Child Prodigy - Upanyasakar - Sri Elayavalli Sadajith

What you see here is part of crowd that had gathered at a place in Thiruvallikkeni in the evening around 04.00 pm.  Can you imagine what it was all about ?

Thinking of Sriman Narayana and surrendering at the Lotus feet of Lord Narayana only will lead to us salvation. To be good in life, one should be connected with good things, think and do good things and for this association with good people is of utmost importance.

There are many abodes of Lord Maha Vishnu and among these those sung by Azhwars are reverentially known as ‘Divyadesams’.  Blessed are those who live in Divyadesams for those have the opportunity of having darshan of the beautiful Thirumenis of Divyadesa Emperumaans.  Blessed are those who go to temple regularly and do some kainkaryam to the God.  Blessed are those who continuously chant the name of Lord Govindha and hear those Divyaprabandhams of Azhwars and listen to the commentaries of Purva Acharyas through great Kalakshepa Athigaris. 

Thiruvallikkeni, Brunthaaranya Kshetram ~ the abode of Lord Parthasarathi, abounds with good things.  There is the most famous Great Temple ~ replete with people doing all sorts of kainkaryams.  There are Great Archagas who  devotedly in the service of God do great kainkaryam to the Perumal and do great sarrupadi to Perumal; there is the Veda Adhyapaka Goshti which without thinking of any recompense does ‘veda divyaprabandha goshti’ kainkaryam. There is the Thennacharya Sri Padham Thangigal who beautifully carry the Lord on their shoulders during the purappadu; there are so many bakthas who come to the temple regularly, there are so many of them – doing other kainkaryams including offering grand floral garlands and more. 

The Dhanur masam [month of Margazhi] is replete with kalakshepams ~ renditions of many great Athikaris, explaining in detail the works of Azhwargal and Purva Acharyas in nice, coherent, easily comprehensible manner. While listing those Kalakshepa Athikaris is not easy, there are so many in Triplicane that Triplicaniites have the pleasure of hearing to them so often.

This margazhi was no different… in the morning there was the kalakshepam by Dr U.Ve. M.A. Venkata Krishnan Swami at Sri Parthasarathi Swami temple; there was Sri U.Ve. Akkarakkani Srinidhi Swami at Sri Vanamamalai mutt and in between there was the kalakshepam of Sri Sadajith at Nampillai Sannathi at Peyalwar Kovil Street. 

People who have heard many Swamins, authorities on Thiruppavai kalakshepam too flocked to Nampillai sannathi to hear Sri Sadajith.  It was a nice articulation when heard from outside but sure one would be wonder-struck if they are to see the person rendering the kalakshepam.

Sri Sadajith @ Geethacharyan has a rich lineage; his father Sri Elayavalli Sriram Swami also performs kalakshepams; more famous is his grand father Sri U.Ve. Elayavalli Bhoovaragachariyar Swami. What sets Sadajith apart is ~ he is a real ‘child prodigy’ – he is only 7 years old. 

As you would understand, a child prodigy is one at a young age develops skills at a level far beyond the norm for their age.  The giftedness of prodigies is determined by the degree of their talent relative to their ages.  The term ‘wunderkind’ is also used to describe such prodigious talent. Child prodigies evoke awe, wonder and sometimes jealousy: how can such young children possess and display so much of talent that most adults will never master, even with years of dedicated practice.

For many parents, a child speaking few words itself is a wonder ~ but here is a child only 7 able to orate, words flowing unhindered ~ dispensing out so much of information that some of us may never get even in our entire lifehood.  The vishayagnanam and the flow with which they are rendered can hardly be described in words; can only be understood by those who heard Sri Elayavalli Sadajith perform at Nampillai Sannathi.  Nothing of a great wonder for many who attended there, for they have been hearing Sadajith for more than 3 years now.

Here are some photos of Sri Sadajith being honoured by Dr MAV Swami and another great legend Dr V.V. Ramanujam Swami

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

15^th Jan 2013.

Sankranthi Urgola Uthsavam ~ Thiruvallikkeni

Sankranthi Urgola Uthsavam ~ Thiruvallikkeni

At Thiruvallikkeni, today [14th Jan 2013], it was Sankranthi Oorgola Uthsavam.

After Bhogi Thirukalyanam, Sri Andal and Sri Parthasarathi today had purappadu in a special open palanquin [one that had no roof known as kooralam]

Today, also Sri Parthasarathi adorned the Crown [Sigathadai]; Sri Andal was in a

beautiful sitting posture.  It was a great occasion to have darshan of The Divine

Couples [Divya Thampathi].

Here are some photos taken during the purappadu

Adiyen ~ Srinivasa dhasan.

Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi ~ Bhogi Purappadu

‘Bhogi’ ~ the day before the Pongal day [Makara Sankranthi] is an important day.  Today, 13^th Jan 2013 is Bhogi.  This is the day when Sri Andal has the Divine Wedding with the Perumal, she idolized and sang in Her prabandhams.  The Divine Andal at Her young age was the very embodiment of the Bakthi, thought of Sriman Narayana, wrote beautiful Hymns and wished marriage with the Greatest of the Souls ~the Paramapurushar. 

Andal Thirukkalyanam follows the Pavai nonbu and the 9 days of Neeratta Uthsavam; the Divine vivaham takes place on the Bhogi day.  This is being celebrated in Sri Villiputhur, Sri Rangam and other divyadesams with great fervor.  At Thiruvallikkeni, the wedding of Sri Andal with Sri Parthasarathi takes place on Bhogi day. 

இம்மைக்கு மேழேழ் பிறவிக்கும் பற்றாவான் *

நம்மையுடையவன் நாராயணன்நம்பி*

செம்மை யுடைய திருக்கையால் தாள்பற்றி*

அம்மி மிதிக்கக் கனாக்கண்டேன் தோழீநான்*

In Nachiyar Thiromozhi, Andhal elaborates her Dream Marriage with the Parampurusha, describing the rituals associated with the marriages.  She speaks of that Great Sriman Narayana, the One who owns us all, the One complete with all Kalyana Gunams; the One to whom we all should get attached not in this life but in all our births; Andal dreams of Her Divine Marriage with the Lord. ~ and that comes true on Bhogi day.

Bhogi Pandigai was celebrated originally as ‘Indran vizha’ ~ a righteous king by name Upari Chira Vasu helped Indhran in his battles and the pleased Indhran presented Uparicharavasu his chariot, which would travel on air without touching ground. The story of his chariot touching the ground is associated with the Therazhundhur Divyadesam. On the evening of Bhogi day, Sri Parthasarathi has grand purappadu beautifully adorned as the ‘bridegroom’ ~ today it was the most attractive green silk that adorned the Lord. 

Blessed are We to have the darshan of the Lord beautifully decorated as ‘Kalyana Purushan’ ~ the bridegroom.  Most eyecatching were the jewels adorning Sri Parthasarathi. Today,  He embellished a kireedam known as ‘Sigathadai’ ~ not because of the red silk that worn as a turban.  It was a Crown where reams of jasmine flower are tightly rolled and closed with pure silk cloth with the markings of an Emperor on the forehead.

Words cannot describe His celestial beauty; nor can the photos… still some attempt at describing the Great Bliss that Swami offered on this beautiful day.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.

PS :  In earlier days, puranic and religious stories were being filmed.  Andal Thirukkalyanam was a Tamil film released in  1937 by Saradha Films, directed by R Prakash.

Andal Neeratta Uthsavam - Thiruvallikkeni

Andal’s Thiruppavai contains ocean of values including significance of  Naama sankeerthanam to Sriman Narayanar.   The Saint Poetess observed Paavai Nonbu (vratham) to attain Lord Krishna.  The month chosen for the vratham was Margazhi also known as Dhanur Masam.  She was on vratham throughout the month and the month of Margazhi got lot of significance because of Andal.

In the month of Margazhi, there is the Nine day festival for Andal known as Neeratta Uthsavam.  Daily morning there will be veedhi purappadu of Andal signifying her preparation for the neerattam.  After the purappadu, Andal will have ‘Thirumanjanam’ at the Neeratta mandapam which is just opposite to the Thiruther.

12^th Jan 2013  is the eighth day of Andal Neeratta Uthsavam and some photos taken during the Neeratta Uthsava purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni are posted here

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.