It was an ekadashi upavasam day. The thiruvaradhanams and teertha goshti at the
Ashramam had concluded early in the day and the ekadashi veda parayanam was in
progress. True to the spirit of the word, Swamy said “Today’s ekadashi is twice blessed, the
Perumal worshipped by Swamy Deshika will be here today”. [Note - upavAsam means upa
samIpE vAsam – perumAL pakkalilE iruththal – staying close to the Lord by mind, word,
deed, body and all related faculties].
Sri Paravakottai Swamy, bedecked in pavitra malais had seated himself on a wooden stool in
the sannidhi enjoying the vedaghosham. With eagerness and mandahasam he awaited the
arrival of our Parakala Swamy and Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana, whose abhigamanaijyaradhanam was to be performed in the Ashramam premises on that day. Swamy greatly
rejoiced when he learnt that our Acharyan, Srimadabhinava Vageesha Parakala Swamy
along with the entourage of Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana were just about to arrive.
A staggering personality that he was, took to his tridandam and made a beaming stride from
the sannidhi towards the mukha-dvaram in brisk paces. A huge veda-prabandha-goshti
assembled at the gates, the paricharakas were also ready with purnakumbham and
pallakku. Swamy refusing a stool, preferred to stand waiting for Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana.
With the flag bearing the royal-sampradaya insignia fluttering, the shveta-vahanam of Sri
Parakala matam arrived majestically at the turning and approached the Ashrama dvaram
gently. The air was filled with the reverberations of veda-prabandha-ghosham and
nadasvara vadyam. The vahanam stopped a little distance before the main entrance, the
doors opened and Sri Parakala Swamy got down hurriedly. With a hearty smile and folded
hands, he approached Sri Paravakottai Swamy and performed deerghadanda namaskarams
at his fe