Swami Pillailo:ka:cha:rya in His Mumookshuppadi says, that the people engaged in the service of Sriman Narayana, out of the sole interest of doing it, will not even sleep and that is exactly what the Srivaishnavas happened to experience at Sri Venakateshwara Lotus Temple in Virginia during the week long Adhyayana Uthsavam. The arrangements were all so well planned and the uthsavam started on the 26th of December, 2008 with the chanting of Thiruppalaandu, followed by Periya:zhwa:r Thirumozhi. It so happened by the divine wish of Peruma:l that the day came to a close with the saathumurai of the thirddecade of Periya:zhwa:r Thirumozhi were a:zhwa:rs imagines himself to be Sri Hanuman, having a conversation with Seetha Piratti at ashoka vanam and on that very day Sri Hanumath Jayanthi uthsavam started at our temple.

Starting from Saturday more Srivaishnavas joined the goshti and we continued with the remaining pasurams of Periya:zhwa:r Thirumozhi, followed by Thiruppa:vai, Na:chiya:r Thirumozhi and Peruma:l Thirumozhi etc. In the evening again Emperuma:n enjoyed a rhythmic chant of Thirumazhisai a:zhwa:rs Thiruchandha viruththam.

On Sunday the remaining portions of mudhal aayiram was completed and we started enjoying Thirumangai a:zhwa:rs excellent experiences singing about the temple towns through his Periya Thirumozhi. Monday's session was an exhaustive one, chanting the remaining Periya Thirumozhi and concluded with Thirukuruntantakam and Thiruneduntantakam. Starting on Tuesday the goshti members had a divine bliss chanting the Iyarpa section, starting with the four thiruvandhAdhis on that day, followed by Thiruviruttam, Thiruvasiriyam, Periya Thiruvandhadhi, Thiruvezhukootrirukkai and the Madals on Wednesday.

The Srivaishnavas of Virginia where blessed to begin their Year 2009, chanting the divine verses of Thivaimozhi by Sri Nammazhwaar in the early hours of Thursday. The Thiruvaimozhi thudakkam was done in the traditional way by chanting of vedham, upanishadhs, puranams, ithihasams etc. Emperuma:n got to enjoy the nectar of Thiruvaimozhi for the next three days and on Saturday night, the grand finale of the Adhyayana Uthsavam, "a:zhwa:r Thiruvadi Thozhudhal" was scheduled. The saptha kanda Krishna Yajurveda Parayanam was done by Sri Thirumalai Nallan Chakravarthy Vijayaraghavan Swa:mi for the next three days concluding on Azvar Thiruvadi thozuthal day.

A:zhwa:r took his royal seat opposite to Peruma:l along with Sri Ra:ma:nujar and Sri Manavala Maamunigal. Emperuma:n was glittering in Sri Vaikuntanathan alankaram, all eager to grant a seat to a:zhwa:r, in His divine abode. Chanting the last 20 pasuarams of Thiruvaimozhi, a:zhwa:r made His divine journey in thirukaithala sevai to the Lords lotus feet and surrendered Himself at the Lords service there. But we Srivaishnava are lame without a:zhwa:r and so requested Peruma:l to bless us back with a:zhwa:r. Sri AMR Kannan swa:mi did the request on The Srivaishnvavas behalf. Hearing our plea, the Lord who is all merciful gifted back Namma:zhwa:r and the Srivaishnava goshti rejoiced a:zhwa:rs return by chanting KanninunchiruthAmbu.

Sunday was alloted exclusively for Ra:ma:nuja Nootrandhadhi, the sacred work being considered "Prapanna Gayathri".

Fitting to the lines that all good things will have to come to an end, the grand Adhyayana Uthsavam at our temple came to an end on Sunday, by Peruma:l giving out bahumanams to Srivaishnava adhyapaka and other kainkaryaparas. It was such a divine experience, and was like enjoying adhyayana uthsavam in India. The uthsavam being celebrated in strict accordance to the traditional ways is something rare to see here and that is what makes SV Lotus Temple unique. All Srivaishnavas who attended the celebrations, had a common conclusion, that we all get together soon for the next uthsavam. After all, we are all here to enjoy the company of

Srivaishnavas, spending time talking the greatness of Sriman Narayana, as He has said in the Geetha, "bo:dhayanthah parasparam".

Sannidhi Archaka Sri Seethramacharyulu swa:mi held the function with utmost discipline and grace. Adding to the Thiruadhyayana Utsavam it is margasirsha month, thus making it even harder for himself since he has to start everything very early in the morning. The way he does thirumanjanam, alankaram, and the way he take care of Peruma:l without foregoing any sastric rules is outstanding. Thirumadaipalli kainkaryam(cooking) was taken care by archaka swa:mi himself along with sri Padhmanabhan swa:mi, Sri Venu Eyunni Swa:mi and Sri TNC Vijayaraghavan swa:mi. The dhivya prabhanda gosti was managed by Sri Madhusudan Ra:ma:nujam Swa:mi who came from Columbus Ohio and Sri TNC Narasimhan from NJ. A brief list of bagavatas who attended the utsavam is given below. Arulappadu to Azvars and Acharyas was chanted by Sri TNC Narasimhan Swa:mi both in Kanchipuram style and on the last day Thiruvallikeni Style.

All the out of station SriVaishnavas were accomodated by local Bagavatas Sri Venu Swa:mi, Sri Virginia Padhmanabhan swami and Sri T.Balaji Swami, Sri A.Narayanan swa:mi, and Sri Madhusudan Navale Sri Poondi Ra:ma:nujam Family at their residences. The local srivaishnavas also shuttled bagavatas from airport to home and return.

The temple management committee managed the overall function with the dhivyagya from Peruma:l Azvar Acharya and prakrutham a:charaya. The importance that the temple committee gives for the sampradayic activities is fantastic. With the grace from Peruma:l and a:zhwa:r Acharyas, the function was a grand success.

Srimathe ramyajamatru muniindraya mahatmane |
Sriranga vasine bhuyath nithyasrir nithya mangalam ||

Jai Srimannarayana !

A:zhwa:r Emperuma:na:r Jeeyar Thiruvadikale Saranam.