need for Acharya - Answers

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Jai Sriman Narayana!

 

Recently, Sri Ramanuja Satagopan has raised some

questions regarding the need for Acharya. I am not an

Acharya and I do not know much on the subject.

Nevertheless let me express my ignorance. Kindly see

my response below:

> Wed, 6 Feb 2002 06:19:39 -0800 (PST)

> Ramanuja Satagopan <ramanujausa

>Acharya - What does he do for his devotees?

 

>What is it that the Acharya does to the devotees?

>(What is it that cannot be received from the books)

 

Your question is genune and is asked by numerous

individuals.

The major obstructions in our reaching the supreme

are:

Kama (desire), Krodha (anger), Moha (lust), Lobha

(Greed), Madam (arrogance), Mathsaryam (competition).

These are called the arshad varga. In addition to

these six prime obstructions in our path, the MAJOR

ostruction is AHAMKARA (false ego). By reading the

proper books (eg. satvik puranas), we gain devotional

knowldege and bakthi through which we could conquor

the six arshad varga obstructions since these books

(like Srmad Bhagavatham) bring us in virtual

association with supreme devotees. HOWEVER, it will

still be impossible to conquor AHANKARAM. When we

accept an Acharya and follow his instructions, the

Acharya removes the AHANKARAM. Therefore, it is

critical to seek the help of an Acharya.

 

>Why this extra step between god and devotee?

This is not an extra step between God and devotee.

Acharya is a representation of God. It is through

God's blessing only, we get an Acharya. Lord Krishna

has instructed us in Srimad Bhagavad Githa that we

should giveup Ahankara (please refer to the 12th

chapter as to who is dear to HIM). Inspite of His

instruction, we still have sigbificant Ahankaram. We

often don't care if the father says "Do this, and

don't do that." On the otherhand, we listen if a third

person says the same thing. God comes in the form of

that third person namely the Acharya.

 

>Mukundji was mentioning PanchaSamskara

(Samashreyanam)

>as a intitation into the SriVaishnava sampradaya.

>Can someone elborate on this. (Who is qualified to

get

>intiated, and who is qualified to intiate)

 

I am not qualified to elaborate on the panchasamskara,

but can say that during this cermony, the Acharya

gives us the secret supreme manthra (the manthra rajam

or the king of manthras), name as a dasa (servant),

gives us the thurumani, etc., and leves the shanka

chakra mudras on our body, etc. The Shanka allows to

fearlessly declare that we are servants of GOD, and

the Chakra (Sudarshana = su darshana)shows us the

right path to moksha. The panch samskaram represents

the fruits of punyas from thousands of janmas and the

blessings of Lord Sriman Narayana.

 

Jai Sriman Narayana!

 

With thousands of pranams at the feet of my guru

Jagadguru SRI SRI SRI THRIDANDI RAMANUJA SRIMAN

NARAYANA CHINNA JEAR SWAMY, and in the service of Lord

Sri Venakteswara, I remain,

 

Sincerely

Narender P. Reddy

reddynp

 

 

 

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