Guest guest Posted February 14, 2003 Report Share Posted February 14, 2003 Sri: Respected Bhagavathas, I have a doubt regarding the idols of acharyas / alwars that are installed in temples. I understand that the shastras say that if an idol of God is installed with the required rituals, the idol is equivalent to the thirumeni of the Lord. Being omnipresent, of course, God is present everywhere at the same time. However, all others, being jivatmas and atomic in nature, are they considered to be present in the installed idols? if not, why are those idols installed? Hope my question is not offensive to anyone. Respects, Vedalakshmi Send Flowers for Valentine's Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2003 Report Share Posted February 15, 2003 Sir/Madam, Very incisive question indeed posed by you. May I add a supplementary to your question to which also I would invite clarification from learned members of this group: Do the Agamas (pAncharAtra or vaikhAnasa) expressly permit installation ("pratishta") and consecration ("avAhanam") of idols for human personages? If the answer is 'Yes' to the above question, and if it is held there is indeed "sAnnidhyam" (immanence) of personages in idols, then would there be anything wrong in constructing a temple exclusively for a human personage (such as a venerable 'achArya' or 'muni' for instance), getting a "kumbhAbhishEkam" performed for it and throwing it open for worship by laity and the public at large? Would having then an "achAryan kOvil" as distinct from a "perUmAl kOvil" be permitted within the framework of Vedic philosophy and theology? Kindly clarify. Thanks and regards, dAsan, Sudarshan --- Veda Venkatesh <veda_venkatesh wrote: > > Sri: > > Respected Bhagavathas, > > I have a doubt regarding the idols of acharyas / alwars that are > installed in temples. I understand that the shastras say that if > an idol of God is installed with the required rituals, the idol is > equivalent to the thirumeni of the Lord. Being omnipresent, of > course, God is present everywhere at the same time. However, all > others, being jivatmas and atomic in nature, are they considered to > be present in the installed idols? if not, why are those idols > installed? Hope my question is not offensive to anyone. > > Respects, > > Vedalakshmi > Send Flowers for Valentine's Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2003 Report Share Posted February 15, 2003 Sri: Narayana Narayana Narayana. Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha. Revered Bhagavathas, Time and again Emberuaan has declared that the Hearts of Bhagavathas as HIS ABODE. Great People have told us the Emberuaman has chosen the hearts of His Devotees as a place where He resides eternally . In ever so many verses of the Divya Prabhandam the Alwars have stated that HE resides in their Heatrs or entered their Hearts. These Apart, we know that EMBERUMAANAAR has hugged His idols and told His Sishyaas that they need not worry about His leaving this world as He will be present in the Idols which are to be installed at Sri Rangam and Sri Peumbudur and will continiue to Bless all his followers at all times. So there is no doubt whatsoever that the of Alwars and Acharyas whose idols are installed in templesand in whose Hearts Emburumaan is present always, installed in the temples, are present everywhere at the same time. It is Their Blessings that make us think and worship Sriman Narayana at all times. So let there be no doubt on the presence of the radianceof Grace of our Great Acharyas and Alwars whose idols are installed in the temple. I request Great Souls of Sri Vaishanava to enlighteen this aspect in much more lucid terms with authenticity. Adiyen Sri Ramanuja Dasan Kombur Vankipuram Madhavan. Veda Venkatesh <veda_venkatesh wrote: Sri: Respected Bhagavathas, I have a doubt regarding the idols of acharyas / alwars that are installed in temples. I understand that the shastras say that if an idol of God is installed with the required rituals, the idol is equivalent to the thirumeni of the Lord. Being omnipresent, of course, God is present everywhere at the same time. However, all others, being jivatmas and atomic in nature, are they considered to be present in the installed idols? if not, why are those idols installed? Hope my question is not offensive to anyone. Respects, Vedalakshmi Send Flowers for Valentine's Day Srirangasri- A SMILE is worth the whole world and can make everyone your BEST FRIEND. Send Flowers for Valentine's Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2003 Report Share Posted February 16, 2003 Sri: Dear Bhagavathas, Here's a related question and followup, on another list, by Sri Anand Karalapakkam: http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/feb98/0020.html http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/feb98/0044.html Also note that, "As a general rule , prathistA of a vigrahA of an AchAryA while he is in the LeelA vibhUti (material world) is not done" ramanuja dasan, -Shreyas , Veda Venkatesh <veda_venkatesh> wrote: >course, God is present everywhere at the same time. However, all >others, being jivatmas and atomic in nature, are they considered to >be present in the installed idols? if not, why are those idols >installed? Hope my question is not offensive to anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2003 Report Share Posted February 17, 2003 madom /sir Alwars and Acharyas are considered as omnipresentas they r muktaatmans. Any soul will become omnipresent and omniscen t after attaining moksha.Soinstalltion of idols is quite right. its accepted by pancharaatra also but with a condition in every such muktaatma temple there should be a idol oflord vishnu with four hands also. kaasyapah "M.K.Sudarshan" <sampathkumar_2000 wrote: Sir/Madam, Very incisive question indeed posed by you. May I add a supplementary to your question to which also I would invite clarification from learned members of this group: Do the Agamas (pAncharAtra or vaikhAnasa) expressly permit installation ("pratishta") and consecration ("avAhanam") of idols for human personages? If the answer is 'Yes' to the above question, and if it is held there is indeed "sAnnidhyam" (immanence) of personages in idols, then would there be anything wrong in constructing a temple exclusively for a human personage (such as a venerable 'achArya' or 'muni' for instance), getting a "kumbhAbhishEkam" performed for it and throwing it open for worship by laity and the public at large? Would having then an "achAryan kOvil" as distinct from a "perUmAl kOvil" be permitted within the framework of Vedic philosophy and theology? Kindly clarify. Thanks and regards, dAsan, Sudarshan --- Veda Venkatesh <veda_venkatesh wrote: > > Sri: > > Respected Bhagavathas, > > I have a doubt regarding the idols of acharyas / alwars that are > installed in temples. I understand that the shastras say that if > an idol of God is installed with the required rituals, the idol is > equivalent to the thirumeni of the Lord. Being omnipresent, of > course, God is present everywhere at the same time. However, all > others, being jivatmas and atomic in nature, are they considered to > be present in the installed idols? if not, why are those idols > installed? Hope my question is not offensive to anyone. > > Respects, > > Vedalakshmi > Send Flowers for Valentine's Day Srirangasri- ttaining Catch all the cricket action. Download Score tracker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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