another question

[Guest guest]

Hello folks,

 

w.r.t the debate about eggs/food for pets, i would like to pose the

following.

 

tradition holds that brahmins are basically preists, performing various

rituals and mastering religious scriptures. However, in present days, things

have taken a different turn, i feel most brahmins no longer fall in the strict

definition of a brahmin. So my questions is:

 

Is there an identity crisis amongst brahmins?

 

How one would justify or explain the current occupational types such as

Engineer,

Doctor, Entrepreneur. etc. with respect to tradition.

 

If the one can give reason for changing the tradition w.r.t occupation,

can't the same hold good for his/her's change in eating habits (example, eggs,

chicken, ...)

 

 

thanks

-vke

[Guest guest]

By definition a brahmin is supposed to be a seeker of truth and pursue

knowledge and wisdom for that purpose - even the priesthood that nowadays has to

for practical reasons work for a job is truly no longer under that category.

By and large even in India a lot of the brahmin class indulge in non-veg food

and by profession have become more material minded, and many would even like to

start or be part of a business! However, whether here or in India, most are

satisfied perhaps that they come from a brahmin family and are proud of it, with

absolutely no desire to study scriptures or pursue a spiritual goal - and very

often believing that following some rituals now and then ( and sometimes when

it suits their convenience) entitles them to this category. In my opinion,

there are very few who pose this question to themselves. So by definition, most

of

us will not fit in this category - the same is true of all other divisions in

caste that were identified with a category of work./goals. Quite a few years

ago Cho had a lenghthy lengthy series I understand in Tuglak titled "eNGE

brahmaNaNn?" - I have read some of that an dis very thought provoking.

 

On a different note, in Jan of this year the TamilNadu CM announced the

renovation and maintenance of 40 historically and culturally important places

in TamilNadu with a donation of 10 lakhs each and many are temple cities or

towns, an dquite a few SriVaishnavite temples. The plan is quite

comprehensive-including the temple, temple tank, surrounding area, approach,

tourist

facilities and removal or relocation of small shops obstructing the roads etc.,

Also apparently, the CM has launched a massive effort in the past couple of

years to return wherever possible temple land and property to the respective

authorities sothat the daily pooja and other functions distcontinued in many for

lack of funds have restarted again. This is not to say all temples are well

funded or at the required level of funding.

 

The present Jeeyar seems to be more in grip of the pace of the changing views

and society that than his predecessors. He tries to convey to the common

crowd intellectual concepts of religion/philosophy with a down to earth view-

point and a sense of humour. But the caste system exits exists and

protocols are maintained for his visits - I think either individually or

jointly we all should make an effort to write or if possible talk to our

Jeeyar about this. The only way to break the caste issue in my opinion apart

from individual changes is that a clear directive or leadership from our

Jeetyar is

Jeeyar be given. Majority of the problem lies in the minds of the brahmin

community, who by the sheer fact taht they are born into a brahmin family,

think they are superior. Politically atleast in TN the brahmin community in

a few years will take the ss seat of SC?ST SC/ST few years before and if

they don't move out of TN also economically.

 

Such enormous chnages can't be expected in a shoert short span, but if the

present Jeeyar is willing to listen to these problems and takes an initiative

in the right direction, the brahmin community will rebel even against him

perhaps but will come around sooner or later. The question is someone has to

find out what His Holiness our Jeeyar ( and counterparts for Iyers

Sankaracharyas) and other religious heads think about this an dwhat they really

want to do

about it. Not all the alwaars are brahmins by birth - if they can be worshipped

for their exemplary devotion to Lord Narayana and be integrated as part of a

 

the Sri Vaishnavite culture, I am sure there is room in everybody's heart to

look at another as just another human being without the connotation of caste

attached. It may come naturally to some, readily to some and certainly

should not be difficult to surface if efforts are taken. I strongly suggest

conveying our opinions to His Holiness and wait for his suh suggestions.

 

It will be interesting to hear that the bifurcations as Iyer, Iyengar etc.,

is just a few decades old.

 

Kindly bear with me for the typos and ofcourse a long mail. I feel quite

strongly about this issue and was not about to pass an a opportunity to

express some of my opinions.

 

Vaidehi V. Raja

[Guest guest]

This is in support of your proposal to update the Jeeyar with the views

of a group of Vaishnavites resident abroad. Such an action will have

multiple positive effects in the minds of those who vote for inaction on

social reformation. Shri Ramanujacharya was certainly not in that

inaction group and ha has demonstrated the benefits of bold action.

venkat