confusion - (Also request to ProfVK)

[Guest guest]

Namaste Nirmalji and Sureshji:

 

First thanks for your feedback and valuable comments on the course of

this list. You have raised two important issues which needs further

discussion and also inputs from other members. I know you both

personally and you are both very knowledgeable on the 'value of

Gitasatsangh,' and I am counting on your active participation in the

satsangh. Your participation can certainly bring new insights and

greater understanding of the the message of Gitacharya.

 

Now let me turn my attention to the two issues that you have raised.

The first is the posting of 'Tirumarai Series by Sri Subramaniam,'

and the second a posting on 'Hindu Varna system' by Sri Venki.

 

 

In Shivaism, surrender to Shiva is equivalent to self-realization. In

Vaishnavism, surrender to Vishnu is equivalent to self-realization.

Both Shivaism and Vaishnavism approach the 'ultimate reality' from a

different angle but for advaitins, they are the same! As advaitins,

we have a much broader view on the transformation from duality to non-

duality. The thirumarai in praise of Lord Shiva though directly not

related to advaita but has indirect implications. Honestly, those

postings do not fall within the scope of this list. As a matter of

fact, when Sri Subrmaniam posted the verses, I raised my objection

and suggested to him that he should relate 'Thirumarai' within the

context of advaita. I am looking for feedback from other members of

the list to express their feed back to my email address:

rchandran (please do no express your opinion regarding

whether Thriumarai is relevant for posting in this list). Since the

entire poems are already availabe in shivam web pages, posting here

does look repetition of the same materials. I request Sri Subrmaniam

is take a serious look into your response with justification for the

relevance of Thirumari in the context of Advaita.

 

Incidentally, the Thirumari poems are in praise of Lord Shiva and in

Shankara Bhagavadpada the compiler of Advaita Philosopy is considered

an incarnation of Shiva. Shankara is also a great Shiva Bhakta and

Shankara Bhagavad Pada composed the following poem:

 

mAtAcha parvati devi, pitha devo maheshwarah,

bAndhava shiva bhatAscha swadesho Bhuvanatreyam

(Mother is shakti, father is shiva, relatives are the devotees of

shiva and the universe is all the three worlds)

 

 

I have mixed reaction to your criticism on relevance of 'Varna System

of Hinduism' to advaita. First, Shankara's advaita philosophy is

basically a philosophical thesis developed in the context and

justification of the practice of Hinduism. The Varna system has an

ancient origin and was a social structure for the maintenance of a

civilized society. My understanding of the varna system is that, it

is based on 'Gunas' or intrinsic human nature or behavior pattern.

According to Hindu system, every human is endowed with 'certain

Gunas' that have been categorized and the society classified the

population by the Gunas. Two thousand years back, the families of

pandits (teachers, temple priests, and vedic scholars), warriors,

artisans

(washerman, blacksmith, carpenter, etc.,) and the working class

(farmers, farm workers, and other manual workers)passed on their

expertise from to their next kith and kin. The social system

functioned without any friction due to the abundance of natural

resources at that time and also everyone was respected irrespective

of their birth origin. This society was degenerated into the current

society of prejudice with the devaluation of dharmic values. It is

almost impossible to explain the complete reason for the degeneration

nor anyone can prescribe a remedy for the current caste situation in

India. Paramacharya's comments are an expression of his sadness over

the current state of affairs and people who had personal contact with

him always state that Acharyas from Shankara Matts do not support the

present caste system. At the same time they Acharyas are being

ordained by Shankara Bhagavad Pada to preserve and maintain the Vedic

Hindu Religion in its purest form. The posting of Sri Venky only

reflects how much Paramacharya is saddened by the collapse of the

Varna system and its noble deeds.

 

Finally, I want to admit that my explanation is certainly incomplete

and I earnestly request PROFVK to take a serious look at Venky's

article and provide a more complete explanation. Since Profvk has

personal contact with Kanchi Matt, he has better insights on the

issue addressed and I request him to provide the linkage between the

Varna system and its relevance in advaita philosophy. Later during

the Gita Satsangh, we will get additional opportunities to explain

the relationship between `Guna classification' and spirituality.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran