Some reflections on the debates on Mantras

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs :

 

Thanks for Sri Krishnaswamy's note requesting restraint

and Sri Balaram Sriram's note reminding one of realities .

Under Sri Bhagavadh RaamAnuja SiddhAntham ,

every one is indeed an AdhikAri to seek SaraNAgathi

at the Lotus feet of Sriman NaarAyaNA .Although it

is possible to pile up PramANam on PramANam for

both sides of the argument to steer it towards

the direction one wants , I think it is more an

intellectual exercise compared to seeking a qualified

AchAryA and seek the needed guidance from him or her

to get us beyond these discussions .Bhagaavadh/

Bhagavatha kaimkaryam and AchArya Vandanam

are the most central purposes of our lives here .

 

At the outset , let me categorically state that

the rahasya manthrAs have to be understood and

cherished with the reverence that they deserve

instead of in a casual manner .I have no disagreement

there .

 

I have had the good fortune of participating in this

forum for three years now and have learned a lot

from the devout bhakthAs about Sri VaishNavism.

I CONTINUE TO LEARN .Please permit me to share

some thoughts on the current controversy .

 

There have been previous instances of controversy and

exhibition of zeal , while discussing some of the topics

dear to us , but this time , it is a little more strident.

May be because the subject matter under discussion is

a profound one & dear to many . This controversy as to

who is the proper adhikAri is nothing new . It appears to me

however that this particular discussion smacks of

elitism and holier-than-thou attitudes .There are

indeed pramaaNams that one can pile up

for one side or other of the argument

across a historic time scale . I do not think

it is necessary for enhancing one's Bhakthi

for Sriman NaarAyaNA and to prepare one for

performing SaraNAgathi at the sacred feet

of the Lord thru an appropriate AchAryA .

There has been controversies in the past

about the appropriateness of according

a respectful position for AzhwArs , who

did not belong to " the elite class " .

 

Swami Desikan himself has tackled it for our benefit

and has established the sacredness of AzhwArs

like NammAzhwAr and ThiruPPANAzhwAr , who

were not from " the higher Castes " . The issues

whether they performed Bhakthi Yogam or

Only practised Saranagathi could be debated

based on one's sampradhAyam and accepted .

Even if we get to the bottom

of that thru scholarly debate , it does not

really matter to us since their lives are way

beyond any comparison with ours . Swami Desikan

was rewarded in this context for his important service

to establish the sacredness of the parama BhakthAs , when there

was a noisy protestation about the appropriateness

of the Paasurams of NammAzhwAr being recited during

the procession of Lord VardarAjA at Kanchipuram .

 

The Lord Himself rewarded Swami Desikan for upholding the

thesis that the Prabhandhams of AzhwArs have an equal status

with the other Vedams . As a result , The divya Prabhandha ghOshtis

continue their celebration of Sriman NaarAyaNA even today ,

thanks to the illustrious services of Swami Desikan .

BTW , we must remember that there are more

commentaries by our PurvAchAryAs on

NammAzhwAr's Thiruvaimozhi than on anyother

Prabhandhams . The great Brahmin Scholar Mathurakavi,

who was many years older than the non-Brahmin NammAzhwAr

took refuge at latter's feet and declared that he recognizes

no God other than his AchArya , ThirukkuruhUr SatakOpan .

 

Swami Desikan defeated his opponents at Kanchi

and Srirangam , who questioned the sacredness of

AzhwArs based on their birth status using his

extraordinary skills in tarkam and defeated them .

With the same logical rigor that he used in his granthams

like SarvArtha Siddhi and Tattva Muktha Kalapam ,

he settled this matter . With the skills in Tarkam

that earned him the title of " KavithArkika Simham " ,

he showed the following logical errors in the arguments of

his opponets , who contested the qualifications of AzhwArs

and later composed his own devotional tribute to

ThiruppANAzhwAr ( Muni Vaahana BhOgam ) . The 8 among

the many logical errors that he pointed out in his

opponent's arguments were :

 

1.AathmAsrayaa or assuming the consequence

(example : He Mounted on his own shoulder )

2. anyOnyAsrayaa or mutual reliance fallacy

(the case of a point that is being proven

by another and if latter is supported by

the former )

3. chakrakaashrayaa : Circular reasoning

4. anavasthaa : Case of Infinite regression in

one's attempt to prove a point .

5. pramaa-haana : argument that neglects evidence

and thus becomes a fallacy ( Tarka DhOsham )

6. Kalpanaa Gouravam : respect for imagination

as opposed to respect for facts

7. UpajIvya VirOdham : " Incorrect inference opposing

the source of its own antecedent "

8. apa-siddhAnthA or Invalid thesis

 

" VirOdha ParihAram " was achieved thru

his power of logic .

 

 

We must remember that disagreement is not disrespect .

We must also remember the difference between FORM (style)

and SUBSTANCE .Vigilantism has to be avoided at all costs .

Personal faith is one thing and excoriating

others for nonconformity to one's point of view

-right or wrong - is another thing .While our AchAryAs

do not yield one inch on their adherence to the

SampradhAyams/ShAsthrams handed to them , they are most merciful

in attending to the diverse spiritual needs and help

every one , who cross their blessed paths to advance

the disciples spiritually .Some times , they are angry

and disappointed at our laxity , but out of their

most merciful nature , they pull us up by lending

their hand and bless us .In the ultimate analysis ,

this is what counts in my opinion .We are like particles

displaying Brownian motion and the AachAryAs ,

who are parama DayALUs steady us and speed us towards

the main path leading to Moksham .

 

I know for sure that the discussions on this Bhakthi list

has shaped and changed many bhakthA's lives and

enhanced their appreciation for the wealth that

has been bequeathed to us . We must also remember that

no one has all the answers and it is perfectly alright

to ask questions or express opinions without being

put down in public .Constructive criticism is

very welcome and some times , the dialog has

to be private .

 

Finally , Let us not try to take on the mantle of AchAryAs

and get befuddled from inconclusive debates on

a limited medium such as electronic journal .There is a lot

that we can learn on the great works of AchAryAs ,

anushtAnams , AzhwAr's bhakthi-laden poetry

thru the medium of Internet that unites us

across all sorts of boundaries .

 

I conclude this posting with the following

appeal from Sriman Krishnaswamy :

>

>The late Rajaji once defined Culture as Restraint. It is in this sense

>that I appeal for restraint in discussing matters relating to the

>conduct of others. The fact that our discussions are held over a global

>network is relevant in this limited context of the need to exercise

>restraint .

 

V.Sadagopan

[Guest guest]

At 04:12 PM 6/26/98 -0400, Sadagopan wrote:

>Dear BhakthAs :

>

>Thanks for Sri Krishnaswamy's note requesting restraint

>and Sri Balaram Sriram's note reminding one of realities .

>Under Sri Bhagavadh RaamAnuja SiddhAntham ,

>every one is indeed an AdhikAri to seek SaraNAgathi

>at the Lotus feet of Sriman NaarAyaNA .Although it

>V.Sadagopan

 

 

I THINK THIS ARTICLE WAS VERY WELL WRITTEN, THIS IS A REDUNDANT STATEMENT

AFTER ONE SEES WHO WROTE IT!

 

ADIYEN KRISHNA