Property Site pictures - 07Dec09

The site pictures that has been taken after the plants has been planted are available at the following location:

http://picasaweb.google.com/vasan.vs/200912091#

Consultation with a learned pandit!!!!

It was ordained that today was the D day where I would get to meet up the learned person from Srirangam who will offer his consultation on the pancharatra agama sastra to be used for the construction of the temple. The material on this agama sastra is very difficult to get for the common man as there are not much of resources available on the net on this topic.

For some details on this agama sastra, you can visit the wikipedia site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pa%C3%B1caratra

By HIS grace, it looked like this meeting with the learned pandit also should happen only in front of Sri Pandurangar in the usual temple that I frequent very much. It served as another lesson and reiteration of the facts that he is continously blessing us on the success of this endeavour!!!!

Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanamastu

Karthiga month Ravivar day!!!!

Today was Sunday, December 06, 2009 (Karthiga month, Ravivar) - a very auspicious day for Sri Lakshmi Narasimmar. It looks like that the initial seeds in this property has to be planted on this auspicious day.

In the morning today, we went to the place with all the small plants and seedlings to plant the various trees - cocunut, mango and various flower plants - in the proposed property which once grown can be potentially used for the various requirements in the brindavanam temple. These have been planted in various locations of the property in a distributed manner throughout.

Let Lord Lakshmi Narasimmar shower his blessings and ensure that these plants blossom into bigger plants/trees producing different items that could be offered back to HIM itself on a daily basis!!!

Sarvam krishnar panamastu

How far is the location of the temple???

Yesterday, I had taken one of my close relatives to the location where the rayar brindavanam is proposed to come up. Like all of the people before who were taken for the first time, the immediate comment from the relative was that 'it was a very far off place' and 'people will not come to the temple at this remote place'. Immediately on hearing these comments (although this comment is not the first time coming from somebody seeing the place for the first time!!!), my heart skipped some beats thinking of whether have we made any wrong decision....

Immediately, I realized that this was not MY decision to go in for the temple in this location but it was HIS decision. This also started my thinking bells.... Why do people go and visit temple? Why do I visit any temple? Is it because like a hotel or a cinema hall we visit the temple for recreation purposes? If so, yes it has got to be in a place that is very close to residences or easily accessible if they are far off from a residential place.

We visit a temple predominantly when our minds are troubled with a 'materialistic' problem or when we feel drawn towards the sanctity of the temple by an invisible power. These are the primary reasons why I go to a specific temple irrespective of the deity in that specific temple.

With these thoughts, I reconciled to the fact that we should concentrate on building the temple in such a way, that the sanctity of that place is increased starting from day one and slowly over a period of time this sannityam will automatically draw the people to the temple. This is what is going to be the critical objective of the temple and hope that this is what RAYAR will be wanting!!!

Do you agree with this thought? Comment back with your thoughts....

Sarvam Krishnarpanamastu

Rayar's blessings with a Kamadhenu!!!

A couple of weeks back, my wife broached up the topic of what are the next steps that we should be doing in this project and how we are going to handle the finances since it was a pretty big project. All that we had earmarked for this brindavanam to come up we had pretty much spent for all the tasks currently, and she was pretty worried about the fact that we need to somehow have remaining funds for this brindavanam to be constructed. I just told her that this is something that Rayar should be taking care of since this is HIS place that is being planned currently.

After this discussion that happened between me and my wife, in just 2 days, the first contribution of Rs.2000 started coming in from an unknown Rayar devotee. Taking into account the recent discussion that my wife and I had, this message from Rayar was interpreted by both of us as Rayar's response to our worry on the finances.... Subsequently after this incident, every weekend, Rayar is making sure that the contributions are coming in from different sources at different levels for the project to start.

Along similar lines, a few days back at the start of this week, I was sitting in meditation in front of Rayar in the same mutt that I frequent almost daily.... I got a call on my mobile from a very close relative of mine and at that position that I was in, I didn't want to take the call and disconnected it. After finishing my normal darshan and coming out of the mutt, I returned the call to my relative only to be told that his mother has expressed a desire to donate in kind for the expenses of the 'gho-shala' - for the number of cows and calves that is going to be present in the gho-shala.

Rayar being the 'ever giving kamadhenu' for all mortal souls like us, seems to have decided that the first donation in kind for HIS new place of stay has to be the 'kamadhenu' itself!!!!

The very next day, I get a call from the same relative that he will personally take care of the expenses for the moolavar/utsavar moorthys of the various deities that are being planned in this temple.

At some points in time, we are scared on the kind of responsibility that Rayar has entrusted on us but all these kind of repeated experiences is making our belief in HIM more stronger and also remind us that HE HIMSELF WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS ACTIVITY BY MAKING US AS MERE TOOLS. Sometimes, I feel in awe of not knowing what is it that we have done to be given this honor and responsibility by Rayar...

Sarvam Krishnarpanamastu

Belated Birthday gift from Rayar!!!!

Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 was my birthday as per my birth star. As always, on this occasion, I had contributed a small amount for the abhisheka of the Rayar brindavanam near Warren Road on that day. The abhisheka was scheduled on that day for the morning at around 900 hours.

Unfortunately because of some other work commitment that I had and also partly because of the incessant rains in Chennai during the week end, I was not able to visit the brindavanam for seeking his darshan. I felt bad that on this significant day for me this year, I was not able to visit rayar for his darshan at the right time for the abhisheka. It was really pricking my heart but I did not have a possible option left with me and slowly realized that if it is not ordained for me to see his abhisheka on that day, so be it!!! I however went to the temple on that day evening and took Rayars blessings along with my family.

Yesterday, Monday, Nov 09 again I was not in a position to go to the temple owing to other commitments leaving me with a chance to go to the temple only today morning at around 0900 hours. And what a surprise! after I completed the usual pradakshina around the sannidhi, the abhisheka actually started at the same time for me to be a witness to it and have darshan!!! Again, this was Rayar's way of letting me realize that he is constantly listening to our sincere thoughts and take care of it at the right time.

What better birthday present can I ask for other than this from HIM!!!!

Om Sri Raghavendraya Namah

Hari Sarvottama Vayu jeevothama Guru Vijoyathama

Sri Krishnarpanamastu

Recent experiences with Rayar Brindavanam!!!

It was about a week back when again I had an exciting experience - of how Rayar is watching me and answering to my thoughts. I just wanted to share these experiences here in this post....

I do visit the oldest Rayar brindavan in Chennai - close to Warren Road in Alwarpet - on a regular basis, take his darshan and then start attending the office work. HE has been allowing this to happen for the last two-odd years and it also gives me a lot of peace of mind.


Last week, I was just trying to get in touch with someone in Mantralayam for quite a few days to enquire about a specific item for the new upcoming Rayar brindavana temple and I was continuously on a daily basis unsuccessful in getting in touch with him. On a particular day, after doing the usual pradakshina, I was just sitting in front of the brindavan and pleading with HIM asking him the reasons behind why I was unsuccessful till now in this task and should I be coming to Mantralayam for this clarification since this would help me to get HIS darshan also especially after the recent happenings in MALM. I was conversing stating that maybe I will continue doing this for two more days to see if I am successful in reaching out to the concerned person in MALM and if not, try to go to Mantralayam and check out. Guru Mama, is the person who is taking care of the day to day operations of the temple including the daily naivedhya, to my surprise also told me to do the same thing immediately thereafter, when I took him into confidence on the dilemna that I was facing. I immediately could realise that this was an answer coming directly from Rayar through Guru Mama. What a pleasure after this realization dawned on me!!


I usually offer some flowers to the Rayar brindavan everyday when I visit there in the morning and if I was in time before the morning Mangalarthi, the flowers would be offered to one of the deities there prominently. I also used to feel very happy that our small offering has been accepted prominently by one of the dieties adorning the sanctum sanctorum there. It so happened on one day in the last week, that Guru Mama had taken the small flower malai and placed it in the wedge between the small Prahlada utsava moorthy and the edge of the Brindavanam which did not make it very prominent. And coincidentally today I had got a rose mala which was stitched with too much space between them. While I was doing the final round of Pradakshina, a small thought crossed my mind as I had felt sad that today the usual event of the mala offered in a prominent place to any of the dieties did not happen and immediately reconciled myself that this is indeed the way in which this has been accepted by HIM on that day and I should be happy about that. But as I finished my pradakshina and sat down in front of the Brindavanam, a sudden event happened in which Guru mama came out of the madapallli room, straight went into the brindavan sanctum sanctorum, took the mala from that place and immediately placed it in the sila roopa of Rayar's legs from one end to another end. After completing this exchange, he immediately went back into the madapalli room to continue his work.... What else can I interpret this incident other than the fact that Guru Rayar has answered my prayers through Guru mama and HE also wanted to show YET AGAIN that sincere prayers to him that are rightful will be immediately addressed....


Let Sri Hari, Vayu devaru and Guru Rayar continue to guide us in the correct path for all our individual betterment as well as that of the entire world!
Hari Sarvottama Vayu Jeevothama Guru Vijayothama
Om Sri Raghavendraya Namah
Sri Krishnapanarmastu

Completion of Compound wall construction !!!

By the divine grace of Sri Hari, Vayu and Guru Rayar, the construction of the compound wall for the complete complex has been completed.

Currently, trying to enquire about who are authority / experts in Pancharatra agama sastra for giving opinions on the layout that can be there for this mrithika brindavanam.

Sarvam Krishnapanarmastu

Sri Lakshmi Nrsimhar Guru Raghavendra trust

Trip to Dwaraka/Pushkar/Kurukshetra/Brindavan

By the divine grace of Sri Hari, Vayu and Guru Rayar, I had an opportunity to be part of a 3000-yatrika team visting places on this country which had the fortune of where Sri Krishna had been born/played/performed leelas/ruled and finally left for Sri Vaikunta. Some of the places I had recorded using my cell phone camera and I should admit that I am a novice beginner in video photography. In order to give you a glimpse of some of these places that we had visited, I am mentoning their significance and their associated video link in youtube. Sarvam Krishnarpanarmastu.

Kusum Sarovar – Goverdan

This is a beautiful lake that is well maintained even till date. Sri Krishna used to pluck the flowers from plants here and place it on Gopikas’ hairs. This was the starting point for our Goverdan giri parikrama walk. There is a small temple for Uddhavar here. When Uddhavar saw the experience that Sri Krishna was giving to all the gopikas, Uddhavar wished and longed for a birth as a plant in Goverdan (as per Bhagavatham)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyxkyE3H8uM

Annakuta Utsav in Goverdan Giri:

This was an attempt towards the recreation of the Anna kuta utsav that preceded the lifting of Goverdan mountain by Sri Krishna to teach Indra deva a lesson. The main feature is to offer variety of food to the Goverdan giridari who was told by Sri Krishna as the one worthy enough to receive all the food items offered by the yadavas rather than Indra deva. The utsav in 2009 was held in the same place in Goverdan called Aniyora where the utsav was held during Sri Krishna’s time. At the spot where Sri Krishna lifted the mountain, there is a black sila that is currently available and can also be seen in the video.

For us to understand what ‘true belief’ the local population has on the sanctity of the place and how much they have internalized the thought of Sri Krishna coming there and lifting the mountain in Dwapara Yuga, we will have to look closely at some of their following actions:

a) The foot of any person cannot touch any part of Goverdan mountain
b) The locals do a ’21 kilometer’ parikrama (walk) in a unique way. They prostrate on the ground, lift their hands above their head, place a stone at the position where their hands reach, get up and go to the place where they have kept the stone and do the same sequence of steps. In this way, they do not ‘walk’ but ‘prostrate’ for the entire ’21 kms’ distance around the circumference of the goverdan giri.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKB2DHu5amM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adX1d40T3hU

Jyotisar – Kurukshetra

This is the beautiful place where the nectar of all our Vedas – The Bhagavad Gita – was recited by our Sri Krishna for the benefit of all of us to tread the path of dharma. While the superficial meaning of the Gita verses might seem to be just pointed towards Arjuna, it does not need too much of brains to realize how each of those words in the Gita is applicable to all of us even in the present Kali Yuga – This has been more than beautifully interpreted and documented in extensive detail by all our poorvacharyas
There is a huge banyan tree and a beautiful chariot monument with Krishna and Arjuna on that in the spot where Sri Krishna decided through his sankalpa to recite the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. It is in this specific Jyotisar location where approximately 3000 yatrikas (including myself) did the parayana of all the 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita and followed it up with the complete recitation of Vishnu Sahasranamam. It was a thrilling experience with a lot of internal satisfaction of having been given a divine opportunity to participate in this kind of an event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NKS2UhNBLY

Bheesma Ghat – Kurukshetra:

This is the holy place where Vishnu Sahasranamam was told by Bheeshma to Pandavas in the presence of Sri Krishna for the benefit of mortal souls like us which was finally given a seal of approval by Sri Krishna himself. This was done by Bheeshma on a bed of arrows. There is a beautiful monument that has been made in this specific location in Kurukshetra to symbolize this moment that gives us a good picture in our mind and takes it to that time in Dwapara Yuga at the end of Kurukshetra War

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG4PlNMFE8k

Brindavan – Imli Tala:

The place which has a 5500 years old Tamarind tree – This tree used to be frequented by Sri Krishna along with Gopikas. When sometimes Sri Krishna is grieving not being with Gopikas (grieving – not in a real sense but as one of his leelas to depict his grief in being separated from Jivatmas like us), his body it seems used to get very white. Under that circumstance, if he comes and sits under this tree, immediately he will be flooded with the happy memories in this place with Gopikas, and his body also will subsequently turn back into his normal color – again another of his ‘lilas’ to show how much he longs for all Jivatmas to come, surrender and unite with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VHgnAoq89M

Brindavan – Kesi Ghat

This is the place where Sri Krishna killed the last of the demons sent by Kamsa. This demon was named Kesi. He came in the form of a horse and was so ferocious in nature that it is mentioned in Bagavatham on seeing him Sage Naradar got so afraid thinking that the entire jagat is going to come down now. But Sri Krishna effortlessly caught hold of this demon in the form of horse and killed him by tearing its mouth apart. Since Sri Krishna had killed the demon Kesi in this place, this is called Kesi Ghat. This is also the reason behind one of the more popular names that we call Sri Hari with – Kesavan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm73ymI1sew

Brindavan – Krishna Balaram Mandir

This is close to the Imli tala place and has very colorful panels highlighting the various rasa leelas of Sri Krishna in his lifetime at Brindavan. It has also a temple with the deities of Sri Krishna, Sri Balaram, Nandagopar and Yashoda (which you can see at the end of the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsFHw1OCm8U

Brindavan – Seva Kunj

This is the place which is frequented by Sri Krishna to be with Gopikas. In the evenings, this is the place where Sri Krishna played around with the Gopikas and danced with them. This place is swarmed with monkeys and we need to be extra careful with their belongings. It is said that after around 5:30PM in the evenings, sound of music is still heard in this place and it is strongly believed that Sri Krishna still comes to this place every night. This is the reason why none of us mortal souls are allowed to be inside this place after around 5:00PM. Curiously, even the monkeys that are lingering around in this place mysteriously disappear only to come back after sun dawns next day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_9FSosn8Os

Brindavan – Dwadasa Aditya Tila

This is the place where Sri Krishna rested after performing Kalinga nardanam. During the lila with the snake Kalinga, Sri Krishna had to be inside the Yamuna river for long times because of the fact that his body became very chill. So, after enacting this lila of controlling the garva of Kalingan snake, he went above a small hill. In order to serve their master, 12 Sooriyas descended to that place and helped Sri Krishna’s body get warm. This is the reason behind this place being called Dwadasa Aditya Tila. Dwadasa = 12 Aditya = Sooriya. It so happened that Sri Krishnas’ body started sweating with the sudden heat and this sweat has become a small “Prascanda Theerta”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW1zqPVElWU

Brindavan – Raman Redy

This is the place where Sri Krishna and Sri Balarama rolled on the floor and played in their childhood. On seeing the locals rolling on the mud floor in this place, we were also pushed to do the same by some strong vibrations in this place and the result of this was an enthralling internal experience thinking that we are performing the act that Sri Krishna had done more than 5000 years back in the same place. This experience cannot be described by words or written down but can only be experienced!! It is also said that on this place is where Sri Krishna did the ‘rasa kreeta’ leela with 16,108 gopikas at the same time – Sri Krishna in this leela gave a picture of he being with all the individual gopikas at the same time…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33USrjOETHE

Nandgaon – Chit ghat

This is the place where Sri Krishna did the gopikas vastra aparan leela – when the gopikas was taking bath in the Yamuna river by keeping their clothes on the river banks, Sri Krishna playfully removed all the clothes and kept it on top of the tree. This led to Gopikas pleading with Sri Krishna to return their clothes to them to protect the modesty. It looks like that lila was enacted by Sri Krishna to enact the mahima of his names as compared to himself – When Sri Krishna was physically near to the gopikas, they had ‘lost’ their clothes to him. But later on in his life, when Draupadi and Sri Krishna was physically separated by a long distance, and when Draupadi called his name sincerely in Dirdhastra’s court, her modesty was saved by Sri Krishna by ‘giving’ clothes to her. That is the mahima of Nama sankirtan and I personally feel that apart from this method in Kali Yuga, there is no better method to catch HIS attention!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW1zqPVElWU

Nandgaon – Ram ghat

This is the place where Sri Balaram with his Kalappai weapon pulled the Yamuna river and changed its course for a very short distance to make it flow closer to the place where he was standing. There is a small temple that is there in this place which is dedicated only to Sri Balaram. Since HE was none other an avatar of Adisesha, the locals here use a lot of non-poisonous snakes to seek alms from the yatris….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Dvsi9K4iE

Nandgaon – Nandabavan

This is the temple that is on top of a small hill where Nandagopar, Yashoda, Sri Krishna, Sri Balaram all are present in a temple. The temple peripherals are gigantic and well kept. If there are any places that have been missed out in the Nandgaon ‘Parikrama’, those places can be seen from this hill temple as a bird’s eye view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4v6j3od984

Nandgaon – Nandakund and Nandabaitak

Nandakund is a small pond where Sri Krishna and Balaram was taught swimming by Nandagopar. Nandabaitak is the place where Nandagopar used to convene all the village elders and consult with them to get ideas on how Sri Krishna can be protected by evil forces dispatched by Kamsa. We also sat down there for a few minutes and thought about how it would have all happened more than 5000 years back in the same place!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsuScBuH2P4

Mathura – Kamsa tila

The remnants of the old palace that was used by Kamsa. On the pretext of welcoming Sri Krishna to Mathura, Kamsa tried to kill him but since the time that has been decided by Sri Krishna had come for Kamsa to leave, Sri Krishna after a battle, killed Kamsa and finished one of his important missions in this avatar. This is the place in which this leela was performed by Sri Krishna.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv2MyGhCK0w

Prabasa Tirtha

This is the place from Sri Krishna after finishing all his leelas on earth left for his Sri Vaikuntam. This event was also a lila enacted by Sri Krishna. Just like there was not a single soul rejoicing at the time of Sri Krishna’s birth in the Mathura jail, there was not a single person who was present at the time by his side when Sri Krishna decided to leave this earth. It was a hunter called Jara who thought of the moving right leg of Sri Krishna to be that of a deer, shot an arrow aiming at that and later realized that he had actually shot an arrow at Sri Krishna and came running down to seek his pardon and accept any punishment that Sri Krishna gave him. On the other hand, since Sri Krishna had already done a sankalpa to leave this place by this kind of an incident, sent the hunter to moksha first and then left for Sri Vaikunta in his physical form from this place. Before this happened, the hunter, Jara, removed the arrow from the right leg and washed it off in the nearby pond called as Prabasa Thirtha. This is the reason that this water is supposed to be so sacred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k2iV52oa7w

Sarvam Krishnarpanamastu

Planned deities along with rayar brindavanam!!!

Construction of the compound wall is in progress. It got slightly delayed as compared to the previous estimate owing to the rocky nature of the soil it is taking more time for the construction to progress....

Apart from the Lakshmi Nrsimmar, Vayu putra and Mrithika Brindavanam within a single enclosure, if HE so wishes, we are also planning to have the following different sannidis in the temple: Rama, Lakshmana and Sita in a single sannidhi, Pandurangar and Rukhmini, Chakkarath Azhwar, Lakshmi Hayagrivar and Danvanthri.

It is also decided that among the different agama sastras for constructing this Rayar Brindavanam in kanchipuram, we will go in for Pancharatra Agama Sastra.

Sri Lakshmi Nrsimhar Guru Raghavendra Trust

Work Progress!!!

By the grace of Hari, Vayu and Rayar, the compound wall construction has started and the foundation work for the compound wall will be completed most possibly by tomorrow. Before this work commenced, a small hut (for the watchman to stay), borewell and hand pump was completely installed. I expect that this initial work of the compound wall will be getting completed around Oct 10th

Starting off a construction work!!!

By the grace of Hari, Vayu and Rayar, we have decided to start off the construction initially of the compound wall for the brindavanam area tomorrow - Sep 07. Coincidentally, when I went to the TNagar Rayar mutt today to place the photos of Lakshmi Nrsimmar, Anjaneya and Rayar in the sannidhi and then take these to the consturction site tomorrow, without any mention, the archaka took a big mala and gave it to me and my wife. I take this as an approval from Rayar to start the activity - since in my hearts before reaching the temple I was praying to him that he should bless us and give his seal of approval in a unique different way today.

Trip to Mantralayam - Sep 2nd and Sep 3rd

By the grace of Sri Hari, Vayu and Guru Rayar, I was blessed to undertake the trip to Mantralayam leaving on Sep 1st from Chennai. It was a comfortable trip to Mantralayam by HIS grace and once I landed in MALM Road station, I quickly took an auto, checked in to my usual lodge and hurried to have the darshan of rayar.

I have captured the moments here in the following links using my mobile camera:

(Mangalarthi to the Moola brindavana on 02-Sep afternoon):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtDJm3Mcpzo

(Rathothsava clippings on 02-Sep night – The image clarity is not that good since I had taken it from my mobile camera)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PucSpxSLnc4

(Maha mangalarthi to the moola brindavana on 02-Sep night after the rathothsava)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hzhYR-GAgY

Overall, it was a great experience as always any visit to moola brindavanam is, with only a sad point of rayar not blessing with tirta prasada on 3-Sep - since it was getting very late in the afternoon and I had a train to catch back to Chennai, I had to leave MALM without tirta prasada on that day - there should have been some reason for this for which Rayar had done this.....

Property documents from Government

After getting the sale deed documents from the seller, it was now our turn to see how we can get the other documents from the other governmental agencies to ensure that the property has been successfully transferred to the name of the Trust (Sri Lakshmi Nrsimmar Guru Raghavendra Trust). After getting an appointment with the sub-registrar office of the Vembakkam sub-registrar, I had driven down today and applied for the EC (Encumberance Certificate) for the last 20 years. On the way to the sub-registrar office, on sustained pleading from my parents, I had also gone and visited the Ulagalandaperumal temple in kanchipuram. I had excellent darshan of the Trivikramar and it was a solo audience in the temple at that time. The darshan itself indicated that the activities are going to go smoothly today.

After filling in the forms for the application in the sub-registrar office, I was told that that since this specific office was closed down in the middle for some years, I should also go to the Dusi sub-registrar office for that period of time and get the EC from there. After paying the required fees for the same in Vembakkam office, I drove down to the sub-registrar office at Dusi village to get the EC done for the intermediate period of time. After completing the formalities there, I successfully got the EC documents from both the offices for the duration of the last 20 years and was told that there was nil encumberance.

By the grace of Rayar, having been successful in the mission of getting the EC papers from the relevant governmental department, I had to go to another government office - Taluk office in Cheyyar - for obtaining what is called as "Patta" document. This office was around 30 kms from this location and I drove down there to hand over the required documents. The surveyor wanted to take the location of the property easily and so, I had taken the property surveyor along with me to show him the place. I was told that in a week to 10 days, this Patta document would also be ready that will show the property in the name of the Trust as per VAO/Govt. records.

Sarvam Krishnarpanamastu...

Since we had not mentioned the property location and the details of the promoter and seller before, here they are:

a) The property is located at around 9-10 kms from Kanchipuram on the outskirts. As we go in Kanchipuram - Vandavasi road, after crossing the Palar bridge, you have to take a right to a place called IyangarKulam. There is a famous Anjaneyar temple here by the name of Sanjeevi Rayar. After crossing this place and going still straight at a distance of around 4 - 5 kms, this property is located. The address of this property is Rajeswari Nagar, Namandi Village, Tiruvannamalai District.

b) The benevolent souls involved in this property dealing as promoters are:

R. Suresh and Palani, proprietors of Classic World City, based out of Chennai dealing with real-estate broking and also in IT industry!!!

c) The seller who was the official owner of this property is Keerthinathan, a real-estate businessman based out of Kanchipuram

We pray to the Almighty and Guru Rayar that they keep these people, their families and their business in good condition for years to come.

Sarvam Krishnarpanamastu

The property documents had arrived!!!

Its been some time that I had updated my blog - but that was more because of the fact that I had been raking my head to come to a final decision on how I should succeed in getting the property documents from the seller and promoter than being lazy.... A lot of incidents had happened during this time from the last blog post - events which indicated the presence of Guru Rayar's continued watch on us to ensure that we are successful in this project...
During this time, I had the opportunity to come across the website of a priviliged soul with a codename of chiraan (http://chiraan.wordpress.com) who had advised me to recite the Hari Vayu Stuthi sloka - especially Sloka #26 - which was pertaining to getting the complete guru anugraha.
It so happened that on last Tuesday - 14-Jul-09 - I was at the height of the frustration on not getting the documents till that time and I was venting out my feelings in desperation at the Rayar brindavanam in TNagar in Chennai. I was internally conversing in front of his brindavanam to either show his intentions of getting further in this project or atleast to indicate to me that he is NOT interested for me to concentrate on other things. As another proof of his continued presence in this materialistic world and also to prove that for our sincere prayers, he is already available for us, immediately upon opening my eyes after this 'conversation', the archakar in the temple had started showing ringing the bell and showing the aarthi to the brindavanam. And to add more comfort, when I turned my head after this aarthi was completed to the brindavanam, I saw one of the well-wishers from Mantralayam who had suddenly come to Chennai for a personal trip - Retrospectively, I think that Rayar had sent him to Chennai on his 'personal' trip clearing anticipating my 'conversation' with him - After all, our Rayar is a triloka gynani and what does he doesn't know??? This well wisher from Mantralayam who was a source of encouragement and inspiration for me in this project advised me and encouraged me that the time is going to come for all these issues to be resolved soon. He also advised me to chant the ashtakshara mantra 'Om Sri Raghavendraya namaha Om' during the brahma muhurtam in the morning every day 108 times minimum. Even though he had told me to do this from Thursday since it was a more auspicious day for Rayar, I thought why not we do it from the next day - Wednesday itself. So started doing this japa from the next day in the early morning during the Brahma muhurtam time of around 4:30AM to 5:00AM. Along with reciting the Hari Vayu Sthuthi sloka, I also started doing the Rayar asktakshara mantra japa 108 times.
By the grace of Sri Hari, Vayu and Guru Rayar, after doing these and also making use of police force pressure on to the property seller and promoter, we got a call from the seller today morning that they are willing to hand over the property documents today in person. Obviously, our thrill knew no bounds after months and months of struggle and tension of whether this brindavanam is going to still see the light of the day or not!!!
But as most of us have experienced in our lives, being a staunch devotee of Guru Rayar, Rayar never fails us at the opportune time - He is the one who gives you so much exams to pass through to show your resolve, that at the last possible attempt of that exam that you can have, he will give 'grace' marks like a very lenient college professor and 'pull' us up from the pits to great heights. This was one real example of how he showers the grace in a manner he deems fit to each of us in his own ways as it is applicable to each individual.... Only we as mortal normal human beings, in our fit of anxiety, fail to realize that we are being continously monitored and guided by HIM.
Coincidentally, it so happened that as per the Tamil calendar, today was my birth star (Arudra) as well as my daughter's birth day as per the Tamil calendar. We dont know whether this was a mere coincidence or whether it was one of the Rayars way to shower his blessings on our family.....
Now that the papers have come, and this feeling is starting to sink in slowly into our family, we are setting out to jot down the next points that needs to be taken care of in this project and at the same time continue to seek HIS blessings for finishing off the project for HIM to start residing in a NEW place....
More later as we firm up the plans.... Stay tuned....

Trip to Mantralayam

We started off to Mantralayam on the Friday night - 26th June. Although the train started from Chennai on time, the train reached slightly late to Mantralayam Road station at around 11:30AM. We were slightly worried that we might miss out on the morning darshan. We immediately hired the auto in the railway station and went directly to mutt office.

For the last many years in which I have been travelling to Mantralayam almost twice an year, I have not been successful in getting a room in the mutt choultries. But this time fortunately, owing to Rayar's grace, we were successful in getting the choultry from the mutt itself as one of the rooms were vacant. We felt happy that our contributions are going back in some way to Rayar itself.

After checking into the room and having a quick nap, we rushed to the temple to have the darshan. Fortunately, it was not late and neither was there so much crowd in front of the Brindavanam. This meant that we had more time at our disposal to have darshan in front of the Brindavanam. We did have an excellent darshan for a satisfactory period of time and then went to have the thirtha prasadam.

After resting for an hour, we hired an auto at around 5:00PM for a total of Rs.250 to go Pikshalaya and Panchamukhi to have darshans there. The road to Pikshalaya was very bad but we just tolerated this just thinking about the bliss in Rayar's brindavanam in Pikshalaya on the banks of Tungabadra river. On this side, you can see the river in much force as compared to the side of Mantralayam. The sound that the river was creating on this river side through its flow was very nice to hear through our ears and we just forgot ourselves in that surroundings thinking about how fortunate the soul of Appanacharya should have been in spending such a long time with Rayar on this place and also hosting Rayar in his own house in Pikshalaya. After spending close to half an hour in this place, the driver reminded that it was time to go to Panchamukhi to have our darshan there as the power gets cut in those places when it gets dark outside.

We had a quick darshan in Panchmukhi where for the first time, we saw the lights installed in the cave where Panchamukhi anjaneya had given darshan to Rayar. Previously it used to be pretty dark inside with only the deepa light by the purohit illuminating the place. We came back to Mantralayam just in time at around 7:45PM in the night for the rathotsam ready to be started. After having a good darshan of Prahlad utsavar taken around the prakara in different chariots, we went inside near to the brindavanam again just at the right time for the aacharyar to do the final mangalarthi in the day. We were very thankful to Rayar obviously for making sure that we go to right strategic places to have his holy darshan through the day today.

The next day, Sunday 27-Jun, I woke up early to go to Tungabadra river for having my bath at around 3:30AM. After finding a good spot in which the river was flowing through in correct speed, I had a good bath and started doing my nithya anushtanams... It felt so peaceful out there for a long time that I obviously didn't have the mind to get out of that place and come back to the room. But, as it is to be expected, as the sun slowly started making its presence, more people started coming thereby disrupting the peacefulness of that place.

We went to the Brindavanam at around 7:00AM for the nirmalya darshan and subsequently the panchamrutha abhisheka to Hanuman and to the Brindavanam. Again, by HIS grace, we were standing in a strategic position to have a good darshan. After this, we went off in pradakshina a couple of times and also had darshan a couple of times. We also kept the property papers (back dated documents) in front of the brindavanam after mentioning to the aachar what these documents are for and sought HIS blessings. When the entire alankara was done to the Brindavanam, again, it was time for the mangal arthi to be performed and we had a good darshan of the same. After this, we had thirtha prasadam and then proceeded towards the room to check out and leave for the station to board the train at 3:30PM.

At the end of the trip, there was a calmness in the mind, having had such a close darshan of him , which was not there at the time that we started the trip. This again proved the power of rayar's brindavanam and what its darshan can bring to a mind in distress... We are more confident that things will get sorted now sooner than later....

Today was the D-day

I was supposed to be getting the property documents today from the registrar office. Not willing to take chances especially taking into account that I am travelling tonight to Mantralayam, I personally went to kanchipuram and reached the sub-registrar office at around 11:00AM in the morning. I was told that the papers were already collected by the seller's agent yesterday (Thurs). I called up the promoter from Kanchipuram and enquired with him to see if I had to collect the papers from someone in Kanchipuram itself or it would reach me in Chennai.

I was made to wait in the hot sun till around 3:00PM since even after trying different people continuously on the promoter side, I was not given confirmation of where the property papers were. After 3:00PM, I was told to start from Kanchipuram with the assurance that the property papers will reach me before I leave for Mantralayam - since this was the full purpose of hurrying through with things so that I can keep these papers in front of the Moola Brindavanam of Rayar in Mantralayam, take his blessings and then return back.

But alas, it looked like Guru Raghavendrar did not still seem to believe that the time for this has come - for reasons best known to him as always... At around 7:30PM today, I get a message on my mobile phone from the promoter stating that "I am sorry that I could not succeed. Accept my apologies".... Instead of the philosophical thought that Rayar didn't consider this as a good time for this, being a mere mortal, my human emotions took over of complete dejection in spite of putting in best efforts physically and monetarily to get this done.... I was seething with anger and kept on calling the promoter mobile number - But the promoter did not have the guts to lift up the phone and talk to me....

At around 9:30PM today, we decided to any way start for Mantralayam and take his blessings with the older documents that we had in posession as xerox copies.... Reached the Chennai station just in time. But before boarding the train, the promoter gave me a call stating that he was not successful in getting the job done but in return he got back from me a piece of my mind - which I hope and pray will make the promoter NOT to do the same mistake with any of his other customers in future.

At this time, we were very frustrated for the following reasons:

a) We have not done any wrong and have been very sincere in my commitments to the promoter b) We are not doing this for building a personal MANSION for ourselves like so many people do but for a noble cause in which we wanted to give the society in a remote place to come to know about Rayar and also to get his benevolance....

After an hour or so, started realising that these are done by HIM for certain reasons beyond our comprehension and any wilful people in the middle who is trying to make business out of this will be taken care of HIM automatically at the right time and 'appropriately rewarded' for their actions........

Today was the Ekadeshi day - auspicious day of fasting....

We were asked to come in the early morning to the sub-registrar office at around 7:30AM in the morning. Surprisingly, we felt that the sub-registrar office being a government office, the staff would not turn up so early in the morning. But, we were in for a pleasant surprise....

After the staff including the sub-registrar all appeared by around 8:30AM in the morning, the entire process of the registration including the affixing of thumb impressions were all over within an hours time... The property registration expenses sky rocketed as compared to the original estimate given - but the promoter had successfully pushed us to limits of patience that we were not winking even for shelling out the extra amount here to get the transaction completed....

Finally, at around noon today, we were back at home. Maybe, today was considered as a better day by Guru Ragavendra today being Ekadeshi - But what ever was his reason, after seeing this transaction completed, we had a feeling of elation internally within us in our family. The feeling was more of a disbelief that this transaction has got completed after around 3 months - when we have started slowly believing that this is not going to get completed at all after all these delays. But it looks like that this was also one of HIS leelas to check our resoluteness and stubbornness on this noble cause. Hope that HE has taken and considered us to be passed in this exam that he gave us.

After this transaction was completed, we sort of started feeling that the samprokshanam of the finally constructed temple itself has been done - when in fact only the first step has been completed

We had blocked our tickets to Mantralayam for next Friday (26-Jun) and we wanted to ensure that we get all the document papers by that time. The intent behind this was to place these documents in the Moola brindavanam of Rayar and take his blessings for the further development of this project. We are now keeping our fingers crossed on whether we are going to receive the document papers before we board the train in Chennai on Friday (26-Jun) although with the strong belief that HE would not let us down on this request....

Sarvam Krishnarpanamastu

Nearing the milestone....

Today, on the hope that all issues are going to be getting removed by Raghavendra, and also today being a Thursday, myself and my Brother-in-law set out to Kancheepuram to be in the land site by around 11:30AM in the morning. But the promoter and the seller of the land were nowhere to be seen till around 1:00PM. Since we were particular that we should not be having lunch without the land registration getting completed, we also skipped the lunch.... Continuous phone calls to the promoter only elicited the response that we are very close to the property....

However, the seller failed to appear till around 4:30PM in the evening by which time the sub-registrar being a part of the government formation had already closed shop for the day. The heavens had opened up on that day in Kancheepuram with some decent rains and I was hoping that this could be taken as a blessing for us from the heavens - since this is considered as one of the auspicious signs generally. But apart from my verification of the actual sale deed document and my actual signing of these, the actual process could not get completed.

Although I realize that this has been made to postpone for some valid unknown reason by Rayar, having come so close to achieving the milestone of completing this property registration for his brindavanam, it was a little bit disappointing not to have it accomplished. The disappointment was much more because of the fact that today was Thursday which is always considered as the most auspicious day for Guru Ragavendra.

Saga continues.....

On confirming in the next day that we can have the registration on 11th, we were hoping that it is all going to get over on 11-Jun and after the registration, we will also be getting the registered papers by 25-Jun as committed by the promoter.
But, alas, as it turned out like all the previous commitments, this also turned out to be a FALSE hope. On making a casual call to the promoter today evening to just confirm whether things are going on as per the plan, I was informed that registration is not going to be possible on 11th but will happen on 18-Jun. At the same time, I was also told that I will be still getting the papers out by 25-June as per the earlier commitment by him. I was also asked to hand over the remaining money for the land on the date of the registration when the registration is complete which I refused to accept and told him that I can pay the balance amount only on the date of getting all the papers on my hand....
Again, I am left clueless on why Rayar is continuing to ensure that this gets postponed time and again. But, strangely, this time around, even though I was seething with tension within my heart at the time of talking with the promoter, after the conversation was over in which I did some plain talking with him, I am not that disturbed currently on this delay as I was earlier.... Maybe this is Rayar's way of ensuring that I become less sensitive to changes that happens against my expectations. I really don't know.
However, even if the tension on all these events is palpably absent, I am still continuing to remain curious on what could be the reasons for this inordinate delay. Obviously, I realize at some times that these kind of reasons are outside the scope of 'human logic' and can be only because of divine will.
I realize that I can only lay this humbly at the feet of Raghavendra and ask him to help me out in HIS work that I have initiated. I am sure that these sincere prayers will be soon answered by HIM- like he has done in innumerable times in the last two decades of my life and career.
I continue with the same belief that has guided me on a daily basis making this belief grow only stronger day by day....

Same story continues....

What looks like a never ending story of the land promoter going back on his commitments sees to be continuing. Today in the afternoon, I got a call from the land promoter saying that the land registration is not going to be possible because the owner is expecting more money as compared to the previously agreed upon price. I blasted the promoter and gave him a piece of my mind telling him that there are no other options other than the following two options: a) To repay the money back pending for 2 months with him that I had paid or b) To get the registration done ASAP and get me the property papers on hand by 25th June since I was scheduled to leave for Manthralayam on that day. I wanted to take the papers to the mutt there and start discussions with them on establishing the brindavanam on that property. Finally the promoter agreed to call up in the evening at 8:00PM to confirm.
At the evening, I went to the TNagar Raghaviah Road Raghavendra Brindavanam temple in Chennai, I pleaded and demanded alternatively with him again to let me know what HE wants me to do and why I am being put through too much torture when I am asking him to bless on his own project - I also told him that this will be unlike so much of his other devotees who might want to get a lot of things done for themselves and not for a social cause. I continued to remain absolutely clueless on why I am being put through this mental tension. While on some times, I think that this is all because of some unfathomanable reason beyond my means. At other times, not being able to be closer to a 'self-realized' person, I feel that I am being singled out for some thing with all these tensions which I need not be going through at all. My parents did tell me at this time that any noble cause when started, will be put to a lot of hard ships - more so to test our resolve in going through that noble cause - especially in the current day kali yug.....

After getting a phone call from the promoter as promised, I was told that I can choose a date of 11th, 12th, 18th or 19th for registration and irrespective of which ever date I choose, 'arrangements' has been made in the registrar office to get the papers out by 25th June as required by me.

I kept the phone down on this day telling him that I will get back with the 'auspicious' date by tomorrow noon.....

I am being heard!

Yesterday, turned out to be a mix of frustration and satisfaction with different turn of events.

By afternoon, the property promoter was supposed to give a call to me which never happened. In a desperate and a frustrated attempt, I tried to reach him only to be told that the registration date of the rayar's selected property has not been still finalized. I banged the phone down after giving him a piece of my mind. The pressure and frustration rose to such an extent that I had started interacting with HIM in a subconscious level asking him to decide of whether he is still interested in me going ahead with a Brindavanam for him or if he is not interested to let me know through some means. With this frustration, when I went to one of HIS brindavanams yesterday evening, I was blessed with a vision to see his nithya aradhana closure for the day yesterday. I was conversing with HIM telling him that these blessings are accepted but was questioning HIM of what use are these for if answers to some frustrating questions are not given by HIM. This was a result of the frustration of waiting for close to two months after the property has been selected waiting for the registration to happen... NEVER before had I used these kind of words with HIM in the unlimited number of heart-to-heart discussion exchanges and pleadings that I had with HIM for the last 2 decades like this one.

In our custom, as per our acharyas, there is a strong belief that HE would not want to let a devotee down who has a strong belief in HIM - lest that it is taken a signal by others that there is NO benefit in pleading with him or showering bakthi on him. As per their saying, the result of these actions might get delayed owing to our 'past karma' or owing to as a 'matter of testing our resolve' but results WILL come - especially when one is involved in a social or dharmic cause.

Because of these beliefs that cannot be made to become false, an unimaginable event happened late evening yesterday. I got a call from the promoter - a surprising thing considered by the fact that the calls have been almost one sided till date for the last two months - and these calls have always been from me. He wanted to convey a message to me that the registration date of the property will either be 29-May or 03-June latest - most probably the later as compared to the earlier. I pleaded with him to be having the former one taking into account my other commitments and preoccupations starting from June 1st week. While there was NO commitment, it was told to me by promoter that he will try to see if we can have the date for 29-May.

I have gone ahead and sent him the details sought for in an email and waiting for HIS grace to complete the registration on 29-May atleast.

More to follow soon....

Miscommunication with the property promoter!!!!

Now that the seal of approval has come from Rayar, negotiations started in right earnest with the promoter for arriving at the final price for the property. The whole property was for around little bit more than an acre....

After arriving at the final price, the first set of installments were paid off by April 1st, 2009 after which a communication issue happened with the promoter. The promoter started saying the rate as something that was never discussed and at a higher rate that was accepted by him. After a prolonged discussion in which both parties refused to accept the others standpoint, today we arrived at an intermediate price point between the two prices. This entire episode which lasted for 3 weeks approximately left a lot of bitterness in our mouths....

We are not sure of the reasons behind this leela by Guru Raghavendra... Was this because of any abacharam that was commited by us in this project till now? Was this delay and torture a test of our strongness in this project to be taken to completion? What else? We do not have the capability to judge what could be the reasons for Rayar to have done this but suffice it to say that till today for the last 3 weeks or so, it has been such a mental torture and pressure that it started becoming a little too much to manage personally and health wise. All along, we were consoled repeatedly by the mama in the Mylapore mutt temple that HE will take care of this in the right time.... We are very thankful that HE had shown us and given access to the mama in the Mylapore mutt temple atleast to continuously encourage and guide us in this....

Rayar's seal of approval....

There are a lot of confusions going around in my mind - The property owner had repeatedly called and followed up with me and most of the times I was in front of the Mylapore raghavendra mutt or in front of the Triplicane raghavendra mutt temple. While I could take these as 'invisible' seals of approval from Rayar, there were enough confusions going in my mind that the distance and accessibility to this selected property is not conducive for this to be selected. I was losing sleep over this decision to be taken and after a prolonged time, as always, I was given a flash of thought by rayar to get a formal seal of approval (what we call - uttharuvu - in Tamil).

So, today being the day in which Guru Raghavendra attained the peedathipathi post after taking sanyasam, I was adviced by a very well known elderly person to get Rayar's seal of approval in the Mylapore Brindavanam. The process was started. Both HIS holy manthraksadai and flower were covered, kept in a plate in front of his brindavanam and I was asked to parallely choose in my mind either of these. Since the Manthraksadai has been the one which has been giving me solace through all the tough times in the last 2 decades, I had selected that in my mind. When one of the other rayar devotees was asked to select from among the two items and hand it over to me, to my pleasant surprise, it turned out to be the same manthraksadai that I had thought of...

We were pleased to have got this approval from Rayar as well since it gave me immense satisfaction in HE approving one of the places that we had selected for him. Like the icing on the cake, my pleasure was immense that this was given by HIM on this holy day in which he had taken sanyasam and became the peedathipathi of the mutt! Was this a mere coincidence or was it a signal from him that this is going to be one of his favorite residences for him....

Only time will tell.... Whatever it is, it gave a total satisfaction and relief for having got his approval for the project to start....

First visit to the place!!!

With a serious hunt started for looking at various properties, on this date, it turned out the property promoter in Kanchipuram was also equally interested in ensuring that I get to see the place. It so happened that the promoter was already travelling around 20 kms away from the city when I called him up on the phone on looking at the advertisement in the paper. He stopped in the middle of the route, sent a person to pick me up from the residence and dropped at the place where he was temporarily waiting.

On reaching the property, my first impression on the positive side was that this place looked very similar to the place of IrayaMangalam - place where there is mrithika brindavanam near to Tiruvallur in Chennai. Apart from the looks of the place, there were other similarities as compared to IrayaMangalam that were pointed out by my BIL - Like the Irayamangalam place is very close to Hindustan Motors factory in Tiruvallur, this place was very close to a very similar factory of the same industry - Axles India... Was it a mere coincidence or a sign of a preference displayed by Rayar?

Only time will tell us.....