyam, Tirupugazh, bhajans in the Presence of His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji.

In connection with the celebration of Vasant Mahotsav, His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed Nama sankirtan of Yugala Shatakam at Premika Bhavanam. 10 kirtans were rendered each evening

6th May: (Tuesday) Sankara Jayanti 6 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. In commemoration of Adi Sankara Jayanti (the birth anniversary of Adi Sankara) a beautiful picture of Adi Sankara had been decorated and placed on the ‘peetah’. Lamps had been lit in front. At His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji’s behest, His young devotee Janani chanted melodiously the various Slokãs of the great Ãchãrya and the founder of Advaita philosophy - Ganesha Pancharatnam, Subrahmanya bhujangam, Annapoornãshtakam, Kanakadara stotra, Lingãshtakam, Nrisimha karavalambam, Moha mudgara (Bhaja Govindam), Rama bhujangam, Krishnãshtakam, Pãndurangãshtakam, Shatpati (six verse on Vishnu), Dakshinamurti, Gangãshtakam, Yamunãshtakam and Hanumat pancharatnam.
This was followed by the devoted chanting of ‘Hara hara Sankara! Jaya Jaya Sankara!’ by all devotees, led by two young Bhagavats of the Satsang. At the behest of His Holiness, Chattanata Bhagavata sang a kirtan on Bodendra and several other Guru Kirtans. 10 p.m. to midnight: Yugala Shatakam
	A big cement water tank painted with red and white stripes, filled with water, decorated all around with strings of flowers was placed at the center of the Premika Bhavanam hall. The water was strewn with lose petals of ‘panneer’ rose and jasmine. Lotus floated in the water. A seat had been arranged on this and His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji carried His puja murti Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi to the decorated seat and all the devotees in one voice welcomed the Divine Couple melodiously, ‘Swãgatam vrajesha kumara tava swãgatam!’
Beautiful ‘kolams’ had been drawn in front of and on the lower borders of the water tank. The ‘kolams’ were filled with various colours of flowers. A big umbrella of flowers hung from the ceiling just above the water tank, with stings of Jasmine (white), Tulasi (green), Sãmanti (yellow) and Arali (pink) hanging down. The sweet fragrance of the mixed flowers and the aesthetic beauty they offered is a sight to be enjoyed.
	His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji began the 10-day celebration of Yugala Shatakam with the Guru Kirtan, ‘Vijayi Bhavatu Gurunãtha! Vijayi Bhavatu mamanãtha! (Glory unto You, Oh! Guru! Glory unto You, my Lord!)
Sumant Bhagavata, Chattanata Bhagavata, ‘Pãtu’ Balaji sang along with His Holiness while Sri Ganesh played on the dholki. Sri Santanam Bhagavata. Even at this late hour many devotees participated in the kirtan that was led by His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji and supported by Ms. Vishnupriya, Ms. Janani, Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman and Ms. Kanchana Sankaran. On this first day ten kirtans were rendered. 12.25 a.m. Dolotsav 7th May, 2003 (Wednesday) This evening the flower arrangement was wonderful. It was the same umbrella of flowers with the long strings of flowers - jasmine with two lines of ‘kadambam’ and two lines of ‘kanakãmbaram’ falling down and touching the floor. Two strings of Tulasi hung in front one on either side of the seat of Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi. There was a string of red ‘vrukshi’ hung on the backside on the mango- leaf line that was across the hall. A short line of this red ‘vrukshi’ was tied in-between the two Tulasi string in front. It all looked so wonderful.
This evening four new terracotta lamps had been lit. They were the shape of a stout bark of a tree. There were two ‘agals’ on top and four on the bottom on the four sides. ‘Kolam’ had been drawn around the water tank and filled with ‘sãmanti’ petals.
	Around 9.50 p.m. His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji wearing a simple white dhoti and angavastra began the Kirtan, “Jaya shree Radhe Krishna!” All the devotees joined. ‘Alaipãyude kanna’ (Oothukãdu Venkatasubbaiyar kirtan) ‘Pãlvadiyum mugam’ (Oothukãdu Venkatasubbaiyar kirtan) ‘Pãrvai onre podume kãllap pãrvai onre podume’ (Ambujam Krishna) ‘Krishna karo yajumãn’ (Mira bhajan) Hari gunagavat nãchoongi (Mira bhajan)
And then the kirtans of Yugala Shatakam from 11th to 20 were rendered. 8th May, 2003 (Thursday) 9.45 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. This evening a small flat platform made of bamboo sticks was placed high above the seat of Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi. This was covered on top by ‘vetti ver’ (the roots that keep the room cool when sprinkled with water and give out good fragrance). Flat, square coverings of palm leaves with ‘vetti ver’ stuck to them on the inside were placed on the sides of the water tank covering Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi on the three sides - back, right and left. The ‘vetti ver’ had been dipped in water. So, they spread mild enjoyable fragrance and at the same time offering a cool covering for His Holiness puja murtis Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi. This, indeed, must have brought relief to the Divine Couple from the heat of Chennai summer!
Jasmine and Tulasi mãla hund on all sides around the water tank and the ‘kolams’ around the border line of the water tank filled with lose flowers. The whole hall with the mixed fragrance of ‘vetti ver’, jasmine and Tulasi was indeed intoxicating. To add to this was the ‘pãvai’ lamps - big and small -- all around the water tank. The kirtan was conducted under ‘agal’ lamps, as on the past two evenings.
	This evening the bhajan began with ‘Vijayi Bhavatu Gurunatha! Vijayi Bhavatu mamanãtha!’ H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji began to render this evening’s 21st to 30th kirtans of the Yugala Shatakam. 11.00 p.m. Dolotsav
9th May, 2003 (Friday) 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The timing of the kirtan had been changed to help many other devotees participate. Premika Bhavanam hall was overflowing with devotees. This evening it was the sweet smell of ‘marugu’. The ‘vetti ver’ roof and coverings on the three sides had this evening been substituted with ‘marugu’. Ah! Each evening brought on a different fragrance, providing an apt stage for the Bhajan! Strings of jasmine, Tulasi, kanakãmbaram and arali hung all around the water tank.
	A very small flat square bamboo platform had been decorated with ‘marugu’ and hung just above Premika Vardan-Mãdhuri Sakhi. It had a long thread of jasmine flower attached. His Holiness held the end of this and fanned the Divine Couple throughout the bhajan! His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji commenced the bhajan with ‘Radhe Shyãm! Radhe Shyãm! Radhe Shyãm! Radhe Shyãm!’ followed by ‘Vijayi Bhavatu Gurunãtha! Vijayi Bhavatu mamanãtha!’ 8.30 p.m. Dolotsav
10th May, 2003 (Saturday) 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Divine Couple Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi was enjoying special decorations each evening. They were decorated with flowers and jewels. The devotees stepped into Premika Bhavanam eagerly to enjoy the different decorations for the Divine Couple. It is every day Utsav for this Divine Couple here in Premika Bhavanam! The young devotees of His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji, Ms. Vishnupriya, Ms. Janani, Ms. Poornima assisted by some elderly devotees - Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman and Ms. Mãlati - arranged the lamps and flower decorations on the kolam around the water tank. His Holiness began the bhaja this evening with ‘Radhe Shyãm! Radhe Shyãm!’ This evening 41st to 50th kirtans were rendered. 9.00 p.m. Dolotsav
	11th May, 2003 (Sunday) 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This morning the Divine Couple were seated on the beautifully decorated wooden cradle. A beautiful kolam had been drawn in front of the cradle. Jasmine and Tulasi were predominant with various other flower strings decorating the cradle. ‘Panneer rose’ garland decorated the Divine Couple’s neck and spread a mild enjoyable fragrance around. The fragrance of the ‘panneer rose’ quickly smothers one’s heart even as it touches the nostril! The soft light coloured petals are soothing to the eye and the heart. A preferred flower of the Divine (Couple) it is mostly available only in the mornings. So, on this Sunday morning the Divine Couple seemed to enjoy the ‘panneer rose’ mãla, as His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji swung the cradle lightly.
This morning the Divine had also ‘Willed’ violin accompaniment. A lady violnist was in. At His Holiness’s behest she played the violin. It was indeed a feast to the ears, too, this morning with harmonium, tamboor, violin and dholki accompaniments! 51st to 60th kirtans of Yugala Shatakam were rendered this morning. Around 1.00 p.m. His Holiness blessed all the devotees with ‘teerta’.
6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. (Pillaiyãr Temple, Anakãputtur, Chennai) His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji participated in Sankara Jayanti Mahotsav at Pillaiyar Temple, Anakaputtur, Chennai. His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji was received with ‘poorna kumba’ by the Temple authorities. His Holiness performed ‘upanyãs’ for half-an-hour on the importance of celebrating the Jayanti Mahotsav of Adi Sankara, before leading the procession of Adi Sankara picture on the streets of Anakaputtur. Several local and other devotees participated in this function.
12th May, 2003 (Monday) 7.00 p.m. to 8 p.m. Little girls belonging to a local dancing troupe offered ‘nãtyãnjali’ to the Divine Couple Premika Varadana-Mãdhuri Sakhi. His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji blessed each dancer with a silver coin and kumkum.
8.15 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. This evening a big seat of Lotus had been prepared for the Divine Couple. The big Lotus ‘ãsana’ floated smoothly and lightly on the water in the tank. Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi were seated proudly on it. Beginning with the Guru kirtan, ‘Vijayi bhavatu Gurunãtha! Vijayi bhavatu mamanãtha!’ His Holiness rendered the 61st to 70th kirtans. 9.15 p.m. Dolotsav

13th May, 2003 (Tuesday)

7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Around 7.10 p.m. His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji carried the Divine Couple to the decorated seat on the sweet smelling water tank filled with petals of various flowers, even as the devotees sang the welcome song.

His Holiness began the bhajan this evening with ‘Jaya Shree Radhe Krishna! Jaya Shree Radhe Krishna! Jaya Shree Radhe Krishna! Jaya Jaya Om!’

The weather had been cloudy and there was slight drizzle. So, it was quite cool this evening.

The jasmine strings and the Tulasi mãla added to the fragrance of the Yugala Shatakam performed by G and devotees. Several Lotus had been placed around the edges of the water tank.

This evening the beautiful ‘marble Krishna’ also joined the divine atmosphere in the hall, as He stood on a wooden platform in front of the water tank.

His Holiness began to chant sweetly from the Bhagavata Mãhãtmiyam (4th chapter) ‘Atha vaishnavachitteshu dhrushtva bhaktimaloukikam |
nijalokam parityajya Bhagavan bhaktavatsalah ||

At the behest of His Holiness, Vishnupriya chanted melodiously, ‘Vanamãli ghanashyãmah pitavãsa manoharah |
kãnchikalãparuchiro lasanmakutakundalah ||
tribhangalalitachãrukoustubhena virãjitah |
kotimanmathalãvanyo harichandravarjitah ||
paramãnandachinmoortimadhuro muralidharah |
ãvivesha svabhaktãnãm hrudayãmalani cha ||’

His Holiness then began to sing His kirtan (in Tamizh),
Bhãvamillãda bhajanai eno? (why do bhajan without ‘Bhava’ [feeling]?)
Bhakti illãda bhajani veenne! (bhajan bereft of bhakti is useless, indeed!)

This was followed by the Nãmavalli -
‘Bhaktapriya Krishna mãmpãhi!
Bhãgavata sangam mama dehi!’

This was followed by 71st to 80th kirtans of the Yugala Shatakam.
His Holiness sang, ‘Mohana Krishna! Jagan Mohana Krishna!’ and His devotee ‘pãtu’ Sri Balaji joined to lead the bhajan ‘Mohana Krishna! Radha Jeevana Krishna!’

At His Holiness behest Sri Balaji sang,
‘Alaipãyude kanna en manam miga alaipãyude’
‘Vishamakkãra Kannan, pollada vishamakkãra kannan’
‘Chinnanjchiru killiye, Kannamma selva kallanjiyame!’ (the divine poet Bharatiyar song)

His Holiness brought the bhajan to an end this evening with
‘Jaya Jaya mangalam Shri Radhe!
Jaya Jaya mangalam Shri Krishna!’
All the devotees sang along.

As at the end of each session of the bhajan, this evening, too, His Holiness offered ‘naivedya’ to the Divine Couple and performed ‘karpoora hãrati’. This followed by ‘kumkum/manjal ãrati’ by the lady devotees.

9.00 p.m. Dolotsav

14th May, 2003 (Swãti - Wednesday) Lord Nrisimha Jayanti

7 p.m. to 8.15 p.m. This evening the whole Premika Bhavanam hall had been decorated with flowers. The whole hall was filled with strings of jasmine, kanakãmbaram, maru and arali.
A big beautiful ‘Hamsa’ (swan) had been placed on the water tank as the seat for the Divine Couple Premika Varadan-Madhuri Sakhi and an umbrella of flower hung on top. The hall smelt and looked wonderful. The hall overflowed with devotees.

The whole hall reverberated with ‘Swãgatam vrajesha kumara tava swãgatam!’ as
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji carried the Divine Couple from Perumal sannidhi to the ‘Hamsa ãsana’ on the water tank.

His Holiness began the bhajan with,
“Radhe Shyãm! Radhe Shyãm! Radhe Shyãm! Radhe Shyãm!’

His Holiness followed it with the Guru kirtan,
‘Vijayi bhavatu Gurunãtha! Vijayai bhavatu mamanãtha!’

Since today is the Jayanti of Lord Nrisimha, His Holiness began to lead His kirtan on
Lord Nrisimha murti -
‘Vira Simha! Dhira Simha!’
This was followed by another kirtan on this God -
‘Sri Nrisimha! Jaya Nrisimha! Lakshmi Nrisimha’

Following this His Holiness led the kirtans of Yugala Shatakam.

At the behest of His Holiness Smt. Kanchana Sankaran read 5th to 8th chapters of the 7th Canto from Srimad Bhãgavatam where in Nrisimha avatãr takes places.

Along with the devotees His Holiness sang His kirtan
‘Prahlada varada sharannam! Sharannam!’
All the devotees then sang ‘Prasanna Nrisimha’.

At His Holiness behest ‘Pãttu’ Balaji sang, ‘Chinnachiru killiye kannãmma selvakkallanjiyame!’ of Bharatiyar.

After naivedya, ‘karpoora hãrati’ dolotsav was performed at about 8.30 p.m.

15th May, 2003 (Swãti, Poornima, Guru vãra [Thursday])

7 a.m. to 10 a.m. This concluding day of Vasant Mahotsav aptly fell on a day that combined three auspicious occasions - Swãti, Poornima and Guru vãra!
On this day Premika Bhavanam hall was overflowing with devotees with not a place to drop a pin. The flower decoration of last evening remained undisturbed. Fresh flowers were neatly arranged on the edges of water tank. Fresh lose flower petals were strewn on the water.

His Holiness very carefully carried the Divine Couple to the ‘Hamsa ãsana’ on this concluding day of the ten daylong Bhajan mahotsav.

His Holiness began the bhajan with His kirtan, “Namãmi Sadguru devam!
Namãmi Sadguru devam! (prostrations unto the Guru-God)
naraloka bandum, Nãrãyanam! (Oh! the relative of Man and verily Lord Narayana!)
Lilayãdruta mãnusha vesham! (Oh! one wearing the human form as a Divine Play!)
Bhakta chittãkarshana sundara vadanam! (Oh! a beautiful face that draws the mind of Bhaktãs!)
Bhakta charitra kutoohalena varshitam! (Oh! one who rains down enthusiastically the life histories of Bhaktãs!)
patita jana uddharana dheeram! (Oh! one who boldly saves/protects the helpless people)
parama krupa nidim, Muraliidhara sevitam!” (Oh! the most compassionate and worshipped by Muralidhara!)

Then the kirtan, “Brindãvanam bhaje! Brindãvanam! nityam Brindavanam bhaje!” was sung.

All the devotees joined. It was a real ‘Go-loka’!
His Holiness then led His kirtan,
“Azhaikinrãn Kannan! Sri vaname, azhaikinrãn! Kuzhaloodi!
Azhaikinrãn Kannan! Sri vaname, azhainrãn!
(Krishna is beckoning (me) to Brindavan!
Playing His flute,
Is Krishna beckoning (me) to Brindavan!)
‘Kettilaiyo neengal mattilla ãnandame! (Oh! have you not heard of the limitless Bliss!)
thattãmal selven thadai sollãdiir yãrum! (without fail shall I go! Pray! do not stop me!)
‘Vanna mãlaiyum unnada vadivazhagum ( the colourful garlands and the exquisite form
en chittattai mayakudadi! magnetize my mind!)
Pattuth thirumeniyai kattith thazhuvidave (to embrace the soft divine body ullam urugudai - sakhiye! does my heart pine!)
Ethhunai solliyum puriyumo evanazhagu (can one comprehend His beauty even when extolled?
ennai pithanãkki pãrpade villaiyãttu! It is verily His Play to make me go mad [for Him]!)

His Holiness then led His kirtan,
“Sarva sulaba Premikavarada!
sarva sharanya Premikavarada!”

His Holiness then sang the 3rd Ashttapadi along with Sumant Bhãgavat and Srikant -
“Lalita lavanga latã parisheelana komala malayasamiire |
mudhukara nikara karambita kokila koojita kunjakuteere ||

The final kirtans of the Yugala Shatakam were rendered melodiously by His Holiness and His devotees.

At His Holiness’s behest Smt. Kalyani rendered the raga ‘Vasanta’. This was then played on the Veena by Ms. Vishnupriya. Sri Santanam Bhagavata played ‘Malayamãrutam’ on the harmonium.

“Jaya Jaya mangalam Shree Radhe!
Jaya Jaya mangalam Shree Krishna!”
signaled the closing of the 10 day long Vasant Mahotsav.

His Holiness offered ‘naivedya’ to the Divine Couple and performed ‘karopoora hãrati’.
The ladies performed ‘ãrati’ to the Divine Couple.

His Holiness then blessed all the devotees with ‘teerta’.

The ten-day long Vasant Mahotsav left an indelible mark in the minds and hearts of all devotees.

Evening 4 p.m, His Holiness Sri Sri Swmaiji inaugurated a Laproscopy Unit in ASD Medical Hospital at Pollachi. His Holiness gave a Benedictory address here on ‘in this Kali yuga development of good thoughts is in itself a tapas’.

Morning: His Holiness inaugurated Sri Jambunãtha Ganapadi’s C.C.V.V. Trust Veda Patasala. Here, His Holiness performed ‘upanyãs’ on ‘who have the right to learn the Vedas? And why only they have been bestowed with this right?’

From Coimbatore, His Holiness went to Guruvãyur and visited Guruvayur Temple before returning to Chennai.