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FACE TO FACE WITH ACHARYAS - PART II

From the Bhakti List Archives

VVijay236 • July 18, 1997 


FACE TO FACE WITH ACHARYAS - PART II

Dear Bhagavatas,
Hope you have gone through my earlier postings (1) " Dwaraka Darshan and
Darshan at other Kshetrams",  (2) "Face to Face with Yathivaras" and (3)
"Face to Face with Acharyas- Part I".
I would like to supply a couple of omissions in the above posts before
proceeding with the 
" Face to Face with Acharyas- Part II".

POSTING (1) ABOVE: PARTHASARATHY KOIL: 
I failed to mention about my visit to the Parthasarathi Koil just before
leaving for USA. It was on 6/6/97 in a mood to take leave. When I reached the
Sanctum Sanctorum through the long winding line, the Bhattachar  beckoned , I
thought, someone else but I was surprised it was ME ! And, he was a new
person whom I had not met before. He invited me into the inner enclosure and
performed Archana with a sonorous voice and a cadence that still reverberates
in my ears. IT WAS AS IF THE LORD HAD BLESSED ME BON VOYAGE !I

POSTING AT (3) ABOVE : SEVA SWAMI : 
I failed to mention that on 13/4/97, Seva Swami asked me to address the large
number of Sevarthis who had assembled there for the Tamil New Year's Day. He
 gave me the signal honor of releasing  the famous DESIKA SEVA DIARY for the
year Easwara- a diary cum Panchangam cum basic instructions on Anushtanams
etc, which he has been publishing for over several  years. And, I Consider
this  A RARE PRIVELEGE,INDEED !

Again, I failed to mention that on 11/5/97, I was invited to participate in
the Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi at Mani Mandapam, where he expounded, in his
inimitable style, the heritage  of Ramanuja Darsanam to which are the proud
heirs.
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FACE TO FACE WITH ACHARYAS - Part II: 
Some of those Acharyas left out in the earlier postings are included herein 

(13) SRI NATTERI RAJAGOPALAN SWAMI 
(4,18,25 of 5/97 & 1& 8 of 6/97)
A Senior Officer of the Indian Overseas Bank, Madras, he is the de-facto
Editor of 'SRI RANGANATHA PADUKA" monthly Journal of Srirangam Srimad Andavan
Asramam. I attended all his weekly Kalakshepams at the house of Sri
T.E.Soundararajan, Ambattur. They are based on strict traditional lines with
copious quotations from a wide range of our scriptures and are verily a feat
and a feast to the ardent Srivaishnava community. He  published a short write
up on our activities in the Paduka Journal and promised to repeat in future
issues as well.

(14) SRIGOSHTIPURAM SWAMI 
28/4/97 : Another Grand Old man and a great Anushtatha, he presided over one
of the sessions of the Srivaishnava Aagama Seminar at the University of
Madras on 28/4/97. He gave very valuable info. on the Temple construction
etc. both in the meeting and in private conversations.
14/5/97:  Again, I had opportunity to glean into this treasurehouse of info.
when he gave a talk on the efficacy of Kshetradanam in the home of Judge
Ravindra Kannan at Vannanthurai (another great Sishya of our Jeeyar) during
the Tadheeya Aaraadhanam on the successful return from a visit to Muktinath.
He compared the difficulties encountered by PILGRIMs in the olden days and
the facilities (like chopper etc) available to the TOURISTS of today!

(15) SRI NAVALPAKKAM SWAMI (20/5/97) : 
Perhaps, there can be no Srivaishnava who has not heard of the  famous
Navalpakkam Narasimha Thathaarya Mahadesikan Swami whose Centenary was
celebrated on 5/6/97 at Kanchipuram. This Swami is his grandson and a great
Scholar of repute. When I went to Kanchi for Garuda Sevai, he invited me to
his house and requested me to participate in the Centenary celebrations.
Unfortunately, due to other preoccupations, I could not attend. He, however,
showed me rare manuscripts written in the handwriting of the illustrious
grandfather- a stupenduous work comparable to Paramatha Bhangam and
Sathadushani of Swami Desika.

(16) SRI SUDARSANA THATHACHAR SWAMI (27/4/97)
Another Nonogenarian devotee of Swami Desika, he is teaching batches of
Vidhyarthis to recite Veda paying them stipends. In spite of his failing
health and falling support, he has been running  with an unparellelled
missionary zeal a Veda Parayana Goshti with the help of a dozen Swamis most
of them over 70 years of age to whom he pays a monthly honorarium of
Rs.1000/- each. Sri R.RAJAN and Sri Rajamani of Ahobila Mutt and Sri
Venkatanathan (Rajan's Son-in-law) who is a Sishya of PP Asramam are all
serving as the other Trustees of the project.

(17)SRI  SRINIVASA THATHACHARYA and SRI SATAKOPA THATHACHARYA (27/4/97)
This duo are the trustees of "Sri Vilakkoli Perumal, Thooppul Vedanta Desika
Nityaradhana Trust". Totally devoted to Kainkaryam, they ensure proper
conduct of daily Poojas and recitals, monthly Sravanam festivals,and Annual
Vidwat Sadas at these temples .

(18) SRI N. VASUDEVACHARIAR  (10/4/97)
Some of you may remember Maharishi Vasudevachar of SRKM High School. I had
intercated as a Student leader of the strike during Mahatma Gandhi's 'Quit
India' movement and Individual Satyagraha. This N.V. is the grandson of the
Maharishi and is now the Correspondent of the Ahobila Mutt Oriental School,
West Mambalam.With over 1,000 students, this institution has been recognized
as a model not only in conventional courses  but also in modern areas like
Computer education. He is a Sishya of Poundarikapuram Asramam and is
rendering excellent service to the cause of education and Religion alike.
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FACE TO FACE WITH SOME SCHOLARS, PHILANTHROPHISTS & FRIENDS- will follow
Dasoham 
Anbil Ramaswamy
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