Prof Shiv Sankar's Reply

[Guest guest]

Prof. Sivasankar raised some important points for

us to consider. I find Sri. Sampath Rengi's answers

to him quite convincing. I appreciate Smt. Kanaka's related

post as well. I hope many in the group will use Jagan's

sample letters and register their protest.

 

 

-- P. Dileepan

[Guest guest]

I would like to appreciate Sri Jagannath for his letter and want to make a few

comments as a reply to Prof Shivsankar's letter. It was indeed a very restraint

letter formatted by Sri Jagannath, as he had omitted to mention the two

pontiff's (they are respectful) in his letter respecting the sentiments of

people from other faiths.

 

 

A large number of people visit USA as it is considerd the dream land of many if

not heaven for some. But as they are in US , US has its own civil Laws and

rules in place for every person in US and the same is applied for the visitors

also as the law protects the citizens and visitors to the same extent. Just

because many outsiders than the locals visit here to the places of attraction

like, Statue of Liberty, and other such, they donot change their local laws in

such places to please the outnumbering visitors nor they change the costumes of

their most respected symbol. The argument that one should change their costume

of the deity to the whims and fancies of visitors is ignorance (unless

otherwise approved by the poovaahcaaryaaLS) and cannot find support from our

established paths of mutts that follow the fundamental philosophies. Agamaas

are to be strictly followed and there is no exemption except to few cases where

there has been a customary practice for some centuries now and is in a way

nodded by our achaaryaaLS. We go by what our achaaryaaLs (Sri vaishnvaa

achaaryaaLS) say in these matters.

 

 

Before quoting three such cases, I want to make a note that Sri

Sudarsanam iyengaar is a very well known scholar in SriVaishnavaa works, and is

considered one of the strong pillars of Srivaishnavam. Before writing about

this incident he would have thoroughly enquired about the practices of these

alankaarams and he has also mentioned the same in his letter as such. Sri

Nrsimhapriya is also one of the holiest magazines for us. It is not like the

olden days of colonial government where in they (the British and French) had a

heavy influence from the orthodox churches which were also called ministries,

that we are trying to imitate from our scholars and religious leaders.

(Surprisingly even the colonial governors never interuppted with our practices

of worship). We have come a long way now and refined ourslevs from the

cluctches of clonial rule and we want to respect every other religions

sentmients and expect that they also reciprocate the same to us.

 

The three incidents are

 

1. Srimushnam

 

Every year, the purappaadu of the Perumal passes thorugh a mosque and prayers

are offered to the perumal from the mosque. TN GOVT is conducting this as unity

symbol festival every year. This practice is believed to be in place for

centuries since mogul's rule.

 

2. ThiruK KaNNapuram

 

This Lord is also appearing as mummorrthis here. On the brahmOtsavam 7th day,

the deity is costumed as Sri Maha vishnu in "sthuthi kaaththaruLum" state, and

in the same night he is dressed in the middle of the lotus flower using the

"tharba naaLangaL" in the srushti devaa pose as Brahmaa, and morning as Lord

shivas for less than 1 muhoortha naazhi ie less than 3 hours and 45 minutes.

This is not to be seen in any other of the 108 DD as this place is unique

(please read the previous posts on pancha krishna arranyam kshEthrams).

(as per thala puraaNam)

 

3. Thiru Arangam

When they invaded the Koil, the emperor's (paadhshaa) daughter fell in love

with the archamoorthy. When the vigraham was restored the lady also followed

with HIM, and the Lord blessed her for her devotion it seems. Adoring her

resolve for perumaal srivaishnavaas named her as "thulakkachi naachiyaar" and

remebering this incident there is a festival in maargazi eKaadEsi that the Lord

wears saaram or lungi and vasthram to please the naachiyaar (as per

thalapuraaNam). Please note that she is not any visitor but the very emperor's

daughter who invaded. The Lord would show HIS mercy even for such (invaders

clan) people who are in some way "attached" to HIM.

 

 

 

Regarding equating Thiruk Kuraan and church, please note that Sri Jagan

nath had asked the individuals to omit and edit what ever they want. However,

one who knows the basics of thirukuraan and churches can find his argument is

very meaningful and that any opposing argument as inconclusive. Please note

that just as the same way you derive Srimath Bagwath geetha as the rule book

for HINDUS, thirukuraan acknowledges Christ as a prophet in the begining and

lists all the prphets who had appeared prior to His Holiness Muhammad. These

were considered the three religions launched from this part of the world and in

a way luanched in the population of the same group of people living there at

the time of founding. For Islam, Thiruk kuraan has so much to offer as such and

it is really a very sacred rule book for ISLAM. What is interpreted by

different sects of ISLAM may vary. But thiruk kuraan is a holy book and that IT

lists very much Jesus christ as one of the propehts of the early days. However,

christians have their own rule book, the HOLY BIBLE, and they will very much

want their HOLY BIBLE recited in their churches, though other HOLY BOOKS have

mentioned about their prophet. I didnot see any disrespect caused by such

statements in his letter, nor was it out of the scope of our topic. Perhaps he

would have mentioned it as a valid argument for drawing attention of the

governing instituitions. However, With due respect to all the religions, we

need not quote other religions in our notes and letters. . But the argument

that such quote is inapt is in a way primitive and very much invalid.

 

Regards

Sampath Rengarajan