Srirangam has many celebrities and Babu mami is one. She is an icon for Sri(Stri)sampradhayam. Yes she strives to bring out the best in women taking care that humility is kept as the base. Mami makes sure that free-time is put to proper use. Usually a normal housewife is free when her husband goes off to work and children to their schools or colleges. This time is used in watching some sentimental melodrama on the T.V. Mami uses this time to teach stotras to the ladies. Starting at about 11.00 a.m. strigal stotra classes begin. This verbal mode of teaching and repeating the same line/lines twice(for sanskrit slokas) and thrice for Tamil prabhandham is known as the sandhai mode. If started during prime-time (in early childhood) these can be easily memorised but what if we find free time and a proper guru only in later years? We can definitely learn to read and chant correctly. Though mami has taught and still teaches divya sukthis, Swami Desikan’s stotras, panchasthavams etc it is Swami Desikan’s “Padhuka Sahasram” which has scaled great heights and this padhukasahasram parayana goshti is seen during important temple events and acharya tirunakshatrams. Highly vibrant ladies of varying ages wearing traditional 9 yard sarees in green attract attention by their sonorous rendering of Swami Desikan’s masterpiece of devotion. Curious to learn more about this group Sriman Sundararajan swami and adiyal met Ranganayaki (Babu) mami who talked about her mission and dedicated “vaachika kainkaryam”
Certain qualities are necessary in a leader and we found these in mami – punctuality, clarity of purpose, acknowledging the help and co-operation of members and giving due credits and appropriate rewards. She shows kindness and firmness at the same time. That is why the team works in unison and many voices together produce a single harmonious note. Mami takes her students (only women) on trips to divyadesams, to old age homes and even picnic spots organising games like sampradhaya quiz and the like. For the musically inclined she has ‘nama samkeerthanam’ and every year a woman who has inspired others and has made a difference in society is reconised and awarded (one year as an exception Singham Iyengar swami of Thadeearadhanai fame was chosen). The goshti does collective prayers for a sick person and extends financial help to needy families. The funds are contributed by the team. Though the yearly offering of Rs.120/- (Rs.10 p.m.) seems paltry it turns to a considerable amount when the members are more than 120. Again when there is a special cause members contribute (yatha-shathi) liberally. Mami ensures that her team gets appropriate sambhavanai and recognition. We present you with an interview with mami as also the rendering of some parts of Padhuka sahasram.There is a video of four shishyas talking about how they became part of the goshti. In addition we have a rare offering- three srikaryams talk about Padhuka sahasram. We pray to the divyadampathis and our poorvacharyas to bestow good health on mami to continue this “mahath kainkaryam” without interruption.
Writeup & Video : Vyjayanthi & Sundararajan
It is so inspiring to hear of Mami’s life of service and dedication! May Perumal and Thayar continue to bless her and her family and the community. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
Adiyal,
Geetha
Mami is very informative, down to earth and divine. I was quite inspired. Regards, Prema.
Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you for the feedback.
மாமி யின் முத்தான பேட்டி, மிக அருமை.இவர் எனக்கு மாமி முறை உறவாகவும் , சிறந்த ஆசானாகவும் இருக்கிறார். அந்தவகையில் மாமியால் பெருமை படுகிறேன் . வாழ்த்த வயதில்லை,எனவே வணங்குகிறேன் . தொடரட்டும் அவர்தம் பணி.
Thanks for the feedback.
அடியேன் ஒரு சிஷ்யையாக மாமியின் Inspiring personalities பார்த்து மிகவும் பெருமைப்பட்டேன்்மாமியின் ஒவ்வொரு குணமும் என்னை மேலும் அருகில் அழைத்துச் செல்கிறது .தீவினை மாற்றி உய்யும் வகை புரிவான் ஆச்சார்யன். என்பதற்கு ஏற்ப அடியோங்களுக்கு மாமியின் வாழ்க்கை பயணம்.
It is good to get a shishya feedback Smt.Hema.
நன்றி . ஒழிவில் காலமெல்லாம் உடனாய்மன்னி, வழுவியல் அடிமை செய்யவேண்டும் நாம், இப்படி ஆழ்வார்கள் பாசுரங்களை படித்து ,அதன் அழகில் ,அதன் ஆழ்ந்த பொருளை அனுபவிப்பது மட்டுமல்லாமல் சிஷ்யைகள் அனைவருக்கும் அவரவர் தகுதிக்கேற்ப பங்கேற்க வாய்ப்பளித்தது ஶ்ரீரங்கே சுகமாஸ்வ, என்பதை பாபு மாமியின் கைங்கர்யத்தால் அனுபவிக்கிறோம் . இதை இணையத்தில் வெளியிட்டு மாமியை பெருமைபடுத்தியதற்கு சிக்ஷ்யைகள் சார்பாக மற்றுமொரு முறை நன்றி தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன் . தற்போது அமெரிக்காவிலிருந்து நான்….
Well said Smt. Hema .
Thank you and your team for having taken all the initiatives to bring out the services to the society so sincerely rendered by my mother. She has been a true vaishnavite and a loving mother to us.I am always proud of her.
During my younger days I always wondered how she balanced both her social service and family she devoted the same degree of perfection on all these activities and never compromised . She is responsible for all the values we have today.She is the architect for all our perfection of this date. The interview has come out very well and is very natural .we thank you for all your efforts to link the same with the great occasions duly represented by all the Sri Mutts.Whenever there is an opportunity to teach the slogams and sathvizhayam my mother will never shy away. Recently when she visited our home at chennai for a week she taught a group of my friends few verses of Paduka Sahasram happily despite tight schedule.Once again Thank you . Chitra Rangarajan
It is encouraging to read your feedback.
How nice?? Wish there was someone who teaches arts, shlokas at a lesser fees in Bengaluru as well as in other places too…
Bangalore does have teachers who teach shlokas. Try to make a search
Babu Mami is a treasure to our Godha Goshti. My amma, Nirmala from Periyar Nagar is her student. I am fortunate to get Babu Mami’s Well wishes and Blessings during all the important milestones in my life, starting from my college education until the birth of my second daughter last month. I consider her to be my Guru as well. She is a born leader with a pleasing personality and positive energy that spreads in a few seconds of talking to her and boosts your confidence right away. The lessons learned from her on our Sampradayam, Slokams, kainkariyams and importantly the value system are all a blessing for us , that has to be passed on to the coming generations. With her blessings, I hope to at least do a little justice by keeping up the traditions and passing it on to my daughters, just like my amma does it me from her Guru. She is a true inspiration for all of us. Thanks you mami, for leading us forward in all aspects of life.
Thanks for the feedback.
Namaskaram
Ur mother staying in periyar nagar near jawahar nagar chennai?
Paadhukaiyin mel Aayirm pattisaitha
Desigaar Naamam Dinanthorum othi
Aranganai anudinamum Archithu
Nirchalamai Nal Manathudan
Gunanithiyai! kundraa kula nithiyai!Endrum
Kula guru Padham Naalum Panivom!
kavithai offering is nice.