If ‘Weekly Paasuram Quest’ Is Madness, So Be It
Dear Fellow-Bhagavathas,
The Swami Desikan Vaarshika Uthsvam got over with a grand Saatrumurai on September 26 and the seven-day Pavithra Uthsavam has already started here. The Poornaahuthi will be held on October 5.
Hectic days these are, but that is not the sole reason for the topic of this Note as it seeks to address an imperative issue.
Heard the other day that someone was chiding his family members for being crazy about the svdd.com programmes, especially, the Weekly Paasuram Quest. I presume that it is about being awake at odd midnight hours going into every Sunday, gazing at the computer with a Divya Prabandham book for reference and scrambling to figure out ‘the’ Paasuram.
It could be either a casual, ‘not-meaning-much’ kind of a mockery of the state of affairs at home made in a lighter vein or an expression of some concern and disapproval.
While there may not exist a real need to be too introspective about a one-off incident, there is also the possibility of it being a sample from a bigger lot. If it happens to be latter, we would like to consider other options like putting the uploading time of a new Paasuram back by a few hours — from the present 12 midnight to 6 a.m.
Participants may soon be required to indicate their preference — whether to stick with the midnight upload or switch to the morning option.
Towards a new challenge
With yesterday’s Quest, we have drawn to the close of this quarter, the Cumulative Results of which will be put up in due course.
You will agree that the divine journey for over 125 weeks has been a delightful one too. Any learning process needs to be evolutionary and should elevate the participants at the turn of every stage. We started the programme with generally well-known Paasurams, moved on to not-so-familiar ones, more difficult ones and then now to the pattern of masked Divyadesam.
Now it is time for the next stage and a new challenge. Starting with October, we propose to introduce the pattern of double/multiple masking as suitable (more than one masking and corresponding hints. Hope you all will relish the challenge and thrill in store for the coming months. So, brace yourselves up for it!
The following feedback recently received from Malathi, Chennai, is an index of the popularity of the Quest and its effect on the participants:
“I welcome the challenging task of finding out Paasurams as in the case of Weekly Paasuram Quest – 125 of September 23. I was awe-inspired by the wordings. I was overwhelmed after spotting the Pasuram with great effort. Thank you.”
The sense of relief, satisfaction and pride... Surely, it is directly proportional to the effort put in.
Would like to conclude with a quote of Kulasekhara Azhwar on madness. ... என் அத்தன் அச்சன் அரங்கனுக்கு அடியார்களாகி, அவனுக்கே பித்தராமவர் பித்தரல்லர்கள்; மற்றையார் முற்றும் பித்தரே. (Perumal Thirumozhi 2-9)
We can draw a parallel as well as solace from what the Azhwar has to say. So, being crazy about the Lord and matters related to Him is not something to be ashamed of; on the contrary it is a matter of pride. Let us be reassured about that. At the same time, let there be some method to this madness (in case it is, as some might choose to call it), and avoid possible inconveniences to others!
Meet you in the next Note.
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