like teardrops were just about to roll down. With the most attentive care, Sri Paravakottai
Swamy was personally enquiring the paricharakas on the arrangements that were needed
for the Aradhanam. As the thiruvaradhanam to Sri Lakshmi Hayagriva began, Sri
Paravakottai swAmy sat on a wooden stool close by watching with joy. When the
Hayavadana murthy was taken out and placed on the peetam swamy made repeated visits
going close to the dolasanam and getting a glimpse of Him. Since it was not shravanam
there was no thirumanjanam to the murthy. Once the hayavadana salagramam was taken
out of the samputam, Sri Paravakottai swamy almost broke in a reflex and went close to it.
Our Parakala Swamy showed all the murthis to Sri Paravakottai Swamy in close proximity.
During the snanasanam, he went close and enquired of Sri Parakala Swamy “Can milk be
presented for thirumanjanam?”. To this Sri Parakala Swamy said “Aradhanam here will be
conducted as per (Paravakottai) swAmy’s niyamanam. swAmy can take the liberty to
dictate”. A smiling Paravakottai Swamy got a wooden cup full of milk for thirumanjanam.
During the alankarasanam, Srimath Paravakottai swamy, with great difficulty went inside
and got a handful of kokku-tamarai flowers for Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana’s alankaram. I had
begun to wonder as to how determined his devotion should have been if he could withstand
such physical exhaustion even at that ripe an age.
As the Aradhanam concluded, Srishathari of Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana with pancha-mudra
was presented to SrImath Paravakottai Swamy. Even as the shathari returned back to its
swasthanam, it was still seen to be leaning towards Swamy. Then came the most
unexpected of moments. Sri Hayavadana chose to make Sri Paravakottai swAmy’s thirumudi
as his throne. Our Parakala Swamy presided the pradhana aradhana murthys on the
sahasradhara plate and placed the it on the crown of Sri Paravakottai swamy. A totally
overwhelmed Swamy was seen bowing down with his tridandam clasped in his folded hands
and receiving this priceless blessing with tears in his eyes. However, the superlative was yet
to come, as the Lord chose to seat himself directly on Swamy’s thirumudi. Our Parakala
Swamy presided the murthy of Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana directly on Sri Paravakottai Swamy’s
crown, a privilege that has been entitled so far to the parivrajaka Acharyas of Sri
Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakalaswamy matam only.
Finally, our Parakala swAmy placed the Padukas of the 33rd pattam Parakala Swamy on the
thirumudi of Sri Paravakottai Swamy. 33rd pattam Parakala Swamy is Sri Paravakottai
swAmy’s kalakshepa Acharya.
The emotional conversations that ensued between the two acharyas after these incidents
attested to their mutual presence in bhakti-rupapanna-parvam that has been told by the
great Acharyas of yore like Nammazhwar and Madhurakavi azhwar. These are indeed
beacon lights from where we should derive instructions on our conduct.
In many ways, this ocassion was the communion of lotus blooms – puNdarIka-dvayO:
samAgamam. puNdarIka itself means that lotus which has bloomed on a lean stalk in deep
waters and which is blossomed by the warm but gentle hand like rays of the Sun.
E-37