Have you seen your Acharyas lately? - part 2

[Guest guest]

First, I have to thank Dileepan who took interest immediately after my phone

call to write Azhagiasingar's arul mozhi on to the net. Thanks for many

others like Sadagopan, Murlidhar Rangaswamy and others who encouraged me to

write more about my meetings with Acharyas. As I indicated earlier, I did

have a good conversation with Azhagia singar, Andavan, Rangapriya swamy and

several other gurus of mine.

 

I went to Nangallur to meet Azhagia singar first. I did not even want to

stop at Hayagreeva sannadi first, before really seeing Azhagia singar. I

thought where will this immobile Lakshmi Hayagreeva run? !! Let me first

meet my acharya who is mobile. I tried to talk to Azhagia singar so many

times but there were just too many devotees who wanted such meetings with

Azhagia singar. I waited in line patiently. H.H. Azhagia singar asked me "

what are you waiting for?". I said " prashna kala prateekshaha" ( just as a

good student, I am waiting for the right time to ask questions)... H.H.

Azhagiasingar.. smiled...MMMM. You know that vedic etiquette!.. Then

finally, I seized that chance to start a few minutes of conversation,

initially. I asked him one question which probably bothers me more than

many others. I went ahead and asked him that question.

 

My question: O Acharya, I feel terrible that I am living in a foreign land

for so long. I am not doing exactly what I should be doing as a srivaishnava

and first as a brahmin. I am not near people who can teach me vedadhyayana

and missing out on so many acharams and niyamams I should be doing. I feel

sort of responsible for even my kids who may not get exposed to the right

shastraic environment to which for some extent I was exposed. When will that

time come when I will live a virtuous life devoid of material pursuits or

hankering for money and sincerely follow a true post-prapatti life? I dont

care what it takes to get me to that stage of life. Even if it takes a

second "sharanagati" for destroying the sins which are causing this

miserable state of life, please go ahead and bless me with a second

sharanagati for clearing my sins. (please note: sharanagati for moksha

should be done ONLY ONCE. It cannot be done again. If it is done, both of

them will become null...details on this later).

 

H.H. Azhagiasingar:

 

Do not worry about where you live. You may not have full control on that

issue. (adhistanam thattha karta - karanam cha prithak vidham ... 18th

chapter: summary = there are 5 reasons for all successful activities, jeeva

is only one of them. the important one is God). Wherever you are living, to

the extent possible do your daily duties according to your capacity. But,

you can do certainly better than what you may be doing. Think about the

positive aspects. You can probably do a lot more than many people here. You

can use the technology, organizational skills and set up a society of folks

who constantly care and help nurture religious folks in India who can attend

to shastraic duties like protection of our siddhantam, temples, scriptures

etc. You will also get benefited by the output and directions given by

folks here. Use all the money and efforts in the right direction to protect

dharma. But do not in the least have doubts that you are totally lost and

thrown into a moral and religious hell there in USA.

 

Bhuvi va divi va mamastu vaasaha

narake va narkantaka prakamam

Avadheerita sharadarvindou

charanam te maranepi chintayami - Kulasekhara alwar

 

(Whether I am stationed in heaven, earth or in the worst of hells (naraka),

I will remember your Lotus feet (Oh Krishna) even while I am dying.)

 

This sloka shows that one should have the constant determination that one's

purpose is in developing and constantly practising bhakti towards Lord and

help other devotees in need protect our culture, vedas, shastras. Instead of

having any misgivings, take positive steps to contribute towards these

causes. Life is short for everyone. One should do the best in whatever

capacity one can contribute. Dont have this negative attitude. Not every one

in this world has everything. With whatever assets or capacities one has,

one should put them to full use constantly for the right purpose.

 

By the way such second or third sharanagatis can be done only for clearing

of sins.. But I would say, just say the thanians of your acharyas and ask

for forgiveness from them and Lord Lakshminrisimha, daily. Stay away from

any kind of bhagavata apacharas. That is sufficient.

 

By the way, Krishna, I am feeling tired since I woke up very early. I will

have to write an article to Nrisimhapriya. Please see me later in the afternoon.

 

Adiyen (I): Namaskarams;

 

I prostrated, took Akshatas and left to come back at 3PM in the afternoon.

Even then, number of devotees had swarmed Acharya's quarters. I waited

patiently in front of acharya, so that he would notice me. Even this time,

Acharya did not have time. He had to send me away for almost an hour.

 

Then later, I sat beside acharya with a determination to wait and talk to

him. He saw me sitting quietly doing japams (instead of whiling away).

 

H.H. Azhagia singar: Krishna Prasad, what are you waiting for?.

 

Adiyen (I): I was wondering if acharya can bless me with bhuta suddhi

kramas. I do aradhanam almost everyday, but I do not know bhuta shuddi

krama and its meaning properly.

 

H.H. Azhagia singar: I already finished eating food today. I am not

supposed to do mantra upadesam. can you come some other day?

 

Adiyen ( I) : Yes, I can.

 

H.H. Azhagia singar: Krishna Prasad, by the way, I have not been able to

talk to you for long. I feel very sorry that you have come all the way from

America and I have not given you much time. You have even ignored spending

time with your parents and grand father, so that you can come and talk to

me. Please forgive me Krishna Prasad...

 

Adiyen (I): ( I was almost in tears.... I felt that I am worthless to be

given any importance. This Acharya is asking my forgiveness..!.) I could not

talk anymore.

 

H.H. Azhagia singar: Krishna prasad, have you had prasadam? will you stay

for the Hayagreeva Temple book release ceremony?

 

Adiyen (I) : surely, it will be my pleasure.

 

I stayed on. I talked to many important folks at the ahobila mutt. I found

that they were very ill equipped in terms of computers or any other

communication / accounting devices. All I saw was a bunch of devotees just

interested to serve acharyas and keep up some of our culture which is

breaking down quite fast. One person was an M.COM (ie. commerce masters

degree holder). He completely renounced secular professional life to serve

H.H. Azhagia singar. Some of them started their careers in the ahobila mutt

for just about 100Rs a month,a couple of years ago, which is barely enough.

For example, just my autorickshaw bill up and down from mylapore to

nanganallur was 130Rs!!.

The paricharakas do very hard work. They work about 14 to 15 hours a day.

Some of them have been there for 48 years. One of them who is 67 years old

said, in this old age working 12-15 hours a day is very difficult. What will

I do back in my village? so I am staying here at the ahobila mutt for all

these years serving God.

 

I thought to myself.... Well, if I dont get good raises in one company, I

immediately plan to get another job and quit. there goes my devotion to my

company. Very much Unlike these paricharakas who are stead fast serving the

mutt. I did realize that some of the paricharakas really needed money to

survive or to support their families, since Ahobilamutt cannot pay them

enough. I first thought I came to Ahobilamutt to have a religious

experience, not to worry about anyone's financial problems!... Wait a

minute, why did I leave India in the first place? to get more money! these

folks are quite brilliant, but still they are here serving our mutts. They

are toiling all their lives for seeing that aradhanam of Lakshimi Nrisimha

goes on well and so many visiting devotees get fed properly and taken care

of; they are sacrificing their careers, wealth for the protection of our

system. I felt, the roles have reversed. I am not really a brahmin. These

folks are really brahmins. I am probably a vaishya, sudra or 5th category by

vritti ( occupation) constantly after money and career advancement . It is

my duty to serve, support and contribute to these folks so that our

scriptures, temples etc. are protected.

 

.....I felt that something has to be done to protect our culture. Other

religions are organized. Everything works on payroll deduction. No asking

for money occurs explicitly or officially. But the priests, churches,

synagogues, religious education etc. all are taken care of and things go on

well. In fact, in jewish families, the first born son is given to the temple

and he is supposed to be dedicated to only religious studies and life. No

wonder their religion is flourishing. In our cultures, probably we rejoice

after having the first born son, dreaming about designs of how this kid will

bring in good wealth and retirement benefits to us! We havent been working

hard enough to protect our system of thought. In fact, we start applauding

other systems of thought such as christianity, buddhism etc. and even

probably convert ourselves to their thought, just being awestruck by some

good aspects of them and have a "dont care too much" attitude about our

srivaishnavism which has unlimited religious and philosophical treasure.

 

2nd day:

 

I met H.H. Azhagia singar again and asked a few questions. His Holiness

asked me to accompany him in his short trip to Hayagriva temple. I gladly did.

 

Question:

 

Acharya, why dont you come to America for a visit?

 

 

H.H. Azhagia singar:

 

People like us (sanyasis) are trying to raise the standards of others like

you to become more god-ward and shastra-ward. you are asking me to reverse

the situation and are requesting me to lower my religious standards so as to

meet yours!!

 

It is against the shastras for a sanyasi like me to leave this country.

Some sanyasis ignore this injunction and go to different countries. I feel

that injunction should not be transgressed. what do you think? krishna

prasad.. should I come ... even ignoring those injunctions? (thus he asked

me jokingly).

 

I related to him the not so good incident of a certain dvaita sanyasi who

came to USA and eventually had to give up sanyasa ashrama; and, realizing

the detailed daily duties H.H. Azhagiasingar has to do, I suggested to him

that probably it is not a good idea for acharya to visit America or any

foreign land. It will be very difficult for acharya to keep up his acharams

and vyavaharams etc.

 

I told acharya: I will try to come here as many times as possible to visit

you and other religious institutions / learned folks.

 

H.H. Azhagia singar : there you are! do that... do visit us often. come

here for about 10 days at a stretch. I will personally give you upadesham on

number of topics.

 

Adiyen (I): As you wish... Namaskarams..

 

 

(rest in the next part.....)

Krishna Kalale

619-658-5612 (phone)

619-658-2115 (fax)