chaaturvarnam......

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Priya Bhagawatas,

Asmadsrigurubhyonamaha!

Srimathay Ramanujayanamaha !

Srimathay Narayanayanamaha !

Regarding the reference to "Chaaturvarnam Mayaa srushtam........." from

Srimadbhagawadgita, our revered Acharya

Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamii

clarifies basically as Deva (Agni, ... Indra....Brahma.....etc),

Manushya(Human beings), Tiryak(animals, insects etc) and

Sthaavaram(immobile things like trees, mountains, etc). Out of all the

varnams Manushya is supposed to be the junction point from which one

goes to any of the other three varnams in the next birth, based on his

deeds in this birth and the status of mind at the time of exit or can

even get out of these chaaturvarnam if does saranagati to Lord

Srimannarayana through his Acharya lineup.

 

As far as Srivaishnava philosophy of Sri Bhagawad Ramanuja and the

acharya lineup the only caste(kulam) one needs to adopt is

prapannakulam and the religion (matham or school of thought) one should

adopt is BhagawadRamanuja matham irrespective of his birth

(kulam/matham) to steer clear of one's cycle of births and deaths.

But as far as the eligibility to perform vedic rituals, one needs to be

born in eligible Brahmin family for quick adherence to do's and don'ts

necessary to perform the same. Similarly other professions like

carpentry, pottery, goldsmithy etc one can adapt faster if born in that

family rather than an outsider. Though it is not wrong in changing

profession but it takes more time(if not impossible) to get proficiency

in alien trades. Similarly our acharyas say that people from one

profession need not discard their own profession but can learn the

techniques of the other profession.. Our system also is built

accordingly since ages. But all professions/trades have their own

importance and nothing is inferior to another as all are required for

the benefit of humankind and nature.

 

Thus though people are born in various kulams/mathams everybody can

adhere to one's own trade as far as physical karmas/actions are

concerned but for eternal bliss everybody should finally adapt to

prapannakulam and Bhagawadramanuja matham by dedicating all his actions

to Lord Sri Krishna as demanded/commanded/advised/requested by Him in

Srimadbhagawadgita

"Yatkarosi yadasnasi yajjuhosi dadasiyat

yattapasyasi kownteya tatkurushva madarpanam" (9-27)

 

"Whatever thou doest, whatever thou eatest, whatever thou sacrificest,

whatever thou give in whatever austerity thou engagest, do it as an

offering to Me. Whatever thou doest of thy own accord (i.e not enjoined

in the sastra) and whatever thou offerest in sacrifice as enjoined in

the sruti or the smriti, whatever thou givest such things as gold to the

brahmanas .and others,do all that as an offering to Me. Now listen as

to what will accrue to you doing thus:

Thus shalt thou be liberated from the bonds of actions which are

productive of good and evil results; equipped in mind with the Yoga of

renunciation, and liberated, thou shalt come to Me." (courtesy

Multimedia book on Srimadbhagawadgita, ISRA)

 

Jaisrimannarayana

 

Dr.Kilambi Ramakrishna Ramanuja Dasan