Preaching

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavathas,

 

I am interested in knowing what is srivaishnava stand on preaching ? I know

the word has acquired dirty meaning due to the current practices by some

fanatical groups. But I am using the word in the sense of educating people

about their identity in relation with the Lord. My understanding is that Sri

Ramanuja was interested in spreading the holy name. If that is so, what

efforts are being taken to consolidate and expand srivaishnavism ?

 

Regards

Rajaram V.

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

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<rajaram-v

<githaar8; <bhakti-list >

Wednesday, March 08, 2000 2:00 AM

Preaching

 

 

Dear Bhagavathas,

 

My understanding is that Sri

Ramanuja was interested in spreading the holy name. If that is

so, what

efforts are being taken to consolidate and expand srivaishnavism

?

 

Regards

Rajaram V.

 

 

 

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___

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http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1

 

Dear Sri Rajaram,

 

If you are suggesting that Sri Ramanuja was spreading the holy

name as the Gaudiya Vaishnavas do, I would have to say that this

is not quite correct. The way I understand it is that Sri

Ramanuja was spreading the philosophy of Visistadvaita and the

religious traditions of SriVaishnavam. The propogation of this

message was achieved through the publication of his 9 famous

works, the re-establishment of a standardized methodology of

practice in divya dEshams, the founding of temples and the

setting up of muthams and the achArya purusha paramaparai that

consisted of his 74 closest disciples.

 

In the present day, the work of spreading Ramanuja's vision is

still very prevalent, but it is still keeping in line with what

is a fairly conservative approach compared to the Gaudiya/ISKCON

traditions, what to speak of the the western religious systems.

Instrumental in the continuation of the message are the Jeears,

who travel around India (one is also making regular visits to the

USA) to spread the traditional doctrine of SriVaishnavam,

initiate interested and devout individuals into the tradition,

and in some cases, serve as the intercessors and mentors for the

pinnacle of SriVaishnava practices, prapatti or complete

surrender to the Lord. While there are still a few AchArya

purusha paramaparai (a.k.a. Svayamacharya) families continuing to

uphold the tradition, they appear to be few and far between. So,

for the most part, most present day SriVaishnavas approach a

Jeear to receive the formal initiation into the faith.

 

Augmenting the work of the Jeears and the SvayamAchAryas, there

are a number of very learned scholars in India who give regular

discourses on SriVaishnava philosophy and AzhwAr poetry. One of

the more well known among them, Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy, is

a regular contributor to this discussion group.

 

I am also of the opinion that this forum and the web sites and

associations that have formed as a result of it are also doing

their part, albeit more informally, to spread the message about

SriVaishnavam and its rich cultural and philosophical ideals.

 

But, please note that despite the above, and for better or for

worse, SriVaishnavam, like all Vedic traditions, is far less

zealous in its belief in proselytization, preferring instead to

rely on the principle that the path that leads one to the Divine

is in reality not the result of human efforts, but due solely to

His Grace.

 

I hope this helps.

 

adiyEn

 

Mohan

[Guest guest]

Sri. Mohan Wrote:

 

the path that leads one to the Divine is in reality not the result of human

efforts, but due solely to His Grace.

 

Comment:

 

Human endeavour is essential to gain the grace of Brahman.

Sri. Vedanta Desika explicates this both in Tattva-muktA-kalApa and in

the Rahasya-TrayasAram.

 

Ramanuja dasan,

Venkat