Dear Vikram swamy,

This is one thing many of us have experienced and feel bad about. Based on one of Sujatha-Rangarajan’s short stories in the ‘SriRanganththu Devathaigal’ series, I understand this kind of thing apparently happened even during the late 60s and 70s!

It is best for us to wait and hear from our Swamy on this.

In the meanwhile, let me share how I have been processing this in my own head:

1. It is Perumal’s thiru-ullam how He graces any person. It is not based on my ‘qualification’ or lack of it. We know that He can choose to grace even a completely ignorant potter and his pot also! He can deliver His special mercy to even the person who came to poison Him. So, if He chooses to grace some actress or VIP or people with money in someway, that is His sweet will; if it pleases Him let us be happy that He is happy.
2. Even if we consider ‘qualification’, what qualification do I have even to enter His temple? Suppose I pay Rs50 or 100 (or even 250) for the ticket and take a quick darshan, does that mean I have any more qualification than those standing in the ‘free’ queue? When we go to Thirupathi, we get the சலுகை of ஜீயர் சேவை. Is it because I have any more qualification than those great devotees who can not avail this சலுகை because of their social position? Acharyan anugramham upon me is the only explanation!
3. One time when I went for ‘Vishwaroopa-sevai’ (at SriRangam) the money I had was less than the ticket amount; yet He let me in! And I was so fortunate to stand in straight line behind the cow-horse-elephant!! I was straight in the line of glance of the Lord the moment the screen was opened! Now, do I have any special qualification for such an experince? absolutely nothing. Yet by acharyan’s anugraham I was given this experience!  Sometimes He blesses us with speacial darshan, sometimes He blesses us with prolonged longing to see Him. Both are bliss.

4. As far as possible, it is better for me to take the longer queue, because then I can chant His names and recite slokas with some sincerity. If I take the shorter queue, then I miss the opportunity to chant His names and recite slokas; I finish the darshan soon, leave the temple and mind is absorbed in other useless activities! Therefore the ‘free’ queue is the best choice.

5. The same Perumal gives me the opportunity to do detailed services at home during everyday worship; all because of acharya-anugraham. Compared to such great benediction bestowed upon us, what these VIPs are getting on rare occassions is very very small!

6. From practical point of view, it is better that actressess and VIPs are allowed for quicker darshan; otherwise everyone in the queue will be looking at them and not remembering the Lord or chanting His names. Secondly, these VIPs are coming to temple because they can avail a cut-short; if we ask them also to stand in the long queue they may not come. Do we really want that? We want as many people as possible to come and benefit from the mercy of our Perumal. So, let them all come and benefit. Like Thondar-adi-podi azhwars sings, let all of them go infront. Let us go behind our Thondar-adi-podi azhwar and receive His mercy.

adiyen dasan.

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha,

Namaskaram Swami’s,

Adiyen would like to add some nourishment to this thread conversations with Acharya ThiruvAdi Bhalam and Velukkudi Swami’s Aasirvadham from Swami’s Upanyasam “Thirukkolur Pen Pillai Vaarthai“, but the below writings taken from SriVaishnava blog, though content is same as what we have heard in Swami’s upanyasam

Vaarthai 61:
அவன் வேண்டாம் என்றேனோ அழ்வானைப் போலே!
avan vENdAm enREnO AzhvAnaip pOlE

[Azhvan here means Swami KoorathAzhvan]

Due to the trouble caused by the Chola king, Swami Ramanuja had left Srirangam for Thirunarayanapuram. Periya Nambigal had given up his life and KooraththAzhvan Swami lost his eyesight. After performing the final rites for Periya Nambigal Swami, Azhvan returned to Srirangam.
One time, unable to bear the separation from Swami Ramanuja, Azhvan was in deep despair. To console himself, he went to the Srirangam temple to have the darshan of Sri Ranganatha (NamPerumal).
However, due to Chola king’s anger against Swami Ramanuja, the Chola king had decreed that no one
who was associated with Ramanuja should be allowed inside the temple. Therefore, a gatekeeper at the temple stopped Azhvan from entering. Another gatekeeper said “Even though Azhvan is associated with Ramanuja, he is full of good qualities. Therefore, he can be allowed inside”, and told Azhvan that he could go in.
Azhvan replied “I should be allowed to see the Lord because of my relationship with my
acharya and not because I have good qualities. Seeing the Lord while breaking one’s connection with one’s acharya is not required”. Saying so, he refused to go inside the temple and went back.

Thirukkolur Ammal is saying “Did I show interest in the relationship to my acharya to the extent of saying NO to even Sriman Narayana, like Kooraththazhvan did?”

*********************

This is the history behind any devotees going to get Namperumal sevai, so devareer (a true devotee) under Acharya lotus feet not able to get dharshan of Ranganatha/NamPerumal is not a surprise, since the History repeats.

So adiyen will recommend devareer to follow:

Vaarthai 56:

இங்குபால் பொங்கும் என்றேனோ வடுகனம்பியைப் போலே!
ingu pAl pongum enREnO vaduganambiyaip pOlE

Vaduga Nambi (Andra Purna) was one of the close disciples of Swami Ramanuja. His faith in his acharya was unshakeable and superceded even bhagavad bhakti. This is known as Madhurakavi nishtai (also known as Charamopaya nishtai) – the acharya bhakti
shown by madhurakavi Azhvar toward Nammazhvar. It is said that he would call Mudhaliyandan and Kooraththazhvan as “iru karaiyar (சேற்றில் ஒரு கால், ஆற்றில் ஒரு கால்) meaning that one keeping their one leg in dirt and another leg in pure river)” – meaning that they believe in both their Acharya (ஆற்றில்) and the Lord (சேற்றில்). His take was that one should place their faith completely
in one’s acharya alone (as both the means and the end) and no one else.
One time while he was engaged in preparing milk for Ramanuja at Srirangam, Namperumal’s veedhi procession was occuring. As Namperumal came outside
Ramanuja’s mutt, everyone went out to have His darshan. Ramanuja was outside and noticing Vaduga Nambi’s absence called him to come outside. Vaduga Nambi refused saying that if he stepped out, then the milk he was preparing for Ramanuja would overheat, overflow and lose its flavor. Such was his acharya bhakti of Swami Vaduga Nambhi.

So when we already know that the SriRanganatha (NamPerumal) has such STAINED history from past to present, let’s be alert and stick to CLEAN history Swami Ramanujar’s ThuruvAdi.

This is also called as “Vaduga Nambhi Nishtai“, which is adiyen’s preference.

????

Adiyen Srinivasa (DhoddayAcharyar) Dasan

Velukkudi Sri Krishnan Swami Thiruvadigalaey Sharanam,

Acharyan Thiruvadigalaey Sharanam,

Thirukkolur Pen Pillai Ammal Ki Jai,

Vaduga Nambhi Swami Thiruvadigalaey Sharanam,

Ramanujan Yellarayum Aandananey,

Sri RangaNayaki Thayar Samedha Sri Ranganatha NamPerumal Ki Jai.

Adiyen Charamavathi Dasan ?