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From: Murali Krishna Kalvapudi (murali_chris_at_hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Jul 19 2000 - 08:46:13 PDT
His Holiness Shri Shri Shri Tridandi Sriman Narayana Ramanuja China
Jeeyar Swamiji's Trip to Bay Area from July 3rd to July 9th, 2000.
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Jai Srimannarayana!!
Sri Bhagavathotthamas!
His Holiness Shri China Jeeyar Swamiji has graced us by visiting the
Bay area from July 3rd to July 9th. It was a rare event to California
which had to wait for four years as the Swamiji's visit to this place
last time was happened in 1996. Shri Swamiji is greatly followed and
widely respected Pithadhipathi in Andhra Pradesh having His Ashram in
Sitanagaram (near Vijayawada on the banks of river Krishna). He has
established Veda Pathasalas at Sitanagaram and Jaggayyapet and
another
Ashram in Nadigaddapalem in Gutur District. Eversince renunciating
this materialistic world at a very young age, Shri Swamiji has
mastered the whole of Dravida and Sanskrit Vedams, Shri Ramanuja
Darshanam, Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam, attained Bhagavat Sakshatkaram,
Ashtakshari Manthra Siddhi and is a pioneer in preserving Vedas and
vedic tradition. We all believe that Shri Swamiji is the
reincarnation
of Bhagavat Ramanuja performing Saddharma Prathishtapanam in this
world which is being swept away by the western influences leaving our
traditional vedic dharma. Leading a true Saintly life Shri Swamiji
endeavours to spread Shri Bhagavad Ramanuja Sampradayam throughout
the
world. Shri Swamiji also provides spiritual leadership to 'VIKASA
TARANGINI' an organization which provides guidance to the present day
youth. More information about Shri Swamiji and His activites can be
obtained at Shri Swamiji's website at www.chinnajeeyar.org.
Although it is impossible to summarize Shri Swamiji's pravachana
saram
and the Divya Anubhavam we had during His visit, I venture out to
write a few words for the benefit of the members. Please count all
mistakes on me and correct me.
Shri Swamiji has been touring USA since the last week of May this
year
at the request of His desciples. He has graced several places like
Washington DC, Detroit, Florida etc.
After finishing His visit at Los Angeles and Bakersfield in Southern
California Shri Swamiji came to Fremont and blessed Shriman Vishnu
Vardhan Reddy ( religious committee member in Livermore temple) by
staying at his residence for 7 days.
Hundreds of devotees and desciples thronged his house throughout the
period of 7 days to have Shri Swamiji's Darshan, blessings and listen
to valuable pravachanams by Swamiji.
Every day morning there was Tirtha Goshti at 8.30 AM with Divya
Prabandha Parayanam and Sevakalam. Shri Swamiji gave Perumal Tirtham
to everyone filled with His love and Kataksham. It is a divine
experince to receive Tirtham and it is true that whoever wishes
something while taking the Tirtham, that wish fructifies without
fail.
There are innumerable incidents sanctifying this belief.
On 4th July evening, Shri Swamiji has blessed us with His Divya
Pravachanam on Smt Bhagavadgita. More than 700 devotees have
attentively listened. Shri Swamiji has lucidly explained the
intricate
meanings of the Gita and emphasized that it is time to practice what
is told in there. In a lighter vein He was mentioning that several
devotees are becoming merely `Sravana Bhaktas' meaning who
just listen
and forget whatever is told at the next moment. He has explained why
the first chapter in Gita `Arjuna Vishada Yogam' is a Yogam.
How can
Vishadam be a Yogam! Elaborating on that He says only when
one's
heart and mind gets softened, good thoughts and preachings can get
into the mind deeply, like a seed sown in land which is wet, fertile
and tilled properly.
On 5th July evening, Shri Swamiji has explained the need for
selfishness in today's society, at the Stanford University. About
200
intellectuals have benefited from Shri Swamji's divine discourse
and
thoughts. Swamiji has discussed the meaning of selfishness and its
difference with possessiveness. Shri Swamiji told that every animal
has a characteristic feature of its own like a cow, a horse etc.
which
uniquely identifies them. Similarly human beings have two
characteristic features of the power of realization and
responsiveness
to the realization. A young boy identifies his body and immediate
surroundings as his self and will be happy if he gets a new dress, a
new toy to play with etc. When he grows up his self includes his
family. He strives hard to get all good things in the world for his
family. When he takes up a position at work his self includes his
organization, colleagues and subordinates. When he further grows and
takes up a public role like a minister/politician, his self would
include the whole country/society. Thus we can see that a
person's
self/selfishness radius is kept on increasing with his role and age
in
the society. The more it expands, number of persons who are benefited
by the selfishness kept on increasing. So Swamiji advocates that this
type of selfishness radius should keep on increasing and ultimately
should include the whole universe, which will bring all good things
to
the humanity at large. When this includes even God then such person
becomes a divine Yogi and Sage he says.
On 6th July evening Shri Swamiji has explained the greatness of
Telugu
language, culture and tradition when compared to other languages. He
said that Telugu is the language which is very close to Sanskrit and
has retained several sounds/syllables which are not present in many
descendent languages. A large number of Telugu speaking people from
Andhra Pradesh got inspired by Shri Swamiji's speech and felt
proud of
being Telugu origin reinventing the greatness of their tradition.
On 7th July evening Shri Swamiji made the Lord Sri Lakshmi Narayana
appear before everyone of the more than 500 devotees participating in
the Lakshmi pooja. He has unveiled the kalyana gunas of Sriman
Narayana with numerous examples and also how Lakshmi Devi the divine
mother helps the bhaktas in getting upto Him. He has explained every
act of the Pooja the whys and hows of each and every kaimkaryam in
the
pooja. It is an enlivening experince for which I have no words to
express.
On 8th July Shri Swamiji has graced us with commentary on Sahasra
Kalasa Abhishekam in Livermore Temple and also in the evening treated
us to the Vaibhavam of Lord Sriman Narayana. Througout all these
discourses and His visits to the houses of more than 30 devotees
during the period He stayed in the bay area, Shri Swamiji has
answered
hundreds of questions and cleared the doubts of many bhaktas who are
in two minds and dilemas. Shri Swamiji's visit has undoubtedly
shown
all of us a path to the Supreme Lord before us cleared of all the
obstacles. I am sure many of the attendants and participants are
already experiencing His divine grace and Kataksham through His
kaimkaryam.
On 9th July several Bhagavathotthamas in the Bay area have arrived
for
the Tirtha Goshti. That day being Thiru Nakshatram of Periyalwar,
Shri Swamiji has explained the significance of the day,
Periyalwar's
anubhavam and his greatness, why Vishnuchittar is called Periyalwar,
the meaning of Pallandu etc. After that Thiruvai Mozhi, and several
pasurams of Periyalwar Thirmozhi were recited by the
Bhagavathottamas.
Shri Swmiji has concluded the Sevakalam with Tirtha Viniyogam amidst
recital of Hayagriva Sthotram blessing all of us for a good education
in our lives. Shri Swamiji has also graced few of the bhaktas with
Pancha Samskarams (Samasrayanam) on that day and concluded his visit
in a grand way.
I fondly wish that Shri Swamiji visits us again and again every year
and showers his benevolence on all of us so that we all can progress
in attaining the ultimate goal of Moksham in our lives.
We all needs such divine Acharyas and let us join together in singing
`Pallandu Pallandu' to Shri Swamji and all of our Acharyas.
Adiyen,
Ramanuja Dasa
Murali Krishna Kalvapudi.
Jai Srimannarayana!
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Failed tests, classes skipped, forgotten locker combinations.
Remember the good 'ol days
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