Re Castiesm

[Guest guest]

Poojya Swamin. I hope you wouldn't mind me joining the

discussion in this regard. I submit at the outset,

that I am a Satthatha Sri Vaishnava, a Mudaliar by

birth. As a Sri Vaishnavaite, I have not faced any

discrimination, which I can say "satyam satyam puna

satyam, udhruthya pujamuchyathe!".

 

When I got involved in Sri Vaishnavaite philosophy in

1988 and I just prayed to Sriman Narayana for

initiating me by having Pancha Samskaram done through

a sattvika acharya, I did not know anybody. The kindly

God led me to Sri Sudarsanar Swamy of Puthur

Agraharam, Trichy, who publishes Sri Vaishnava

Sudarsanam magazine. My request was followed up by Sri

Sudarsanar Swamy and Sri U.Ve. Prathivadi Bhayankaram

Srinivasacharya swamy of Thirunangur kindly consented

to have me as a Sishya. I was and am the only

non-brahmin Sishya of the Thirumaligai. By this kind

act, my Swamy gave me punarjanmam and through his

kindness, definite moksham, which I definitely would

not be entitled considering my backload of sins and

sins only. Even during our celebrations of our

Poorvacharya, Sri Prathivathi Bhayankaram Anna, our

Swamy would ask me to sit by his side while having

food, so that no discrimination is made. All the other

sishyas have accepted me as one of their own. Even

whenI go to temples, due to Lord's mercy and my

Swamy's association, I get a heartfull darshan and

blessings of Swamys. However, I always remember one

thing - certain things are required of brahmins only

and one should not interfere in such things unless

specifically asked to do so. My Swamy, when he

completed Pancha Samskaram for me and my wife, blessed

us and said the following which is still fresh in mind

and I always remember this and pray to God that I

shall always act by it: " You have got bhakti and have

done prapatti with the blessings of Sri Manavala

Mamunigal and Sri Emperumarar. In due course, you will

find many born-Sri Vaishnavaites not following their

tenets. At that time, you should always remember the

incident of Sri Hanuman being unable be defeated by

the rakshasas of Sri Lanka, was bound by brahmastra of

Indrajit and still the rakshasas, not trusting the

brahmasatra, tied him in ropes. Hanuman realised that

brahmastra went away and he could get himself released

any time. It was because brahmastra does not relish

any other utility with it. Similarly, prapatti does

not go with ego. If ego develops, prapatti will vanish

like brahmastra."

 

Having born in a non-Sri Vaishnavaite family, I still

could not believe myself, as to how Sri Thondaradipodi

Alwar blessed me and initiated me in the renovation of

his divya desam - thiru mandangudy- in 1994, a person

who was born in chennai/kancheepuram and was not

associated with Kumbakonam territory till then. The

love and affection of many other Sri Vaishnavas bind

me for ever. Hence in our Sri Vaishnavaite philosophy,

Icould say with authority, that "our pandai kulam" is

not considered at all, with the caveat that every one

should know their limitations - not enter into

terrirory of the upanayam-initiated vedic dvijas. It

is Sriman Narayanan's dictat.

Iam sorry for this very long message. I just couldn't

bear with myself once I started this. Please forgive

me for any intransgiencies inadvertently done- adiyen

Selva narana ramanujan.

 

 

 

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