"Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya:"
First ever "Sreemad Bhagavatha Sapthaha Yagnam" in North America took place on July 7 to14, 2008 in Mithila-Chinmaya Mission, Tustin, California.
This Mahapurana Yajnam was conducted by Yajna Acharya Sri Mannadi Hari from Thiruvananthapuram. Other Yajna Pouraankiars were Shri. Pardhasaradhi Pillai, Shri Gopala Krishna Pillai and Shri Radhakrishna Pillai of New York.
Hari Guruji (Pundit Sri Harihara Iyer from Palakkad) was the priest for the Sapthaham.
This Sapthaham in Kilippattu was the first of its kind to be conducted in North America. Bhagavatham Parayanam was done Malayalam with explanation in English for seven days. Also many additional special poojas and discourses were conducted by eminent Acharyas from India and US.
Our dear member Shri. A.P. Sukumarji of Canada participated for parayanam of Bhagavatham for two days. Smt. Sindu Pillai was the another ardent dev
otee who participated in the Bhagavatha parayanam.Other speakers and special guest were Swami Ishwarananda of Chinmaya Mission, Tustin, Swami Sarvadevananda Ramakrishna Mission, Hollywood and Pundit Sivaramakrishnan Chief Priest, Sanathana Dharma Temple, Artesia.
It also was a nice satsung for some of our Guruvayur group members who came for Sapthaham. Shri. Udayabhanu Panickerji, Smt. Rajee Anandaji, Shri. Sukumarji, Shri.Kirit Shahji and myself atten
ded the sapthaham.
Our group member Smt. Padmini Puthanpurayilji was also virtually present as she was providing food for the function.
Personally, it was a bhakthi filled week for me reminding me of Guruvayoor in every way. It was touching to see the devotion of many bhakthas who had tears while listening to Krishnaavatharam etc.
Also a great get toegther - satsung - of our Guruvayur family members and many other great devotees! I will add a separate blog post to share the photos of the group members during sapthaham.
Another nice suprise was the beautifully designed Sudarshana Yanthrams with pooja "aavaahanam" at the sapthaham. These were specially manufactured on gold color plates with red/white letters and design (under Dr. Ramadas Pillai's specific
technical instructions on anodizing for permanent shine and color). The yanthrams are among the most perfect and powerful he had seen, as per Pundit Hari Guruji.World Guruvayur devotees forum likes to THANK all those worked very hard to make it a memorable and bhakthi filled occassion. May Guruvayoorappan's blessings be with you and your family for the great deed.
This Yagnam was sponsored by OHM & KHNA - Co-sponsored by Mithila-Chinmaya Mission.
- Sunil Menon, Jul 2008
Photo credits - Jay Menon, Priya Raguram, Udabhanu Panicker & Sunil
