Re; neo-Sadhus

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Sadagopan Mama, and other Respected Members and Friends:

 

Due to an unfortunate coincidence, I have learned that

my previous post in this thread has hurt the feelings of

many well-meaning members, particularly in the sishya-community

of Srimad Azhagiya Singar. There apparently is some current

controversy over precisely the same section of Swami Desika's

"Sankalpa Suryodaya" that I quoted in my message, a controversy

which I was *completely* unaware of until I personally spoke

to Sri Sadagopan yesterday in response to his email. After

talking at length with Sri Sadagopan, I fully understand

his anguish and that of fellow sishyas, and I deeply regret

any hurt feelings I have caused. I want to make it absolutely

clear that my comments were not made with any jIyar-svAmi of our

sampradaya in mind, certainly not Srimad Azhagiya Singar, and I

had no hidden implications or message between the lines. I had

only wished to share an ironic and beautiful sloka from Swami Desika

that a great Desika bhakta (late Sri C.S. Krishnamurthy of Mandaveli,

Madras) had pointed out to me a few years ago.

 

I am very sorry if it appeared that I was implicating any acharya of

Bhagavad Ramanuja sampradAya, all of whom to my knowledge are

performing their kainkaryams selflessly and fully in the spirit

of dharma.

 

To return to the original point -- there are Swamis in this day

and age who bear the external signs of godliness and renunciation, but

who actually are slaves of wealth or sensuality in some form or another.

There are neo-Hindu Swamis who preach renunciation and dispassion

while simultaneously lining their pockets with cash. They bear

the external signs of renunciation -- typically the saffron

robe, ash or kumkum, shaved head, matted hair or unusual hairstyles,

etc., -- but internally they remain slaves of money, often used for

their own personal needs. We need to be vigilant about *these* kinds

of sadhus, and it's not very hard to do so.

 

The acharyas of Bhagavad Ramanuja sampradAya, as well as most

sannyasis of other orthodox Vaidika traditions, are almost to

a person in a totally different class from the aforementioned Swamis.

Here I must make special mention of Srimad Azhagiya Singar.

While some of the so-called Swamis spend their nights dreaming about

money, I am convinced that Srimad Azhagiya Singar only dreams

about how next he can serve Sri Malola Narasimhan. The demanding,

selfless schedule he leads has to be understood to get a feel for

what true Vaidika sannyasis go through. (There was a fine post a few

years back by Sri Jaganath Bharadwaj detailing his first-hand account

of the daily routine of Srimad Azhagiya Singar -- well worth reading).

 

I recall the last time I had the good fortune of darsana

of Sri Malolan and Srimad Azhagiya Singar. It was during Maargazhi

of 1999-2000. Because of the month, Srimad Azhagiya Singar had

to get up particularly early and perform all the anushThAnams

and ArAdhanams required, as well as see the countless sishyas

who seek audience with him in Madras. Yet, he would still lecture

on Tiruppavai to an enthusiastic crowd late into the night in

Mylapore. It is truly remarkable that at such an advanced age

that the acharya would have so much energy, nay, so much will

to share knowledge with eager sishyas. This kind of self-sacrifice,

I feel, is remarkable and such things help one decide the true

character of a given acharya.

 

On a general note, I beseech members to judge everything and

everyone for themselves and at face value. Please don't let

rumor, innuendo, and implication be your guide. Particularly

in the case of our acharyas, there apparently is much gossip,

most of it false, and all of it extremely difficult to hear.

Unfortunately, accusations and counter-accusations abound in

our little Sri Vaishnava community. Let's each try to do our

part to rid our greater community of it.

 

With apologies and regrets once again for any misunderstanding,

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

Mani

[Guest guest]

Dear Mani:

 

Thanks very much for your thoughtful note.

I appreciate it very much.

 

Let us leave these matters now behind and

move on with Bhagavath-BhAgavatha-AchArya

Kaimkaryams .

 

With all best wishes,

V.Sadagopan