Reasoning and Faith - pirATTis' purushkAratvam.

[Guest guest]

Dear bhAgavatottama-s:

 

I have not been following the discussion on vibhIshaNa SaraNAgati very

closely, and might have missed some basic things. However, I read the piece

by Sri Venkatesh listing the reasoning by

SRI venkatakr*shNan svAmi on how sItA pirATTi had the purushakAratva role in

vibhIshaNa SaraNAgati, and the counter-arguments from Mani's friend. While

I am not a person versed in the subtleties of these arguments, I would like

to refer to a vedic passage in ISAvAsya upanishad - mantra 4 if my memory is

correct, which essentially says that issues relating to God and faith in Him

(and in this case faith in Her and Her purushakAratvam) are beyond the realm

of reasoning. It is for explaining these kinds of issues that we need, and

luckily have, a few great SrIviashNava AcArya-s. I am very happy that we

have been blessed with the views of one such AcArya, in this case SrI

venkatakr*shNa svAmi. I am particularly thankful to SrI venkatesh for

taking the interest in all of us and going and asking the question and

sharing his learning with us. On behalf of all of us, I would like to

request SrI venkatesh to continue this great kaimkaryam on an on-going basis

for other issues that my come up in our discussion in the future. For that

matter, if he can share what he learns on a daily basis to all in the list

as part of his regular darSanam of this svAmi, or at least share them with

me on a personal basis, I will consider myself greatly blessed.

 

-dAsan kr*shNamAcAryan

[Guest guest]

Sriman Krishnamachari wrote:

> Dear bhAgavatottama-s:

> I am not a person versed in the subtleties of these arguments, I would like

> to refer to a vedic passage in ISAvAsya upanishad - mantra 4 if my memory is

> correct, which essentially says that issues relating to God and faith in Him

> (and in this case faith in Her and Her purushakAratvam) are beyond the realm

> of reasoning.

 

Dear Sri Krishnamachari,

 

This point is well taken; the only reason the question came up

in the first place, however, is that our acharyas emphatically

say that without Sita, Rama punishes, and with Sita, Rama is

gracious. My friend, who has a very soft spot for his dear

Rama, feels that Rama is inherently gracious, even without the

constant presence of Sita, and cites as his evidence Vibhishana

Saranagati. Knowing my friend, this is not a case of reason for

reason's sake! He is asking for a convincing explanation, given

the proposition that has been set forth.

> It is for explaining these kinds of issues that we need, and

> luckily have, a few great SrIviashNava AcArya-s. I am very happy that we

> have been blessed with the views of one such AcArya, in this case SrI

> venkatakr*shNa svAmi. I am particularly thankful to SrI venkatesh for

> taking the interest in all of us and going and asking the question and

> sharing his learning with us. On behalf of all of us, I would like to

> request SrI venkatesh to continue this great kaimkaryam on an on-going basis

> for other issues that my come up in our discussion in the future.

 

These are my sentiments exactly; in fact, I have requested Venkatesh

to give regular updates on the activities in Tiruvallikkeni. Time

permitting, I hope he will.

> -dAsan kr*shNamAcAryan

 

rAmAnuja dAsan,

Mani