I am writing here what comes to my mind when I think of Srimad Azhagiyasingar who recently left for his eternal abode. Forgive me for the length of the article, its coarseness and for any other error.
I had the great fortune of having both Samashrayanam & Bharasamarpanam performed by HH. Both were done on Tamil New Years day (Chithirai Vardapirappu) incidentally.
On the day I had my Prapatti done, I was the lone person seeking his blessings. Me and my father had gone the previous day to request for the proceedings to be done. He had readily accepted. But the next day, he was feeling very tired as informed by his attendants. I persisted, and finally he saw me and accepted.
I am very much into the mundane world and a very normal human being. But for the procedures, I had shaved completely not only my face, but had taken a small portion on the forehead, plus on the sides as well. You could say this was a cross between a regular tuft and a modern day haircut. He immediately noticed it, and was very happy about it. I guess this was the reason he consented to have the procedures done, though he might have preferred to take some rest (he could very well have said, you are still young, you could have it done later or I am not feeling well or only you have come, I can do it if a group of people request etc.etc.)
The procedure started, and my parents were standing beside me. It was April, as has already been mentioned. I sweat profusely, even without doing any activity. That day since HH was feeling very feeble, I had to bend down to listen to him, to repeat what he was saying.
As usual I started dripping. HH noticed it again, and immediately called for someone to turn on the fans/cooler. He was not only taking care of my eternal wellbeing, he was also concerned about such minuscule things.
I am very attached to the Lord on the Hasthigiri hills- Lord Varadaraja. I have heard that Sri Kozhiyalam Swami, the preceptor to my maternal great-grandfather Sri Uttamur Swamy used to take the disciple very close to the Lord, and have the proceedings of Bharanyasam conducted. I have always desired to do the same, though I understand these days it would be highly impossible. Hence I desired that atleast these proceedings happen in Kanchipuram, so the proximity would bring some kind of a solace.
Moreover HH himself might have said, with Lord Narasimha here, why would one go anywhere else? (though he himself was very much attached to Lord Varadaraja..I have seen him worship our lord during each one of the Brahmotsavams year after year without giving it a miss). He did not attend that particular year, maybe not the entire 10 days of festivities, because of his health. So I had to pacify myself with the nearest possible venue/time.
***Please do not misunderstand me - I am not considering Sri Malolan any inferior but it is only my attachment to Varadan that made me think so. ***
When I was repeating what he was telling, it so happened that I kept getting a particular word wrong, repeatedly, and he kept correcting me, with utmost patience, each time.
Once the procedures were getting wrapped up, the famous verse from Nyasa Vimsathi, by Swami Desikan was recited. In his mercy he split the verse into small words for my understanding. I know the verse by-heart and recite it daily, but could not comprehend in the beginning that this was what was being told by him, since he was splitting it word by word.
Once it dawned on me this was the verse, I completed it by myself. And he was smiling gleefully and said "neeye sollittiya" - you have told it yourself.
He appreciated even these small things. Again and again he kept blessing me all the while smiling. There are much learned scholars and more deserving people, but he paid attention to event the smallest things one could spot.
This is another time when we had gone to seek his blessings. He had just had a burning charcoal piece burn his feet. He was feeling the pain of it, and showed it to all who had assembled, but still was smiling and blessing everyone.
Each time I have gone to seek his blessings, if it was not too crowded, he would enquire about me. I would tell him I was Sri Uttamur Swamis great grandson, and he would respond with a smile, why didnt you have your initiation done by him? Why did you come to me?
I have never told him an answer, just smiled back at him everytime.
We have also heard from so many priests at many temples, how they have all equally enjoyed the magnanimity of HH. I have also seen a Sathadha SriVaishnava, an utmost devotee of the Lord get HH's blessings and have Samasrayanam done by him. I have been a beneficiary of his kindness to all and sundry, by being on the bus of the Mutt from Kanchi bus stand to the temple (to pick up all the Goshti members once they completed the recital near bus stand and drop them near temple to await the Lord's arrival).
We have seen so many times, how he would slightly tilt his head and look at the Lord inside the Silver/Golden Mandapam and enjoy the beauty. We have seen so many times how during the daily routines, while doing Abhigamanam, he would look through the mirror to see how the Alankaram for Malolan has come. We have seen so many times how every bunch of flower, whatever colour they maybe of, however long the strand maybe, were very ably used up by him to decorate Malolan without any asymmetry or slightest discord or skew. We have seen how the elephant Malolan would literally jump with joy when it sensed his presence. We have seen how attached he was to the elephant. We have also seen how happy he was to look at bright young Veda students, how he appreciated them, literally patting their cheeks like a loving father would do to his son. We have also seen and heard from people how today Ahobilam is verily accessible, all without doubt the unstinting work and initiation of his HH.
Well, things have to move on, and hence he has moved on to a different realm.
I am eternally thankful to him and not able to do anything else, keep reciting his Thaniyan. Just as our Vaishnava philosophy says..one cannot repay the Master/Preceptor for the benign favor done to us through the initiation.
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivann Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatinda Mahadesikaya Namaha
