July 7th: Guru Pournami at Badarinath

This day being Aashaaddha Pournami, otherwise called Guru Pournami, the Teacher's day for Vedic people. Goshtti began at 7.30 AM. All the devotees eagerly waited for Swamiji's arrival. After Aradhana and Thirttha Goshtti Homams began and HH Sri Swamiji, circumambulating the Yaga Sala, went for Japam. All the devotees followed. With HH initiation, Japam began early. While Japam is going on, Tharpanas and Pushparchana were also done by many other devotees under the guidance of JET Priests.

Then HH Sri Swamiji along with about 4000 devotees walked from Ashtakshari Kshethram to Mana Village, about 4 Km, chanting the names of God, remembering the great deeds of our Gurus.

Every one reached Vyasa Guha, the ancient cave where Great Sage Veda Vyasa resided 6000 years ago according to our history. HH Sri Swamiji went inside the cave, offered obeisences to sage Veda Vyasa who presented to this world the great Vedic literature in the form of 36 Puranas. He also divided the whole Vedic mass into four major divisions as Rug, Yajus, Sama and Adharva Vedas, in all 1131 branches. HH gave a discourse on the greatness of Vedic knowledge presented to the world by sage Veda Vyasa. HH said Veda Vyasa is the seer of past, present and the future. He used to teach the Vedic wisdom to hundreds of disciples. Thus he prepared hundreds and thousands of Vedic teachers. So Vyasa is the teacher of teachers. HH also said that our history says in those days sage Veda Vyasa organised congregations with great sages and scholars who followed different systems of Vedic tradition and made every body authentically agree upon many common principles. He thus composed 545 Principles in total called "Bramha Suthras" as the essence of the Vedic Philosophy. HH made everyone recite the first and last Principles of the Bramha Suthras. HH revealed many more things about the greatness of sage Veda Vyasa and his vast contribution to the welfare of humanity.

After that, Sriman Kandadai Ramanujacharya Swami spoke about the greatness of sage Veda Vyasa. HH Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji offered Mangalasasanams to all the devotees on this auspicious occasion. It is a great fortune to be at Badari in the presence of Acharya on this auspicious day of Gurupurnima and also celebrate this great day in the place where sage Veda Vyasa dwelled. Devotees felt the fortune and experienced the divinity.

From there, all the devotees followed HH Sri Swamiji to Saraswati River and Bheem Phul. HH explained about the importance of that place and how Pandavas travelled through this path towards "Swargam" while they left their mortal bodies one after another on this way.

Its a great wonder to see many old people too, who came from far away places to take part in this Ashtakshari Maha Krathu also followed HH Sri Swamiji to Vyasa Guha to have this divine experience.

After that HH Sri Swamiji returned to Ashtakshari Kshethram to take part in the Purnahuthi of the day's Homams. This Navahnika Pancha Kundathmaka Ashtakshari Maha Krathu on the eve of Jeeyar Sathabdi, went on well into 6th day. HH distributed Prasadam to the Ubhayadars and also to the devotees.

By this time many a devotee went to Paramarttha Lok to take prasadam, where actually everyday evening discourses were being conducted. All the devotees requested HH Sri Swamiji to bless them with the Pada Puja on this auspicious day. Finally HH nodded and there is no bound to the happiness of the organisers and the devotees.

This day, Thadiyaradhana was conducted at Paramarttha Lok complex only. HH Sri Swamiji came to Paramarttha Lok venue where devotees were already waiting to have the blessings of HH Sri Swamiji.

After Swamiji's arrival, Local Temple priests Samaj members, about 100+ were ready to honour HH Sri Swamiji on the occasion of Guru Purnima. They honoured HH with a wonderful citation and other honours. Then, HH Sri Swamiji gave Mangalasasanams to all the Priests of the local Temples Samaj. HH blessed each and every one personally with Prasadams and a momento. HH appealed to all the members of the Samaj to send their children in the ages of 7 - 12 to study Vedic literature in the schools of JIVA at Hyderabad and HH also explained about the facilities being provided by the school to those students. HH said that it is our responsibility to protect our Dharma and everyone have a role to play in promoting and practicing it. We should not make our children just to study for the sake of earning, as what most of the educational institutions today are doing, but, we should make children study our scriptures, follow our wonderful traditions and make a mark in serving the society for its welfare and prosperity towards higher purpose as blessed by our great sages and Acharyas.

As per the request of all the devotees and HH Ahobila Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji, HH accepted for the Pada Puja. Vedic scholars and priests along with all the devotees performed the grand Pada Puja to HH Sri Swamiji. It was a great sight at Badarinath, on this auspicious occasion of Gurupurnima, that several thousands of devotees, all the members, Veda Agama Scholars along with HH Ahobila Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji, Priests etc., collectively performed Pada puja to HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji with great devotion and dedication. HH offered Mangalasasanams to all the devotees. Sriman Kandadai Ramanujacharya Swami graced about the greatness of Acharya and how Acharya HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji's divine grace is spreading the Vedic wisdom all over the world. Sripada Thirttham was given to all the devotees. HH graced all the 3000+ devotees who were present, with holy Akshathas while HH Ahobila Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji and Kandadai Ramanujacharya Swami distributed Prasadam to all the devotees. The whole programme went on in a highly disciplined way.

Thousands of devotees thronged to have Darsan of HH Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji. Their hearts soaked with devotion and dedication were filled with divine nectar of Acharya's grace.