GUIDELINES TO CONTRIBUTORS TO "SRI RANGA SRI"

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

 

THANKS

Thanks to the help and cooperation of -

- the Moderators of our Internet fraternity who have kindly hosted the

Editorials of "Sri Ranga Sri",

- Administrators of Religious monthlies in India like "Sri Hayagriva Priya",

"Sri Ranganatha Paduka",

"Sri Desika Seva", "Sri Nrisimhapriya " from Hyderabad, "Sri Kaanchi

Perarulalan" etc. for having featured our articles and made references to

"Sri Ranga Sri" in their journals,

- current members who have recommended or suggested new members and

- the enthusiasm of new members themselves joining on their own volition -

the membership of "Sri Ranga Sri" has steadily risen to nearly 3000

(including about 2000 Active members and about 1000 members whose mails

bounced temporarily due to the limited capacity of their mail boxes). More

than 95% of members of other Srivaishnava groups are already members of

"Sri Ranga Sri".

We place on record our heartfelt thanks to all those who helped thus in

building up this database.We also record our thanks to all the contributors who

have strived to educate and enrich our knowledge on our Sampradayam through "Sri

Ranga Sri".

 

We would, however, wish to reiterate the following to remind our

contributors:

 

COPYCAT VERSIONS:

We are sure that any posting in "Sri Ranga Sri" will ensure adequate

limelight and publicity everywhere. All Bhagavatas will stand informed

sufficiently without repetitions in the other lists.

 

In fact, we have feedback from many members who are also members in other

groups saying that the same postings received repeatedly from multiple

groups are annoying, necessitating time and effort to delete the excessive

ones on a daily basis. This is to avoid cluttering of the limited storage

space in their mail boxes and other consequential problems. This happens

because some of the Internet providers strictly restrict the capacity

allowed to the users.

 

For this resaon, several members have preferred to de- from our

group or opt out for "No Email" preference, despite their appreciation of

the quality of articles featured in the "Regular Issues". But for these

de-subscriptions depleting our mailing list, the fast and steady growth of

our membership would have exceeded at least 4000 by now.

 

Many of the members prefer to receive only articles that are EXCLUSIVELY

featured in "Sri Ranga Sri" and are NOT COPYCAT VERSIONS of the same

messages appearing elsewhere.

 

You would have noticed that as a matter of policy, we do not copy our

messages to other lists, except the EDITORIALS for the information of all.

 

We request all the contributors to make sure that they post to "Sri Ranga

Sri" ONLY articles meant "EXCLUSIVELY", we repeat "EXCLUSIVELY", for being

featured in "Sri Ranga Sri".

We will regretfully disapprove postings that are found marked simultaneously

to several other lists.

 

LENGTH OF ARTICLES:

It is our experience that readers tend to skip long articles.

It would be desirable if they are limited to a maximum of say, 2 pages, so

that we can accommodate more contributors. This is also due to the fact that

some Internet providers ruthlessly truncate matter half-way, if it exceeds

certain limits imposed by them on the length of postings. That is why, our

"Regular Issues" are limited to about 10 pages per Isssue, even if it

entails releasing more issues at more frequent intervals.

 

EDITING AND MODERATION:

Articles for publication in the "Regular Issues" will be released after

minimal editing and moderation.

 

LANGUAGE:

Our membership is drawn from a cross section of population belonging to

various linguistic groups(Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati etc), regional

groups (Punjab to Kerala and Maharashtra to West Bengal etc) and religious

groups(Srivaishnavas and other Non- Srivaishnavas of different hues) and

with different backgrounds not only from India but also from the world over,

but who are nevertheless eager to learn about our Sampradayam. This includes

youngsters born and /or brought up outside our environment and either not

exposed to our Sampradayam or with different levels of exposure.

 

The employment of too much clitche-ridden expressions peculiar to our

Sampradayam and technical jargon (paribaashai in Tamil and Sanskrit), while

professing to educate readers not familiar with these languages will turn

them away instantly.

 

To make ourselves understood and be useful to these segments also, it is

necessary to speak to them the language they can easily understand and refer

to episodes they can readly relate to. Otherwise, it will defeat the very

purpose of educating them through our postings but will be seen only as an

attempt to show off one's professed erudition!

 

It should be remembered that we are not seeking to educate scholars who may

perhaps appreciate our Paribashai, though they may not need our instructions

anyway!

 

Wherever necessary, the explanations may be given in English and the

linguistic expressions provided in paranthesis.This will probably satisfy

both the segments.

 

It will be our policy to reject postings contrary to these guidelines.

 

SPELL CHECKING AND LENGTH OF LINES:

Please have your work spell checked before posting. Also, please make sure

that the right margin is set to accommodate not more than 60 characters per

line. This is because, due perhaps to technical reasons, some providers

bifurcate and truncate the lines making it difficult to read.

 

DIACRITICAL NOTATIONS:

As far as possible, please use the diacritical marks accepted in standard

dictionaries, while transliterating Sanskrit, Tamil, Hindi and other Indian

language terms into English. An attempt at an unnatural and artificial mix

up of contrived notations, may appear as novel experiment but would only

create more problems in reading than in solving!

 

PRAMANAMS:

Wherever any views are expressed, they should be based on appropriate

authority (PramaaNams) from the Srisooktis of Acharyas of Bhagavad Ramanuja

- Swami Desika Satsampradayam.

 

Your attention is invited to the mission statement of "Sri Ranga Sri" copied

below:

 

"This is a group of "Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam" (SDDS) for studying

Srivaishnava - Visishtadvaita philosophy and practices as laid down by

Azwars and as clarified by Acharyas of Bhagavad Ramanuja - Swami Desika Sath

Sampradayam. Articles and discussions are welcome subject to the general

norms of tolerance and mutual respect within the realms of the above

philosophy and practices"

 

It will be clear from the above that quotes from and and views of sources

such as Naastikas, Maayavaadins, Iskcon, Gaudiyas, Gaurangas,Saibabas,

Goswamis, Ramaanandas, KaruNaamaayi, Amritananda Maayi, Mahesh Yogi, and such

other religioous teachers outside the SrivaishNava Satsampradaayam cannot

find a place in "Sri Ranga Sri".

 

PERSONAL OPINIONS:

Often, it is seen that personal opinions and speculations are projected on

many issues, leading to never ending arguments and counter arguments that

divert the focus. It may please be ensured that any viewpoint presented is

supported by appropriate authority (PramaaNams) preferably with ACTUAL

QUOTES.

 

DISCUSSIONS:

We would like to reiterate that "Sri Ranga Sri" is *PRIMARILY A JOURNAL*

and *NOT* a general discussion group. However, discussions relevant to the

topics featured in the "Regular Issues" and which are not repugnant to the

objectives of the Journal (as detailed in the preamble) are welcome. This is

intended to encourage "Reader- participation".

 

REFERENCE TO ORIGINAL MESSAGES:

While replying to points raised by another Bhagavata, please take care to

delete the "Original message" in your reply, IF the original message had

appeared already in the "Sri Ranga Sri" message board. If necessary, the

"Subject" of the original message may be "cited" or the Message number in

our archive is provided, instead of allowing the entire message to appear

again in your reply.

 

APPEALS FOR FUNDS:

Complaints have been received regarding irregularities in the utilzation of

funds collected in the name of worthy projects.

 

Therefore, Appeals for funds for various kainkaryams may be posted ONLY

AFTER MAKING SURE of the genuineness of the prime movers / administrators

and after providing an assurance of personal responsibility for having done

this.

 

Before posting any such appeals, it may be ensured that proper arrangements

exist for -

(i) Officially acknowledging receipt of contributions

(ii) Utilization of the funds fully and precisely for the purposes for which

they are proposed to be mobilized through these appeals and

(iii) Adequate audit and accounting to the entire satisfaction of the

donors.

 

Otherwise, we will be seen as encouraging indiscriminate fund-raising

appeals and also become liable for any potential legal action later on,

given the conduct of numerous trusts that have mushroomed and disappeared

with the collections.

 

Therefore, in the absence of the above precautions being specifically

incorporated, we will be compelled to reject such appeals.

 

EXCEPTIONS:

- Special announcements of Tele-Upanyasams, Tele-Stotram classes.

Availability of books, Cassettes, CDs etc. and such other "time-sensitive"

matters are welcome for the information of members.

- The Moderator reserves the right to allow postings of exceptional quality,

with the permission of the authors. Moderators of other lists may likewise

feel free to repeat any messages appearing in "Sri Ranga Sri", if they are

found fit to be published in their sites.

- Further exceptions will be announced based on experience and as needed.

 

 

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

Editor & Publisher

"Sri Ranga Sri"

================================================================

 

_______________

MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus