Re:our idols, Ramanuja-Gandhi

[Guest guest]

Krish said:

>>Kara-gray Vasathe Lakshmi! Kara-madhye Saraswathi !

Kara-moo-lay sthi-the Gowri ! Prabhath-ay Kar-dharsanam.

The three goddesses ar the consorts to the tri-moorthys.<<

 

We used to say a similar sloka, but Kara moo-lay tu Govindah instead of

Gowri.

>>>I do hope Mani posts the main lectures of Ramanuja. Till now we

have learnt his rebellion against castes, but that was known

by all Vaishanvites, who mostly ignored it. So did the historians

who felt Ghandhi was the first to point it out.<<<

I agree. Ramanuja's (and Purvacharyas) caste equality theme is more or less

ignored by all including Iyengars. It is Gandhi who comes to mind readily to

everyone. Perhaps the reason for this is the aspect of equality

emphasized.emphasis.

Ramanuja emphasized equality of Moksha (Nivritti Margha). Gandhi emphasized

social, political and economic equalities.

 

I elaborate this here:

 

I think Ramanujacharya was not against the basic caste system or

chaturvarnya. After all, that is a natural phenomenon. Mother Nature likes

variety. All are not created equal. For normal functioning of the world we

need all the castes. Even among the siblings we can see caste system

operating.

 

What Ramanuja tried to eliminate was the preference or denial of Mokasha

based on caste. He believed rightly that a prapanna is a prapanna

irrespective of the caste. Only prerequisite here is true devotional

surrender to God, which Krishna has clearly stated in the Gita. This is a

remarkable achievement of Ramanuja considering the conditions that prevailed

in India during Ramanuja's time.

 

If Ramanuja did not get the same milage on this as Gandhi or Ambedkar is

because they fought mostly in the political arena and not so much in the

spiritual arena.

 

perhaps a good anology for this is of Blacks, American Indians and other

people who were converted to Christianity by Europeans. As per Christian

doctrine, these people were equal in their god's eyes and were all saved as

good as the White Christian who converted them. So there was no difference

there. However they were enslaved, subjugated and betrayed by White men. In

other words saved by their (White Christian's) God and betrayed by the White

people.

 

Converting all people irrespective of race or previous religion to

Christianity is anologous to What Ramanujacharya preached and practised.

 

Finally, the White man, (due to pressure from within and from out side his

race) was forced to bring about equality among all races at the human realm

as well. Here we are talking about social and political equality (economic

equality is yet to come). This is where the deeds of Gandhi and Ambedkar

come.

 

Whom does the world remember here? Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Martin Luther

King and sort. Certainly not the Padris who converted all folks to

Christianity! Likewise, in the Indian road, Gandhi, Ambedkar, and that sort

of people are more popular than Ramanuja, and his sort of mahatmas.

 

In short Ramanuja was more concerned about religious (spiritual) equality,

whereas Gandhi and Ambedkar were more concerned about political, social and

economical equality. That's the real difference between Ramanuja and Gandhi.

 

K. Sreekrishna