Ram temple celebrations galore in Mylapore, neighbourhood

BY PRAKASH M SWAMY

Mylapore-resident Vidwan Saketharaman’s students of Kalashiksha Music

Academy sang Rama Nama Keerthan before the Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi

and First Lady Lakshmi Ravi during the Ayodhya Ram Janma Bhoomi Prana

Pratishta celebrations held at Raj Bhavan on Jan 22. The Governor and his wife sat

through the three-hour program and appreciated and honored Vidwan

Saketharaman for his dedication and presentation.

Saketharaman's Kalashiksha Music Academy presented a unique musical event

Rama - the Tamil Connect lines from Silapathikaram, Kamba Ramayanam, Alwar

Pasuram, Arunachala Kavi Rama Natakam, Muthuswamy Dikshitar and Rama

Nama Sankeerthanam during the concert

Vidwan Saketharaman in his speech said "Dharma Eva Hato Hanti, Dharmo

Rakshathi Rakshitha..." stating that if we protect Dharma, Dharma will protect us.

He said that chanting Rama Nama is the path to Moksha in this Kali Yuga.

The performance by the students and Acharyas of Saketharaman's Kalashiksha

Music Academy gave insight about the Tamil Connect of Shree Rama Lalla. The Raj

Bhavan auditorium was suddenly surrounded by vanaras (monkeys) during the

Rama Nama Sankeerthanam - a symbol of divine presence of Lord Hanuman at

the bhajan in praise of His Master Lord Ram.

The event was attended among others by Deccan Murthy, secretary of Vani

Mahal in T Nagar and Dr Vidhya Saketharaman head of the ER Unit of the Kauvery

Hospitals in Alwarpet. Governor Ravi had arranged for a sumptuous lunch for all

the performing children and invited guests after the live telecast of the grand

inauguration of the temple in Ayodhya in a hug screen.

Mylaporeans C S Chandrasekharan (Chandra) ex Doha, a resident of Royapettah

Venkatesan Krishnan who lives in Baashyaam Apartments in Santhome and

Venkata Subramaniam Raju of Bishop Gardens hoisted Sri Ram flag at Antarctica

where they had gone on an expedition through Quarks Expedition. “It was a

proud moment for us to celebrate the prana prathishta of Lord Ram at Ayodhya

and we were literally on top of the world,” said Chandra. They were the only

three Indians who took part in the expedition.

Chandrasekharan, Venkatesan Krishnan and Venkata Subramaniam Raju travelled

to Antarctica on Jan 16 and celebrated the Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration by

singing songs in praise of Lord Ram and chanting Ram Japam on the icebergs of

Antarctica.

Over 15 children in the age group of three to six -students of Dr V R Vedha of

Santhome chanted Rama Nama Japam and bhajan in a procession inside the

praharam of Shri Kapaleeswarar temple and also along the four mada streets

holding saffron flags and dressed as Rama avatars – Ram, Sita, Lakshman and

Hanuman to the delight of the passersby who stood for a minute to bless and

greet the children. They were joined by Somavara Group inside the temple.

After the veedhi ula (street procession), they regrouped again inside the temple

and performed bhajans.

Dr Vedha, a PhD in disaster management from University of Madras was inspired

by former President of India the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and decided to teach

moral education, Sampradhaya, culture, heritage, Thevaram, bhajans, stories of

Nayanmar and acharyas, veedhi ula during the Tamil month of Margazhi three

days a week inside the temple free of cost.

Madhuradhwani conducted a special lecture on Ram bakthi saamraajyam by Dr

Sudha Seshayyan, noted orator and former Vice Chancellor of Dr MGR Medical

University followed by a music concert by Palakkad R Ramprasad (vocal) R Raghu

(violin) Trichur C Narendran on mridangam and K V Gopalakrishnan on the

Kanjira. There were special numbers in praise of Lord Rama and a large number of

devotees enjoyed the programs held at Arkay Convention Center in Luz,

Mylapore.

Members of Yadava Maha Sabha celebrated the consecration of Ram temple at

Ayodhya outside Win TV office and Mylapore Hindu Permanent Fund on South

Mada Street with special prayers, puja and bhajans under the guidance of Dr

Devanathan Yadav founder of Yadava Maha Sabha. The organizers had arranged

for a live telecast on a huge screen for the benefit of Mylaporeans. Prasadams

were distributed after the event. R Gunaseelan Yadav, secretary of the Sabha had

made all the arrangements.

The Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam temple near Chitrakulam in Mylapore

celebrated a special Sri Seetharama Saamraajyam Pattabhishekam Mahotsavam

to coincide with the consecration of the idol of Lord Ram at Ayodhya. On Jan 22,

there was special 49 kalasa thirumanjanam to Lord Ram at 9 AM followed by

Thiru Veethi purrapadu (procession) in the evening. On Jan 23, there was a Srimad

Ramayana Parayanam between 8 AM and 1130 AM and Sahasranama Archana to

Lord Rama in the evening.

On Jan 25 there will be Srimath Ramayana Parayanam at 8 AM followed by

Pattabhishekam Sargam Poorthi and theertha prasadam gohsti at 11 30 AM

There will be Bharatanatyam programs in the evening from Jan 23 to Jan 25.

R Raghavan, R Anantha Padmanabhan and R Mukundan, trustees had made

elaborate arrangements for the occasion.

The Mylapore unit of Bharatiya Junta Party (BJP) had organized a grand

celebration near Chitrakulam in which former Mayor of Chennai and Secretary of

BJP Karate Thyagarajan released a photo of Lord Ram Pattabhiskhekam.

Thyagarajan offered floral tributes to the photo of Lord Ram placed in a pandal

for public viewing. A large number of party men and public attended the event.

Residents and children of Shanthi Gulmohar Apartments in Mandaveli celebrated

the big day with veethi ula, bhajans, dressing up children with Ram Parivar.

Children performed two dance numbers on the life of Lord Rama and introduction

of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. They also performed scenes of

Hanuman meeting Seetha at Asoka Vanam and Hanuman’s plan to build Ram

Sethu to cross the ocean. It was followed by Seetha Kalyanam and

Pattabhishekam and singing of Varna Mala bhajans. Kids also spoke about Lord

Rama.

Pooja Prakash rendered a bhajan on Lord Ram and Varun, Meenakshi and Sri

Ranjitha sang songs on Lord Rama. The event was coordinated by Lalitha Mahesh,

Shri Ranjitha and Yamini Lalitha who also trained the children.