social service and SrIvaishNavam

[Guest guest]

> whatever motivation), does a single Sri Vaishnava

> group

> gather able-bodied youth and go do humanitarian

> service work in a Dalit (or any) downtrodden or

> impoverished village?

 

There are a few examples of the above. srI tridaNdi

srIman nArAyaNa rAmAnuja jIyar svAmi is one of

the srIvaishNava AchAryAs that have very actively

promoted social service along with prayer. He has

set up an organization called vikAsatarangini (that

has been in existence for a few years now), whose

members are primarily youth, and the main purpose

is social service.

In Andhra, this group is quite active in rural

areas, where it conducts medical camps, literacy

camps very frequently with HH jIyar svAmi present

as his schedule permits. In chennai, the local

branch has adopted a slum and works with them to

keep it hygenic and works with the parents to

send the children to school. Also, during cyclones

and other natural disasters, vikAsatarangini in AP

is quite active in the affected areas. After the

gujarat earthquake, HH jIyar svAmi has commenced

work on building a colony for the affected - houses,

trees, community center etc - more details of this

specific activity is on www.chinnajeeyar.org

 

Similarly in TN, HH srI azhagiya maNavALa jIyar

svAmi has set up (and is setting up one more)

free dispensaries for the poor, irrespective of

casst/creed/religion. Doctors volunteer their time,

and medical companies normally donate most of

the common medicine.

 

It is indeed unfortunate though that the *key*

message of srIvaishNavam has been pretty much reduced

to nothing over the years due to whatever reason.

AzhvArs explicitly state social service (bhAgavata

kainkaryam - thirumangai AzhvAr describes a bhAgavata

as one that does not have hate towards perumAL

explicitly - i.e. everyone, for the most part is a

bhAgavatha, even if he is an agnostic) - in fact,

the key message of the AzhvArs is this -

"Do not worry about your own future - perumAL will

take care of u after ur life - while you are here,

spend your time performing service to Him (enjoying

His anubhavams), and His devotees (social service)".

 

Unfortunately, as a whole community, we seem to have

missed the whole point. When we talk about religion,

most of us seem to ask "How can I attain salvation,

and what is it that I can do to get that", rather than

"How can I use the faculties given by the Lord to

serve His devotees".

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

Varadhan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Respected Members:

 

In this context, I already posted an article in which I forgot

to mention one important thing we do in day-to-day life, that

is while reciting pasurams in Satrumurai, there comes this line

at the end, "Kadal Suzhntha Mannulagam vazha..", which

reiterates the point that Social cause is the prime concern in

SriVaishnavism.

 

Thanks,

 

Sri Ramanuja Dasan,

Ramanan Rajagopalan

 

iruppidam vaikundham vEnkatam * mAlirunchOlaiyennum

poruppidam mAyanuk enbar nallOr * avai thannodum van

thiruppidam mAyan irAmAnusan manathinRavan van

thiruppidam * enRan idhayaththuLLE thanakkinpuRavE.

[Guest guest]

I fully agree with Sri Varadhan when he says "Unfortunately, as a whole

community, we seem to have

missed the whole point."

 

I also agree with Sri. Mani about the need to discuss and "fully explore the

notion of kainkarya and dharma".

 

External appearance and routine follow-up on religious dictates alone

cannot/does not make a true Sri Vaishnava. How we approach other people and

instances in this material life counts, in my humble opinion, very much towards

whether we all *actually* are doing kaimkaryam to the Lord.

 

This has raised a question inside me. Is there anything in the pancha samskaram

that talks about how we should "behave" and "act" in a dharmic fashion? How

come pre-qualifications do not exist in terms of "voluntary service to

mankind/humanity" as a requirement, before some one can even get

"Samashrayanam". If I recall, even Scouts have to help a few people before they

can move up in the hierarchy.

 

My apologies if my questions appear irreverent.

 

adiyEn,

Rajesh Elayavalli

 

 

 

 

_____

Fri, 6 Jul 2001 21:01:47 -0700 (PDT)

<tavaradhan

social service and SrIvaishNavam

 

> whatever motivation), does a single Sri Vaishnava

> group

> gather able-bodied youth and go do humanitarian

> service work in a Dalit (or any) downtrodden or

> impoverished village?

 

There are a few examples of the above. srI tridaNdi

srIman nArAyaNa rAmAnuja jIyar svAmi is one of

the srIvaishNava AchAryAs that have very actively

promoted social service along with prayer. He has

set up an organization called vikAsatarangini (that

has been in existence for a few years now), whose

members are primarily youth, and the main purpose

is social service.

In Andhra, this group is quite active in rural

areas, where it conducts medical camps, literacy

camps very frequently with HH jIyar svAmi present

as his schedule permits. In chennai, the local

branch has adopted a slum and works with them to

keep it hygenic and works with the parents to

send the children to school. Also, during cyclones

and other natural disasters, vikAsatarangini in AP

is quite active in the affected areas. After the

gujarat earthquake, HH jIyar svAmi has commenced

work on building a colony for the affected - houses,

trees, community center etc - more details of this

specific activity is on www.chinnajeeyar.org

 

Similarly in TN, HH srI azhagiya maNavALa jIyar

svAmi has set up (and is setting up one more)

free dispensaries for the poor, irrespective of

casst/creed/religion. Doctors volunteer their time,

and medical companies normally donate most of

the common medicine.

 

It is indeed unfortunate though that the *key*

message of srIvaishNavam has been pretty much reduced

to nothing over the years due to whatever reason.

AzhvArs explicitly state social service (bhAgavata

kainkaryam - thirumangai AzhvAr describes a bhAgavata

as one that does not have hate towards perumAL

explicitly - i.e. everyone, for the most part is a

bhAgavatha, even if he is an agnostic) - in fact,

the key message of the AzhvArs is this -

"Do not worry about your own future - perumAL will

take care of u after ur life - while you are here,

spend your time performing service to Him (enjoying

His anubhavams), and His devotees (social service)".

 

Unfortunately, as a whole community, we seem to have

missed the whole point. When we talk about religion,

most of us seem to ask "How can I attain salvation,

and what is it that I can do to get that", rather than

"How can I use the faculties given by the Lord to

serve His devotees".

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

Varadhan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Sri Ramanujaya namah:

Sri Nigamahantha Desikaya namah:

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha pramatmane parabrahmane namah:

 

My Respectfull Obeisences to all tthe bhagavatha's

 

Service to mankind, is , has and always being followed

by the sri vaishnava community,but only the identity

is not being revealed.

 

Sri Vaishnavas service the mankind and do not exhibit

their doings

 

The first and foremost that comes in terms of service

to mankind is thru satisfying one's hunger and it is

very prevelant that various sri vaishnava communities

get along in doing the nitya annadhana scheme.

they also assist in educating the public masses by

running various schools and colleges

 

Regarding the question

Is there

> anything in the pancha samskaram that talks about

> how we should "behave" and "act" in a dharmic

> fashion?

 

yes.. a person having undergone samashrayanam has to

certainly abide by the rulesof the veda's

and the veda's very clearly state how we have to

behave with other persons.

 

The qualities of a brahmana are very well defined,it

is defined that a person being brahmana, should

restrain himself from anger, jealousy, selfishness,

egosity, and should be humble, pleasing and should

lead a simple life.

 

if these are followed in strict adherence , then there

would be no humililation or improper behaviour.

 

this certainly means that a person who behaves

improperly , although undergone the process of

samashrayanam , is incomplete and lacks the guna's to

be called as a true Sri vaishnava.

 

and as everyone knows , none other the lord Sri

Narayana is perfect, so let us not blame whether a

person is behaving properly or not, but pray the lord

to give us the right attitude and the knowledge to

seek his holy feet.

 

Sri:

Adiyen

Sridhar

[Guest guest]

First my pranaams to all.

 

I have been reading all the mails related to the topic. I would like

to share my views on this. If my views drastically differs from many

in the list my apologies.

 

First I want to separate the two issues here- social service and

SrivaishNavam, since the connection is in the attitude of the server

and not in the service.

 

A human being is said to have incurred three fundamental R^iNa-s or

obligations. (a) Deva R^ina, (b) pitR^i R^iNa and © Acharya R^iNa.

This is universally applicable irrespective of whether one is a

SrivaishhNavate or not.

 

Deva R^iNa is fulfilled by returning back (with interest) what have

been given freely to each of us. Krishna discusses this aspect

beautifully in the Third chapter of Giita. Deva means the one who

gives. Our scriptures have personified all the phenomenal forces in

the form of deities. A mother's womb is provided with all the

nourishments when we were still growing up from unicellular to

complex human being. As soon as we came out of the womb in a

helpless state, there is milk available that is conducive to our

growth, air to breath, water to drink, abundant fruits and

vegetables in the nature - the nature always gives in abundance. It

is we with selfishness and greediness try to destroy this nature

disturbing the ecology. Here deva includes the nation that gave us a

birth and shelter - that includes where we have grown and where we

are living- most of us the Bharat Maata, mother India, by providing

the education and the supporting society for us to grow as healthy

and intelligent human beings. It is said that our country spends

thousands of Rupees in one form the other in educating us. Returning

back to the society with interest is what Deva R^iNa is all about.

It is an obligation and not really a service that we need to do.

What I have is His gift and what I do with what I have is my gift

back to Him. What I can give my best, whether physically,

financially, intellectually and/or morally is what I have to give

back to the society. Service is in the attitude with which I return

what I borrowed or used from the society. When I borrow money from

the bank for mortgage and when I start paying back monthly, I am not

really serving the bank - Paying back what I borrowed is not a

service but a duty - It is not for name and fame but fulfilling an

obligation. Hence it is called Dharma which involves karma. Since

unlike the bank the society does not demand, when I fulfill my

obligation, I should have proper attitude of a servant - Hence

correct attitude what society really is puts a proper frame of mind

in fulfilling my obligation to the society. That is where

SrivaishhNavam can help for a SrivaishhNavate.

 

PitR^i R^iNa is the obligation to the parents and the fore-fathers.

If we look back, we can recognize how much of personal sacrifices

they have made in order to bring us up as decent human beings.

pitR^i R^iNa is not just propagating the species- any animal will do

that. What is involved is to pass it on the culture and tradition

that our fathers and fore-fathers have passed it on to generations to

come. Traditions and culture, one need to understand. When we

understand we adopt them to the changing society and times, without

loosing sight of the spirit behind these. If we do not understand

them we blindly follow out of sentiments rather than from the spirit.

That is the time when most of the rational youngsters revolt seeing

things we do without understanding why we do what we do. Some argue

that even if we do not not understand we need to follow - like child

does not need to know why some thing is good for the child, it is

enough if he follows the instructions of his mother. That is true as

long as we remain as a child. But when the rational intellect starts

questioning, it becomes important to understand and then follow what

is to be followed and reject what is to be rejected.

 

Hence the fulfilling these obligations involved correct understanding

and adopting to the needs. We as Hindus have been blessed with

traditions and culture that our fore-fathers have passed it on to

generations to come. It becomes our obligation to study them, learn

and understand and pass it on to the next generation. If you go to

India and observe, one can see how rapidly the young society is

getting degraded by the disco music and with A to Z-TV. What can one

do to arrest this degradation - If we do not act, we fail in our

obligation to our fore-fathers.

 

The last one is Acharya R^iNa. This is not just physical service to

the teacher nor just doing paada puuja or paaduka puuja. These are

symbolic and important to set a proper frame of mind, but not all in

all. What is involved is 1) to understand the teachings and put that

into practice and 2) pass on the knowledge gained from the teacher to

next, by setting ourselves as examples. Our life itself should be a

teaching to our children, because children learn from what we do than

what we teach them to do. If we teach them not to lie but when we

ourselves lie then it is hypocrisy. They also learn just that.

Hence aacharya R^ina is not simple - one has to do aachaarya or

practice what we have learned. Here also it is not blindly following

some rituals - it is leaning, understanding and adopting the essence

of the teaching. Otherwise we will be passing it on only time-rotten

sentimental values than knowledge that is the essence of the

teaching. One should have sentiments but one should not be

sentimental. That will cloud the intellect.

 

Now coming back to service, if we do our three obligatory duties that

itself is the service. But to have the correct attitude of service,

we need to have a proper frame of mind. For that we need to bring

Iswara into picture. Then only karma or dharma becomes a yoga,

yoking the mind to the higher. This is where Srivaishnavam will

help. Vishnu means one who pervades everything. In every action,

three things are involved - kartaa, karma and kriya. He pervades

all. If I have the correct understanding of the nature of the Lord,

then I will have proper attitude in my obligatory duties. As a kartaa

- I should have an understanding that whatever I am able to do is

only because of His grace and His presence in me. Since action

involves my interaction with the world around where He pervades, I

should recognize His presence all around. Every set up or scene of

action involves, besides myself and the changing environment, and His

changeless presence. Hence I cannot get away from His presence even

if I want to! Every obligatory action becomes a prayer to Him

provided I have that understanding that He pervades everything. How

can I be mean to anybody, jealous of any body, unkind to anybody or

should I say any being - Yo mam pasyati sarvatra, sarvanca mayi

pasyati, tasya ahma na praNasyaami sa cha me na praNasyati. Who sees

Me everywhere and who sees everything in Me, He will never be away

from Me or I from Him. If I have that understanding, then all my

duties become a prayer to Him - In that case whatever I do, I will do

my best since it is offered as kainkaryam at the feet of the Lord.

That is where Srivaishnavam comes since He is sarva vyaapakaH

vishhNuH. I am a father, mother, son, brother, sister, neighbor,

employee, citizen etc- these are the changing roles that I play

everyday and during my life time. But He is also there in every role

behind the scene. My relation ship with my daughter, son, wife,

husband, brother and employee are temporal but in all these

relationships there is a fundamental relationship that remains in all

these relationships and that is my relationship to Him - I cannot but

be a full-time devotee. My devotee relationship is not temporal

since He is there in every relationship. Hence when I play the role

of a husband - I am a husband plus a devotee - devotee plus husband

becomes a devoted husband. Devotee plus a son becomes a devoted son.

A devoted brother, a devoted neighbor, a devoted employee and a

devoted citizen. Every role I play becomes devoted play that

involves kainkaryam to the Lord as a devotee. That means I have to do

my best in every action. That is when all my obligatory duties

become not just duties but service to the Lord. Lord does not need

our service, but it is my obligation to pay back my three R^iNa-s and

my attitude in the action makes it as a service to the Lord. It is

the understanding and recognition that reflects in my attitude in

performing my obligatory actions or duties.

 

I become a true vaishnavate when I recognize His presence and perform

all my obligatory duties as service to Him. That, as I understand,

is the essence of charama slokam too.

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

 

 

 

 

--

K. Sadananda

Code 6323

Naval Research Laboratory

Washington D.C. 20375

Voice (202)767-2117

Fax:(202)767-2623

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

>

>I wonder why u are not aware of the fact that

>annadhanam is being made in

>almost all DD irrespective of caste creed or color,

>when the necessity arises.

>and in most of the places it is made daily to the

>needy

 

To the best of my knowledge Anadhanam is a 7/24/365 ritual in

only very few places and most of them are in AP not TN. Bulk of the money

for these activities comes from Non SriVaishnavas.

>

>If a common practise of allowing all the people to

>have food daily in the math premises

>is made , then we ourselves are making them lazy.

>

>From what I have seen, the real HAVE NOTS do not simply come in ,

eat, wash and walk off. But I have seen many SriVaishnavas doing that.

On top of that they make unwanted criticisms on the environs, food, people

etc.., The HAVE NOTS after eating do chores like cutting fire wood, cleaning

up the place etc.., I know of an incident were a bunch of them erected an

entire building in less than 30 days to accommodate head of a Mutt. This

they did in a remote place cut off by rising floods.

>India is a place where everyone could do some sort of

>job to survive.

>it is place filled with oppurtionities.

>

>As the lord in Sri Bhagavad Gita tells, one has to do

>his duties too correctly,

>so being a commoner, it is his duty to work and earn .

>if we make a practise of feeding them on day to day

>basis,

>we are not only spoiling them but also moving against

>the teachings of the GIta

>

 

But the same Lord also says that we should help each other.

HE created differences in wealth, knowledge, status etc.., not only

based on one's karma palan but also to see how best we mortals try to

establish a balance.

 

 

One cannot expect to convert or revert criticisms by merely asserting ones

staunchest beliefs. To meet these ends, one must be prepared to go the whole

length of testing and verification by accepted and accredited methods.

 

Rajagopalan, Srinivasan

 

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