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[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatti group: We have all benefited in hearing recent

discussions on caste and have been privileged to hear detailed explanations

of the Raghuvira gadyam and Goda Stuti. I thoroughly enjoyed today's

postings on Goda stuti. Sri Sadagopan's insightful comments were wonderful,

especially on the use of the Malini meter and the careful parelleling of the

29th verse in the Tiruppavai and the Goda stuti in the phrases "porramarai

adi" and "kamala charanam". There is so much intrinsic beauty in these

verses and when it is pointed out, we are able to relish the literary and

spiritual nuances. The sacredness of the city of Kumbakonam has also been

beautifully brought out in Sri Sampath Rengarajan's recent post.

I have also been following the caste discussions since this is something

that affects all of us. In some dharma sastras (forgive me for repeating

something that every one knows) caste discussions are closely tied with

gender issues. This is a separate subject by itself.

In caste issues, we try to reconcile the reality we live in and the words

of our tradition; for some there people is no tension. We recognize that

there are two kinds of statements in the literature-- those that ascribe

caste to birth, and others which speak of caste in terms of our

gunas/nature/behavior etc. Which of these statements is to be privileged

and which is more important has been debated endlessly. I agree with the

many people who have voiced the opinion that birth alone cannot be the sole

criterion for any privileged status. If there is any lesson that the

Guruparampara prabhavam teaches us, it is that we cannot judge people by

birth alone. There are many stories in the Bhagavad visayam that illustrate

how Udayavar flouted some of the caste-norms of his day; he considered

bhakti, not birth to be important. There is also the story of how the name

"nallan chakravarthy" came about; it was principally through the

transgression of the caste norms of the day.

While caste was not the issue for dissemination of salvific knowledge, other

criteria seem to be used. I would like the comments of other readers on

this issue. For instance, even though Udayavar went against the specific

instructions of Tirukkottiyur nambi and proclaimed the Ashtakshara to

others, the Guruparamparaprabhavam (aarayirappadi) says specifically that he

proclaimed it to all the Srivaishnavas ("anekam Srivaishnavarkallukku

apparama rahasyatttai arulicceytaar"). It was not to a *very general*

public. I think the sacredness of some mantras were kept up; the secrecy of

the rahasyas was not because some people wanted to be exclusive, but to

prevent abuse of the materials. With mass media, this is now being

questioned and we have had discussions on this subject before.

Once again, let me thank the contributors of this forum for all their time.

Wishing everyone a Happy Pongal, Vasudha