998th RAMANUJACHARYA AVATAROTSAVAM COMMENCES IN TIRUPATI
TIRUPATI, APRIL 22: The three-day 998th Avatarotsavams of ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara of 11th century who pioneered various rituals in Sri Tirumala temple, Bhagavat Sri Ramanujacharya began on a religious note in Annamacharya Kalamandiram under the aegis of Alwar Divya Prabandha Project in Tirupati on Wednesday.
The programme commenced with Anugraha Bhashanam of Sri chinna Jiyar swami of Tirumala who elucidated the life of the great Acharya Purusha. He said Sri Ramanujacharya was born in 1017 AD in Sriperumbudur of Tamilnadu. “Bhagavat Sri Ramanujacharya was theologian, philosopher and scriptural exegete and one of the most important Acharyas of Sri Vaishnavism who successfully carried out the preachings and served the Lord with devotion and dedication in his 120long years of life span before he breathed his last in Sriragam of Tamilnadu in 1137AD.
He said Sri Ramanujacharya was also known as Udayavar, Ethirajar (Yatiraja), Emberumannar and Lakshmana Muni. As a befitting tribute to the great soul Ttd observes his Avatarotsavams every years across ten major cities in the states of AP, TN and Karnataka.
The junior pontiff of Tirumala also said, the great Acharya who is believed to be the incarnation of Adiseaha, dedicated his 120 long span of life in the service of Lord Venkateswara and became immortal in the celestial world.
Later renowned scholars Sri CR Rangarajan and Sri Chakravarthy Ranganathan narrated wonderful episodes in the sacred life the great Acharya Purusha in their discourse.
Meanwhile, the project in-charge officer Sri VR Chokkalingam presided over the occasion. He said Ttd has organised this fete in ten cities including Sriperumbudur, Kanchi, Madhurantakam, Melkote, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad apart from Tirupati from April14-24. In Tirupatithis religious fete began on Wednesday and conclude on Friday.
All Projects DyEO Smt Sharada and local devotees also took part in the inaugural ceremony of RAMANUJACHARYA AVATAROTSAVAM.
ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI