LORD AYYAPPA, VRITHAM YATRA AND DARSHAN DURING MANDALAM (VOL 16) ON DEC 26 2021 !

Ayyappa Alangaram 26Dec

 

Aurora Balaji Temple Chicago

Novi Balaji Temple Michigan

Bhajan at Pittsburg Balaji Temple

Bhakta Hanuman Temple Farmington Hills Michigan

Hanuman Temple Glen Cove Chicago

Home Bhajan Michigan

Home Bhajan Anil Swamy

Balaji temple of Great lakes Irumudi place

Lemont Rama Temple Chicago

Mala Dharana by Guruswamy Hanuman temple

Lemont Rama Temple Chicago

Sringeri Saradambal Temple Farmington Hills MI

Sringeri Saradambal Temple MI

SSVT gold plated 18 steps Maryland

SSVT Entrance Maryland

Swamys at Pittsburg Balaji temple

Yatra Group

        Ghee in Irumudi

                                                        

 

Irumudi by Guruswamy at Balaji  temple of Great lakes  Michigan

                                             Kallum Mullum Kaalukku Methai

                                              Nei Abhisekham Ayyappa at SSVT Maryland 26Dec

Swamy Saranam

                 This yatra on December on Christmas day  after Ayyappa Vritham during the Mandalam period culminating with the darshan of Lord Ayyappa on Dec26 2021 was another uplifting spiritual experience. I have taken Iyyappa Vritham after a gap of three years. This time it was different from previous experiences as we are going through difficult times with COVID 19 again at peak in US now like it was in last year 2020. The infections from Delta and latest Omicron made travel risky and scary.

This visit was special for me as this was a reunion with my dear Ramesh Guruswamy after almost 17 years. It was this Guruswamy who taught me everything when we first came to US in the year 2001. The period between the years 2001 to 2004 had been memorable to be associated with this devoted group. As we had moved to Virginia from Michigan (2014-2010) and later to California (2010-2016) and now in Illinois(2016-?), the Iyyappa Vritham had continued as a tradition in different temples with other Guruswamys and my pranams to all of them. Even though I could visit Sabarimala shrine only once during the first Vritham in 1999, what is important is the six  weeks of Vritham. By God's grace I complete my 14th year of Vritham this year. The earlier years I had been doing Vritham locally where we are located and we could participate in weekly home bhajan regularly which acts as a spiritual booster. This is the first Vritham participating outside my city and the work at Kalamazoo Michigan helped in reunion with my dear Swamys. It was a challenge shuttling between our home at Chicago and work in Kalamazoo and to maintain the Vritham austerities. This was also a blessing in disguise as we tend to become more careful and performing solitary going inward with only the Lord in mind.

Our Guruswamy was so understanding of my being remote and initiated Vritham two days before the scheduled Mala Dharanam in the weekend (13th Nov) at Bhakta Hanuman temple Farmington Hills. I was able to attend only one home bhajan on 4^th December and I could see a young dedicated energetic group of swamys there. Thanks to remote conference call feature could participate remotely in other bhajans. The Iyyappa Vritham is not complete without visiting temples. During my 2 visits to Detroit visited Bhaktha Hanuman temple and to our family Guru Sringeri Saradambal temple at Farmington Hills, Balaji temple at Novi and Bharatiyar temple during Irumudi. When we lived in Farmington hills in 2001 there were not this many temples then and happy to see the welcome change. We had visited earlier Saradambal temple at Pennsylvania which was the only temple of Sringeri in US then. Farmington hills Saradambal temple is now the second one in US and with two more to come in Houston and Santiago in future with Sringeri Acharya’s blessing.  During this period visited  our three big temples in Chicago Aurora Balaji Temple, Lemont Rama temple and the recent Glen Cove Anjaneya temple.

I reached Detroit the day before yatra on  Dec24^th and thank you Ashok Swamy for  the hospitality at their home and also during return. I was so humbled with the love of my old friends Srini Swamy and Rajaram Swamy who completed his 18^th Vritham this year.

In Balaji  temple of Great Lakes  on  Dec25^th  Guruswamy initiated Irumudi to all the Swamys starting at 5am. We left for the yatra by super comfortable bus at 930am. We reached Pittsburg around 3.30pm and had a great darshan. Our Group is fortunate to be given an opportunity for performing a small bhajan session  in front of Balaji. What a blessing of Narayana🙏. The echo and the positive vibrations in the Inner Sannidhanam  when we sang in the mike took the music to different level and it was still ringing in the ears  for hours. I was humbled and emotional to sing “Bhajanai  Seivom Naam” the  old Nama Sangeerthanam taught by my grandfather. This is the oldest bhajan on Vittala sung by my grandfather Subbier who spent all his life in devotion in pujas and bhajans and with total surrender to Lord. This bhajan is rare and not yet promoted by other singers to my knowledge. Thank you  Lakshman/Kalai  Swamy for making this Pittsburg temple visit happen.

We reached Maryland at night. The night stay in hotel was comfortable. Due to present situation SSVT temple Maryland  allotted specific time slot for each group for climbing 18 steps. The steps are now with gold plated like in Sabarimala. The temple volunteers made sure that social distancing is maintained inside the temple . Our slot was at 1130am and all the Swamys could witness Ghee Abhisekham of the Lord Ayyappa and also the Alankaram in the end.

On a personal note after 6 weeks of tapas it is HIS Blessing that I am alive and could get his darshan. My feelings are like this favorite bhajan of Iyyappa by Yesudas “ Enna Varam Ketpen”

What should I ask Swamy fame, wealth or character or fulfil any other desire? We don’t have to ask him anything because he knows the devotee’s mind and his Blessings are to all devotees always. All that I wish is that this divine experience should continue till this lifetime.

The volunteer swamys brought all annadanam for the 2 day trip and fed us continuously in the bus as I see now my weight has increased by 4 pound😋

All good thing has to end and as I removed the Mala  could see the void feeling . We can still experience the Lord within us always with pure devotion and prayers. I look forward to continue this journey in the future. 

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!