Guest guest Posted January 11, 2005 Report Share Posted January 11, 2005 Dear All, I am one of the silent observers of this group. I re-located from the US to London an year back. Can any one guide me if we have any Srivaishnava activities in and around London? Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan, Balaji Anbil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2005 Report Share Posted January 15, 2005 Dear Sri Balaji Anbil, I am not aware of any Shri Vaishnava groups or organisations in London, but there is a Mahalakshmi temple in East Ham (which you may have already come across) at which worship is conducted according to Paancharaatra aagama - the main sannidhi is Balaji and Padmavathi, although there are small sannidhis for Ganapathy and other deities as well. Both Sri Vaishnava and Smaarta/Iyer priests serve there, I think. I have only been once myself as it's a little far from where I live (south west London, near Wimbledon) and was in India over the new year so I'm not aware if they had any big programme for Maargazhi maasam - I don't think many of the locals are Shri Vaishnavas. I think it's unlikely you'll find a "Vishnu-only" temple in the UK (apart from ISKCON temples) - but I could be wrong. However, the sizeable Sri Lankan Tamil community in many parts of London have retained their Shaiva temple culture to a relatively high degree and have constructed many 'south-indian' style temples, if you were interested in seeing them for interest. Many have a sannidhi for Lakshmi/Naaraayana as well. If you have time to go a little north then there's the Tividale Tirupati Balaji temple near Birmingham (which is presumably Vaikhanasa), which I understand is still under construction. Hope that helps. Any other members in London/UK who have more info? Sorry if this was information you already knew! best wishes, Ranjan , "Balaji Anbil" <baji20@h...> wrote: > > > Dear All, > > I am one of the silent observers of this group. I re-located from > the US to London an year back. Can any one guide me if we have any > Srivaishnava activities in and around London? > > Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan, > Balaji Anbil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2005 Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 , "rvv21" <ranjanvv@h...> wrote: >> I think it's unlikely you'll find a "Vishnu-only" temple in the > UK (apart from ISKCON temples) - but I could be wrong. However, the > sizeable Sri Lankan Tamil community in many parts of London have > retained their Shaiva temple culture to a relatively high degree and > have constructed many 'south-indian' style temples, if you were > interested in seeing them for interest. Many have a sannidhi for > Lakshmi/Naaraayana as well. **************** Dear members, This is a very interesting thread of discussion and I like your exchanges. One of the odd things I have noticed about Hindu temples abroad is this: they are designed to accommodate and built to serve the sentiments of all denominations of Hindu religous society. Such design and architecture is no doubt well-intentioned but the results are sometimes a mixed bag. I toured parts of USA East Coast last year. My host was kind enough to take me to a very beautiful temple in Maryland. It was called Shiva-Vishnu temple but inside I was surprised to see many more special "sannidhi-s" (shrines or sanctums) for a number of other deities in the Hindu pantheon -- Ganesha, Murugua, AmbAL, AyyappA, Venkateshwara, Krishna... I saw devotees come in throngs and each proceeded straight to that shrine he or she wanted to particularly worship. Thereafter he or she spent a few moments at other shrines before exiting. I couldn't help thinking it all vaguely resembled the modern and convenient "multi-cuisine cafeteria" concept applied to temple architecture i.e. you come shuffling in a long queue with a plate in hand, go slowly around the table and help yourself generously to the dish you particularly like, and just a little bit of everthing else in the spread. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want to be critical of "Shiva- Vishnu" temples, I hasten to add. Who knows, perhaps the "Agama sAstras" themselves do, in fact, permit such "cafeteria" design of temples. But I must say this: I cannot help sometimes wondering if the presence of more than one Deity within a temple-precinct does not go against the essentially monotheistic grain of Hindu religious thought and practice. My own personal experience is that when I am in the presence of the main Deity inside a temple I'd rather fully concentrate on worshipping that one Divine Entity alone. But instead, I often find that, at the back of my mind somewhere, I'm being distracted by the anxious thought of having to rush for "darshan" to the "next crowded counter" -- viz. other satellite shrines or "sannidhi-s". The result is that a temple visit, far from affording one an opportunity for experiencing a certain sense of abiding One-ness with God, leaves the devotee with a strange feeling, instead, he's just concluded a long and hectic series of business appointments. Let me confess to one more thing. I always come away from a temple feeling a little guilty and disappointed if, after I've had "darshan" of the main Deity first, for some reason or other, I've been unable to offer worship at subsidiary "sannidhi-s". I've never relished such a feeling. It has always robbed the first experience a little of its joy. An exclusively Vishnu temple (with His other divine forms serving perhaps as smaller satellite "sannidhi-s") seems to me OK. An exclusive Shiva temple too seems OK. An exclusive Devi or AmbAl temple is OK too. But a "Shiva-Vishnu temple", and many of similarly newly-built, multi-themed, composite "designer temples" (in India and abroad we come across these days) -- they all seem to me to be somehow straying far from the central monotheism of that very Faith they are actually meant to reflect and enshrine. What do members think? I'd like to hear your learned comments. respectfully, dAsan, Sudarshan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2005 Report Share Posted January 18, 2005 SRIMATE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA According to agama shastras ,you can have shrines of parivara devatas of the main deity.Shiva cannot be parivara devata of Vishnu.Garuda,Vishvaksena,Dhanvantri,Chakratalvar,Hanuman are the parivara of Vishnu.Similarly other deities have their own parivara devatas.Hence it is totally against the agama shatras to have multiplex form of temples.It is a sorry state.This is done please everybody at the cost of agama praamaniam. dasan On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 Sudarshan K Madabushi wrote : > > > >, "rvv21" <ranjanvv@h...> wrote: > >> I think it's unlikely you'll find a "Vishnu-only" temple in >the > UK (apart from ISKCON temples) - but I could be wrong. >However, the > sizeable Sri Lankan Tamil community in many parts of >London have > retained their Shaiva temple culture to a relatively >high degree and > have constructed many 'south-indian' style temples, >if you were > interested in seeing them for interest. Many have a >sannidhi for > Lakshmi/Naaraayana as well. > > **************** >Dear members, > >This is a very interesting thread of discussion and I like your >exchanges. > >One of the odd things I have noticed about Hindu temples abroad is >this: they are designed to accommodate and built to serve the >sentiments of all denominations of Hindu religous society. Such >design and architecture is no doubt well-intentioned but the results >are sometimes a mixed bag. > >I toured parts of USA East Coast last year. My host was kind enough >to take me to a very beautiful temple in Maryland. It was called >Shiva-Vishnu temple but inside I was surprised to see many more >special "sannidhi-s" (shrines or sanctums) for a number of other >deities in the Hindu pantheon -- Ganesha, Murugua, AmbAL, AyyappA, >Venkateshwara, Krishna... I saw devotees come in throngs and each >proceeded straight to that shrine he or she wanted to particularly >worship. Thereafter he or she spent a few moments at other shrines >before exiting. I couldn't help thinking it all vaguely resembled the >modern and convenient "multi-cuisine cafeteria" concept applied to >temple architecture i.e. you come shuffling in a long queue with a >plate in hand, go slowly around the table and help yourself >generously to the dish you particularly like, and just a little bit >of everthing else in the spread. > >Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want to be critical of "Shiva- >Vishnu" temples, I hasten to add. Who knows, perhaps the "Agama >sAstras" themselves do, in fact, permit such "cafeteria" design of >temples. But I must say this: I cannot help sometimes wondering if >the presence of more than one Deity within a temple-precinct does not >go against the essentially monotheistic grain of Hindu religious >thought and practice. My own personal experience is that when I am in >the presence of the main Deity inside a temple I'd rather fully >concentrate on worshipping that one Divine Entity alone. But instead, >I often find that, at the back of my mind somewhere, I'm being >distracted by the anxious thought of having to rush for "darshan" to >the "next crowded counter" -- viz. other satellite shrines >or "sannidhi-s". The result is that a temple visit, far from >affording one an opportunity for experiencing a certain sense of >abiding One-ness with God, leaves the devotee with a strange feeling, >instead, he's just concluded a long and hectic series of business >appointments. > >Let me confess to one more thing. I always come away from a temple >feeling a little guilty and disappointed if, after I've had "darshan" >of the main Deity first, for some reason or other, I've been unable >to offer worship at subsidiary "sannidhi-s". I've never relished such >a feeling. It has always robbed the first experience a little of its >joy. > >An exclusively Vishnu temple (with His other divine forms serving >perhaps as smaller satellite "sannidhi-s") seems to me OK. An >exclusive Shiva temple too seems OK. An exclusive Devi or AmbAl >temple is OK too. But a "Shiva-Vishnu temple", and many of similarly >newly-built, multi-themed, composite "designer temples" (in India and >abroad we come across these days) -- they all seem to me to be >somehow straying far from the central monotheism of that very Faith >they are actually meant to reflect and enshrine. > >What do members think? I'd like to hear your learned comments. > >respectfully, >dAsan, >Sudarshan > > > > > > Links > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2005 Report Share Posted January 18, 2005 Representationally Hinduism is polytheistic; with this state of affairs it is hard to see that Hinduism is monotheistic. Also the modern Hindu communities developing the in the alien land cannot afford to have a specific deity in every street corner. Thus we have all different facets of the One God concentrated in one Super temple in each major city these days. If only we could teach people that there is only One God living as the antharyAmi despite all the outward differences, we would have successfully portrayed the true aspects of the upanishadic truths. But the practical situation is quite different! The wishes of the people as well as the Agamas have complicated the matter way too much. Probably we can choose to a different sannidhi each time we visit the temple, and experience the anubavam of the Lord in the specific at the specific visit. When the gyana matures, we can all the One God through the Vishnu tatvam. dAsan Rajan , "Sudarshan K Madabushi" <mksudarshan2002> wrote: > > > , "rvv21" <ranjanvv@h...> wrote: > >> I think it's unlikely you'll find a "Vishnu-only" temple in > the > UK (apart from ISKCON temples) - but I could be wrong. > However, the > sizeable Sri Lankan Tamil community in many parts of > London have > retained their Shaiva temple culture to a relatively > high degree and > have constructed many 'south-indian' style temples, > if you were > interested in seeing them for interest. Many have a > sannidhi for > Lakshmi/Naaraayana as well. > > **************** > Dear members, > > This is a very interesting thread of discussion and I like your > exchanges. > > One of the odd things I have noticed about Hindu temples abroad is > this: they are designed to accommodate and built to serve the > sentiments of all denominations of Hindu religous society. Such > design and architecture is no doubt well-intentioned but the results > are sometimes a mixed bag. > > I toured parts of USA East Coast last year. My host was kind enough > to take me to a very beautiful temple in Maryland. It was called > Shiva-Vishnu temple but inside I was surprised to see many more > special "sannidhi-s" (shrines or sanctums) for a number of other > deities in the Hindu pantheon -- Ganesha, Murugua, AmbAL, AyyappA, > Venkateshwara, Krishna... I saw devotees come in throngs and each > proceeded straight to that shrine he or she wanted to particularly > worship. Thereafter he or she spent a few moments at other shrines > before exiting. I couldn't help thinking it all vaguely resembled the > modern and convenient "multi-cuisine cafeteria" concept applied to > temple architecture i.e. you come shuffling in a long queue with a > plate in hand, go slowly around the table and help yourself > generously to the dish you particularly like, and just a little bit > of everthing else in the spread. > > Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want to be critical of "Shiva- > Vishnu" temples, I hasten to add. Who knows, perhaps the "Agama > sAstras" themselves do, in fact, permit such "cafeteria" design of > temples. But I must say this: I cannot help sometimes wondering if > the presence of more than one Deity within a temple-precinct does not > go against the essentially monotheistic grain of Hindu religious > thought and practice. My own personal experience is that when I am in > the presence of the main Deity inside a temple I'd rather fully > concentrate on worshipping that one Divine Entity alone. But instead, > I often find that, at the back of my mind somewhere, I'm being > distracted by the anxious thought of having to rush for "darshan" to > the "next crowded counter" -- viz. other satellite shrines > or "sannidhi-s". The result is that a temple visit, far from > affording one an opportunity for experiencing a certain sense of > abiding One-ness with God, leaves the devotee with a strange feeling, > instead, he's just concluded a long and hectic series of business > appointments. > > Let me confess to one more thing. I always come away from a temple > feeling a little guilty and disappointed if, after I've had "darshan" > of the main Deity first, for some reason or other, I've been unable > to offer worship at subsidiary "sannidhi-s". I've never relished such > a feeling. It has always robbed the first experience a little of its > joy. > > An exclusively Vishnu temple (with His other divine forms serving > perhaps as smaller satellite "sannidhi-s") seems to me OK. An > exclusive Shiva temple too seems OK. An exclusive Devi or AmbAl > temple is OK too. But a "Shiva-Vishnu temple", and many of similarly > newly-built, multi-themed, composite "designer temples" (in India and > abroad we come across these days) -- they all seem to me to be > somehow straying far from the central monotheism of that very Faith > they are actually meant to reflect and enshrine. > > What do members think? I'd like to hear your learned comments. > > respectfully, > dAsan, > Sudarshan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Dear Swami, The agamas have not overcomplicated the matter but we have oversimplified the matter.Our acaryas hold the worship of SAAKSHAT BHAGAVAN superior to that of antaryami aspect of HIM. dasan On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 rtvrajan wrote : > > > > >Representationally Hinduism is polytheistic; with this state of >affairs it is hard to see that Hinduism is monotheistic. Also the >modern Hindu communities developing the in the alien land cannot >afford to have a specific deity in every street corner. Thus we have >all different facets of the One God concentrated in one Super temple >in each major city these days. If only we could teach people that >there is only One God living as the antharyAmi despite all the >outward differences, we would have successfully portrayed the true >aspects of the upanishadic truths. But the practical situation is >quite different! The wishes of the people as well as the Agamas have >complicated the matter way too much. Probably we can choose to a >different sannidhi each time we visit the temple, and experience the >anubavam of the Lord in the specific at the specific visit. When the >gyana matures, we can all the One God through the Vishnu tatvam. > >dAsan >Rajan > >, "Sudarshan K Madabushi" ><mksudarshan2002> wrote: > > > > > > , "rvv21" <ranjanvv@h...> wrote: > > >> I think it's unlikely you'll find a "Vishnu-only" temple >in > > the > UK (apart from ISKCON temples) - but I could be wrong. > > However, the > sizeable Sri Lankan Tamil community in many parts >of > > London have > retained their Shaiva temple culture to a relatively > > high degree and > have constructed many 'south-indian' style >temples, > > if you were > interested in seeing them for interest. Many have a > > sannidhi for > Lakshmi/Naaraayana as well. > > > > **************** > > Dear members, > > > > This is a very interesting thread of discussion and I like your > > exchanges. > > > > One of the odd things I have noticed about Hindu temples abroad is > > this: they are designed to accommodate and built to serve the > > sentiments of all denominations of Hindu religous society. Such > > design and architecture is no doubt well-intentioned but the >results > > are sometimes a mixed bag. > > > > I toured parts of USA East Coast last year. My host was kind >enough > > to take me to a very beautiful temple in Maryland. It was called > > Shiva-Vishnu temple but inside I was surprised to see many more > > special "sannidhi-s" (shrines or sanctums) for a number of other > > deities in the Hindu pantheon -- Ganesha, Murugua, AmbAL, AyyappA, > > Venkateshwara, Krishna... I saw devotees come in throngs and each > > proceeded straight to that shrine he or she wanted to particularly > > worship. Thereafter he or she spent a few moments at other shrines > > before exiting. I couldn't help thinking it all vaguely resembled >the > > modern and convenient "multi-cuisine cafeteria" concept applied to > > temple architecture i.e. you come shuffling in a long queue with a > > plate in hand, go slowly around the table and help yourself > > generously to the dish you particularly like, and just a little >bit > > of everthing else in the spread. > > > > Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want to be critical of "Shiva- > > Vishnu" temples, I hasten to add. Who knows, perhaps the "Agama > > sAstras" themselves do, in fact, permit such "cafeteria" design of > > temples. But I must say this: I cannot help sometimes wondering if > > the presence of more than one Deity within a temple-precinct does >not > > go against the essentially monotheistic grain of Hindu religious > > thought and practice. My own personal experience is that when I am >in > > the presence of the main Deity inside a temple I'd rather fully > > concentrate on worshipping that one Divine Entity alone. But >instead, > > I often find that, at the back of my mind somewhere, I'm being > > distracted by the anxious thought of having to rush for "darshan" >to > > the "next crowded counter" -- viz. other satellite shrines > > or "sannidhi-s". The result is that a temple visit, far from > > affording one an opportunity for experiencing a certain sense of > > abiding One-ness with God, leaves the devotee with a strange >feeling, > > instead, he's just concluded a long and hectic series of business > > appointments. > > > > Let me confess to one more thing. I always come away from a temple > > feeling a little guilty and disappointed if, after I've >had "darshan" > > of the main Deity first, for some reason or other, I've been >unable > > to offer worship at subsidiary "sannidhi-s". I've never relished >such > > a feeling. It has always robbed the first experience a little of >its > > joy. > > > > An exclusively Vishnu temple (with His other divine forms serving > > perhaps as smaller satellite "sannidhi-s") seems to me OK. An > > exclusive Shiva temple too seems OK. An exclusive Devi or AmbAl > > temple is OK too. But a "Shiva-Vishnu temple", and many of >similarly > > newly-built, multi-themed, composite "designer temples" (in India >and > > abroad we come across these days) -- they all seem to me to be > > somehow straying far from the central monotheism of that very >Faith > > they are actually meant to reflect and enshrine. > > > > What do members think? I'd like to hear your learned comments. > > > > respectfully, > > dAsan, > > Sudarshan > > > > Links > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Hello Everybody, I would like to point out, that, the kovil at Sri Rangam has umpteen number of Sannadis. Maybe, they are all pareevara gods... but, the fact is that there are many sannadis in the Sri Rangam kovil. Also, we must finally remember, that we might sit down and pray in front of any deity, but the truth of the matter lies in realising the Nirguna Brahman. " To worship a symbol as God is idolatory. But to worship God through a symbol is a legitimate means of divine communion ( extract from 'The Upanishads' )." What we see and understand is the Saguna Brahman. For putting bounds and giving characteristics to nirguna brahman produces saguna brahman. If one can concentrate totally upon only deity at one sannadi, then i guess, we are on our way to realising the ultimate Brahman. -- Best regards, Arvind arvind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Om namo narayanaya. It is very surprising. We as vaishnavaites, believe the omnipresence of Srimannaaraayana. When souls have Him as antaryami, why are we developing such a strong reservation towards Shiva? Many of our close relatives are following the so called Babas and have live portraits of these Babas with very grand garlands in their pooja rooms. When the whole world is going towards one village and we are facing a threat to hinduism let us promote a liberal view of agama and a liberal mosaic of hinduism. Let us see the current topic. I completely disagree with the argument that Agamas have complicated the issue. Agamas are not to complicate but only to have a system where people can be provided a better way of worship. We are not understanding ( in fact not trying to understand) the Agamas. Agamas are not against having murthis of shiva and related devatas in the temple of Vishnu. In Saptapraakaara system, we can see other dieties also. MARICHI’S VIMANARCHANA KALPA Here are the parishaddevatas( non vaishnavaite) in a vishnu temple in seven prakaaras. Dvitiyaavarana: shiva Triitiyaavarana: Ishana, Gangadhara Chaturthavaranam: Shiva, Bhutanayaka, subrahmanya Panchamavarana: Sapta maatrukas, sapta rohinis, Sata Rudras, Ekadasa Rudras, Saptamavaranam: Rudra and Rudranuja VAASTU VIDYA MAHODADHI Garuda, Vishvaksena, Akrura, Bali, Naarada, Kshetrapaala, Shiva, Brahma, Mukunda, Gadaadhara, Prahlaada, Aanjaneya, Shounaka, Vibhishana, Shuka, Arjuna, Paraasara, Seshaa are vishnu parivara. You can even look into MAYAMATA We are not to develop a liberal view of agama or hinduism but the hinduism itself is the most liberal religion. Let us not compartmentalise a system which is a very liberal concept and because of the liberalism, hinduism has still remained as the oldest living religion. Let us not do any harm to hinduism and instead bring all people in one stream --- Vasan Sriranga Chari <vasan_chari_hk wrote: > > SRIMATE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA > According to agama shastras ,you can have shrines of > parivara devatas of the main deity.Shiva cannot be > parivara devata of > Vishnu.Garuda,Vishvaksena,Dhanvantri,Chakratalvar,Hanuman > are the parivara of Vishnu.Similarly other deities > have their own parivara devatas.Hence it is totally > against the agama shatras to have multiplex form of > temples.It is a sorry state.This is done please > everybody at the cost of agama praamaniam. > dasan > > > On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 Sudarshan K Madabushi wrote : > > > > > > > >, "rvv21" > <ranjanvv@h...> wrote: > > >> I think it's unlikely you'll find a > "Vishnu-only" temple in > >the > UK (apart from ISKCON temples) - but I could > be wrong. > >However, the > sizeable Sri Lankan Tamil community > in many parts of > >London have > retained their Shaiva temple culture > to a relatively > >high degree and > have constructed many > 'south-indian' style temples, > >if you were > interested in seeing them for > interest. Many have a > >sannidhi for > Lakshmi/Naaraayana as well. > > > > **************** > >Dear members, > > > >This is a very interesting thread of discussion and > I like your > >exchanges. > > > >One of the odd things I have noticed about Hindu > temples abroad is > >this: they are designed to accommodate and built to > serve the > >sentiments of all denominations of Hindu religous > society. Such > >design and architecture is no doubt > well-intentioned but the results > >are sometimes a mixed bag. > > > >I toured parts of USA East Coast last year. My host > was kind enough > >to take me to a very beautiful temple in Maryland. > It was called > >Shiva-Vishnu temple but inside I was surprised to > see many more > >special "sannidhi-s" (shrines or sanctums) for a > number of other > >deities in the Hindu pantheon -- Ganesha, Murugua, > AmbAL, AyyappA, > >Venkateshwara, Krishna... I saw devotees come in > throngs and each > >proceeded straight to that shrine he or she wanted > to particularly > >worship. Thereafter he or she spent a few moments > at other shrines > >before exiting. I couldn't help thinking it all > vaguely resembled the > >modern and convenient "multi-cuisine cafeteria" > concept applied to > >temple architecture i.e. you come shuffling in a > long queue with a > >plate in hand, go slowly around the table and help > yourself > >generously to the dish you particularly like, and > just a little bit > >of everthing else in the spread. > > > >Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want to be > critical of "Shiva- > >Vishnu" temples, I hasten to add. Who knows, > perhaps the "Agama > >sAstras" themselves do, in fact, permit such > "cafeteria" design of > >temples. But I must say this: I cannot help > sometimes wondering if > >the presence of more than one Deity within a > temple-precinct does not > >go against the essentially monotheistic grain of > Hindu religious > >thought and practice. My own personal experience is > that when I am in > >the presence of the main Deity inside a temple I'd > rather fully > >concentrate on worshipping that one Divine Entity > alone. But instead, > >I often find that, at the back of my mind > somewhere, I'm being > >distracted by the anxious thought of having to rush > for "darshan" to > >the "next crowded counter" -- viz. other satellite > shrines > >or "sannidhi-s". The result is that a temple visit, > far from > >affording one an opportunity for experiencing a > certain sense of > >abiding One-ness with God, leaves the devotee with > a strange feeling, > >instead, he's just concluded a long and hectic > series of business > >appointments. > > > >Let me confess to one more thing. I always come > away from a temple > >feeling a little guilty and disappointed if, after > I've had "darshan" > >of the main Deity first, for some reason or other, > I've been unable > >to offer worship at subsidiary "sannidhi-s". I've > never relished such > >a feeling. It has always robbed the first > experience a little of its > >joy. > > > >An exclusively Vishnu temple (with His other divine > forms serving > >perhaps as smaller satellite "sannidhi-s") seems to > me OK. An > >exclusive Shiva temple too seems OK. An exclusive > Devi or AmbAl > >temple is OK too. But a "Shiva-Vishnu temple", and > many of similarly > >newly-built, multi-themed, composite "designer > temples" (in India and > >abroad we come across these days) -- they all seem > to me to be > >somehow straying far from the central monotheism of > that very Faith > >they are actually meant to reflect and enshrine. > > > >What do members think? I'd like to hear your > learned comments. > > > >respectfully, > >dAsan, > >Sudarshan > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > ===== Deekshith Parasaram PhD Hindu Temple and Cultural Center. 3818, 212 st SE Bothell wa ph. 425-482-9426 - The all-new My - What will yours do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2005 Report Share Posted January 22, 2005 Dear all, Perhaps the question 'can an anya devata shrine be constructed in a Vishnu temple according to the aagamas' is subtly different to the question of 'what is the best option for temple construction in mixed-sampradaaya communities, such as those in the west'. It shouldn't be forgotten that the Shrivaishnava communities in India (and to a lesser extent the US, I'm guessing?) are often lucky to be of sufficient size such that they can organise their 'satsang' and maintain a degree of authenticity in the preservation of their philosophy. I can say from experience in the UK, for example, that not all of us are so lucky. The Shrivaishnava population here is very small - and most of those that are here have probably become philosophically aligned to the 'Advaita-lite' that most westerners would associate with Hinduism and see Vaishnava/Shaiva/Smaarta distinctions as 'divisive' or 'obsolete' etc. In fact even some Iyengars in India these days do not know that they are affiliated to Shrivaishnavism!! With this in mind, it should not come as a surprise that in a country like the UK, the philosophy will tend to be even more diluted. This is certainly a shame, but in this situation what are the observant Shrivaishnavas to do? Close themselves off from everybody else? One should be aware that this will seem like 'Hindus discriminating against Hindus' to the local folk, which may give people a negative perception of our sampradaayam - that's surely not a good thing. So perhaps for those of us who do call ourselves specifically 'Srivaishnava', the best option available is to try and be true to our principles/traditions within ourselves, while trying to engage with those of other sampradaayas/religions in some constructive way. If the only temple in the area is a Shiva temple with a Vishnu shrine at the side, perhaps we need to try and search for those noble aspects of Shaivism that echo our Shrivaishnava belief system? I don't know - of course this may be against our shaastras and aagamas - but isn't interaction the only way that people will learn about each others' cultures? For example, when I mentioned the Vishnu shrines in Shaiva Siddhaanta temples earlier, I was not necessarily saying that a Srivaishnava has to go and pray there - but perhaps, it is possible to walk into one without thinking "oh no, I am in an anya-devata shrine where worship is carried out against our aagamic principles" - and perhaps it is more constructive to think "look - they also recite the Vedic hymns to Vishnu, they also offer the various upaachaaras with devotion, etc. - that's something at least". Another issue is what type of community you are serving - if you build a Hindu temple in a UK city (or anywhere for that matter), you need to demonstrate that you are serving the religious needs of the local Hindu community. One may suggest that "this is no excuse to violate the injunctions of the aagamas and build a Ganapati sannidhi in a Paancharaatra temple". Perhaps not. But if, in a particular city, you can count the number of people following a particular aagamic tradition on one hand, then it is obvious that such a temple would not be viewed as "serving the community's religious needs". OK, so arguably the purpose of a temple is to serve God rather than the other way round, but let's be realistic. Without patrons, how will the service be funded? While the 'multi- cuisine cafeteria' mentality is no doubt an important factor, as Sri Sudarshan put it, I would suggest that this isn't the whole story - these temples are also a genuine attempt to keep *some* form of Vedic practice alive, in countries where by rights, it probably shouldn't stand a chance of surviving in the first place. Then there is the interesting question of: given the choice between an 'anya-devata' temple/'diluted Vishnu temple' and no temple at all, which is better? I haven't decided myself :-) My point basically, is that while the aagamas and shaastras may be very clear on the issue, it is not always as simple to follow them in all social backdrops - and would just ask for a little understanding from the more faithful followers our tradition elsewhere - we are trying our best out here! :-) I was once talking to Sri Shaunaka Rishi Das, head of the Oxford Centre of Hindu studies, himself a staunch Gaudiya Vaishnava. His background is Irish, where many will know that sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants has ripped apart the nation in recent history. On the issues of engaging with other sampradaayas and paying homage to anya-devatas in a Vaishnava context, he said it far better than I could - 'In Northern Ireland, if you weren't prepared to engage with people of other religions, you'd get shot' (paraphrased). Ok so this may not be an immediate danger with Hindus, but it's something to think about nevertheless :-) Sorry for this long posting and hope no offence was caused (none was intented of course)! best wishes Ranjan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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