Guest guest Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 SrimatE Raamaanujaaya Namaha // SrimatE Nigamaanta Mahaa Desikaaya Namaha // SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya/ SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya// KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava: / SrI RanganAthO jayathu Sri Ranga Sri cha VardhathAm// ============================================================= SRI RANGA SRI VOL.07 / ISSUE # 43 dated 9th March 2006 ============================================================= EDITORIAL Dear Bhagavatas: Here is a mail from a Bhagavata who is not a BrahmaNa. It is a bit long but is self-explanatory. Quote: “Dear Swamin, If all three of the Varnas have to do this important thing, why are they not following it? To be more precise, to a very great extent, when I grew up, Sandhyaa Vandanam was observed as a Brahmin ritual. May be our elders did not know its importance, or they did not find it interesting. I am surprised! Why did this degradation happen? Adiyen is just trying to understand why other Varnas apart from Brahmins do not observe this AT ALL TOTALLY? I mean why this callous attitude towards prescribed practices? Even a lay man will understand that getting up in the morning, having a bath, praying to god for few minutes and going to work needs some discipline. This discipline will help him, in managing his other tasks too. Having said all these, Adiyen will be very grateful to you if you can persuade every body to start following them. Adiyen would definitely thank you for this enlightenment because I never knew the significance of Upanayanam, because even my Brahmin friends told me that they do it for wearing PooNal. I mean it is probably going to be very disheartening to a noble soul like you. But the last few posts have been truly revealing about the real nature of SV. Adiyen could not agree more. You sure have some intellectual understanding, some experience with God to appreciate or understand that. Sri V. Sadagopan Swamin once told me that everybody has to wander in his own desert before he finds the right path and also that every soul has its own karma to work out. Adiyen is indeed blessed to be with you all great people. Thanks a lot, swamin! Can you put together a list of “dos” and “not dos” for all Varnas? What the scriptures say as necessary, like the ones people should not miss at all?” Unquote ===================================================================== IN THIS ISSUE 1. SANDHYAA VANDANAM -– Part 2 - 4 FAQs AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VARIOUS OBSERVANCES IN CONNECTION WITH "SANDHYAAVANDANAM" (ANBIL RAMASWAMY) ===================================================================== The following questions have been answered Q 17 Can you put together a list of “dos” and “not dos” for all Varnas? Q 18 What the scriptures say as necessary, like the ones people should not miss at all? Q 19.We have to take bath because we get dirty. But, why then, should Bhagavaan have his ceremonial bath (Tirumanjanam)? Q 20 Some people wear red and others wear yellow SrichurNam. Is there any stipulation on wearing Red or Yellow SrichurNam? ===================================================================== ISSUES RELEASED So far, 219 Regular issues of SRS have been released apart from Special Issues: 27 Issues of Vol. 1 15 Issues of Vol. 2 42 Issues of Vol. 3 35 Issues of Vol. 4 28 Issues of Vol. 5 30 Issues of Vol. 6 and 42 Issues of Vol. 7 -- These issues have been archived for public view at - by Sri Diwakar Kannan (diwakark) You may also view the archives at http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia maintained by Sri Srinivasan Sriram (ajiva_rts ) We strongly urge you to kindly peruse the "Regular Issues" archived in the "Files" Section and view the Contents at "srsindex.html" (Not the individual postings allowed for encouraging "Reader participation"). We are sure that you will be convinced of the quality of the contents. IF you are satisfied with the quality and contents of "Sri Ranga Sri"- Tell your friends to join by sending an email to Srirangasri- IF NOT: Tell us, as to how we may improve. Ever at your service Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy, Editor & Publisher, "Sri Ranga Sri" ===================================================================== xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ===================================================================== 1. SANDHYAA VANDANAM -– Part 2 - 4 FAQs AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VARIOUS OBSERVANCES IN CONNECTION WITH "SANDHYAAVANDANAM" (ANBIL RAMASWAMY) ---- Q 17 Can you put together a list of “dos” and “not dos” for all Varnas? Ans: There are quite a lot of “Saamaanya Dharmas” that are applicable to all VarNas and there are in addition special Dharmas for the various VarNas and Stations in life known as “VarNa and Aasrama Dharmas” respectively. These have been explained extensively in Chapters 13 and 14 of my book “Hinduism Rediscovered”. The book is about 900 pages and has received rave reviews from Journals and Newspapers and ferom Acharyas and Scholars both In India and outside India. It is priced at Rs.480/= in India and US $ 48.00 ex-India. Those interested in acquiring the book may send a check drawn favoring “Ramaswamy Anbil” and send it to - Ramaswamy Anbil, 1638 Omara Lane, Smyrna, GA -30082 or Call on Phone (770) 434-9596. Please also send email to Ramanbil to help link your order and expedite dispatch of the book to your given address. ---- 18 What the scriptures say as necessary, like the ones people should not miss at all? Ans: While the question is simple, the answer cannot be so. It needs a digression from the main theme of this series on SV but would be necessary as steps leading to the performance of SV. We have to begin from the beginning of the day and close with the close of the day in listing out the procedures. Even then, it would not be possible to detail all the “Dos” and “Don’ts” involved. Thus, the list can neither be exhaustive nor can be said to represent the final say in the matter. This is because apart from the Saastrai-c injunctions, the “AnushTaanam” procedures followed by different Poorva Achaaryas also known as “SishTaaachaaram” are considered more authoritative than the scriptures themselves. The main procedures may be more or less the same, but there may be slight variations adopted by Poorva Achaaryas. Sishyas of different lineages will, therefore, have to follow the practices followed / advised by their respective Achaaryas. We can at best provide the salient points to remember. --- The day is divided into 5 periods during which one worships Bhagavaan. They are as follows: Morning (Praat-ah), Mid-morning (Sangava), Mid-day (Maadhya-ahnika), After-noon (Apara-ahna) and Evening (Saaya-ahna). They are allocated for the various routines called Abhigamanam, Upaadaanam, Ijyaa, Svaadyaaya and Yoga respectively. Swami Desika has detailed al these in his “SriVaishNava Dinasari”. These are applicable to all (Not only just for SrivaishNavas). A few relevant observations relating to each period are provided elsewhere in this and subsequent postings by way of general guidelines on the “Dos” and “Don’ts” as advised by our Achaaryas during their KaalakshEpams on “AnushTaana Granthas” - 1. “Abhigamanam” (Reverent approach to the Lord) One should wake up even before dawn with Hari’s name on his lips and pray to Him to lead him in the right path s during the day that begins. After brushing teeth and easing, strictly in accordance with the procedures for cleaning, one should take an early bath and carry out the morning rituals. --- 2. “Upaadaanam” (Acquisition of articles for worship) The Lord is said not to look into the value of articles offered but values only the intensity of the devotional love (Bhakti) with which the offer is made. Yet, Saastras outline guidelines on what articles can be offered and what articles should not be offered. --- 3. “Ijyaa” (The main procedure of worship) With a pure mind and clean body, with love and devotion one has to approach the Lord and offer garments, flowers and whatever prepared food offerings. The bottom line is that the offer should be made with love and affection, awe and respect as one would to a royal prince, a long expected guest or a loving son. -- 4. “Svaadhyaaya” (Study of Holy scriptures) like Upanishads Itihaasas, PuraaNas, hymns and StOtras by Saints and Achaaryas of their respective traditions). While doing this, one should concentrate on the “Divya MangaLa vigraham” (the beautiful and divine figure of the Lord, His “Subha-Aasraya guNas” (auspicious qualities) and His (ChEshTitas) wonderful exploits, as revealed by our Achaaryas. --- 5. “Yoga” ( Meditation) One should go to sleep with the name of the Lord on the lips, with the thought of the merciful Lord in the heart thanking Him for granting a whole day of rightful utilization and a prayer for the grant of blessing for another day with similar opportunity. In fact, while in deep (dreamless) sleep, one is said to be united with the Lord (which is signified by the term “yOgA”) lying on the “lap of the lord” --- Now, some observations on the above: 1. “Abhigamanam” (Reverent approach to the Lord) =======================================================================(1) On getting up from bed: - One should get up from bed, around 3 hours (7 ½ naazhigais) before Sunrise - Utter “Hari, Hari” thrice and “Hari” once totaling 7 times. There is a famous slOkam that shows how the different names of the Lord should be mediated upon on different occasions. It says on getting up, the name of “Hari” should be recited; while walking, “KEsava”, while eating, “GOvinda” and while going to bed, “Maadava” “uttishTan chintaya harim vrajan chintaya kEsavam/ bhunjan chintaya gOvindam svapan chintaya maadavam” - Meditate on the episode of the Lord’s saving Gajendra. - Feel regret for having wasted your lifetime in transitory (a-sthiram) and useless (a-saaram) pursuits and beg the Lord to forgive your transgressions. - Place the RIGHT foot first on the ground, after seeking the pardon of Mother Earth (Bhoomi dEvi) reciting the following slOkam: “namOstu priyadattaayai tubhyam dEvi! vasundarE!/ Tvam maataa sarva lOKaanaam paada sparsam kshamasva mE // Samudra vasanE! dEvi! parvata sthana maNDitE1 / vishNu patni ! namas tubhyam paadasparsam kshamasva mE//” - A subtle point to note is that while entering one’s own home, or a friend’s homeor the Pooja room, one should place the RIGHT foot first. While commencing a journey, entering an enemy’s home, place or city, one should place the LEFT foot first. This latter method is supposed to ensure victory. --- (2) BRUSHING TEETH: - Brushing the teeth should be done with a “tooth stick”. Tooth sticks are made from small twigs of a variety of medicinal trees like “VEppa-maram” (Neem or MargOsa tree), “Aalamaram” (Banyan tree), “Arasa-maram-” (Papal tree) or “VEla-maram” (Babool tree). The tip of the twig is crushed to form a brush for cleaning teeth. After brushing the teeth, the twig should be discarded as trash. - This is prescribed by Yadhava Prakaasa, the teacher-turned disciple of Bhagavad Ramanuja. It follows that the use of modern day toothbrushes was either not known in those days or was positively discouraged. - Asmad Achaaryan, Srimad Andavan, Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam, used to say that once used, the tooth brush becomes polluted with spittle and cannot be used again but should be thrown away. In any case, the practice of packing a used tooth brush along with other items like toothpaste etc while on travel is considered to pollute the rest of the packing! --- (3) SOUCHAM (Cleaning after easing): It may be interesting to note that for these seemingly innocuous and commonplace daily routines, several authorities like Viswaamitra, Gaarga, Devala, Jamadagni, Daksha, Kapila, Angiras, Kratu, Gaalava, Atri, Harita, BOdaayana, Saunaka and many other sages have laid down very strict procedures. “There are minute prescriptions regarding the maintenance of bodily purity; when and how to bathe; how to purify after eating, defecating and urinating, after sexual intercourse and menstruation, and after touching anything or anybody impure; what to eat, from whom to accept food; with whom one can have social or physical contact and so on… Guarding the bodily boundaries and openings implies that the internal structure of the body is pure, just as protecting the boundaries of society makes sense only if that society is regarded as a valuable structure” (P20-21 Patrick Olivelle). While these are common to all, in matters relating to purity and penance, ascetics are expected to do more than laymen and any laxity is deemed to strip them of their Sannyaasa Aasrama with devastating punitive consequences.. The most important part of Soucham is the use of mud (or sand, where mud is not readily available) and water to clean the private parts and the number of times this has to be done ranging from 5 to 15 times in the case of all other than Sannyasais, while for the Sannyaasis the requirement is extremely strict and the number of times is increased fourfold times besides many other restrictions special to them. (Vide p39 of “Ahnika grantah” by Prakritam Azhagiya Singhar in his Poorvaasramam). For want of space, we do not delineate on this theme here) Another aspect to be noted in this connection and in the case of taking bath and in fact in relation to the usage of water for any religious purposes is that the rules allow only waters taken out from flowing river that is considered to be always pure. “Even the only other bodies of water that can be used like Well, Tank and Lake need to be poured from the vessel to make it run before it can be used for ritual purposes” (Patrick Olivelle p32) While this may be practicable back in India where people have access to waterfronts, it is not known how this could be followed in letter and spirit in foreign lands. This is probably one of the reasons why TRUE VAIDIKAS AND ESPECIALLY TRUE SANNYAASIS found it not conducive to the strict regimen of their station in life) to travel overseas. “Swaroopa Viruddham”. Such transgression is deemed to strip them of the “Sannyaasa Dharma” and they forfeit their right to be deemed as ‘Sannyaasis” The sacred thread should be wound on the right ear. The reasons for this will be explained later on while discussing the methods of wearing sacred thread in different modes on different occasions. --- (4) HAIR DRESSING! Today, we find that whether one does Sandya Vandanam or not, one religiously resorts to the daily ritual of “self-shaving” obviously to make oneself ‘presentable” in the company of sophisticated work environment! Can anyone point out any authority from the scriptures for this practice? On the other hand, as personal cosmetic grooming was of no great concern in the setting of religious chores,, “Kshouram” was prescribed for all males once a month and that too a “Sarvaanga Kshavaram” (whole body shaving) on specific days. In between, one was not supposed to go for a “hair-cut”not to speak of a “face-shave”! This leads us to another FAQ as to why one should have tuft (kuDumi)? If we look at the “anga-nyaasam” and “kara-nyaasam” prescribed as preliminaries for any ritual action, we will find the statement “Om Sakthyai Shikaayai VashaT”. As we invoke the six qualities of Bhagavaan, we touch the topknot of the strands of hair on top of the head for invoking “Shakti” (power or inherent energy) This is not peculiar to Hinduism but can be seen in other religious practices too. For example, Jews cover the spot of their head (corresponding to “shikaa”) with a cap, presumably for a similar purpose. We also see in the story of “Samson and Delilah” that when his topknot was cut off, he lost his entire might and got vanquished. Some of us may remember that in the olden days, Achaaryas would not deign to offer “SaTaari” for those with “cropped head”, (i.e) those without “Shikaa”. But the Achaaryas themselves seem to have relaxed on this these days perhaps because “cropped head” has become the rule than the exception! --- (5) TAKING BATH As already explained earlier, water for bath can be used only from well, tank, lake or flowing river. This excludes even Sea waters except on Amavaasya days in the months of Aadi (KaTakam) and Thai (Makaram) months. (As an additional exception Saastras permit taking bath in sea water at TiruppullaaNi, where Sri Rama took his “Dharba Sayanam” (bed of holy grass) Travel by crossing the Ocean was looked down upon because: 1. In the olden days, the only way to cross the ocean was by ships that took months on end to reach the shores of land and if in the meantime any “Aa-soucham” should occur, Vaidikas could not perform their daily Tiruvaradanam to Bhagavaan. And, for the true Vaidikas, missing this important rite was worse than meeting with death. Today, air travel takes one to land at the nearest airport within hours. So, this objection is not valid anymore. 2. The human wastes were dropped in sea waters while traveling by ship. And, polluting the “Samudram” was considered a heinous crime. Today, they empty the human waste only after the aircraft reaching the landing airport. So, this objection is also not valid anymore. 3. The most valid objection, however, is that waters from well, tank, lake and flowing river will not be available in overseas locations and the only source of water available is through metallic pipes that cannot be touched Vaidikas. - When, we offered to construct a metallic hand rail to help asmad Achaaryan to hold while stepping down to the bottom of the well dug inside the Asramam tank (that had dried up due to drought), he refused to have any such contraptions as that would vitiate his Sannyaasa dharma against holding on to a metal frame! - On another occasion, when asmad Achaaryan slipped while walking on foot and was offered a wheel chair to sit, he refused to use it saying he could not get in contact with a metallic chair. Bearing with utmost fortitude and suffering the excruciating pain, he preferred to stand up and walk all the way back to the Asramam! - When I requested a kainkaryapara of H.H. Azhagiyasinghar (who is now the Srikaryam of H.H) to translate some writing from Sanskrit into Tamil, he said that he could not “touch” paper before offering “Bikshai” to H.H. Such are the strict norms observed by Achaaryas and even the Kainkaryaparas of our Asramamas and Matams. That is why, as already explained, TRUE VAIDIKAS AND ESPECIALLY TRUE SANNYAASIS found it “Swaroopa Viruddham” (Not conducive to the strict regimen of their station in life) to travel overseas We are advised to take bath in cold water but to drink hot water. Which is just the opposite of what we do! This is probably because, the natural quality of water is to be cold and we are advised to be in sync with nature. No doubt, as an exception, bath in hot water is also recommended for people who are unwell and cannot take a cold water bath. Even during the biting cold month of Maargazhi, the octogenarian asmad Achaaryan proceeds to the well dug in the Asramam tank early in the morning for taking bath, unmindful of physical discomfort! This marks him apart from others who shudder at the very thought of taking a cold water bath especially in the chill morning. While taking bath, we should imagine that we are giving bath to Bhagavaan who is said to reside in our hearts as the Indweller (antaryaami). When Bhagavaan takes His abode in our heart, our body becomes automatically His temple. It is our duty to keep this temple clean and neat to make it worthy of the Lord. Did not Rabindranath Tagore say in his “Gitanjali”? “Life of my Life I shall ever keep my body pure Knowing that thy living touch is upon all my limbs” --- Q 19 As we get dirty, we need to take bath. But, why then, should Bhagavaan have his ceremonial bath (Tirumanjanam) and why should PerumaaL wear the sacred marks? Ans: This is because, Bhagavaan in “archa” form is required to be treated as a honored guest for whom the 16 kinds of respectful submissions (shODasa upacharams) like Tirumanjanam, dress, sacred thread, sacred marks etc are offered treating him like a crown prince who had come to grace our home. Also, the Lord has Tirumanjanam and wears these sacred marks to show by example how we should also take bath and wear the sacred marks.. --- Q 20 Some people wear red and others yellow SrichurNam. Is there any stipulation on wearing Red or Yellow SrichurNam? Ans: Both Yellow and Red SrichurNam can be used. The basic ingredient of SrichurNam is turmeric which is yellow in color. There are numerous references in “Sri Sooktam” that point to the need to use yellow SrichurNam. The TirumEni of PiraaTTi is said to be golden-hued and gold is yellow in color. For example, HiraNyavarNaam: in Sloka 1, HiraNya praakaaraam in Slokam 4 PingaLaam: in Slokam 13 SuvarNaam in Slokam 14 HiraNmayeem in Slokam 14 There is also a reference to her color being that of the Red Lotus flower Padma varNaam in Slokam 4 Paramaikaantins or Prapannas usually wear Yellow SrichurNam. -- To Continue - ===================================================================== xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx==========\ ============================================================ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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