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  From silence to the sound of recitation After a period of “silence”, the anadhyayana period starting from Kartigai Kartigai, Thirumangai Alvar’s birthday temples would reverberate with the recitation of Nalayira Divya Prabandham the scared text of Sri Vaishnavas, the compilation of 4000 songs of the Alvars from Margazhi when the Adhyayana Utsavam starts. Today (14-12-2020), a day ahead of the beginning of Adhyayana Utsavam across Vishnu temples, sounds of Thirunedunthandakam would fill the Santanu mantapam, when Araiyars start the festival in front of Periya Perumal. The 21-day Adhyayana Utsvam is unique in that it is a complete celebration of a text and its recitation. For hundreds of years it has continued, keeping the text and the tradition alive. The days prior to and ten days following Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated as Adhyayana Utsavam, when the first ten days the first two thousand of the 4000 is recited during the day time literally called “pagal pathu” utsavam, and after...

 Srirangam, a dream fulfilled “It is well known that I am 85-year old man. At this age Ranganatha gets into my heart and goes on dictating, non-stop”: who was that old man what was the Lord nagging him about? It was Srimad Srivansatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikan,  the 44 th  head of Sri Ahobila Matam. Ranganatha appeared in his dreams and asked him to construct, or complete the incomplete “mottai gopuram” at Srirangam. The tallest temple gopuram that has become an iconic symbol of the most important Vishnu temple, and the largest functional Hindu temple in the world happened only in the 1980s and it was the Jeeyar’s dream and the word he gave to Ranganatha that made it possible. Srimathe Srivansatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikan   The 44 th head of Sri Ahobila Matam Srirangam temple despite its importance and size was not a money spinner. In fact, people in the know say how till the time the Rajagopuram happened the salaries at the te...