CE 2019: Athi Varadar Returns
Ineffable mass of grace who dwells on the peak of Elephant Hill, dark blue flame in the altar of the Lotus-Born's horse sacrifice wish-granting tree hugged by a slender creeper, the milk ocean's daughter: May he make us prosper! (Verse from Varadaraja Pancasat of Swami Vedanta Desikan translated by Steven Paul Hopkins) The year 2019 is eventful for the devotees of Kanchi Perarulalan. Athi Varadar Vaibhavam, the darshan of original deity who resides inside the Ananta Saras Pushkarini happens once in 40-years, and 2019 July – August is going to be when He will be giving His darshan again. By the time you read perhaps the Darshan would have started. Those of us who have had His darshan in 1979 remember the devotion and excitement, and wait with same devotion now. But, for those of us who were too young to understand the history and circumstances of His Jala Sayanam, 2019 is different. The eagerness to see Him, to dwell into His Mahatmiyam is diffic...