why not to cross the ocean?

[Guest guest]

Dear friend:

You have already received a lot of inputs. Hope I may also add a word or

two.

Dear friend:

The reason why “crossing the Ocean” is considered taboo are as follows:

1. In the olden days the only mode of transport normally was by the sea

route which took months on end to reach a “port of entry” in another land.

If during the travel any death (Aasoucham) took place in the vessel, the

death rites (pretha SamskAram), and the other ceremonies (Apara prayOgams)

could not be performed. More importantly, ParamaikAntins could not perform

the daily TiruvArAdhana to the Lord without first completing the other

ceremonies. Nothing could be a greater anguish to them than the loss of this

privilege- “kainkaryasri”.

 

(I have heard that even in a household where a death had taken place, the

performance of Nityakarma of SandhyAvandanam cannot be skipped under any

circumstances. I am mentioning this because someone had asked a question on

non-performance of SandhyAvandanam during inconvenient times. I will post a

separate note in reply to this)

 

2. The human wastes were being dropped into the sea polluting the waters of

the Ocean considered in the scriptures to be very holy.

 

In fact, long ago, one of my great grand uncles, Sri T.S.S.Rajan of

Srirangam (who was the Health Minister in Sri C. Rajagopalachari’s Cabinet)

was excommunicated for going to England for higher studies.

 

In the recent past, I heard that one of the Pontiffs of Udipi mutt who

visited U.S.A. faced similar problems on his return to India. (I am not sure

of the facts or details. I am subject to correction)

 

When I discussed this issue with our AchAryas, I presented the following

arguments:

1. If all that lies south of Meru mountain (merO: dakshiNe pArsve) is

considered ‘BhAratha varsha”, a place like U.S.A for instance, falls within

its ambit and what objection can there be in visiting it?

2. If the name VishNu means that He pervades the entire universe and beyond

both within and without, did He exclude a place like U.S.A? If not, why this

objection?

3. When Trivikrama measured the three worlds, did He exclude a place like

U.S.A? If not, why this objection?

4. These objections are no more valid because nowadays we fly by plane which

can take us to a “port of entry” in the matter of a few hours and the

Aasoucha ceremonies can be done almost within hours making them free to

resume their routine TiruvArAdhanas.

5. Also, the human wastes are emptied out on reaching the land and no

pollution occurs to the seawaters.

 

They gave a very convincing reply:

All Vaidheekas are expected to bathe only in bodies of waters like those of

a river or lake or tank or well. They were deemed to forfeit their

brahminsm, if they resorted to bathing in tap water or water taken out

through bore pump etc. While this is applicable to all Vaidheekas, it is

more so in the case of SannyAsis for whom a stricter code of conduct is

prescribed vide, for example, “yathi dharma samuchchaya”. Even today, the

first question our AchAryas ask when someone invites them to visit their

homes (PonnaDi sAthuthal), is to enquire whether well water would be

available in their place.

 

They added that should waters as above were not available during long

journeys (even on land), SandhyAvandanam cannot be skipped but could be

performed with the help of tender coconut water which is considered pure and

unsullied. But, the bathing part of it had naturally no alternative.

 

Sri Raghavan of Chicago was mentioning that when he approached 44th Pattam

Azhagiyasinghar for permission to go to USA for studies, the AchArya

remarked “Periya ThiruvaDiyE pOyAchu, unakkenna aatchEbam?” meaning “Even

GaruDAzhwAr has gone to America, why not you” obviously referring to the

bald eagle, the national bird of America.

 

May be some AchAryas in our very own SampradAyam, who visit frequently

foreign countries may be able to explain whether there is any exception to

this restriction and if so under what authority.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear BhaktAs,

 

Some time ago Adiyen had the bhAgyam of meeting

a great Vishnava belonging to mAdhwA school.

He quoted a slokam which goes like this:

 

Sri Bhagavaanuvacha:

mlechcha dEShESuchouvApi chakrAnko yatra thishTathi

yojnAni taTha threeNI mamakshetram vasundharou.

 

Here PerumaAl has declared that even if it is a foreign

country and when everything is impure.. If there is any

chakranka (Saligramam) an area of three yojanAs around

it is considered as My Kshetram.

I dont know the source for this slokam.I request dear

BhAgavathAs to educate/correct me.

 

SrimannArayana dAsaha

Suresh