HH Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji returning from Singapore on 15th night, took to Visakhapatnam on 16th morning and reached Mandasa, a historic place in the Srikakulam district, on the Orissa border, by 16th night. There was a grand reception by thousands of devotees with lamps in their hands and camphor offered with a lot of devotion inviting Chinna jeeyar Swamiji who came here for the consecration of the historic Vasudeva Perumal Temple.
This temple flourished during 17th century and a great inspiration centre for many a devotee in those days. In the beginning of this century too it has been a great learning center for many scholars of great Vedic tradition. Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji along with Sri Gopalacharya Swamiji learnt Sribhashyam from Sriman Mandasa Ramanujacharya and their meeting and learning is a memorable event recorded by the scholars. In memory of this importance, this temple which was in the dilapidated state during the recent years, has been renovated and reconstructed by HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.
This temple was reconstructed exactly in the same way with same architecture and design getting the very similar material and skilled workers who were experts in that tradition, from the neighbouring state too. Sriman Visal Gupta is the chief co-ordinator and Sriman Ramana Sriman Satyanarayana along with many volunteers and devotees have organised the programme in a grand manner.
On 18th Swamiji performed Samasrayanams to about 100 seekers who were ardently waiting for Swamiji’s grace to take initiation. Reconstruction of the temple was mainly supported by Smt. Renu and Sriman Chary Tamirisa who came from Houston USA. The whole Prathishtta programme was conducted by the highly experienced scholars & experts of Veda and Agama of the JET University, in a most authentic way. The Prathishtta (consecration) programme was completed by about 11.30 AM after which public took the opportunity to have the delightful Darsan of the Lord Sri Vasudeva Swamy. Separate shrines for Sri Devi Bhudevi, Goda Krishna were also consecrated and initiated. The temple took to its rejuvenated glory reminding the past memoirs.
Nammalvar, Periyalwar, Thirumangai Alwar, Bhagavad Ramanuja and Manavala Maha Muni Sannidhis were also restored and it has been a great sight to see such a glorious sight with earful, heartful singing of glories of Lord, Acharyas and the Vedic rituals.
Amidst Vedic chants, Puranic chantings, Prabandha Songs, Alwar Acharya interactions with Lord and the devotees, it has been a wonderful celebration. Thousands of devotees from all over the district rushed to the place to witness this grand holy event. Thadiyaradhana was performed to all the devotees. Every body was happy with this grand event as it gave them a new hope, inner strength and divine support in the form this grand temple. HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji offered Mangalasasanams to one and all who co-operated in bringing this glory of the temple back onto the track.
HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji stressed upon the point of preserving the SAME tradition, architecture and system of the temple and said modernizing the temple with the undeveloped systems (existing today) and treating them according to our rational logic instead of understanding the underlying values and respecting them has become a fashion in many places especially after looking at the countries like USA. Modernizing temples and culture will only spoil the originality and thus instead of becoming a sanctified place, educational place, temples will only become commercial centers for public attraction and monetary benefits, which should not happen.
HH Sri Swamiji said, the modern youth is very much aware of the values, however, they need proper guidance of why and what for which one has to preserve the structures in their original form and learn the history from the traditional scripts, usages and customs which are in practice since ages.
HH offered Mangalasasnams to all and reached Saluru by midnight 1am where, about 7000+ devotees were waiting from Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji’s arrival and blessings !