131st Jayanti Celebrations of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi on 23rd December 2010.
The Jayanti celebrations of Bhagavan have always been occasions for his devotees to gather at their Master’s Feet and pay homage to him. This year too, devotees in their hundreds undertook the pilgrimage to the Ashram which wore a festive look from the preceding day. The after-dinner programme was a music performance by Ramanajali of Bangalore.
Devotees eagerly look forward to the early morning Tamil Parayana on Jayanti day. The sublime atmosphere created by a cool January dawn is a perfect setting for the chanting of Ramana Sadguru, that eternal master piece written by Satyamangalam Venkatarama Iyer. The chanting was done with great fervour. It was followed by the chanting of Chatvarimsat (Forty Verses in Praise of Sri Ramana) and milk offering to Bhagavan. Mahanyasa Rudrabhishekam and elaborate puja followed. The arati was the grand finale. The nagaswaram music by T. Pitchandi and Kattimedu brothers’ party throughout the celebrations added to the occasion.
Though feeding of the poor is a daily routine at the Ashram, on Jayanti day, Narayana Seva has a unique character. A large pandal was erected at the Kurangu Thottam at the western end of the Ashram and the sadhus were fed with specially cooked rice and sweets. Devotees were also treated to special lunch.
