RE: Keeping our traditions alive

[Guest guest]

[ From Sri Sampath Kumar of India ]

 

 

Emperumanar Dharshnam

 

 

Srivaishnava religion acknowledges our Lord as Emperumanar. The

name of the Lord himself, Emperumanar, was rightly conferred as

honorofic on Sri Ramanuja by his Acharya, Sri Tiru-k-kottiyur

Nambi, and this is the blessed name that connects the Srivashnava

community to the divine source and majesty of the religion. The

religion, in turn, was granted the fragrant name, Em-perumanar

dharsanam, by the Lord of Srirangam, Namperumal Himself.

 

This is the precious heritage and living message of the Sri

Vasihanava milieu which receives sustenance from the religion

which, in turn, must be protected by its followers.

 

In order to examine how far we have organised as individual

seekers and the blessed milieu, towards preserving and

transmitting to prosperity, our unique heritage, a brain-storming

session was organised on 20th August, 2000, at YGP Auditorium,

Chennai.

 

Sri U.Ve.Velukkudi Krishnan guided and co-ordinated the entire

session.

 

Even though invitations were sent to about 130 Sri Vaishnavites,

about 80 participated in the brain-storming session representing

student community/youth, Nachiyar goshty, Sri Vaishnava Journal

editors, educationists, professionals etc. The session commenced

at 0930 hours with a prayer. Thereafter, Sri Velukkudi Krishnan

briefed the participants the purpose and intent of the

brain-storming session and requested them to have a free and

frank discussion. The participants were grouped into 5 groups

and advised to discuss among themselves. After discussing among

themselves for about two hours, each group through a leader

presented their findings/conclusions. Dr. Srirama Bharathy of

Jalladampet and Sri A Krishnamachari of Sri Vaishnava Sri

distributed to the participants printed material enumerating

their suggestions.

 

The programme concluded with the summing up of the conclusions by

Sri U.Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan. He reiterated that we should not

only feel that we are Vaishnavites but should be proud to be a

Srivaishnavite. He requested that every one should endeavour and

put all efforts so that Srivaishnavism grows as beautifully

propounded by Emperumanar in his Darshanam.

 

The various suggestions which were put forth in the

brain-storming session may be seen in the Annexure.

 

 

 

A) 1. Evolving a system for making the Vaishnavite temples, especially the

Divya Desams, self-supportive

 

2. Ways and means to be worked out to redeem the temple lands and

arrangements to be made for

regular/stable income for Nithya pooja/festivals. Till this assignment,

administration of temples by individuals can be thought of.

3. Due supervision on the activities of Govt. on temple activities, the

secular approach of the

Govt. should be made extended to the Hindu temples also.

4. Avoidance of political intervention

5. People should be made to be present in temple during pooja/ festivals

etc.

6. A temple/village can be adopted to improve/renovate it to the minimum

survival level. This can be done in stages

7. Avoidance of socialization with persons who swindle temple properties

8. Vaishnavites to donate to Divya desams in the name of their

children. While naming the children efforts to be made to find out through

internet to

which Divya desam his/her name belongs and donations to be given to such Divya

Desams.

9. Local participation is important

10. Institutes to conduct orientation courses to Archakas with emphasis on

practical Tiruvaradhanam and Agama knowledge.

11. A worshippers forum to be formed at various centres with an Apex body.

12. Whenever there is violation of established customs and traditions in a

temple, it should be protested in a firm manner

 

B) 1. The Math-atipathis should shed their difference and come close

 

2. They should move and be available for the common man by avoiding

middlemen. They must secure a base .

3. They should be requested to propagate Narayana Parathathvam

4. They should concentrate on doing away with our sub-sects, and between

the

Srivaishnavas and Bhagavathas

 

5. They should maintain close tie with the families of the Sishyas and

communicate with them especially during their family functions

Acharya-Sishya sambhandam to be given prominance

6. The Sishyas of each Mutt should ascertain the number of persons

following the system of the respective Acharya.

7. Acharyas and Sishyas should consolidate the institution of

Samarshrayanam

8. Statistics on the number of Acharyas and Sishyas attached to them

should be prepared.

9. A data bank of the 74 Simmasanathipathis to be created.

10. During the festival days and Utsavams at various Divya desams and

temples, the Acharyas residing at nearby places should be invited.

 

 

 

C) 1. Parents should demonstrate the commitments to the children.

 

2. They should inculcate the spirit of $B!H(Bfeeling proud$B!I(B

about being a

$B!H(BVaishnavite$B!I(B, in children

3. Children should be induced to perform daily rituals and to wear

Samaya Chinnam like Thiruman Kappu

4. Parents should show interest in knowing more and more about our

$B!H(BSampradhayam$B!I(B so that they can answer the $B!H(B Why,

What and How $B!H(B

questions of children

5. Joint prayer by the whole family daily atleast for 15 minutes.

Chanting of Thirupallandu,

 

Nithanusandanam should be made as a daily routine.

6. Elders to arrange for one or two day festival for their and relatives

and tell them on the richness of our rich cultural heritage and the mission

of our perceptors.

7. A minimum programme to be made to be followed by youngsters like the

chanting of the

Thirupallandu, Thirupalliyezhuchi and Nithyanusandhanam

8. Parents should guide the children whenever the children are

inquisitive to know more about our values. Customs, conventions and

developments to be made known to the children

9. Youngsters to be induced to perform the rituals like Sandhyavandhanam

10. Women folk to be brought into the scene and utilised as a force for

propagation

11. Male domination in Sri vaishnavism to be reduced

12. Ladies to be encouraged to sing during the time of Sathumurai in

temples

13. Elders should teach the children repeatedly without hurting their

feelings.

14. Youngsters should be taught the dress-code while going to temple etc.

 

D) 1. Traditional learning to be stopped and Vaishnavism to be simplified in

tune with the modern times

 

2. Formal education on vaishnavism to be given recognition .

Organisations like $B!H(BThe Hindu$B!I(B , $B!H(BTVS groups$B!I(B

to consider atleast four

persons with Diploma/degree on Vaishnavism in

addition to their academic qualification, for placement

3. Vernacular/English edition of our literature to be made available.

Also the existing literature should be readily and easily reach the common

man

4. Principles of Vaishnavism should be included in structural education

like that of Ahobilam Mutt Oriental School.

5. Compulsory syllabus in school about Alwars/Acharyas

6. B.A. Vaishnavism to be offered as a correspondence course

7. Study materials to spread the message for kindergarten level upwards

to be prepared.

8. Booklets written in simple language in mother tongue and in English

to be distributed at cost price.

9. Life history or Alwars and Acharyas with suitable pictures to be

distributed at cost price.

 

10. Establishment of a College in the name of Sri Ramanuja as As a

nucleas for Sri Ramanuja University before 2017.

11. A research institute for development of Upayavedanta literature

12. To establish a college of Vishishtavaita similar to BA, MA, MBA, MCA.

13. To undertake research on different aspects of Vishistavaita

philosophy.

14. To collect all available material from different sources and prepare

a good monograph

15. To undertake a study of the origin and development of various maths

and institutions.

16. To conduct an historical and cultural study of Sri Vasihanava Shrines

17. Translation of publications into different languages

18. To create a world wide web (internet) for spreading the message of

Sri Ramanuja$B!G(Bs philosophy.

19. The message of Ramanuja to be spread through music, drama and dance.

20. Educating the adult through audio cassettes and books

 

 

E) 1. To use the Cassettes/CDs in creating awareness

 

2. Volunteers to be identified in each locality to undertake preaching.

People in each area to be made to assemble for exchange of views.

3. Mass propaganda meetings relating to Alwars/Acharyas to be conducted

in common place at regular intervals.

4. Discourses to be arranged to focus on Vaishnavism and Ramanuja and

the rationale behind Vaishnavism to be explained to the common man in

lucid language

5. On occasions like marriage booklets on $B!H(BNalayira Divya

Prabandham$B!I(B

to be given as gift.

6. Communcation channel to be established and a data-base to be created

7. Hinduism and Vaishnavism to be segregated

8. Establishing an exclusive TV channel to propagate

Vaishnavism

 

9. Tours to be organised to such places where Shri Ramanuja visited/stayed

during his

holy mission of spreading Vaishnavism

 

10. A documentary film on Shri Ramanuja$B!G(Bs teachings to be shown in

schools

11. Shri Ramanuja$B!G(Bs preachings incribed on the walls in the prakarams

of

temples to be translated into Tamil so that the message goes into the minds

of many who visit Sriperumbudur more so, with the sudden upsurge in the

number of devotees who visit the place for

Sarpadosha Nivaranam

 

12. Establishment of Health centres & Patashalas in Nava Thirupathis and at

other Divya desams.

13. Registration of all Vaishna Sabhas under one head.

14. Dramas to be enacted, depicting the life of

Alwars/Acharyas.

 

15. Class barriers should be removed and also should be encouraged to

participate in Sathumurai etc.

16. Spreading of Nalayiradivyaprabhantham throughout the

Universe.

 

17. Formation of a central body to co-ordinate the activities of various

institutions/foundations/sabhas etc.