Re Sri Varadhan's Article

March 20, 1997

Satyan, Nagu on Thu, Mar 20, 1997 6:18 PM

bhakti digest

I agree with Sri Dileepan Parthasarathy's comments on Sri Varadhan's

Postings. Does it make the Vadagalai Sri Vaishnavas non-existent or

the Acharyas like Swami Desikan who was responsible in many ways in

preserving Sri Vaishnavism under the heavy pressure of other

philosophies? I am afraid that if this type of attitude continues

with younger generation in either Sampradayams, we will continue to

discourage individuals from following SVism, dwindle in numbers and

spend negative energy trying to prove why one is right and the other

is wrong.

Mohan's nice analysis and comments apply to Sri Vaishnavas brought up

in Karnataka. In our family (belonging to Vadakalai Sampradayam), one

of my sisters is married to a Thengalai and I have cousins married

into Thengalai families. Of course, there are some difficulties in

adjustments. But that is true within any sampradayam. In my case,

both my husband and I belong to families from Vadakalai Sampradayam.

We had differences in many thought process, because I was influenced

by my parents being "Madras Iyengars" and my parents-in-law being

Hebbar Iyengars. Many of the SVs, especially the Hebbar Iyengars are

influenced by the local Smarta and Madhava traditions. However, none

of us claim that we are the only Sri Vaishnavas. Where feasible, we

modify our ways, and where we differ we agree to continue with the

sampradayam that makes us comfortable. In a broader sense, we all

have the same objectives.

Some of us are trying to unite SVs of all Sampradayams (Hebbar,

Mandyam, Madras, Andhra, Thengalai and Vadakalai). In Colorado, we

have a larger population of SVs from Thengalai Sampradayams. Many of

them are related and/or close friends to us. Whether they are from

Andhra or Karnataka, I have not had any indication from them that only

they are considered Sri Vaishnavas. I hope that Varadhan provides

clarification.

Nagu Satyan

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