Sri. Vaishnava tradition (Attention Sri. AC)

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri. AC.

NamO nArAyaNA.

 

You Wrote:

 

I'm dismayed you think Siva is just a second rate "tosser" , incapable of

conferring moksha -- what good is Siva to me if he can't do that? I'm

dismayed the Hindu religion might not agree with itself on fundamental

issues like whether God (by any other name) is capable of granting

moksha.

 

In order to be able to fully digest the answer to your query, you must first

learn to distinguish between religion and philosophy. A pertinent

question would be as follows. Does my (AC's) query deal with a

philosophic issue or a religious issue?

 

Here are some comments first; the answer can be found at the end:

 

- It is important to recognize the distinction between the religion of

Vis'istAdvaita and the philosophy of Vis'istAdvaita. In what follows, I will

quote, Sri. S.M.S. Chari, who is an accomplished Vedantin, but most

importantly a practising vedantin. Because he has addressed this topic

in a most terse and precise manner (that is, it cannot be stated in a better

manner), I am resorting to exact quotes.

 

Strat Quote:

 

"No system of Indian Philosophy including the orthodox Advaita and

atheistic Buddhisim excludes religion. Philosophy and religion are treated

in all Indian schools of thought. The former represents the theoretical

side of the system dealing primarily with an enquiry into the nature of the

ultimate reality while the latter covers the practical side of the system

concerned with the ways and means of realisation of the ultimate

Reality."

 

The Vednata Sutras on which the different systems of VedAnta are

developed emphasize both (i.e., philosophy and religion.)"

 

Likewise Vis'istAdvaita Vedanta, which explains (in a detailed manner)

the philosophy and religion eluded to in the Vedanta Sutras, emphasizes

both religion and philosophy.

 

- **"The religion propounded by Vis'istAdvaita is known as S'ri

-vaisnavism"

 

-Your original query can be restated as : Is the issue of who the para

Brahman is, a Philosophic or religious issue?

 

The Answer: I think it is a philosophic issue. I can provide

reasoning, but I think it is best if one of the more learned members of the

group, such as Sri. Krishna Kalale, Sri. Sadagopan, or Sri. Anbil

Ramaswamy elaborate on this.

 

In my opinion, it is prudent to start by learning the fundamentals of

Vis'istAdvaita before moving on to advanced works like the Gita Bhasya,

which presume the reader has some working knowledge of terminology

and concepts.

 

A good place to start :

1. Electronic journal named SARANAAGATHI

http://srivaishnava.org/sgati/

It is comphrehensive.

 

Hope what I have said is helpful

 

adiyEn ramanuja dasan,

Venkat

krishNArpaNam