Yogiramsuratkumar Ashram, Tiruvannãmalai, Tamizh Nãdu
29th November, 2003 - 1st December 2003
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji, in connection with the Jayanti celebrations of
Yogriramsuratkumar (on the 1st December, 2003) performed ‘upanyãs’ at Yogiramsuratkumar Ashram,
Tiruvannãmalai from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.
29th November -- 1st December, 2003: In connection with the Jayanti celebrations of Yogiramsuratkumar the students of our Sandeepani
Gurukulam performed Veda pãrãyana. Sri P.K. Subramaniam performed 'Sundara kãnda' pãrãyana.
30th December: His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed 'upanyãs' from 10.00 am. to 12 noon.
Dakshinãmurti Temple, Vellore, Tamizh Nãdu
2nd December, 2003
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘upanyãs’ at Dakshninãmurti Temple
In Vellore from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Therezhundoor, Tamizh Nãdu
5th December, 2003
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji participated in the ‘kumbabhishekham’ of Sri Mãriamman Temple at Therezhundoor Maruthoor Ãdi drãvida residential colony.
Sri Kuppuswamy’s residence, Raja Street, Mandvelli, Chennai
6th & 7th December, 2003
His Holiness participated in the Divya Nãmasankirtan (6th instant) and Radha Kalyãnam (7th instant) at His devotee Sri Kuppuswamy’s residence.
On the evening of the 6th, His Holiness performed a brief ‘upanyãs’.
Excerpts from Sri Swamiji's ‘upanyãs’
Kãrtika deepam, Premika Bhavanam
8th December, 2003
In view of ‘Kãritika deepam’ lamps were lit in Premika Bhavanam. Lady devotees, led by Smt. Jayanti Jãnakirãman and Ms. Sangeeta Jãnakirãman, performed bhajan.
Sri Rama Temple, Ram Nagar, Coimbatore
10th December, 2003
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji was at Coimbatore to inaugurate "Abhinava Vidhyateerthar pravachana mantap" at Ram Nagar.
His Holiness performed ‘upanyãs’ from 6:45pm to 8:30pm, on Nãmasankeertan and Srimad Bhãgavatam.
Perambur, Needãmangalam, Tamizh Nadu
13th December - 14th December, 2003
His Holiness participated in the Radha Kalyanam performed at Perambur, Needamanagalam. Sumant Bhãgavatar of the Satsang performed Radha Kalayanam.
Dhanur mãsa puja
16th December, 2003
Dhanur mãsa puja began at Premika Bhavanam. Every morning H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘prabodanam’ at 4.45 a.m. followed by ‘Tirumanjanam’ to Sãlagrãma.
From 10 a.m. to 12 noon Keertanãvalli was sung by His Holiness and the devotees. On the 17th morning, His Holiness
spoke on the glory of Ãndãl and ‘Thiruppãvai’.
Excerpts from Sri Swamiji's discourse on the glory of Ãndãl and ‘Thiruppãvai’
Adhyayana Utsavam
16th December - 25th December, 2003
From 19th to 25th December, Brahmasri Swaminatha Athreya performed Srimad Ramayana ‘pravachanam’
every day from 8.30 to 10.00 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
It was a unique experience. Brahmasri Athreya handled the Epic authored by Vãlmiki with
great deft expounding on the ‘bhãvãrta’.
Brahmasri Athreya, an exponent of Sri Thiagaraja kritiis, sang several kritiis of Sri
Thiagaraja swami to illustrate Thiagaraja’s devotion to Lord Rama.
Excerpts from Brahmasri Athreya's discourse on Sri Ramãyana
The Octogenarian, living at Thanjavur, is a great scholar. He has enjoyed Maha Periyava’s association for several years.
On the 20th instant, Maha Periyava’s ‘ãrãdana’ day, he recalled two incidents that occurred while he stayed with the Sage.
Maha Periyava halted at a place during one of his tours. Arrangements had been made for his stay at a chowltry. On being inquired,
one of the attendants affirmed that all arrangements had been made. Maha Periyava went over to the chowltry. As soon as Maha Periyava
sat on the mat, the attendant requested Maha Periyava to move away from the mat. Maha Periyava looked at him questioningly and the attendant explained,
‘The mat is filled with bugs.’
At once Maha Periyava said, “Do you know what these bugs are? They are no ordinary creatures. They are Jnãnis! They have no more birth!”
Looking at the blank face of the attendant, Maha Periyava explained, “The biological system of these bugs is unlike other creatures. They subsist only on blood. Nothing else.
They do not have digestive system like us. All that they need is some ounce of blood. That’s all. So, let them suck the blood. How much would they take?
Two ounce? Or four? Let them have it!”
Maha Periyava also spoke of how the small harmless black ants (‘pillaiyãr erumbu’) are born and that their ‘janma’ is also the last, without any more birth!
On the 25th morning, Keertanãvalli was completed and ‘Ãndãl kalyãnam’ performed. Brahmasri Swaminatha Athreya participated in the ‘Ãndãl kalyãnam’.
On the 25th evening, Sri Kesavan and Sri Babuji rendered parts of ‘Divya prabandam’ from 6.00 to 6.30 p.m.
Being Hanumant Jayanti, at His Holiness’s behest, Janani chanted Hanuman Chalisa.
Brahmasri Athreya completed the ‘pravachanam’ with ‘ Rama Pãduka Pattãbhishekam’. His Holiness honoured
the erudite scholar and Bhakta with a golden ring, shawl, garland and ‘sambãvanai’. While addressing
His Holiness and the devotees, Brahmasri Athreya said, “Poets speak of the Chakora bird awaiting the Moon and
brightening up on sighting it. Devotees like Mira have likened themselves to the Chakora bird and Krishna to the
Moon. However, Sadasiva Brahmendra in his kirtan sings, ‘paramahamsa mukha Chandra chakore!’ - he likens Krishna
to the Chakora bird and himself to the Moon! Is he not a great Jnãni? So, he dares to claim himself as the
Moon whom the Chakora bird Krishna yearns for! Likewise, all these seven days I had looked forward to the Moon
that you devotees are! I am not a professional ‘upanyãsaka’ (discourser). This is my second ‘upanyãsa’. I do
not speak much but am a listener. It is only due to the blessings of His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji that I have
been able to speak for such long hours.”
Sri Mallikãrjuna Sarma, the Mukhya Adhyãpak of our Mission’s Sree Sãndeepani Gurukulam, in his vote of thanks said, “But for
Brahmasri Athreya’s exposition we would not have been able to understand Vãlmiki’s works in the right perspective. His writings
are a blend of slokas and his commentary. We would not have known to distinguish between his slokas and commentary had not
Brahmsri Athreya picked them up and placed it before us.”
Sri Iyyappan Temple, Kalpakkam
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed 'upanyãs' at Sri Iyyappan Temple, Kalpãkkam, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Monthly Sravanam: Premika Bhavanam
26th December, 2003
Every month on Sravanam (star of Srinivas Perumãl), ‘sravana deepam’ is lit by
Sri Ramanujam, devotee of His Holiness, at Premika Bhavanam. On this day His Holiness being
present in the City, His Holiness lit the ‘sravana deepam’ and went around Perumãl
four times before handing it to Sri Ramanujam. Sri Ramanujam, holding the ‘sravana deepam’
on his head went around the ‘ulookalam’, placed outside in front of the ‘sannidhi’, thrice and placed it on the ‘ulookalam’. He then performed ‘archana’.
26th December - 29th December, 2003
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji went on a tour of Gunaseelam, Mahendra Mangalam, Mannathattai, Hosur and Bangalore.
On the 29th December, His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji participated in the Radha Kalyãnam held at Shri Ramachandran’s house at Malleswaram, Bangalore. The Radha Kalyãnam was performed by Sri Sumant Bhãgavata and party. After the Radha Kalyãnam, at the behest of His Holiness, Erode Sri (‘Pãttu’) Bãlãji rendered a musical discourse on the life of Sri Thiagaraja swami for about an hour and a half.
Sri Iyyappan Temple, Mahalingapuram, Chennai
31st December, 2003
His Holiness performed ‘upanyãs’ at Sri Iyyappan Temple, Mahalingapuram, from 7p.m. to 9 p.m.
