Returning to Ashramam

At the conclusion of Abhigamanam Srimad Azhagiya Singar will administer Samasrayanam and Saranagati for the interested sishyas. Then there will be a brief upanyasam. After the upanyasam Srimad Azhagiya Singar returns to the Ashramam. Before Srimad Azhagiya Singar's return, the Aradhakar on duty gets Srimad Azhagiya Singar's niyamanam (authorization) for commencing the Ijjai aradhanai.

As Srimad Azhgiya Singar returns to the Ashramam sishyas follow and offer their prayer at the lotus divine feet of Srimad Azhagiya Singar. Srimad Azhagiya Singar enquires the welfare of each and everyone of them with characteristic kindness. The sishyas one by one receive manthrakshadai and leave. This will take about an hour.

Now it is about 11:30 a.m. Ijjai Aradhanai is in full swing at Sri Sannidhi. Srimad Azhagiya Singar starts to read important mail and gives instructions to the "office" kainkaryaparas on how to handle each mail. Often times Sri Matam officials from other cities will have an audience with Srimad Azhagiya Singar and discuss lowkeeka matters related to Sri Matam adminsitration. Then, at about 12:30 p.m. Srimad Azhagiya Singar gracefully begins anushtanam.

The Ijjai Aradhanai at Sri Sannidhi is nearing completion at this time. For this Aradhanai, Srimad Azhagiya Singar's "Swarchai" perumal will also be present in Sri Sannidhi. Each Srimad Azhagiya Singar brings a Saligrama Perumal from

Ijjai Aradanam

poorvasramam into AstAnam. This perumal will remain with Srimad Azhagiya Singar through out the reign and when Srimad Azhagiya Singar leaves this earth to decorate Sri Vaikundam, this perumal enters the brindavanam by being placed on top of Srimad Azhagiya Singar's divine crown.

Now it is time for Ijjai Nivedanam. Swarna Nrisimha goes to the ThirumadappaLLi and accepts all the ThaLigai from there. The Ijjai comes to an end with Mangala Harati. By this time most of the sishyas would have left. So, the goshti consists of only a few individuals. Then "perumal theertham" is taken to Ashramam for Srimad Azhagiya Singar. Only after Srimad Azhagiya Singar accepts the "theertham" it is offerred to the goshti.

Swarna Nrisimha

Immeidately thereafter thadIyArAdanai begins. Ususally there will be at least 70 to 80 people. On special days like Dwadasi, Thirunakshatram, etc., goshti will range from about 500 to even as high as 3,000.

Meanwhile, Srimad Azhagiya Singar is ready for Bikshai. Srimad Azhagiya Singar's Swarchai perumAl is now back in Ashramam and will accept nivEdanam right from the banana leaf from which Srimad Azhagiya Singar will then commence the bikshai. By about 1 or 1:30 p.m. Srimad Azhagiya Singar is done. Often some woman devotee will seek the privilege of taking away the banana leaf and cleaning the place of Srimad Azhagiya's bikshai. At the direction of Srimad Azhagiya Singar one or more sishyas will get Srimad Azhagiya Singar's prasadam.

Soon after Srimad Azhagiya Singar returns from Bikshai, the Tadiyaradanai will be over. The Swamees now congregate at the Ashramam after having completed the tadiyaradhanai. In the presence of Srimad Azhagiya Singar and to the sound of Vedic recitation Sandalwood paste and beetle leaves are offered to all the Swamees. Then Srimad Azhgiya Singar will bless everyone by sprinkling manthrAkshadai. That marks the end of the afternoon activities. A few of the Swamees stay back to have a few words with Srimad Azhagiya Singar.

At about 2:00 p.m. Srimad Azhgaiya Singar is finally free to take rest for about an hour.

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