Bhagavata Saptaham at the Peelamedu Karivaradaraja Perumal Temple by Dushyant Sridhar.


The Peelamedu Karivaradaraja Perumal temple is a three hundred plus year old institution which houses the entire galaxy of deities and preceptors belonging to the Ramanuja - Desika tradition. Thousands of devotees throng this temple regularly. The temple is administered under the leadership of  V.Ravichandran, who hails from the PSG family. The temple has been celebrating the thousandth birth year of social reformer and Saint Sri Ramanujacharya in a befitting manner. Recently the temple witnessed the visit of the Icon of Sri Ramanuja with Chellapillai from Melkote in Karnataka.

 

Dushyant Sridhar, an eminent scholar with a technical background has been rendering lectures all over the world on the Ramanuja Sampradaya and he has over two million followers on the internet. He has delivered his lectures in over 14 countries and they number over 2000. Dushyant has addressed the faithful in the presence of the Pontiffs of Ahobilam,Vanamamalai and Palimar over the years. His breathless rendition of Raghuveera Gadyam in ten ragams is remarkable and he has performed with a number of leading musicians on a number of occasions. The lecture of Dushyant on the Srimad Bhagavatam is being appreciated by the throng of devotees who attended his discourse at the Karivaradaraja Temple in Peelamedu. He is able to effortlessly captivate the audience for over two hours in one go. Its surprising to notice the devotees sitting in rapt attention while also not looking at their smart phones during the entire evening. The temple authorities had made wonderful arrangements for the devotees. The arrangements included a sumptous serving of prasadam to one and all for all the seven days. It was a  pleasant sight to witness  the nectarine lectures of Dushyant while mother nature was blessing our parched city with the long needed rainfall.

Dushyant referred to the Narayaneeyam, Kamba Ramayanam, Divya Prabhandam, vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, compositions of Sankara, Ramanuja, Swami Desikan and many other great luminaries who added to the lustre of our philosophy. Now and then, Dushyant rendered songs and verses from works like Narayana Kavacham, Vishnu Sahasranamam , Mantra Raja Pada Stothram etc., The Bhagavata Puranam was rendered first over seven days by Suka to Pariksit and this has been confirmed as the first Bhagavata Saptaham. 

"Let us now remind ourselves of the Bharatas of Bharat", stated an energetic Dushyant.It was amazing to learn that they included Jata Bharata, Ramayana Bharata, Bharata who gave us Bharata Sastra, Bharata who happens to be the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala. It was fabulous to look at his rendition and expression while he recited the verses pertaining to the incarnation of Lord Narasimha. The delivery received a thunderous ovation from the devotees. He referred to Andal and the true selfless devotion of the Gopikas. The true value of uttering the name of Lord Narayana was put across in a wise manner.

" When Hiranyakashipu asked his son Prahlada about the presence of Lord Narayana all over the Universe, the Lord made sure that he would be present all over as the true Sarva Vyaapi. He was waiting within the pillar at the demon's palace  sharpening his nails which had the presence of Sri Sudarshana, the divine discus on their tips. No sooner did Hiranyakashipu hit the pillar pointed out by Prahlada with his mace, a tall and huge Lord Narasimha emerged in a grand manner. He was in all glory with his   golden hair and  fiery eyes which were as resplendent  as thousand suns. One eye  was the sun and the other was the moon while he had the body of a man with the face of a lion. The tongue lashed out like a powerful sword and he quickly hit the demon and carried him to the threshold of the hall at the time of dusk .He tore him apart with his sharp nails. While doing so, Lord Narasimha ensured that Hiranyakashipu was killed in accordance to the boon granted  to him by Lord Brahma. It was only under the entreaties of the boy Prahlada ,that the Lord calmed down. The instant incarnation of Lord Narasimha demonstates that Lord Narayana is ever present and emerges at the times of distress or devotion." stated Dushyant Sridhar at the Karivaradaraja temple." Lord Karivardaraja was the one who came to the aid of Gajendra, who was the king of elephants.The good Lord took many incarnations in order to provide succour to his devotees on numerous occasions. The only way to attain salvation or add to good karma would be possible by chanting the name of Lord Narayana at all times. The name of the Lord is like nectar which will pull us out of difficulties while guiding us in the ocean of samsara ". added Dushyant Sridhar whose lecture was as welcome as the long missed rainfall in Coimbatore.

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