How can you become a Pujari?

May 29, 2002

_/|\_ Vanakkam Vaisnava Brothers & Sisters,

i would like to know wheter there is a school or something similiar to

learn all ritual pujas,mantras like a Pujari does. I would love to

learn it. I follow the Gaudia-Vaisnava Path best known as ISKCON or

Hare Krishna Movement, but would like to learn also about other

Vaisnava direction and have therfore here in this forum. I have been

once to SRI Rangam for just 2 hours or so but i loved it, i planning

next year to go to india and learn sanskrit. Well there are school

from the ISKCON but i would love to study it in SRI RANGAM, it was so

magnicifant just the Temple itself!

I would be very thankful for replies by some here, please advise me

where in Sri Rangam they teach Sanskrit and how performing pujas(like

priest)thanks again.

Om Vishnue Namaha

Rangan

May 30, 2002

Sri RAmajayam

SrimathE GopAla DEsika MahA DEsikAya Namaha

Dear Sri.Rangan,

Your intention is really noble(to serve the Lord & community).

This also prompted me to review our current stature on the so called "Pujari"

and see how a person can embark on Bhagavad Kaimkaryam in a temple. Please bear

with me for the same,

In former times, ArchakAs in temples were involved traditionally and generally

look forward to keeping up the traditional practices(AgamAs) as well as take

deep interest in serving the Lord with ShAstra JnAna, AnushtAnam and Anubhavam.

Of course for Ujeevanam(survival), revenue collections were utilized.

In modern times, people do not live around Divya DEsam and build name-sake

temples around their communities affecting the practice at this temple, and

diluting the financial strength of the Divya DEsams. When survival has taken

predominance(NOT TO BLAME ANYONE), faith and practice has taken the back seat.

What this has resulted is that temples which were supposed to showcase our

SampradAyam(Agamic worship, PatasAlas, Discourses), has been reduced to

mechanical worship and monetary exploitation by

individuals/administration/government etc.

It is AdiyEn's deep desire that Swamin take up this career to serve the lord

with passion unlike many contemporaries with the following steps,

1.Making yourself eligible - By birth, have undergone Upanayanam to learn

necessary VEda mantras and Divya Prabandham(1 yr for a crash course on important

mantras and prabandham), by identifying a Sri Vaishnava Acharya and undergoing

Panchasamskaara and learning Bhagavad Aaradhanam and undergoing Grantha

KAlakshEpam. In the minimum SampradAyic knowledge and anubhavam, can

accummulate with Srimad Rahasya Traya Saaram(Swami DEsikan), VedArtha

Sangraham(of Sri RAmanuja), Bhagavad Vishayam(based on Thiruvaimozhi) and this

can take 2 yrs. Apart from that learning temple rituals(as in Koil Ozhughu) for

Uthsavam, Thirumanjanam, Satthumurai, Thaligai, Alankaaram, Purappaadhu and

other Upachaaras to the Divya Dhampathis.

2.Identifying the temple - Most Divya DEsam which are prominent, have revenue

stream and a high dose of red-tape that does not allow new comers and tend to

pass on the responsibility to their kith and kin even if they are less

qualified, similar to some vamsAvazhi of Theerthakarar in temples. So if you

are deeply interested in serving a Divya DEsam, please seek the advise of a Sri

Vaishnava Acharya, and he can direct you to the appropriate Sthalam which can

benefit from your service. On the other hand if you have livelihood concerns,

there are a good number of Community temples in India and outside India.

3.Serving the temple - Knowing the contemporaries, AdiyEn will beg Swamin to

make a difference and on others(other ArchakAs and the community alike).

AdiyEn Sri RAmAnuja DAsan,

Sudarsana Dasosmi

ramesh9_uk [rangadesch]

Wednesday, May 29, 2002 8:43 PM