Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 Srimathae Ramanujaya Namaha : Sri Seetharama Sathguruvae Namaha : Dear Bhagawadas, Please accept my humble greetings. I would request the learned members of this group to let me know the following, Can he/she belong to Sri Vaishnava sampradaya by virtue of his/her birth alone. If not so, what are the qualities that are required to state he/she belongs to Sri Vaishnava sampradaya. For example getting Panchasamaskara by beloved Acharyans etc qualifies he/she as a Sri Vaishnava. What part does birth place in this. If this topic has already been discussed I request the members to refer me to the appropriate archives. I would request the members to forgive me, if I have done any abacharam by asking such question. dasAn Badinath. D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 SrI: SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya namah: Dear Sri Badrinath, You asked a very good question. Do not feel bad to ask questions. We do not commit any apacharam by asking our doubts, however silly they are.. That is very purpose of our discussion. Only vidhaNdAvatham is not to entertained:-) You said it right.. 1. One becomes Srivaishnavan when he undergoes samasrayaNam.. (or pancha samskaram). Please read the beautiful article written by Sri Anand Karalapakkam on SamasrayaNam ( in the web site http://www.srivaishnava.org ) 2. Birth: This is where the Lord's nirhEthuka krupa comes. To be born with five sense organs; with discriminatory power, with intellect and born in a family devoted to Lord Sriman Narayanan, and also finally to think of Him and Him alone.. This is very rare as there are 101 pitfalls on the way.. 3. When one undergoes upanaynam, he becomes a brahimn; Thereafter he can learn Vedas and saasthrAs; Now- anyone from any varNa, can become a Srivaishnavan; (irresepctive of caste, creed, colour or sex. We need to have ultmost respect for all Srivaishnavas, whatever may be their birth. (without crossing the varnAsrama dharmA too). But one has to follow their respective varNAsrama dharmA (as far as pratical).. may be- we are confused. For example: One has to have respect for a fellow Srivaishnavan even if he is not a brahmin. He has devotion for Sriman Narayanan and Him alone. He has performed pancha samskaram like us; (but not upanayanam because that is not called for in his birth and in his varNA per saasthrAs). We should not think low of him at all; We should consdier him as any other Bhagawathas.. Any apacharam committed towards him is also great BhAgawatha apachAram. BUT.. we should not say this and marry his daughter.. this is where following our varNAsrama dharma per saasthrAs while having due respects towards all Srivaishnavas.. comes in.. Hope I have not confounded the confusions. Erudite scholars may add dollar vale to adiyEn's two cents' worth. Regards Narayana Narayana aDiyEn ================ Dear Bhagawadas, Please accept my humble greetings. I would request the learned members of this group to let me know the following, Can he/she belong to Sri Vaishnava sampradaya by virtue of his/her birth alone. If not so, what are the qualities that are required to state he/she belongs to Sri Vaishnava sampradaya. For example getting Panchasamaskara by beloved Acharyans etc qualifies he/she as a Sri Vaishnava. What part does birth place in this. If this topic has already been discussed I request the members to refer me to the appropriate archives. I would request the members to forgive me, if I have done any abacharam by asking such question. dasAn Badinath. D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 Dear Sri Badrinath, I believe that this issue was addressed previously. But, here is a brief synopsis that I hope will help as a start. Badrinath D wrote: > > > Can he/she belong to Sri Vaishnava sampradaya by virtue of his/her birth > alone. If not so, > what are the qualities that are required to state he/she belongs to Sri > Vaishnava sampradaya. For example getting Panchasamaskara by beloved > Acharyans etc qualifies he/she as a Sri Vaishnava. > > What part does birth place in this. > > Contrary to popular belief, one is not born a SriVaishnava. One can only become one through the receiving of the most important sacrement of our tradition, the panchasamskAram, which links the devotee through a disciplic succession to the Lotus Feet of our Divine Couple through the intercession of paramAchArya, emperumAnAr Sri Ramanuja. It also bestows one with the treasure of treasures, the rahasyatrAyam, the three sacred mantras that lead one to realization of one's true nature as a servant to the Lord and a beneficiary to His Grace and Mercy. The accessibility of Sriman Narayana is such that this ancient sacrament is made available to anyone, irrespective of race, caste, creed or gender. If there can be an advantage to birth, it is only in being blessed to being born into a family that follows SriVaishnavam, as it provides us with greater opportunity to discover the joy of receiving the AchAryan's grace through panchasamskAram. I hope this helps. adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan Mohan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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