Why Have Kalais

[Guest guest]

In my previous notes (longer than several epics known to man), i had reffered to

an incident at Thiruvarangam. I thought i will share my views on the same.

based on my experience at thiruvarangam ,and discussing the same with others

(back in Madras and here in the US), i have come to realize that one is

discriminated based on his/her kalai (Vadakalai/Thenkalai). It pains my heart to

know that in a community as small as ours, we are out to outdo our brethren from

the so-called other kalai, purely because we consider ourselves as the better

kalais. Little do we realize that when we start our Thiruvaradhanam, we start as

"Ramanuja Dhaya Patram", and not with what kalai we belong to. If we truly

consider Ramanuja as our Paramacharya (and i am sure all of us do), why are we

restricted to following only one kalai. Please correct me if I am wrong (which I

am always), Ramanujar did not divide us in to the Vadakalais and Thenkalais, but

it came about later (since, I am not sure about its origin, I will refrain from

speculating). Azhwars were never concerned with the kalais and were focussed

towards surrendering to Perumal and attaining moksham. It is also surprising

that we in turn divide the Perumals belonging to the Divya Desams as a Perumal

who wears only a Vadakalai or a Thenkalai Thiruman.

I have always wondered if Perumal were to grant me a wish, what is it that i

would ask for. What was initially the act of ridding others of their sin, and

transferring the same to me (this way, i will never reach Paramapadham, and can

sit back here and enjoy the greatness of our sampradhayam) has now changed for

something else. My wish now would correspond to seeing our Sadacharyas getting

together and deciding that we get rid of the kalai factor, and adopt an

universal symbol for the holy thiruman and we all become one and strive to

achieve our goal. If the concept of SriVaishnavam deals with humility and

respecting our fellow bhagavathas, aren't we being hypocrites when we tend to

criticize bhagavathas of a different kalai? I kid about the kalias with

Sri.Varadhan, Mohan and Madhuri (Sagars), but never actually mean it. It is

strange that in my koil azhwar i have a photograph of Sri Manavala Mamuni

instead of Sri Vedantha Desikar (i am a Vadakalai ?). It is not that i prefer

the former to the latter, but merely because i do not have a photo of Desikar. I

am curious to know if our Acharyas have addressed this aspect? Or, am I blowing

a tiny little misunderstanding way out of proportion???

Please feel free to correct me and i would be extremely happy if someone told me

that everything i have written is purely a figment of imagination.

 

Ramanuja Thiruvadigale Saranam

(srinivasan)