Varnashrama Dharma and the caste sytem .....

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post number 30512

 

Shriman Subbuji :

 

Thanx for quoting sri Ramji's views on this subject at the beginning

of your post - somehow it escaped my attention.

 

Ramji says

 

" The bottom line for us is to accept that we are fully

 

responsible for the social evils exhibited in the present "Caste

 

System."

 

These are words of 'nectar' and this is exactly what Gandhiji says

also in many of his articles on the subject. However Gandhiji also

says " My varnashram refuses to bow the head before the greatest

potentate on earth, but my varnashram compels me to bow down my head

in all humility before knowledge, purity, before every person where I

see God face to face."

 

Subbuji, if you might recall, i had written sometime ago about

different types of Dhrama -stree dharma , kula dharma , swadharma etc

etc .... But 'SANTANA DHARMA' which is a synonym for Hinduism is an

all encompassing Dharma which is to show 'love and compassion' to one

and all irrespective of their birth , national origin, gender etc

etc. Such was the stuff great saints like Sri Ramana maharishi were

made of.

 

Sir , you have emphasised a lot on 'samskaras' -this is fine - i

respect your views on this ...

 

However , Gandhiji says

 

"The Brahmin's duty is to look after the sanitation of the soul, the

bhangi's that of the body of society. "

 

and let me tell you honestly , after living in the U.S.A for over 25

years , I CAN SAY LOUDLY AND CLEARLY 'WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM THE

WEST IN THE MATTER OF HYGIENE , SANITATION AND CLEANLINESS' .

 

Sir, i used to have a very close friend in Chennai - she hails from

a 'saiva' mudaliar family - i can tell you that when you enter their

home, it is like a 'temple' - pristine pure- you can even kiss

the 'floor' that clean- Not only that, they used to have a 'brahmin'

cook ! Sir , cleanliness is a matter of habit and practice. More

importantly, Cleanliness of the 'soul' is more important- getting rid

of 'prejudices' is one of them !

 

The pig is supposed to be a very unclean animal. But you got to see

the 'pigs' in the U.S.A - THEY ARE THE CLEANEST.

 

We hindus say we worship the 'cows'- a brahmana also donates a 'cow'

(go dhanan) at the time of his parents death as part of samskara .

But how are the 'cows' treated in India ? please look around you!

 

Sir, then you go on to write:

 

(Mother Dhyanasaraswati mentioned about cutting her hairs. Mother,

pl. pardon me for telling this. Our Acharya has said that cutting of

hairs is not advisable for a Sumangali. )

 

Sir , i am not a 'sumangali' having lost my husband many many years

ago. But i am a 'nitya' sumangali now being married to my lord and

master, sri krishna paramatma -When the jivatma unites with the

paramatma , that is the best 'marriage'(union) and my Krishna loves

me WHETHER MY HAIR IS SHORT OR LONG! smile . Acharya has said so many

valuable things in his discourses - do we follow all of them ?

 

Someone mentioned about 'crossing the seven seas' as a sin - yes,

Hindus are not supposed to cross the seven seas. But now-a-days , we

have so many jet age swamis travelling all over the world tp spread

the message of Hinduism.

 

SIR, one can practice all the 'samskaras'(16) one wants. But

ultimately, it is the 'purity' of the devotee's heart that counts !

 

adi shankara bhagvadapada sings in verse 63 of Sivananda lahari

 

maargaavartitapaadukaa pashupateraN^gasya kuurchaayate

gaNDuushhaaMbunishhechanaM puraripordivyaabhishhekaayate |

kiMchidbhakshitamaaMsasheshhakabalaM navyopahaaraayate

bhaktiH kiM na karotyaho vanacharo bhaktaavataMsaayate || 63||

 

The way faring sandals become the kusa crown of Pasupathi,

The gargled mouthful of water become the holy water of bath ,

To him who destroyed the three cities,

The just tasted pieces of the remaining meat ,

Become the holy offering to the Lord,

And wonder of wonders,the hunter who lives in the forest

Becomes the king of devotees.

What is there in this world that devotion to the Lord cannot do?

 

(This sloka refers to the devotion shown by Kannappa a hunter devotee

of Lord Shiva.In the forest he used to remove his sandals and place

it on the top of the idol, bring water in his mouth to bathe the idol

and offer to the lord the meat pieces which he found were tasty.)

 

with warmest regards