Azhwars

[Guest guest]

The recent postings on Azhwars expressing views, opinions and facts have

been enlightening for a novitiate Sri Vaishnava like me. I cannot even

come close to quote book references or Acharyas upanyaasams like many of

you are fortunate to be able to do so. What I am expressing is from my

heart (overriding the mind), which may get me into trouble.

 

Prior to the recent postings I considered Azhwars as above mortals like

us. I have considered them (and will continue to) as amsams of Sriman

Narayana's weapons. I did not worry whether they are Nitya Suris or

baddha jeevaathmaas. In our PerumaaL Sannidhi, we keep the pictures of

Acharyas and Azhwars. We offer our respects to them. We do not have

all the Azhwars or Acharys pictures. When we do, we will place it

besides the PerumaaL pictures and continue with what we have been doing.

Although, I have a doubt how AndaaL is considered, or is this

discussion/debate relevant only to Mudal Azhwars?

 

Does it make a difference to me how Azhwars are considered in vadagalai

or thengalai saampradaayam? Not really. Should we impose the kalai

differences on the youth growing up here? Definitely not. Is it

beneficial to know the differences from a purely academic point of

view? Probably to certainly. Is it worth the negative energy to

challenge or question someone's opinion? Not in my complex world. Is

there a right or wrong answer to these type of debates? My opinion is

that most of the time they end up inconclusive, with potential wounding

of beliefs of individuals. Do I get into arguments with individuals wrt

my beliefs? Of Course.

 

Where are we going with this debate? If it is to share the

perspectives, references and interpretations, then it may be beneficial

to learn the diverse analytical basis. This hopefully facilitates us to

look objectively at different perspectives, without getting defensive or

emotional. If you ask youth born and raised in USA, most of them do not

know what "kalai" means, and are not emotional about the subject. The

emotional debate is often among members whose formidable years were in

India, influenced by local situations. Do we have opportunities to

emphazise (and be successful) about our common binding theme of

Ramanuja Siddhantham? Yes, if handled appropriately, within the

framework of the logical learning process.

 

Sri Sadagopan mentioned re Sri Madhav Kannan's valuable contribution

through his postings on Azhwars', to help the young. Incidentally, I

have used the material from that series of postings to have children

present the Lives of Azhwars at NAMA functions. This is the type of

service we need to be doing to start at the grass roots level.

 

Like someone asked a question recently, I too am struggling with "what

is Apachaaram?" I tend to be impulsive and direct. Even I have been

hesitant to convey my feelings to avoid "labeling." By the by, nobody

has approached me or advised me on this subject. Purely my self-imposed

constraints. We may defeat the purpose of this group to share our

knowledge on Sri Vaishnava Philosophy by emphasizing potential

Apachaaram.

 

I share the concern with Sri Vijayaraghavan that we may discourage youth

(and adults) from participating in this type of internet or personal

discussions. (I recognize that there is no set answer to this problem.)

 

Re Sri Bhuvanachaarya, I have heard he is very knowledgable person. In

fact, since the announcement of the December Conference, I have been

asked by a few NAMA members whether I would be able to organize a visit

by him to meet with Sri Vaishnavas. The fact he is not as well known

does not surprise me. Most knowledgable and learned scholars tend to be

humble and modest. Their goal is to share knowledge without worrying

about the fact that they are not that well known. I believe Sri

Bhuvanacharya fits into that category. Historically, in most

religions, it is the over-enthusiastic followers of any leader/Acharyas

that tend to start friction and divisiveness.

 

Finally, it is extremely important that each and every one of us try our

best to practice what we preach, other wise we will continue to erode

our community.

 

I want to reiterate that I do not intend to attack any person or

personalities. I would just like to address the issues the way I

comprehend.

 

Nagu Satyan

satyan

303-973-4847

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[Guest guest]

> Does it make a difference to me how Azhwars are considered in vadagalai

> or thengalai saampradaayam?

 

I do not intend to reopen the whole thing again, but after reading the above

statement, I thought that it was important to express my thoughts -

 

The tendency to attribute anything that we do not understand

(or anything that we think we understand, but others have a different

view on that ) to a 'kalai' difference is extremely detrimental to the

understanding of our sampradaayam. It basically extends our ignorance

on these matters. Unfortunately, on this list that seems to be the first

thing that props up whenever people disagree.

 

The only way to even come close to understanding

is to listen to upanyaasams from our aachaaryaas.

Whatever we read, (irrespective

of the numerous books that we have access to, and numerous

translations that we have on this forum) is not going to make us

comprehend our sampradaayam. So, I would like to reiterate -

many members of this list have pointed this out before - Bhakti

list is not a substitute for learning from an aacharyan. Bhakti and the

postings on this list are not a substitute for real learning. It is just

a 'community' of sorts where people with a deep interest in

SriVaishnavam congregate and discuss SriVaishnavam.

 

 

Not in my complex world. Is

> there a right or wrong answer to these type of debates?

 

Yes. There are right answers. Those are the ones that ouraachaaryaas say - not

what we think they say, but what they

actually say. In many instances, we let our ego colour what the

aachaaryas say. We should be careful not to do that.

 

 

daasan,

Varadhan