Navarãtri Utsav - Madhurapuri Ashram
26th September, 2003 - 4th October, 2003
The festival of “Navarãtri” was celebrated at Madhurapuri Ashram from
26th September, ’03 to 4th October, 03.
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H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji explains,
“Though Navarãtri (‘nine nights’) is predominantly known to be the worship of Devi, it is in reality worship of the three Godesses -
Devi, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Devi/Shakti (the Goddess of Power) is worshipped on the first three days
and nights, Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth) is worshipped the next three days and nights and Saraswati
(the Goddess of Knowledge) is worshipped on the last three days and nights.
The tradition of arranging dolls of gods, goddesses and other dolls on lengthy steps and doing puja to them is followed in the Southern parts of India. The steps are in odd number of 3, 5, 7,9 and so on. It includes dolls of houses, flowers, men, women, children, traders, grains, vegetables, fruits, kings, animals, birds, etc. H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji elucidates that all dolls are worshipped all these nine days only to emphasize that God exists in all.
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H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji enlightens us further, ‘This festival is especially meant for ladies and girls. In days yonder women were confined to their homes. This festival of nine days and nights gives an opportunity for them to mingle with each other and exchange niceties. Girls and ladies are invited home and offered all auspicious things viz. kumkum, turmeric, betel leaf, nut, fruits, coconut, saree/blouse cloth. They sing the glory of Bhagavan. Children are dressed in various costumes viz. little Krishna, Radha, Gopis, Gopãs.”
The festival brings in a mood of gay and colour.
At Madhurapuri Ashram:
Every morning -
6.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m.
Ramayana Pãrãyana (‘Navãham’ - Reading the Holy Text for nine days)
9 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.
H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘abhisheka’ amidst chanting of the Vedas by the Mission Veda Patasala students and ‘archana’ after which the devotees were blessed with ‘tirtha prasad’.
Every evening -
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
His Holiness performed ‘archana’ to Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi.
Premika Vardan-Madhuri Sakhi were worshipped through Bhajan/dance almost
every afternoon,
Through musical concert
every evening,
and
Through the rendering of ‘Radhika Shatakam’
late evening,
Through singing of the Divine Name of the Lord
every night
by Sumant Bhagavata and other devotees. H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji also joined this Divya Nama Sankirtan.
Premika Vardan-Mãdhuri Sakhi were taken on procession to Sri Kalyãna Srinivasa Perumal Temple,
every evening.
Sahasranãma was chanted
every evening
by the Veda Patasala Students.
The day closed with
‘dolotsav’
for Premika Vardan-Mãdhuri Sakhi.
26th September, 2003 (Friday)
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Music concert by Sri Balaji and party
27th September, 2003 (Saturday)
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Music concert by Sri Rahul and party
“SWATHI”
28th September, 2003 (Sunday)
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Violin concert by the children of CARVA Trust
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
His Holiness released the stamp of Mata Krishna Bai of Ãnand Ashram.
On this occasion His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji blessed the devotees of Ãnand Ashram with
benedictory address.
29th September, 2003 (Monday)
2 p.m - 4 p.m.
Bhajan by Gopika Mandali
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Satsang with Sri Swaminatha Athreya.
Sri Swaminatha Athreya is an octogenarian. Residing at Tanjore, he has written on the ‘bhãva-artha’ of the various kirtans of the great Bhakta Sri Thiagaraja Swami.
Sri Swaminatha Athreya spoke on Prema Bhakti (pure love for the Lord), lauding the love that Sri Thiagaraja swami possessed for Lord Rama.
Sri Athreya sang the various kirtans of Thiaga Brahmam and elucidated on their ‘Bhava-artha’.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Music concert by the Senior artiste Sri G.N. Desikan and party
30th September, 2003 (Tuesday)
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Satsang with Sri Swaminatha Athreya
1ST October, 2003 (Wednesday)
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Satsang with Sri Swaminatha Athreya
This afternoon Sri Athreya narrated “Sita Kalyanam” through the kirtans of Thiaga Brahmam.
Sri Athreya was honoured by His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Abhang bhajan by Ms. Sampada Hirai
2nd October, 2003 (Thursday)
12.30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Abhang bhajan by villagers from Ãmbur area.
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Dance offering by students of Sri Devi Nruthyãlaya.
About a dozen young girls depicted “Sita Kalyanam” in the most aesthetic way. Their costume, their feet and hand movements, their facial expressions
were highly enjoyable.
4.30 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.
Dance recital by Ms. Sudhama. A student of class IV, Ms. Sudhama’s dance offering to the Lord was exquisite with excellent footwork and facial expressions.
6.30 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.
Music concert by Sri Annamãchãrya Trust
3rd October, 2003 (Friday)
7 p.m - 9 p.m.
Music concert by Sri Sriramkumar and party
9.30 p.m. - 10.30 p.m.
“Jãnavãsam” was conducted for Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi. A silken carpet was laid across the hall from the ‘Oonjal’ (swing) to the entrance of Bhãgavata Bhavanam. Premika Varadan stood at the entrance of the hall while Mãdhuri Sakhi close to the ‘Oonjal’. Through H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji the Divine couple exchanged garlands. The two then were brought together at the entrance to Bhãgavata Bhavanam and as they moved towards the ‘Oonjal’, His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji threw flowers at them lightly, in offering, as Sumant Bhãgavata, Srikant Bhãgavata, “Pãttu” Balaji Bhãgavata and other Bhãgavatãs sang Thiagaraja kirtans.
The Divine couple occupied the ‘Oonjal’ and ‘sumangaliis’ performed ‘pidi suthu’ (colored balls of rice held in hand and taken round the form of the Divine Couple and thrown around them). Thiagaraja kirtans were sung by His Holiness and Bhãgavatãs.
Divya Namasankirtan followed and dolotsav performed around 1 a.m.
4th October, 2003 (Saturday)
(Saraswati puja)
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘abshisheka’ amidst the chanting of the glory of Saraswati from the Vedas. This was followed by ‘archana’ to
Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi.
Later in the day His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed “Radha Kalyanam” for Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi.
‘Navãham’ of Ramayana was completed.
“Ãnjaneya Utsav” was performed bringing Navarãtri Utsav to a close.
All the Artistes and Bhãgavatãs were honoured by the Mission.
‘Pratishttã day’ of Sri Srinivasa Perumãl at Premika Bhavanam
5th November, 2003 - “Purattãsi” Sravanam
4.30 a.m. - 6.30 a.m.
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘Thirumanjanam’ and ‘archana’ to Sri Srinivasa Perumãl.
6.30 a.m. - 8.30 a.m.
Sri Srikãnt Sarma performed ‘upanyãs’
8.40 a.m.
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji lit the ‘Sravana deepa’ and performed ‘archana’.
Clad in ‘turmeric dipped’ dhoti, His Holiness lit the ‘Sravana’ lamp, held it on top of His
head and went around the ‘sannidhi’ of Sri Srinivasa Perumãl and the decorated ‘ulookhalam’
(rice-husking mortar) while all the devotees cried out ‘Govinda! Govinda!’ in devotion. Placing
the lamp on top of the decorated ‘ulookhalam’, His Holiness performed ‘archana’ to it.
All devotees were then blessed with ‘teerta’ by His Holiness.
2.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.
The Satsang Bhãgavata Sri Sumant, along with Sri Srikant, Sri Chattanãthan,
Sri ‘pãttu’ Bãlãji, sang the Ashtapadi.
6.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m.
Vishnusahasranamam and ‘Pancha Gitam’ were chanted by devotees.
7.15 p.m. - 8.15 p.m.
Carnatic music concert by Mambalam Sisters - Ms. Chitra and Ms. Alamelu.
8.30 p.m. - 11.30 p.m.
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed Divya Nãmasankirtan along with His devotees and Bhãgavatãs. Bhãgavata Sri O.S. Sundar participated.
