equal respect to all bhagavatas

[Guest guest]

Most responses have disagreed with my position

that equal respect should be given to all bhagavatas.

While I do not regard the action of the Kumbakonam

Brahmins of yore in high regard, my criticism and

disappointment is more with those who have not

learned the lesson that the Alvars of yore taught

us through their lives, and which the author of

the Divya Suri Charita so candidly brought to the

forefront.

 

Investigation or even a mere thought of differing

respect on the basis of birth / jAti is itself an

apachara. How many stories do we need? Tirumazhisai's

story did not convince us; Loka Saranga Muni's

carrying of Tiruppan does not convince us; Nammalvar's

upadesa to his brahmin disciple does not convince

us; Ramanuja's wanting to eat the leftover of Tirukkacci

Nambigal does not convince us. All this is and was

against ``shastra''. I suppose we shall forever be

caught in this rut.

 

At least be consistent if you claim to follow

the shastras. Will all of you stop chanting the

purusha-sukta and other Vedic texts the next time

a sudra enters your presence? Is this correct?

 

One of us has said, ``Brahmins by virtue of their

nature are pure.'' I wonder if that makes all

non-brahmin bhagavatas impure. If so, I would rather

have that impurity than the purity of such brahmins.

 

If one's anushtanam forces one to treat bhagavatas

without the courtesy they deserve, that anushtanam

and that part of shastra is ``tyaajyam,'' to be

abandoned, our acharyas say.

 

Or, in other words, investigating and discriminating

on the basis of jAti of bhagavatas is like examining

one's own mother's womb to see if it is pure, or

thinking that the arcAvatAra is mere stone.

 

Practice your sandhyavandanam, be a vegetarian,

do thiruvaaraadhanai; but don't let these be the

excuse for committing bhagavata-apacharam.

 

Mani