Digest bhakti.v003.n377

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Mohan R Sagar <msagar wrote:

"As a kid, I was somewhat rebellious to the whole

idea of wearing thiruman, poonal, etc. While

adulthood brought me back to my senses somewhat,

it is only after joining this forum and

interacting with other bhAgavathas that I have

fully realized the psychological and spiritual

benefits of traditional symbols and clothing."

(etc.)

 

I know many NRIs who have expressed similar ideas. It seems

to be a problem of tradition vs. modernity. Evidently, other communities

are grappling with tradition/modernity issues too, one example being

the Sikhs. Someone who doesn't see your points will probably be unable

to understand why the question of eating on the floor, instead of at a

table, is such a big deal for them. But my impression is that such (malleable?)

religious traditions are based on essential principles. In the sense that

vaishnava philosophy is intended for practical application, as well as for

the benefit of mankind (cf. BhAgavatam, 10.22.35), I think such topics

have definite philosophical merit.

My experience has always been that social influences are stronger

than scriptural ones; perhaps that's why such questions of traditional vs.

modern dress are even an issue at all. I would be interested to know if

there is an official Shri vaishnava view on this, but it seems to me that

the injunctions of smritis and dharmashastras take this social phenomenon

into account, i.e., how to regulate external and necessary actions in such

a way as to elevate or increase consciousness of Lord Vishnu. SmartvyaM

satataM viSNuH, ityAdi.

A related question addresses the intrinsic value of the

traditional vaiSNava attire. Do Shri vaishnavas regard such as the dress

of VaikuNTha, and wouldn't this explain how it can increase one's

awareness of God? For that matter, isn't the entire culture of the

vaishnava tradition (and I'm assuming that it can be generalized to some

extent) postulated as representative of that of vaikuntha? Even if it is

rather seen as (only) modeled after the accounts in shastras and vaishnava

literature, it would seem to me that vaishnava traditions, which possess

such detailed and explicit descriptions of the spiritual realm, should

have the least problem with these questions, for my impression is that

there is an ideal (or idealized?) culture, adhered to more in the past

than the present, and that this ideal has been practically encouraged and

demonstrated by the examples of great souls in literature as well as

history (cf. GItA, 3.21). Such persons, beginning with LakSmI and

NArAyaNa Themselves, don't wear jeans. At least they aren't portrayed that

way as far as I'm aware. Taking this point of view, then, it is more than

a question of tradition vs. modernity; it appears as of some of us

strictly uphold these ideals in terms of personal practice whereas others

have to compromise them somewhat. And that's quite understandable; I do it

myself. But if it is at all avoidable, I usually try to avoid doing so in

the temple or among vaishnavas. And at any rate, the enthusiatic "ruci"

implicit in one's own good example is far more effective than innumerable

"fatwas" and other artificial and fanatical means of inspiration (Is this

is a similar logic as that of "rasa varjyaM raso 'py asya paraM dRSTvA

nivartate," etc.?).

However, I'm admittedly not very familiar with Shri vaishnava

thought, so I would appreciate anyone's kind and learned comments, thanks.

One final thing I can humbly offer from personal experience is that it

appears much less awkward for an Indian to wear sari or dhoti, etc., than

it is for a Western caucasion.

 

Respects,

 

MT