Guest guest Posted April 22, 2004 Report Share Posted April 22, 2004 Respected learned members, i am not sure whether the question following falls within the scope of subject discussed by this group. In these modern days where even most essential acharam to be followed is being looked upon as something unnecessary/superstious by most people, can any learned member clarify how far is following acharam imp and is it correct to modify the same according to our convenience as we do mostly these days. I have heard people saying it is enough bakti is in the mind. these achara etc are external things not so imp. hence the question always dwells in my mind. Is acharam more imp than the main agenda ie puja/prayer? this question arises many a times specially with those residing in conjusted cities where people find it convenient to modify rules to convenience.does puja done without proper acharam fail to render the specified phalan? thnaks. rajee Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Your e-mail touches upon few issues. I will throw in my 2c. 1) AchAram "sarvAgamanAm aachaaram prathamam parikalpyate Achara prabhavo dharmaH dharmasya prabhuH achyutaH" (vishhNu sahasranAma, phala shruti) In all aagama-s Achara is mentioned as foremost and from Achara comes the ability to adhere to dharma. a) Hence, Acharam is very important. b) Our inability to follow it, should not make us look down upon it. Instead it should give us the humility that we are so utterly unfit and sharaNagati is our only hope. 2) About taking up a pUjA If you have a choice, do not take up any formal upAsana. It will be an obligatory karma to do and maintain. Instead you can focus on devotional works and mAnasa pUja. Also consult the elders you know. 3) karma phala a) It is best to do a phala tyAga and offer it back to God. That way you will not have to worry about it. b) While commenting on the names such as, karma phala pradA, iipsitArthapradAyinI, Sankara talks about puurva miimaska view on karma phala and refutes it. It is critical to understand that karma phala is not given by a jaDa, automatic mechanism. But it is done by iishvara. Hence, how karma phala is given is something depends only on iishavara. shaastra-s gives some guidelines. But it is very context sensitive. (see c) c) Refer to the verse mArgavartita verse in shivAnandalahari, which talks about kaNNapa nAyanar. http://escribe.com/religion/advaita/m8819.html There is verse which also talks about a nAyanmAr who worshipped Lord by throwing stones at them. Hence, it is correct to say that God sees the true intention and the heart. As another verse in shivAnandalaharI mentions, God as indweller of all and sarvajna, we need not even tell him anything. He knows even the most secretive things and all. 4) Bending the rules At each age, the conduct of many are influenced and based on the great sages of that time. According to Apatstamba, only they can say what is correct or wrong. Hence, any approximation that should be based on that. Probably contacting Sringeri or Kanchi maTha may clear things for you. -- Personally, If I have a choice I will not take anything formal. I wish I had this knowledge in the past. Also, not always we have that choice. Anything formal and obligatory, comes with a great responsibility. And associated sins and lost peace of mind due to errors and omissions. My 2c. Ravi , rajeswari vishnu <rajeswarivishnu> wrote: > Respected learned members, > i am not sure whether the question following falls within the scope of subject discussed by this group. > In these modern days where even most essential acharam to be followed is being looked upon as something unnecessary/superstious by most people, can any learned member clarify how far is following acharam imp and is it correct to modify the same according to our convenience as we do mostly these days. > I have heard people saying it is enough bakti is in the mind. these achara etc are external things not so imp. > hence the question always dwells in my mind. > Is acharam more imp than the main agenda ie puja/prayer? this question arises many a times specially with those residing in conjusted cities where people find it convenient to modify rules to convenience.does puja done without proper acharam fail to render the specified phalan? > thnaks. > rajee > > > > > > > > Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2004 Report Share Posted May 9, 2004 Sri Matre Namah. Sai Ram. I found the discussion very interesting. Shri Ganesh Prasad has narrated a very interesting story about Late Sri Vishweswariya. A similar story is told about late Sri Tanguturi Prakasham Pantulu, the great freedom fighter and CM of the composite Madras State. He too was banished or excommunicated because of overseas travel. Shri Balagangadhara Tilak came all the way from Mumbai/Pune to argue in his favor. And it is interesting to note that a relative of Shri Vishweswariah (like grandson) became the Peethathipathi of Hampi Virupaksha Vidyaranya Peetham, Hampi. He attained Mahasamadhi in 2000. I had the fortune of having His close association from 1998. Swamyji used to advise us to follow Dharma as much as possible but surrender to God beyond that. He too was a great Upasaka of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. "Achara prabhavo dharmaH dharmasya prabhuH achyutaH" Does it translate as: "Achara is governed by Dharma and Dharma is governed by Achyuta"? Achara probably means the path to be walked upon. The path to the Truth. And Truth is Dharma. Dharma means right, property, characteristic. Achyuta means Unfallen, undestroyed. The Permanent, Eternal. The ParaBrahman. So, if I understand correctly, Achara is the means to realise the Truth, the Truth of Advaita, Abheda. the Oneness with the Absolute. All social conducts etc., are relevant at the individual ego's level. Each society has its own conduct rules. To the extent that one follows, oen is accepted by the society and lives in relative peace. The aim of all Pujas is to worship the Personal God/Goddess so that we get their Divine qualities. It is like cleaning dirt with good water. The water gets contaminated and is thrown out. But the water supply is so large that we take it for granted. The impure water of course goes out and gets purified by Sun and comes back as pure water. Sun is therefore worshipped as direct God. Similarly Puja removes our negativities. So bhakti is important. Egoism has no place in bhakti. A poorly performed puja (in terms of achara) with great bhakti is better than a well done puja without bhakti. When in doubt take the advice of elders, learned priests and finally subit to God. I may be forgiven for the long post. And for retaining the previous threads so that the memory is refreshed. Swamy , Ganesh Prasad <bjganeshprasad> wrote: > Namaste, > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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