The Gospel of Jesus Christ from Srilakshmi Narayana Swamy Temple
“You are the light of the world – Mt 5:14 (NIV)”
Paravasthu Surya Narayana Rao is a descendant of the well-known and famous 17th century Paravasthu koormaya swamigal of Andhra Pradesh. From a very early age he learnt Sanskrit and Telugu languages and completed his education from Uthkalam University. After having mastered various Hindu religious and historical books like Upanishads, Veda studies, Sama Veda, Thandiya maha pirahamnam, Devi bhagvadam, Purayutharunyago Upanishad, Manushpuruthi, Rig Veda, Sampoorna Mahabharatha, Bhagavath Gita, Vishnu Puranam, Arya Pulamai, he was ordained in 1965 according to the 3rd manthra of the 3rd chapter of the Yajir veda as the chief archakar (Priest) and head of the mutt of Srilakshmi Narayanaswami temple situated in Jalandira Narayanapuram of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. Whenever the devotees, even elderly people fell at his feet, performed patha pooja (worship of feet) and requested him to bless them, he used to wonder whether he himself possessed the worthiness and holiness to bless them. Although for all outward appearances he was in the position of a
S. THAYAPPAN 97 guru honoured (worshipped) by many, yet inwardly he felt ashamed that he was impure without self-control, unable to curb the desires of the flesh and involved in many bad habits like smoking, drinking and womanizing. He had fully committed himself to doing divine work, all through the day performing abishekam, archanas and worship to idols and was in the exalted position of expounding the meaning, morals and virtues of the vedas, slokas and Upanishads to others, yet he himself committed many sins and lacked holiness. This being his condition how could he bless others? He was deeply anguished since, in spite of performing yagnas and saying gayathri japam, there was no change in his life; in his thoughts, desires, deed and there was no purity or holiness in him.