Chaturmasya sankalpam

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavathas,

Sub:Sri Mani Varadarajan's query.

Firstly the notional date of Chaturmasya sankalpam was the 16th of July

being the full moon day and not the Ekadasi day.Adiyen has been blessed

with the good fortune of attending the Acharyas' Sankalpam for nearly

three decades and not on one occasion has it ever been performed on an

Ekadasi day.

The reason why H.H. Srimad Andavan postponed('pushed' appears to be an

inelegant word when applied to an Acharya and a Yathi) the obsrevance of

this year's Chaturmasya Sankalpam has been clearly explained in the June

issue of Sri

Ranganatha Paduka and i thought that a person running such a Bhakti list

as this would be in receipt of such eminent journals.More so because a

reference had been to this journal while debating the points raised

on 'Nathopasana'.

Sri Shyamsundar Sreenivasan is posting this separately on this list so i

am not going to repeat the same points excepting to state these Yathis

have the discretion to postpone the date to any one day before the

immediately following Panchami day.

The reference to H.H.Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Sreeman Narayana Jeer is a

rather delicate point, i have already sent a reply to Sri Mani Varadarajan

and i hope that he will do the posting as i have not retained or saved the

draft of my reply.I realise that this list is established and maintained

by him but the subject raised by him is very serious, it refers to our

H.H. and another Acharya for whom i have the greatest respect, i hope that

he will post my reply as is where is without any abbreviation or editing.

Another suggestion to all our Bhagavathas in U.S is that you apply the

prefix H.H. whenever and wherever you refer to any of these Yathis of our

Sampradaya be it the Ahobila Mutt or the Andavan Asramam or the Parakala

Mutt or the Thennacharya Paramapara.Accustomed as you may be in addressing

persons by their christian or first names, this maybe a little

difficult for you but this is essential.

I am sorry if my message is rather blunt but you are all enlightened

persons and many of you are well read enough to debate the meanings of our

philosophy on the net and the least you can do here is to address these

great souls with the prefix H.H.

Vasakha doshaha Kshandavyaha !!

RR.

[Guest guest]

I thank Sri Shyamsundar and the others who sent me private

and public replies concerning my question. As I stated at

the outset, I really am just curious about the traditions

and purpose behind the cAturmAsya, of which I am quite ignorant.

I have no other motives. I thank Sri Shyamsundar for satisfactorily

explaining Srimad Andavan Swami's reasons for the postponement of

the sankalpa.

 

I was not aware that the cAturmAsya sankalpa is traditionally

taken on the paurNami also known as vyAsa or guru pUrNimA. From

what I have read in the past, the cAturmAsya period is bracketed

by the Sayana and utthAna ekAdASi-s, where Sriman Narayana

is said to be in yOga-nidra. My pancAnga has the Sayana ekAdaSi

as the beginning the cAturmAsya vrata. Perhaps this is a slightly

different notion and does not apply to sannyAsis. If anyone can

clarify this, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Sri RR (eyetex) has sent an informative note

to the list in response to my query. He raises some questions

to which I feel obligated to reply. Please pardon this mild

digression:

 

1) I unfortunately am not a r to Sri Ranganatha Paduka

and hence did not have the chance to read any articles therein

which explain the cAturmAsya.

2) When we already have words in our own languages to express

appropriate respect, I feel it totally unnecessary to use western

titles such as "His Holiness", or "H.H." when referring to the

great sannyAsis of our tradition. What do these English titles

accomplish that the traditional words "Sri", "Srimad", "Swami",

"Jeeyar", etc., do not?

3) I do not edit any article that is sent to the list. Any article

that appears has been forwarded as it was sent to me.

4) I did not think I raised a "serious subject" -- I know of nothing

strange surrounding this issue. I am not questioning anyone's

behavior. I always presume that yativaras of such stature are

well aware of the traditions and make decisions in accordance

with them. My curiosity lies in my ignorance, not in a decision

to question someone else's judgment.

 

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Mani