Chennai: Several spiritual and service organisations observed the Sahasrabdi (millennium) of the great Vaishnavaite saint Sri Ramnujar in a grand manner. Various events like spiritual exhibition in Sriperumbudur (his bir-th place in Kancheepuram district), cultural events and release of a commemorative stamp by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi marked the millennium year of the saint that concluded on Monday coinciding with his Thirunakshatram - Thiruvathurai.
Hailing Ramanujacharya as a great social reformer, Mr Modi said after releasing the stamp, that the central message of the saint’s life was inclusive society, religion and philosophy. “Ramanujacharya believed that whatever is, and whatever will be, is but an expression of God. He saw the manifestation of God in human beings, and human beings in God. He saw all devotees of God as equal,” he said.
The saint had rebelled against the caste distinction and hierarchy that had been integral to society and religion, as evidenced through his personal life and religious teachings and he realised the need to include the socially excluded, outcaste and the divyangs to make not only religion but also society, wholesome and complete.
Ramanuja saw God in humans:
In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said, “The central message of Sant Shri Ramanujacharya’s life was inclusive society, religion and philosophy” and that the saint “saw the manifestation of God in Human beings, and Human beings in God. He saw all devotees of God as equal.” “Sant Shri Ramanujacharya broke the settled prejudice of his times,” the PM said in another tweet.
A grand procession was taken out in Srirangam Ranganathar Swamy temple at Sri Ramanujar sannidhi. The 1,000th birth anniversary celebration of Sri Ramanujacharyara commenced in May last year.
A spiritual exhibition – Arpudha Ramanujar highlighting the life history of Bhagavad Ramanuja from Bhavishyath Accharyan to Paramapadam featured in 50 pavilions is being held at Sriperumbudur near here. The massive event commemorating the 1000th year of the Vaishnavaite Saint is being held under the aegis of the LIFCO Charities Trust, part of the LIFCO Publications at Hayagriva Vidhyashram School, Sriperumbudur.
The expo will conclude on May 5. The façade of the exhibition is modeled upon the Srirangam temple Rajagopuram with the 12 Alwars showering their blessings on us.
For its part, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department, spent about Rs 86.30 lakhs and renovated the Sri Adikesava Perumal and Bhashyakara Swamy temple in Sriperumbudur. In addition, the five-tier Rajagopuram and the sannidhis of Sri Ethiraj Nagavalli Thayar, Sri Venugopalaswamy, Sri Moolavar and Sri Garudalwar were renovated.
Further, about Rs 70.18 lakhs was spent to refurbish the entrance arches and improve the basic amenities.
