Smt. Malathi Balaji in her own words …
EDITOR, WRITER, ARTIST
Adiyen was initiated with samashrayanam and bharanyasam by the divine grace of HH Srimad Srimushnam Andavan Swamigal. Since 2020, I am contributing articles and illustrative art for “AchArya Vruksham”, the monthly magazine of Coimbatore Andavan Ashramam. I am grateful for the encouragement given by Shri Keezhayur Paravastu Raghavachari Vijayaraghavan Swami.
A cost accountant by profession, I had a brief stint at TI Cycles of India, Ambattur and Reliance Township, Jamnagar after which I had taken to full time parenting of my young children. Away from hometown, I was inspired by the articles and yahoo threads of my maternal grand uncle, Shri Nrusimha Seva Rasikan Oppiliappan Koil Dr. Varadachari Sadagopan Swami, USA. All the good reads inspired me to explore into the deeper secrets of our tradition as revealed by the commentaries of our poorvAchAryas.
Art has been my hobby since childhood. AzhvArs arulicheyals provoked me to illustrate the wonderful leelAs of BhagavAn. I have attempted around 300 drawings in my pen name ‘narayani’, available in devamrutam.blogspot.com.
My forefathers hailed from the quaint town of Velamur, the seat of Samavedam once upon a time. My paternal great grandfather was Shri Chandogena Vidusha Naduvakkarai Velamur Desikacharyar Swami (Author of Samaveda Ahnikam). My maternal great grandfather Shri Ariyakudi Madabhusi Sowmyavaradan Swami was in Shri Sannidhi kainkaryam of Lord Prahlada Varadan at Ahobilam kshetram. Surely, my ancestry should be the reason I was drawn into this sublime cause of likhita kainkaryam for sampradAyam.
Adiyen is a student of Guru Smt. Seetha Saranathan, Chembur, Mumbai. Her audio lessons for divya prabandhams and desika stotrams have been uploaded in You tube for the benefit of devotees.
Contributions:
1. Achaarya Vruksham – E magazine, Andavan Ashramam, Covai
2. Baala Vaani – E magazine, SPVST SABHA, Chembur
3. samskaaram.com – Website for nityakarmas and samskaaras
4. devamrutam.blogspot.com – Website for concise meanings of divyaprabhandhams by five writers.
5. DEVAMRUTAM – You tube channel – Audio lessons by Smt. Seetha Saranthan – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_FYin7FkVOaUqOrUwO6vQ
NAMO NARAYANA.
Here below is the current list with links to her articles.