8. Long Vijaya Yatra – Part I
(Kumbakonam to Rameswaram)
Swamigal undertook the journey to visit holy places, take dip in holy waters and grant audience to his devotees around south India. He thought of touring through the entire south of the country, go to Rameswavaram and there make the sankalpa ( resolve) to go to sacred Varanasi. It was a long and strenuous tour but it was supremely worthwhile cause of the opportunities it gave to people allover the country to meet our Swamigal and receive his blessings. He never used any of the modern modes of transport.
He used to walk or use a palanquin when necessary. Wherever Swamigal camped, lots of
devotees gathered and stayed at the camp as long as they could in order to derive the utmost advantage from the Holy presence. Besides the daily anushtana and puja, meeting the devotees, giving instructions relating to the conduct of affairs of the mutt and of the various religious and welfare organizations occupied Swamigal’s time each day. It took almost two decades to complete the Sethu-Ganga yatra. He started the journey on the Amavasya after Shivaratri of March 1919 from Kumbakkonam. His entourage for this tour included about 200 people including the officials of the mutt, pandits, vaidikas and servants along with animals such as elephants, horses, cows, etc. Swamigal started that morning by praying to Ganesha in the south side of the mutt, then paid his respects to the Brindavans of three Acharyas in the mutt. He later donated to Brahmins before starting the journey ( Yatra dhanam). The Chandramouleeswarar puja on the first day was held at the new building near the Bhagawathi padithurai at the banks of Cauveri. The building
was built by V.D.Swaminatha Iyer, son of Deputy Collector V. Doraiswamy Iyer. He performed Bikshavandanam and Pada puja for Acharya Swamigal. Similarly, residents around Kumbakonam invited Swamigal to their houses and offered Pada puja and Bikshavandanam to him.
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