Social Services and Sri Vaishnavism: part I

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs : Dr.Sadanand and Sriman Rajagopalan

and other BhakthAs have posted insightful articles on

the subject.This is a very important subject .The subject

is not confined to Sri VaishNavaas alone but it is

valid for all VadhikAs , who accept Vedham for

their different darsanams.

 

VedAs have given a lot of attention to this Subject.

Sri AgnihOthram RaamAnuja TataachAriAr , a great Vedhic

scholar has published a valuable book called" Eternal

Relevance of VedhAs " ..TT DevasthAnams published this

book in 1985. I recommend it to you highly.There are 12

chapters in this book. The following four chapters have

a lot of relevance to our subject matter on Social

services (Obligations) of any one . More so for VaidhikAs,

who believe in Vedhams . These four chapters with ample

quotations from Samhithais are :

 

1) Consciousness of DharmA

2) Creation of Social Consciousness

3) Political Consciousness

4) Economic Cosciousness

 

I will refer to some passages from these chapters

to serve as food for thought :

 

** Dharma , Artha ,Kaama and Moksha are the Four

PurushArthAs ( Life-aims). Among them , Dharma

comes first because it permeates in the other

Three. ..Dharma means a way of life, to be followed

here in this life. In its essence, it means discipline.

VedhAs say:

 

" DharmO visvasya Jagatha: pratishtha:

DharmE Sarvam prathisthitham ".

(i-e)., The entire world civilization is rooted in Dharmam.

 

** Coming to discipline(Dharmam ) , VedhAs focus on it

under the titles of Rtam , Vrata .Violation of Dharma is

equivalent to violation of Divine Law. Dharma is classified

under Svadharma discussed by Lord Krishna ( SvadharmE nidhanam

srEya: paradharmO bhayaavaha:). Lord Krishna warns that

human beings must strictly follow their dharmas , even if

they injure them.He says further that following one's

prescribed duties is itself a worship of God.

 

** All dharmAs are taken as Character and conduct also.

They are termed as CharanAs ( Ways of Life). From

the practical point of view , Dharma is taken as CharaNA .

The Famous sambhAvanA manthram dealing with "CharaNam "

contains deep upadEsams on the Vedhic way of life ,

character and social consciousness, service to fellow

human beings. This Vedha manthram is as follows:

 

" Charanam pavithram vitatam purANam yEna pUtas

tarathi dushkruthAni tena pavitrEna suddhEna

pUta: athi pApmAnam aratim tarEma , lOkasya

dvAram archimat pavithram jyOthishmat bhrAjamAnam

amruthasya dhArA bahudhA dOhamAnAm charaNAn nO lOke

sudhithAm dhadAthu "

 

(Meaning): " Character is purifier . It is extended to

all walks of life and it is ever new (PurANam: PurApi

navam is purANam according to Niruktham). By following

good character, one can cross all bad actions. Purified by

such character , one can cross even the sins . It is

the entrance gate of life. It is always shining, having

a lustre. It can give glory and immortality in many ways.

Such CharaNAa must bestow upon us good thinking".

 

This lack of character results in tragedy that kills

knowledge and good thinking (Paapa: prajAnAm nAsayathi).

Character makes man a divine being worthy of worship

because one with good character and anushtAnam

protects himself and othrs also . A man with rtham

leading a dharmic way of life inspired by character

(Charana) ultimately attains Moksham , while helping

others .

 

I will provide additional thoughts for reflection

on Social consciousness , duties to fellow humans

from Sri AgnihOthram RaamAnuja TatAchAr's monograph

in the next posting.

 

V.Sadagopan