A few years back, during the late
hours of a sultry afternoon in Premika Bhavanam (the mission office
and Swamigal's residence in Chennai ), some of Swamigal's close
devotees huddled near him and requested him to tell the story
behind Madhurapuri.
It took them some persuasion (!) before Swamiji condescended to
reveal the full history of why he chose Madhurapuri near a place
in Malaipattu (near Madras) as his Ashram.....
Swamigal took a deep breath, thought
for a while and with smile and a sigh (knowing that his devotees
aren't going to budge without the story! ) started narrating thus:
"I generally get a sudden and
an overpowering inspiration to do something. Just when I start
wondering how to proceed, almost always, someone who is quite
adept in the pertinent area come to see me, assist me in this
"impulsive endeavor" and stay with me till I accomplish
what I had intended to! What I found to be more surprising is
that the person or persons who stay and help me in the course
of the work, just don't come back after it is completed, as if
they came to me just for that purpose! Remember the Nama Kirtan we did one Sunday in Thiruneermalai ?
That happened just the same way. My trip to Pandarpur was also
in the similar lines. And, the story of Madhurapuri, which you
all are dying to hear (!) ....that also happened the same way..... Somehow Bhagavan finds wonderful and innovative(!) ways to fulfill
the all my heart's wishes ...
How to celebrate an utsavam....?
Can putting up a few fancy shops or arranging for a musical concert or showing
some films become a utsavam? Never.... A lot of Bhagavathars should come... and they should sing the Lord's names
and glories round the clock....We should amply honor the Bhagavathars.... We
should decorate our Premika Varadan with variety of ornaments and enjoy his
enchanting and majestic appearance... We should take him around in different
Vahanams ( once as mounted on an elephant, once as mounted on a lion , so on and
so forth..)... we should have lots of devotees who can really enjoy and
appreciate such festivals, even more than the Gopikas and gopas of Gokulam
!!........"
We are performing nityaaradhana to our Sri Premika Varadan, isn't
it? While performing thus, once I had an intense desire to perform
Brahmotsavam to our Lord."
So, what makes a good utsavam?
Well..., Sri Krishna had already decided to get such things done.
I am but an instrument in his hands, accommodating all his whims
and fancies!! Do you know how Sri Krishna got himself his Madhurapuri..?
I accepted their invitation, and went to their village called
Malaipattu-Mahanyam, with the Lord and devotees. We reached
the village around 5 o'clock in the evening. I performed Thirumanjanam
to the Lord, did Nama Kirtanam and gave a lecture on Greatness
of Bhagavan Nama (the Lord's names) and the necessity to chant
HIS names.
It was almost dusk, when we finished the function... that sinking
sun which splashed the western sky with its crimson hues.., that lush green
hillock majestically upright just before us.. that cool and relaxing evening
breeze, those beautiful and breath-taking bowers, gardens and orchards all
around us... and above all our Perumal gracefully standing in the midst of all
this.... Ah! I really found this village pleasing and attractive...
(The eager little crowd couldn't hide their curiosity..... they were a
perfect picture of eager expectation and intense concentration!!).
A few years back, one day a person calling himself a devotee of
Sri Muruga Peruman, came to meet me. Apparently he had been visiting
a village near Tambaram to conduct worship of Sri Muruga Peruman.
He insisted that I should come to the village to bless the people,
but , I kept on postponing.... But one day, he was very persistent
in his request. So, since I didn't have my own vehicle, I went
with Auditor Srikanth to the village along with that person. A
few days later, the village elders came and met me and requested
me to conduct a Puja in their village.
The villagers were very happy and they requested me to build a
temple in their village.
The birth place of one of the greatest saints of our religion
- Sri Emperumanaar (Sri Ramanujar) - is very close to this place.
The earth here supports the growth of Tulasi to the extent of
almost making a tulasi-forest everywhere! Water tastes so sweet
.. Here, the birds regularly announce the dawn and the dusk with
sweet music! There is no dearth of Roses or jasmine here.... So, it is not at all surprising that our Lord chose this place
for himself. Hence , we made arrangements to celebrate utsavams
in this place. There is also a historic note, that Sri Rama stayed in this place
for three nights. The name "Maha Aaranyam" ("great forest"-
literally..) had metamorphosed to 'Mahanyam'.
But during initial stages of the Ashramam , I didn't have any
money for all this. I used to spend away whatever I had, for good
causes. It is really surprising.. the way our Lord chose his place
of dwelling in such a short time span and has already got two
brahmotsavams to his credit! Yes, it is all solely HIS
work. Do you know what my work is?.. What else.., but to look forward eagerly to the wonderful unfolding
of his divine play..
(Note 1: Till date our Sath sang has celebrated five Brahmotasavams,
1993 - 1997....
I decided that , it is this very place which is best suited for
our Lord. To hint this to me , the Lord - who generally is very
reluctant to go out anywhere- had hurried to bestow his blessings
to this place !
Since this place is in close proximity to the Birth Place of Bashyakaarar,
all the villagers here, to this day , apply only thirumun.
Our Lord of the seven hills is the family deity for all. Above
all the most surprising fact is that even in the Harijan colony,
we dont find temples of Muniswaran or Kaathavarayan or Sangili
karuppan or other village deities. We can find only a Bhajanai
Madam (a small hall for Bhajans) with Sri Bhama Rukmani sametha
Sri Krishna Bhagavan's Tanjore painting as their deity!!
They fondly call Bhasyakaarar as their thatha(Grandpa).
They lead a chaste life in the month of Purratasi to please
Lord Venkateswara. They have conquered the shyness to chant the
name of Govinda aloud. The way they say Vadakku Malaiyannukku...
Govinda ,aloud and unabashed has endeared them all to me.
All the villagers have love and respect for me.
It was almost dusk then, and Swamigal shook his head, signalling
the end of this 'special' session; the fortunate group reluctantly
left Premika Bhavanam, with their eyes moist and glittering and
their hearts full...
Note 2 : This article was published (in Tamil) in the monthly
magazine - Madhura Murali, Dec '95)