Azhaikkindràn Arangan ~ HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal: Pearls of Wisdom ~ Azhaikindran Arangan Episodes April 9th, 10th, 2012

Sri Hari!

Oh! Lord Sriman Narayana!

I may have erred in transcription with the construction of, writing of, pronouncing of - sentences, words, consonants, improper grammar, verb, vowels - of the divine slokas and discourses. I may have also forgotten to put the punctuation marks due to my ignorance in understanding the heavenly idiom. Oh Lord, Ganesha! may my flaws be overlooked for they are out of my ignorance. I seek you to pardon me for all the commissions and omissions for they are involuntary and kindly bless me for the sincere endeavor. - Anand

Arangathil azhaitha mamazhai' - - M.K. Ramanujam

Posted: August 26th, 2012

Sri Swamiji bestowed me the good fortune of being with Sri Swamiji when he was at Srirangam and with divine blessings, I proceed to pen the wonderful experience on 24th August in the Srirangam temple.

24th August - was a Friday and it was spcial day for all Krishna bhaktas! Yes, it was the very day which heralded the descent of our most divine Radha Devi. Our Swamiji has graced a lovely song, ' Radhai pirandanale...' to celebrate this divine day.(http://www.madhuragitam.org/Compositions/radhai-pirandanale)

Sri Swamiji told us that he wished to arrange for some pooja to Radha Krishna deity in Srirangam temple. (He is called sweetly as Kuzhal oodhum pillai by Srirangam devotees - a beautiful translation of the name of our Master denoting Sri Krishna playing the tunes of divine love through his flute). This Radha Krishna deity is in the embankment of the 'Chandra Pushkarani' - considered one of the most holiest of divine ponds, where divine history says a soul starts his sojourn to the blessed abode of Sri Vaikuntam! The gate to the pond and hence to this sanctum is locked and hence not all can have the good fortune of having the darshan.

This divine wish of our Master to do thirumanjanam or a simple pooja of offering nivedhanam (sacred offering) and Harathi was conveyed to the authorities. They readily agreed for the simple pooja and chose evening time for this divine service. The time indicated was after 6pm.

We all eagerly joined Sri Swamiji in the Premika Vedasramam near the Thayar sannidhi and entered the temple through the Thayar sannidhi portal. As we entered, unexpectedly a Sri Vaishnava was distributing sweet prasadam in the gopuram entry itself! It was Thayar prasadam! We did not notice it, but our beloved Master misses nothing! As we passed by Sri Swamiji told us to collect the prasadam! It was chakarai pongal! It was as if Sri Ranganayaki Thayar welcomed our beloved master sweetly and affectionately. like only a divine mother could!

As we rushed to catch up with our Master, Sri Swamiji stopped in front of the 'Mettu Narasimhar' sanctum, waited for us to catch up with him, accepted a little portion of the prasadam and showed us that Sri Kambar rvealed his Ramayanam first in the mandapam to the left side of Mettu Narasimhar sanctum. Since the sanctum was raised to about 10 feet , the sanctum has a prefix of 'mettu' - meaning 'raised'.

We proceeded towards the Chandra Pushkarni. Sri Swamiji was detailing the greatness of this divine 'theertham' (pond). We were about 30 minutes early. Sri Swamiji entered the Sri Ramar sanctum which is to the right of Pushkarini. As Sri Swamiji walked in the sanctum, the Bhattar (Sri Vaishnava priest) explained that Sri Ramar here was in 'marriage kolam' hence Sri Sitadevi was to his right side. During pattabhisekam She sits to His left. Sri Rama was looking majestic and very tenderly graceful. Sri Swamiji used to refer this state as 'Prasanna Gambhiram'. We could see this divine quality in the archavataram himself!

Sri Swamiji read the various divine poems / songs painted on wall of Sannidhi. He liked the way they covered both Valmiki Ramayanam and the paasuram / Kambar's poems describing the greatnss of Lord Rama.

Sri Swamiji expressed His wish to sit and spend a little time in the steps of Chandra Pushkarni. Official permission was granted for only Sri Swamiji and two Veda Patasala teachers were the fortunate ones to accompany Sri Swamiji into the pond. We were silently watching the trio from the grill gate overseeing the pond.

Soon devotees coming to the sanctum took notice of Sri Swamiji and we overheard one middle aged lady,'My morning starts with Vittalan who comes home daily through the television and then only after Azhaikindran Arangan do I cook with haste for my family. It appears to be Sri Muralidhara Swamiji in the pond. I pray I could get his blessings today!' Another mami excitedly called her grand daughter and her daughter to get blessings and darshan of our beloved Master. Seeing all this, we all felt at top of the world!

Sri Swamiji sat in meditation there for about 20 minutes, circumambulated the pond and came out to join us at about 6pm.

The neivedyam (sacred offering) was not ready yet. So Sri Swamiji sat in one of the Mandapams outside Sri Ramar sannidhi. It was then He told us the background of this pooja.

Sri Swamiji started to recite Atma nivedhanam stotram, we all joined Him. While the recitation was going on, many Sri Vaishnava families noticed Sri Swamiji and were standing hesitantly in proximal distance. Sri Swamiji affectionately smiled and beckoned them. He sweetly enquired about their family and filled them with joy unspeakable!

'We are truly blessed by Sri Rangan that we should get your darshan in His divine temple itself!'

'After watching vittalan and 'Azhaikindran arangan', we were praying for your darshan, we are truly blessed to have your darshan so soon, that too under the shadow of Sri Ranganathar's feet!'

After a brief while, Sri Swamiji turned to us and said

'Today is Radhastami, shall we chant Radha Devi's names?'

We all joined Sri Swamiji in his 'Radhe Radhe, Radhe Radhe...' eka nama akhanda dhara bhajan...

Soon the message came from the priests that they are ready for the pooja. We eagerly went behind our Master to the sannidhi of Sri Radha Krishnar on the embankment of the pond in the far side of the Pushkarini. The priest took some 'kesari' Neivedyam and karpooram for harathi.

As we neared the sannidhi, something unexpected happened!

It was drizzling, like sprinkling of rose water when one is welcomed as a guest to a host's home!

We rushed to the Radha Krishnar sannidhi and what a divine treat it was!

There was Chaturbhuja Gopalan wielding the flute and to his right was our beloved Radha Krishna locked in a sideway embrace, with Krishna holding a device (two bellows with a tube attached!) and Radha Devi was trying to snatch this device. Sri Swamiji was drinking in this divine sight and we were wondering what this device was!

The divine couple was truly bewitching. As soon as Sri Swamiji reached the sanctum and had the glimpse of the divine couple the drizzle strengthened to a sudden heavy downpour! The EXACT moment Sri Swamiji had the darshan, drizzle matured into the heavy downpour and poured it did! For four hours! There were no rains for more than a month! Till the time this article was written there were no repeat rains! It was a 'welcome' rain!

Barsatha barsatha barshana rani krupa!

Piyo piyo pyare mana nish dina saar!

Sri Swamiji then hastened with us to take cover under the mandapam of Veda Vyasar and Thondaradipodi Azhwar sannidhi. The priest said that this was the only ancient sannidhi of Veda Vyasar in Tamil Nadu! The uniqueness of this Veda Vyasar was that he had both his hand offering refuge (abhaya hastam). Sri Swamiji was so delighted to behold the two great avatars together. Both gave us the scriptures that established the supremacy of Nama Keertan (Srimad Bhagavatham and Thirumaalai!)

THe priest then explained other details and sheepishly added, 'Swamiji knows everything, But it is our tradition to explain the greatness of the deities while doing harathi!' Sri Swamiji gave such a sweet smile!

We were touched by the simplicity , humility and directness (aarjavam) of this true Sri Vaishnava!

Now we rushed back to the sannidhi of Sri Rama.

Now all of us were thinking, about the perfect timing of the rain when Sri Swamiji had Radha devi's darshan. But we did not want to ask Sri Swamiji of this, but prayed that he himself graces us with a c(l)ue.

After a while when the rains showed no signs of lessening, Sri Swamiji softly called us aside and said, 'Once a great Mahatma was to have darshan of Madurai Sri Meenakshi Amman. On the particular day, some government higher official was to visit the temple and so the Mahatma did not go ahead with the temple visit. In the late afternoon it so happened that the official did not make it and so the devotee who wished that this Mahatma have Meenakshi's darshan, took him to the sanctum sanctorum. The moment the Mahaan stepped into the sanctum, Madurai got a heavy downpour which was totally out of turn and off season.'

Sri Swamiji continued, 'I had the fortune of meeting this great mahaan after a long gap a few years back. The moment we met, the clouds burst into a heavy downpour. I thought it must be because the Mahaan was very happy resulting in the rains from above. But I did not mention anything. The Mahatma on his own accord, recounted his Madurai experience and said, 'Meenakshi was very happy that He had gone for the darshan and hence it poured heavily.' He very subtly indicated the cause for the sudden rain when we met.'

This way Sri Swamiji also subtly gave us the cue we were praying for! We not only enjoyed the divine shower but also this lovely shower of our Master's soft words.

Radha Devi must have been delighted with Sri Swamiji coming for her darshan on the auspicious day of her descent!

The mother spake, indicating her shower of grace and joy, through the shower from above.

We also had the fortune of getting drenched in this divine shower by our beloved Master's grace!

As we returned home thrilled and chilled by the graceful downpour, the nectarine words of our beloved Master were found in our lips

'AzhiyE mAmazhaiyE engal rAdai pirandanaLE' (O divine discus and the great rain! Our Radha is born!)

PS: Later Sri Swamiji himself revealed the 'device' in Krishna's hand. It was a பீசான்குழல் - the desi pump used to spray colours on Holi day. The Radhe Krishna deity spoke the whole leela of Sri Krishna trying to celebrate Radhastami with a colour spraying pump and Sri Radha Devi resisting his effort to drench her with colours spoiling her new dress, mother Kalavathi has stitched with love for her beloved child! A Radhastami we all would never ever forget till our last breath!

Have you been blessed to visit Madhurapuri HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji ashram at Malaipattu?

HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal ashram is known as Maharanyam. It is situated at a place called Malaipattu, the previous town is Sethupattu, next to Manimangalam and this is quite close to Tambaram in Chennai (Follow State Highway Number SH-110 to Sriperumpudur from Mudichur). One can get lost in a truly enthralling divine experience here and bask in satsangham, especially on festival days such as Ekadasi and Sri Krishna Jayanthi that gets celebrated for 10 days starting from Gokulashtami day. The place is extremely serene and has a divine atmosphere with the ashram overlooking a hill atop which there is a small temple. The grand statue of Lord Sri Kanyakumari Hanuman beckons you as you approach the ashram grand and majestic in its appearance. This link also has the details

http://madhuramurali.org/index.php?option=com_pagecontent&key=reachashram. You can walk from the Ashram to the Malaipattu bus stop on the main road (walking distance ~ 1.5km) to catch a bus to Tambaram, Bus No: 583C Dlx

A VIEW OF THE MADHURAPURI-ASHRAM

The Ashram houses a Veda Patashala in addition to the sanctum of Sri Swamiji's Puja Murti - the Divine Sri Radha-Krishna couple- Madhuri Sakhi Sametha Sri Premika Varadan. The ashram houses the SANDIPANI GURUKULAM.

Also there is a beautiful temple for Sri Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal at Malaipattu, adjacent to the Ashram. The daily activities like 'Suprabatham' (waking up of the Lord), 'Dolotsavam' (having the Lord go to bed) etc., are performed righteously. Special days such as Ekadasi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Sravana Nakshatra and Amavasya (new moon day) are also celebrated here in traditional style.

Sri Swamiji's darshan can be had on every Vaishnava Ekadasi Day at Madhurapuri Ashram between 8 and 11 am.

Namadwaar
Madhuramurali
Global Organization for Divinity, USA
Global Org. for Divinity, Australia
Global Org. for Divinity India Trust

Co-ordinates: 12°55'22"N 80°0'16"E
Nearby cities: Tambaram, Sunguvar Chatram, Poovirundhavalli (பூவிருந்தவல்லி) - Poonamallee (or) Poondhamalli (பூந்தமல்லி)

Madhurapuri ashram is located at Maharanyam village, a few kilometers away from Sriperumbudur, the birth place of the great saint Sri Ramanuja. Sri Ramanuja incarnated in this world to spread the glory of Nama Sankirtan -the chanting of divine names of god, very similar to the message of Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji. A striking resemblance indeed! The village, Maharanyam is named thus since it is Maha-Aaranyam(big forest). Legend has it that Lord Rama on his way to Lanka spent three days and three nights in this very village. The Aaranya Kanda (Aaranya chapter) of Ramayana throws light on this. The village looks picturesque with is surrounding mountains and a big lake. It is amazing how Mother Nature in all her beauty and splendor took the form of Maharnayam village, which is only a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. The tranquility of the place calms the vacillating mind and makes it an apt place for the Madhurapuri Ashram.

At the very entrance of the ashram, a place of worship for Goddess Tulasi is present, more seemingly like Goddess Tulasi greeting the blessed souls entering the ashram. The walkway to the main hall is flanked on the right by a beautiful garden and on the left by a Go-Shala. The Go-Shala houses about eighty cows. A graceful Krishna statue holding a flute stands amidst the cows.

The main hall, in the ashram is called Bhagavata Bhavanam named after Srimad Bhagavatam. Srimad Bhagavatam is verily Lord Sri Krishna. Sri Swamiji’s Pujamurthy (Deity of worship) Madhurisakhi sametha Sri Premikavaradhan (Sri Krishna / Sri Radha Rani) adorn the Durbar mandap in the Bhagavata Bhavanam Hall. Puja is performed to the royal couple as per Bhagavata samprathayam(rules of offering worship). Hare Rama Mahamantra chanting takes place in the hall for 12 hours every day between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM. The first floor of the Bhagavata Bhavanam Hall has accommodation for devotees to stay at the Ashram during festivities.

Adjacent to the Bhagavata Bhavanam Hall, there is a huge hall called the Eknath Swamy hall, named after Sant Eknath, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. The Eknath Swamy hall serves as the dining hall as and when Utsavs happen in the Ashram. Sri Sandeepani Gurukulam (Veda patsala – school that teaches Vedas) is located above the Eknath Swamy hall. Currently, about eighty vidyarthis(students) are studying in the Yajur/Sama Veda patsala. The Veda patasala has been named after Sri Sandeepani, the guru (teacher) of none other than Lord Krishna.

A temple for Lord Sri Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal has been established right next to the Madhurapuri ashram. The presiding deity is Sri KalyanaSrinivasa Perumal and the Utsav murthy is Sri Nitya Kuthuhala. They are encircled by the Prahara-devathaigal Lord Vinayaga, Lord Panduranga, Lord Anjaneya, Lord Varaha and Goddess Vishnu Durga. A statue of Lord Veera Anjaneya has also been separately installed inside the temple premises. Like all other temples, this temple too houses a pond (theppakulam). A temple, as beautiful as this right next to the ashram, with a pond by its side and a mountain on the opposite makes one’s mere presence, an experience to cherish.

Sri Sridharayyaval Annadhana Koodam, located outside the temple premises, offers free mid-day meal to those in need every day.

Sri Premikavaradhan Clinic which offers weekly free medical care to 10 Villages surrounding our ashram functions in the ashram’s vicinity

Madhurapuri ashram, has played the host for more than ten Krishna Jayanthi-utsavs, apart from a score of other events and festivals like the Navarathri, Guruji-Jayanthi etc. The hill in front of the ashram is named ‘Govardhana’ by Sri Swamiji. Atop the Govardhana hill, the Govinda pattabhishekam – an important event during the Annual Brahmotsav celeberations take place. Devotees of Sri Swamiji have built houses around the ashram to stay and take part in the festivities at the ashram. The rustic village, coupled with the cool breeze and warm weather along with the Vedic recital and Mahamantra chanting is nothing short of a treat to the tired mind.

A chart on the Bhagavata Bhavanam hall reads “Bhagawan assures a remarkable change in the lives of all those who enter the ashram on Ekadasi”. Hoping you get a chance to visit soon!

And no one can miss the tall towering, majestic in splendour and breathtaking divine wonder of our great Sri Kanyakumari Jaya Hanuman. Kanyakumari Anjaneyar is also consecrated in Madhurapuri Ashram. He wanted to be in Madhurapuri Ashram since it is the house of the best in class Brahmacharis students and wanted to be in the midst of them. He had earlier visited Mahabalipuram and Kannyakumari but later settled in Madhurapuri ashram. He is 24 feet tall and playing divine leelas every day. He loves Hanuman Chalisa and Aditya Hrudayam and is also incessantly chanting the divine names of Lord Rama. Sri Swamiji has established many Hanumanji temples. In Govindapuram, the divine abode for Sri Bodendra, adjoining the Adishtanam of Sri Bodendral there is a beautiful hall and there is a Hanumanji who resides in that hall. He is called Bhagavata Anjaneyar and he incessantly chanting the divine names of Lord Rama. There is a Sundara Anjaneya consecrated in Bangalore. Sri Swamiji had earlier planned on building a Panduranga temple. The devotees had purchased the land needed for the temple construction and were eagerly waiting for the nod from Sri Swamiji to go ahead with construction. Sri Swamiji came to Bangalore after visiting Nasik then and was in deep state of meditation. When he opened his eyes, he told all the devotees that a Hanuman temple would soon be built in the premises. Immediately the clouds took a beautiful shape of Lord Hanuman. Sri Swamiji himself suggested the name – ‘Sundara Hanuman’ who is so beautiful to behold and is standing with his mace [Gadha] on his shoulders and bestowing his grace [Abhaya Ashtam] to all the devotees. He is also incessantly chanting the divine names of Lord Rama and speaks to all the devotees. He is located in Ramamurthy Nagar in Bangalore. There is a Veera Hanuman in Sri Srinivasa Perumal in Madhurapuri Ashram. He is standing there guarding the entire Madhurapuri Ashram. Even now it is a practice to give the keys to Veera Anjaneyar after locking the temple and he goes around the village and protects the people from any evil force.

Radhe Radhe

Ashram Address:

Ashram – Madhurapuri

Mahanyam Village, Malaipattu B.O.

Padappai P.O, Sriperumpudur Taluk,

Kanchipuram District, Pincode – 601301