Devotees gather for pontiff's birth centenary celebrations

Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, Mar 28 (UNI) Hundreds of disciples of His Holiness Srimad Thirukudanthai Andavan, the ninth pontiff of Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashram, congregated at the ashram from various parts of South India, to participate in the birth centenary celebrations of the Seer.

The week long celebrations paying homage to the Seer, who was the Peetathipathy (Head) of the ashram between 1963 and 1989, had culminated at the ashram premises.

The unique feature of the celebrations was the presence of famous Seers like the Jeer Swami of Parakala Mutt at Mysore, Sri Azhwar Emperumanar Jeer Swami of Azhwar Tirunagari, Sri Rangapriya Maha Desikan Swami of Bangalore, Sri Ranga Narayana Jeer Swami of Srirangam, Sri Vanamamalai Jeer Swami, Sri Emperumanar Jeer Swami of Thirukurungudi on the same podium today.

Temple honours from over 80 Vaishnavite temples across the country were adorned on the Brindavan, to mark the occasion.

His Holiness Srimushnam Andavan Swami, the present (11th) pontiff of the Ashram had announced that the ashram would give donations through Shankara Nethralaya, the famous eye hospital at Chennai, to provide free spectacles to 2,000 poor people every year.

To commemorate the celebrations, a 'Silver Crown' valued at Rs 2.5 lakh was presented to the present Seer by Ms Vasanthi Chari from Mumbai, which in turn would be offered to the Sri Balaji Temple at Dombivili near Mumbai.

UNI