Bhoologa Vaikuntam

A strange but interesting thing happens whenever I go to have blessings of Sri Ranganathar.

Incident # 1: Myself visiting Srirangam for the first time (circa 2000). Got drowned at the very sight of the majestic walls of the temple. Entering from the East entrance of adaiyavalainjaan - the auto that we took from Thiruvaanaikkaval stop was getting into the gopurams, which I have never seen before. I just asked my appa, "Will he park this vehicle right in front of His Feet?"...Got down at Naanmugan Vaasal (South 5th prakaram). Went in with lot of excitement - a sense of pure joy in seeing Him over the Aadhiseshan. Did a saashtaanga namaskaram before the Dwajasthambam and entered the second prakaram - there He is! With a gOshti of araiyars singing the prabandham, under a simple silk kudai and without His kEdayam, with the maalai that is made based on a grammar...the uthsavar NamPerumal staging His typical Srirangaththu nadai - His smile just pulled me into the vaikuntam for a second like how a star goes into a black hole...

Incident # 2: Second time in Srirangam 2000 end - I came from Dalmiapuram with my friend after finishing an audit. I am sure That Mischievous Man would have assigned me for the D.Puram audit - just for me to have His sEvai!! I made it perfect this time - Entered only through Rayar Gopuram at first. I didnt have a full, satisfactory sEvai of that Gopuram in my first visit. Entered one prakaram by another.....Just past the Dwajasthambam - the same Vaadhyam again, same gOshti again, same nadai, same Thirumukham....just got pulled by the same Drishti. No way out from that magical moment. Nam Perumal ahead of Ranganathar...

Incident # 3: Third time in Srirangam May 2004: Wanted to cover Tiruchy based divyadesams this time. It so happened that I went there only in the afternoon. Standing in the 'paththu rooba' queue for a long time - There was a bit of curiosity at a corner of my mind - whether it is a one-off situation? Will there be a purappaadu in the noon....Just as I was thinking of this - one bhattar came running out of Chandhanu mandapam crying, " vazhi vidungO...Perumal purappadu aaga pOgardhu - appuram moolavar sEvai aagum". I am sure it was Him who gave an answer like typing in a chat window! The purpappadu happened in a grand fashion taking me out of the queue into the same magical world.

Incident # 4: Fourth time in Srirangam March 2005: Wanted to cover Pandya naatu divyadesams. How can a trip to divydesams be complete without starting at Srirangam? This time, it was clear - I am going to test it - just for curiousity sake! Went early in the morning. I made a determination to see Ranganathar (moolavar) first...How can things happen in my way if He thinks otherwise...It happened to be aadhi brahmOthsavam happening there and it was Him, the same NamPerumal with the same mischievous smile (this time - I saw it as a smile of victory).....drowning my entire mind in that same smile.....

I am waiting for my fifth trip to Srirangam. May be in Dec 2005 or Jan 2006. Let us wait and see!

Aravi.