Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Sri Ahobila Mutt of KK to celebrate anniversaries of two Vaishnava gurus' that was published in Newsband

Sri Ahobila Mutt of KK to celebrate anniversaries of two Vaishnava gurus

By Dinesh Kamath

KOPARKHAIRANE: Sri Ahobila Mutt in Koparkhairane will celebrate the anniversaries of two Vaishnava gurus – Swami Vedanta Desikan and Srimath Adivan Sathkopa Yatheendra Mahadesikan.

These two gurus had spent their lives preaching about the Vaishnavite lifestyle. Their literatures and poetries based on Vaishnavite way of living are read even today. These literary works talk about goodness which has the highest value and also the importance of reposing faith in God. They also highlight the importance of generosity which is one of the highest virtue for any man to possess.

The Ahobila Mutt of KK is holding such event for the tenth time. The event will take place from November 10 to November 17 in Kalash Udayan in sector 11, Koparkhairane.

There will be vedic recitals, singing of spiritual verses and spiritual discourses. There will also be recitals of Vaishnava hymns in praise of lord Vishnu followed by an aarti and prasad distribution. The organizers are members of Lakshmi Nrisimha Swamy Kainkarya Sabha (SLNSKS) which comes under Sri Ahobila Mutt.

The celebration will also include the taking of a procession in Koperkhairane and Vashi. The idol of Swami Vedanta Desikan will feature in the procession. There will be many discourses on spirituality and people will be informed about the contributions of these two gurus whose anniversaries are being observed.

Ahobila Mutt (also called Ahobila Matam) is a Vadakalai Sri Vaishnava religious institution established 600 years ago at Ahobilam in India by Athivan Satakopa Svami (originally known as Srinivasacharya). Athivan Satakopa, a Vadakalai brahmin, who was a great grand disciple of Vedanta Desika and a sishya of Brahmatantra Swatantra Jiyar of Parakala Mutt, founded and established the Muth, based on the Pancharatra tradition.

As per legend, one of the nine Narasimhas of Ahobilam called Lord Malolan jumped into the hands of Srinivasacharya and ordered him to travel the length and breadth of the country. The current pontiff is the 46th Jeeyar Sri Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yateendra Mahadesikan. He succeeded the previous pontiff 45th Jeeyar Sri Satakopa Sri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikan who attained Acharyan Thiruvadi on 19 May 2013 following a prolonged illness.

There is Sri Ahobila Mutt at Lakshmi Narasimha Lakshmi Narayana Temple, Ahobila Mutt Marg, Chembur in Mumbai. The Ahobila Mutt temple in Chembur, established in 1968, is a preeminent religious center in this northern suburb of Mumbai.

Several other temples such as the Nine (Nava) Narasimha temples of Ahobilam, Veeraraghava temple in Tiruvallur and Valvil Rama temple in the outskirts of Kumbakonam (Pullaboothankudi), are administered by Ahobila Muth. The Mutt also has several branches across India. The Mutt at Koperkhairane is one of the branches.

The Ahobila Mutt has several religious and educational institutions in India which are:  Sri Ahobila Muth Sanskrit College (established in 1942), Sri Ahobila Muth Veda Patashala (established in 1942), Sri Ahobila Muth Oriental High School (established in 1952), Sri Ahobila Muth Center for Human Resource Development (established in 2002) and Sri Malolan College of Arts and Science, Madurantakam, (established in 2009).

Members of the Ahobila Mutt of Koparkhairane is expecting a huge number of devotees to attend this event and make it a grand success.