IT'S ACHYUTHA

IT'S ACHYUTHA

SLIDE SHOW

A Upanayanam goes like this

The Mathru Bhojanam It was hardly seven in the morning, but the priest hurried me and my eight year-old son to the leaves. The auspicious time for the main part of the ceremony was nearing. Three brahmacharis sat at the other three leaves. The rest of the congregation - my husband, his parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends - gathered around us and watched me feed my son. Good natured ribbing followed: "You're supposed to be feeding your son, not eating it all up yourself!" "Go easy on the ghee, will ya." "No more stealing from mama's plate, N. This is the last time." As with many Hindu rituals, especially those involving children, the mathru bhojanam is a poignant affair. It is one of the principal rituals in the upanayanam ceremony and it signifies the last time a son may share food from his mother's plate and the last time a mother may feed her son with her own hands. In fact, the entire upanayanam ceremony, which is almost as big as a Hindu wedding, is one big poignant set of rituals. Not long ago, this sacred thread investiture ceremony prepared a young Brahmin boy for the study of the vedas and marked his passage from his own home to that of his teacher's. The vatu - The Sacred Thread, In the course of the ceremony, usually performed right when the boy turns seven, the boy's hair is shaved off, the sacred thread is placed over his shoulder, he is initiated into the ritual of reciting the Gayathri mantram and performing the Sandhyavandanam by his father, he asks for alms (biksha - items that will help him on his journey to his teacher's house) from his family and he's sent off on his way with his little bag of offerings slung on his shoulder. No matter how purely ritualistic the upanayanam ceremony has now become (young boys don't actually go away to a teacher's house these days and the ceremony itself is now performed minutes before young Hindu men get married just so that they have a thread around their shoulder during the wedding ceremony), it is impossible not to be affected during the rituals. The mathru bojhanam, the biksha ritual and the point at which the son has to worship his father by washing the father's feet are the most difficult to countenance. It was gut wrenching to see him standing there with his bag asking for alms (bikshaan dehi). Most poignant of all was the grace and equanimity with which N handled the proceedings. A few days before the ceremony the priest walked him through the big day, taking him step by step through all the rituals. He woke up at three thirty in the morning because the muhurtham (the auspicious minutes) was only a few hours away, he followed the priest's detailed instructions and recited the mantras meticulously. He patiently bore all the things many different people were doing to him, pulling him in many directions at once. At the end of it all, he found three kids near his own age among our family and was running around the hall playing tag, screaming at the top of his lungs. Towards the evening we said goodbye to all the guests, headed home.

Friday, February 20, 2009

DEPTH OF MADHWA PHILOSOPHY

Consecrated by Sri Madhwacharya



The idol of Sri Krishna lifted from a clod of white clay (Gopichandanam) was consecrated by Sri Madhwacharya at Rajathapeethapura (Udupi) ; he conducted its puja and lighted two lamps which are kept burning to this day. With his 'danda' he created a well for its abhishekam. He made eleborate arrangements for the continued conduct of puja fourteen times a day by establishing eight Mutts viz. Phalimaaru , Adamaaru, Krishna pura, Puttige, Sirur, Sode, Kaaneiyuru and Pejawara headed by eight bala sannyasins; each performing puja for two months. This period was later changed to two years by Sri Vadiraja for administrative convenience. So according to this changed system each Mutt gets its turn after 14 years.

During this long spell they are to tour, preach and spread the tenents of Sri Madhwacharya. This is going on for about 500 years ! The whole gamut of succession is called as " Paryaaya ". At Udupi Paryaaya is celebrated with pomp and festivity. The present Paryaaya Peethadhipathi Sri Visvothama Theertha of Sode Vadiraja Mutt will be succeeded by Sri Vidyavaarinidhi Theertha of Kaaneiyur Mutt for the fourth time as the new Paryaaya Swamyji, on 17/1/98.

On that day he will be received on the outskirts of Udupi town and taken round in procession and the temple of Sri Krishna before reaching his Mutt. At this venue he is received by the Swamyji completing his term. After offering felicitations to the out going Swamyji, the handing over responsibilities to the new Paryaaya Swamji is made as per protocol. The function will conclude with the anugraha bhashanams by the Swamyjis, which will be a feast to the ears. They cover a wide range of topics on Sri Madhwa Siddhaantha. The nextday i.e on 18/1/98 the new Paryaaya Swamyji will not only do the Puja of Sri Krishna, but also undertake to administer the Krishna temple for two years.

It is, indeed, a memorable experience to be in Udupi during Paryaaya to see the teaming crowds of devotees, orderly arrangements, and above all, the darshan of Lord Krishna, the image of which was made by no less a person than Vishwakarma and installed by our Srimad Acharya !

SRI RAGHOTHAMA THEERTHA

He is ranked as one of the greatest celebrities of Sri Madhwa Siddhanta because of his five " Bhava Bodhas " which are the commentaries on the works of Sri Acharya. His guru Sri Raghuvarya Theertha of Uttaradhi Mutt consented to receive the ' bhiksha ' from a couple without children on the condition that the first born should be handed over to the Mutt on birth. He also sent them a gold plate just before delivery so that the new born might be delivered in it. After the delivery the child was taken to the Mutt where he was cleansed with abhisheka water of Sri Moola Rama. At the age of seven the boy was ordained into the holy order and given the name Raghothama Theertha.

After the death of his guru, Swamyji had a dream one day in which Sri Moola Rama in the guise of Sri Raghuvarya Theertha inscribed the ' beejakshara ' on his tongue and instructed him to start teaching his disciples straightaway. Instantaneously all Vedic texts and Philosophical truths flowed in torrents from the mouth of the young Raghothama Theertha; and then onwards he became the Acharya.

He wrote five commentaries and each is called "Bhava Bodha".
They are :

1) Geetha Bhashya
2) Nyaya Vivarana
3) Vishnu Thathwa Nirnaya
4) Brihadaaranyaka
5) Thathvaprakaashika

He spent his entire life in meditation, penance, puja and preaching the doctrines of Sri Madhwacharya. He was a great devotee of God. He lives in the brindavana at Thirukoilur and answers the prayers of his devotees who have full faith in him. His aradhana falls on 8-1-98 which is Vaikuntha Ekadasi day.

SRI PURANDARA DAASA

Sri Purandaradaasa is an outstanding daasa among all Haridaasas. He was born with Narada amsha which has jnana, bhakthi and vairaagya. He composed 4,75,000 Keerthanas in easy Kannada. Each composition is the quintessence of our scriptures and hence Sri Vyasaraja called his compositions as " Purandaropanishad ". Either listening or singing of his keerthanas will purify our devotion towards the Lord and thereby strengthen our resolve for the acquisition of jnana, bhakthi, and vairaagya. It is said that ' Kali prabhava' will be mitigated by listening or chanting of them, like the roar of a lion which drives away the lesser animals in a forest. He sang on Hanuma, Bheema and Madhwa. In one of his songs he had explained how Jagathguru Sri Madhwa is Jeevothama. In other song he says, " Do not leave the noble Madhwa shastra and be a recluse, but follow it and be enlightened". This message of his, is conveyed to all sathvik souls. Sri Madhwa's two cardinal principles viz. Hari Sarvothama and Vayu Jeevothama have been brought out very convincingly and clearly in his Keerthanas.

Like clouds absorbing moisture from the oceans and pouring it down as torrential rains for the benefit of the humainty, Sri Purandaradaasa has absorbed the Vedas, Puranas and presented us their essence most powerfully and effectively in simple Kannada which all can understand.
May Sri Vittala the indweller of Sri Purandaradaasa bless us all on his aradhana day i.e
on 28-1-98.

PANCHA STHUTHIGALU

Sthuthi is a devotional outpouring in praise of Lord springing from the hallowed hearts of great saints and seers. They have deep devotion and lofty love towards Him, who is verily the meaning and substance of all. It has been the practice and tradition of all devout Madhwas to do Parayana of the Pancha Sthuthies. Among them the very first is the Nakha Sthuthi ( with 2 slokas) given by Sri Madhwacharya. The second and third are Vishnu Sthuthi (with 32 slokas) and Vayu Sthuthi (with 41 slokas) of Sri Thrivikrama Pandithacharya. The fourth and fifth are Nrisimha Sthuthi (with 22 slokas) and Shiva Sthuthi (with 13 slokas) written by Sri Narayana Pandithacharya. Since the total number comes to 110, reciting them will not take more than 30 minutes. So start reciting them every day with love and devotion. They in turn help us feel enlivened and enlightened.
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