SrImad ANdavan's views on some Issues.

[Guest guest]

Some views of the 40th Andavan of PeriyASramam,

SrIrangam.

 

 

 

Many of us have heard of the 40th Andavan of PeriyASramam,

SrI vedAnta rAmAnuja mahAdeSikan, fondly known as SrI kaNNan svAmigal.

A couple of days back when I was browsing through some of the books I

had, I accidentally came across a souvenir published to commemorate his

visit Pondicheri in 1984. I found the summary of an interview that the

press had with him on 22nd Sept. 1982, from which I have presented a

few of his thoughts below. I am sharing this item because I saw some

discussion about arcanA in tamizh in our temples recently, and I found

SrImad ANdavan's views on this topic in this interview. The topic,

followed by SrImad ANdavan's views, are listed on some other issues as

well.

 

 

 

Dowry-

 

There is no mention of dowry in the Sastra-s anywhere.

This should be eliminated. Because of this evil habit many girls are

not married. This leads to further deterioration of the social

structure. No dowry should be accepted in any form.

 

 

 

jAnvAsa -

 

(the

habit of taking the bridegroom in a procession in a chariot on the day

prior to the marriage (?): I could not find this word in the

dictionary, and so I have given my own description, which I hope is

correct). Srimad Andavan's view is that this should not be a practice,

since this wastes a lot of resources, and seems to only serve the

display of wealth etc. This can be handled by the brdiegroom's people

visiting the bride's home with their relatives, and the reverse as

well.

 

 

 

Conversion to other religions-

 

People convert to other

religions from the Hindu religion because they get enamored by the heavy

propaganda by other religions, the monetary or other help that they

offer etc. It is necessary for us to have to do self-advertisement in

order to convey to our people the greatness of our faith and to protect

our Hindu dharma.

 

 

 

arcanA in tamizh in our temples-

 

The people in

tamizh nAdu wants arcanA in tamizh. What should we do if a telugu

speaking person, a malayALi, a gujarAti, or marAthi speaking person,

come to tamizh nAdu and wanr arcanA done in their mother tongue?

samskr*t is a world language. Samskr*t is common to everyone all over

the world. Is there any territory in the world which is based purely on

samskr*t as these other languages have? Samskr*t is the language that

is common to all. It is in this language that arcanA-s should be done.

 

 

 

 

His pAda-yAtra-

 

By traveling all over India on foot, I got to see a

lot of people all over and know how they live, what their issues and

cultural values are, etc. They also get to know our religion and way of

life.

 

 

 

General comments-

 

I notice that people's faith and interest in

religion is growing. All of us should continue to advance in our bhakti

mArga, and worship the arcA forms in our temples on a regular basis.

Worship of the Lord is most important for development of our selves.

 

 

 

I

beg your forgiveness for any incorrect translations of the tamizh

article - dAsan kr*shNamAcAryan

[Guest guest]

I think here Srimad Andavan is referring to replacing

Sanskrit entirely with archanas in Tamil in Tamil Nadu,

as some of TN's more "reform"-minded leaders once wanted

to do. I am not sure the Swami (a great Tamil abhimaani

himself) would object to having the _option_ of archanas

in the local tongue.

> arcanA in tamizh in our temples-

>

> The people in

> tamizh nAdu wants arcanA in tamizh. What should we do if a telugu

> speaking person, a malayALi, a gujarAti, or marAthi speaking person,

> come to tamizh nAdu and wanr arcanA done in their mother tongue?

> samskr*t is a world language. Samskr*t is common to everyone all over

> the world. Is there any territory in the world which is based purely on

> samskr*t as these other languages have? Samskr*t is the language that

> is common to all. It is in this language that arcanA-s should be done.

 

I for one think it's a nice idea to have the choice. Having

an understandable archana makes the kalyaaNa-guNas of God more

appreciable by the worshipper, and which in turn will undoubtedly

increase her or his love of God.

 

Mani