Funds for renovation
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The Seva Swamy Memorial Foundation, along with Seva Trust, celebrates 40 years of mani mandapam in a grand manner.
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Srinivasa Raghavachariar.
It was on June 11, on Vaikasi Uthiradam in 1969, Sri Arasanipalai Nallur Seva Srinivasa Raghavachariar Swamy popularly known as Sri Seva Swamy founded the Mani Mandapam in Sri Damodara Perumal Sannidhi Street, Villivakkam, Chennai. U. Rajagopala Iyen
gar, a devotee in the area had donated a place for the purpose.
Sri Seva Swamy had enshrined Sri Lakshmi Hayagrivar, Sri Andal, Sri Nammazhwar, Sri Ramanujar and Swami Desikan. He called the place ‘Gnanapanchayathanam’ meaning the place for ‘ultimate knowledge.’ Later, a separate sannidhi for Goddess Ananda Lakshmi was constructed. The Seva Swamy Memorial Foundation, along with Seva Trust, will celebrate 40 years of mani mandapam by organising a series of special programmes.
Divya Desa Mangalasasana utsavams (Sep. 2-29) — to be held for 28 days (beginning from Avani Sravanam (Sri Hayagriva Jayanti – Sep 2) to Purattasi Sravanam (Sri Desika Jayanti – Sep 29) will be conducted during the Tamil months, Avani-Purattasi. Periya Perumal utsavam (Srirangam), Devaperumal utsavam (kanchipuram), Tirumalai utsavam (tirupati) and Ayindhai utsavam (tiruvaheendrapuram) will be performed on subsequent days. Special aradhana will be performed on the day, followed by mass chanting of Desika stotras for that particular Divya Desam. Divya kshetra utsavam (based on Swami Desika’s works) will be performed for Divyakshetra deities and after the utsavam for deities such as Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Neeladevi, Sudarsanar, azhwars and acharyas such as Alawandar and Nadamunigal. The celebration will go on till the Tamil month, Purattasi, when a 10-day utsavam for swami Desikan will begin. As it coincides with navaratri, there will be music programmes, stotra competition, upanyasams on swami Desikan, etc.
Release of publications
The trust will release special edition of Sri Desika Seva (souvenir). Mani Mandapam Mangalasasana Kramam, a compilation of how swami Desika’s Tirunakshatram is performed in Mani Mandapam, will be released on swami Desikan sattrumurai day. Also swami Desikan’s ‘Abheetistavam,’ with commentary in different languages, will be released on the day. To mark the completion of 40 years, renovation work is being done at mani mandapam and funds for the same is expected.
Contributions may be sent to Seva Swamy Memorial Foundation, No. 102, Lakshmipuram II Street, Villivakkam, Chennai- 600 049. For further details call 2618 0481.
His contributions
A teacher by profession, Sri Seva Swamy was working in a reputed educational institution in Chennai as Sanskrit teacher. Simultaneously, he concentrated on literary works such as Sri Desika Seva monthly magazine and Sri Desika Darsana Diary, an almanac. He also authored several literary works, notable among them being 1008 slokas on Lord Srinivasa, 1000 slokas on Lord Varadaraja. He won several awards including the Rashtrapathi Award in 1992 (President’s honour for contribution to Indian literature). Several associations have honoured him during his lifetime. He passed away in 2001.
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