SRI RANGA SRI VOL. 2 / 11 DATED 22nd July 2001

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SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinam samvardhaya/

SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinam samvardhaya//

KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava:/

SrI RanganAthO jayathu SrI Ranga SrIs cha VardhathAm//

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SRI RANGA SRI VOL. 2 / 11 DATED 22nd July 2001

SPECIAL ISSUE Containing:

1. ANSWERS TO QUERIES IN THE QUESTION BOX

2. QUERIES POSED BY US IN OUR "QUIZ PROGRAM"

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Dear Bhagavatas:

In this Issue-

1. ANSWERS TO QUERIES IN THE QUESTION BOX

We present Answers to some of the Questions received by us from

readers. Due to my being in and out of station frequently, this could

not be attended to. Also, due to the vagaries of my PC, some of the

queries have disappeared from the "Inbox", where they were housed.

Readers whose questions have not been answered in this issue are

requested to kindly retransmit them again. Every effort will be made

to provide answers for them as early as possible.

2. QUERIES POSED BY US IN OUR "QUIZ PROGRAM"

Queries posed by us in our "Quiz Program" vide Volume 1 Issue 21 are

repeated for the benefit of those who had missed noticing them and

also for the benefit of new members.

QUERIES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO BE ANSWERED IN A WEEK'S TIME

CAUTION: SOME OF THEM MAY EVEN SEEM OUTRAGEOUS!

TEST YOUR FAMILIARITY OF THESE TOPICS.

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A REQUEST:

We are glad to report that the membership of "Sri Ranga Sri" has

reached almost 600.

IF you are satisfied with the form and content of the Journal, please

spread the word among those interested and encourage them to join by

sending an email to -Subscribe.

 

Alternatively, You may suggest us the email addresses of friends who

may be really interested so that we can directly add them to our

mailing list.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

Editor & Publisher "Sri Ranga Sri"

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1. SRISTHAVAM TEXT REQUIRED

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ANSWER:

There are 5 Slokas in this Sthavam. They have been posted with

transliterations, meanings and comments in the various Internet sites

almost simultaneously. They have been archived, as follows for

example, in Acharya

Slokam No. Indexed at Date

Introduction # 33 01/24/00

1. # 34 01/26/00

2. # 36 02/03/00

3. # 37 02/09/00

4. # 39 02/25/00

5. # 43 03/15/00

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2. WHO IS "KUBJA" MENTIONED IN THE POSTING ON "IMPORTANCE OF BHAKTI"

WHICH APPEARED IN THE SAMPROKSHANAM SOUVENIR OF SRI RANGANATHA

TEMPLE, POMONA AS ALSO IN MAY 2001 ISSUE OF "SRI RANGANATHA PADUKA"

FROM INDIA?

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ANSWER:

The story of Kubja appears in Chapter 42 of the Dasama Skandham of

Srimad Bhaagavtam. There was a maid with three bends on her back

called "Trivakra". She was patronized by King Kamsa for her skill in

making fragrant pastes for applying on the body. On his way to

Kamsa's palace, Krishna accosted her and she dared to offer him the

precious Sandal paste meant for the King, saying that Krishna was the

most eligible for using it. Pressing her feet with his and holding

her chin by two fingers, he gave her face a lift. By Mukunda's touch,

she was made whole, her bends straightened and she was transformed

into a matchless beauty queen.

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3. PRAPANNA'S KARMA AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH .

HOW CAN THEY BE TRANSFEREDTO FRIENDS AND FOES?

(Query by Sri Raji Sridhar)

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ANSWER:

{The following is an excerpt from Chapter 20 of my book "Hinduism

Rediscovered" archived at Saranagathi Journal Volume 2 Issue 23 dated

23rd February 1997} vide www.Srivaishnava.org/sgatii

 

" In the case of a Prapanna , all his Sanchita karmas are destroyed

on performing Prapatti, like the bales of cotton that are burnt by

fire. 'Prarabda karma' alone remains (that which the Prapanna had

agreed to go through during his lifetime). At the time of his death,

the balance, if any, of his karmas are transferred to his friends and

foes. This is done because, the Prapanna's karma account has to show

a nil balance and also because Punya is like golden fetters and Papa

is like iron fetters - thus making no difference to the soul which

yearns for freedom from all shackles.

The following questions have been raised and answered by Swami Desika

(1) If all karmas get extinguished, where is the question of

distributing Punya and Papa among friends and foes?

Answer: Those Papas are those spoken of as not tainting the Prapanna

and those Punyas done after Prapatti that have not started to yield

results by some stronger karma. It is these that get distributed.

(2) How can Punya or Papa of one be transferred to another especially

Papa to one who has not done any evil?

Answer: It is not that the Punya and Papa of the Prapanna are

transferred "as it is". It only means that Punya of value equivalent

to the service rendered to the Prapanna by those who were friendly to

him and Papa of value equivalent to the offence flung at the Prapanna

by those inimical to him. Thus, the Punya and Papa are earned by the

friends and foes respectively due to their friendly or hostile

attitudes towards the Prapanna.

(3) Why should God wait till the death of the Prapanna for this

distribution?

Answer: This is to give time to see whether a friend turns a foe or a

foe turns a friend by the time of death of the Prapanna. Also, a

friend or foe may himself be a Mumukshu - One desirous of Moksha and

might be doing Prapatti in which case no karma could be transferred

to him. Everything can be decided only at the time of death of the

Prapanna"

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4. "THEERTHAKARAS IN TEMPLES"

(Query from Sri Venkat Iyengar)

I have questions regarding the tradition of TheerthakArars in our

Temples.

1) Does this tradition date before Swami Ramanujar,or

did Swami Ramanujar introduce this during his Lifetime?

2) What are the basic functions / role of TherthakAras in Temples?

Were they bestowed with the rights due to their kAimkaryam and

contribution

to the Temples or due to their Lineage or otherwise?

3) Do they have any role / say in the Temple Management/Affairs?

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ANSWER:

As per enquiries made in India during my visit in connection with the

Sathabishekam celebrations of Prakritam H.H. Poundarikapuram Andavan

Swami, there is no evidence to show either of these. It would appear

that the Kings who built temples utilized the services of greatly

respected Mahans for their Jnaanam and Anushtaanam and temple

procedures relating to rituals as per Aagamas. In return, they

bestowed on them, the temple honors like receiving the

first "Mariyadai" including receiving holy waters (mudal theertham),

Chatari etc first before other devotees. Subsequently, the lineal

descendents of such Mahans would seem to have inherited

these "Rights", irrespective of their own qualifications. Thus, it

would appear a "historic relic of a custom".

 

Per se, they do not seem to have any role in the temple management

but in individual cases, they may be consulted by the temple

authorities.

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5. DOUBTS ON KALAI DIFFERENCES

(Query from VedAntam SrinivAsarAghavan Ayyangar)

Sri:

a) ThAyAr an atomic JIvan? 'Not even' a Nitya Suri?

b) If so, why special treatment for HER over me, another JIvan?

So 'Sri'man NArAyanA is partial and unjust. Should i treat this

as 'another' KalyAna Guna of the Purusha?

c) Talking of partiality, from KshirAbdi to ArchA, HE seems to be

partial and favorably disposed to this 'atomic JIvan' Sri: than us!

d) Any PramAnam for this partiality? Then in Vaikuntam how this JIvan

alone is 'identified' separately vis-a-vis other JIvan when all the

differences are dropped along with this body in this Prakrita Loka?

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ANSWER TO (A) TO (D)

Thayar is Vibhu like Lord according to Swami Desika Sampradayam.

Therefore, the questions on (b) to (d) do not arise.

----

e) Meaning of 'AgalukillEn'?

f) PerumAl feeling sorry for the soul due to DayA. Why should DayA be

preceded by sorrow. Is there any pramAnam for sorrow being one of

the 'Ananta KalyAna Guna' for Sriyafpathi Sriman NArAyana?

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ANSWER (E) ANF (F): These have been already been explained in the

postings on Vadakalai / Tenkalai differences.

----

g) Is a JIvan utterly helpless only when it comes to doing Prapatti

or always helpless? If only during Prapatti i am not sure why? If

always then am i not responsible for any of my karma? That would mean

this whole thing is a mAya (prachaNNa bowddan!!) and i can do

whatever i want and it is the Lord's responsibility. Then why 'I'

should suffer or be happy when HE is responsible for all these acts.

And i also understand from AchArya and learned scholars that HE is

not 'Karmavasya'. HE has NOTHING to DO. Looks like i am treading a

very dangerous path here. Have more doubts but i am not sure i am

proceeding in the right path.

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ANSWER TO (G):

Please read Chapter 11 of "Hinduism Rediscovered" archived at

www.Srivaishnava.org/sgati Saranagathi Journal Volume 2 Issue 04 and

05 dated 15th January 1997 and Issue 06 dated 16th January y 1997,

where this question has been discussed exhaustively. If you have any

further doubts, please feel free to contact me by personal mail

to "Ramanbil"

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6. WAS "SIRIYA THIRUVADI" A WITNESS TO HEARING BHAGAVAD GITA. IN THE

SAME WAY AS "PERIYA THIRUVADI?

(Query from Sri T.C.A. Venkatesan)

"Since "SiRiya Thiruvadi" was present in the flag of the chariot in

which Sri Krishna and Arjuna rode, wouldn't he also be considered a

recipient of the Bhagavad Gita, in the same way as Sri Garuda.

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ANSWER:

This is a very insightful question. In a sense, "Siriya Thiruvadi"

can be considered as a recipient of Bhagavad Gita much like "Periya

Thiruvadi".

But, the context in which Garuda was mentioned is that Periyaazhwar

is considered as the incarnation of Garuda who acted as the Chariot

of Arjuna during the Mahabharatha war. And,this was vouched by Andal

when she said "Meymai Peruvaarthai Vittuchittar Kettiruppaar", which

Poorvaacharyas are reported to refer to "Charama Slokam" as explained

in the posting on Periyaazhwar. (This is what I have heard in

Kalakshepams in India).

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2. QUERIES POSED BY US IN OUR "QUIZ PROGRAM"

Queries posed by us in our "Quiz Program" vide Volume 1 Issue 21 are

repeated for the benefit of those who had missed noticing them and

for the benefit of the new members.

QUERIES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO BE ANSWERED IN A WEEK'S TIME.

 

THE ANSWERS WHICH ARE FROM RAMAYANAM WILL BE PRESENTED SHORTLY.

 

CAUTION: SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS MAY EVEN SEEM OUTRAGEOUS!

TEST YOUR FAMILIARITY OF THESE TOPICS.

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1. How did the Lord get the mole called "Srivatsam"?

2. When and Why do Vaidheekas wind the sacred thread around their

ears?

3. Lord NarAyaNa has names such as "munjakEsan" and "KhaNDaparasu"

What do these mean?

4. What is meant by "KalpAntha RAmAyaNam"?

5. There are some passages in Srimad VAlmiki RAmAyaNam itself which

seem to lend internal evidence to conclude that Sri Rama had spouses

other than Sri Sita? How is this reconciled with the description of

Sri Rama as "Eka pathni vrathan"?

6. Do you know that according to some reports, HanumAn had not only a

wife but also a son?

7. Do you know that Sri Sita performed SandhyAvandanam?

8. Can ladies do "Pitru TharpaNam"?

9. There is a SlOkam that refers to Sri Rama sitting in "VeerAsanam">

(veerAsanE susthitham) What does this 'Aasanam" mean?

10. What is "Siva Gita"?

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