Scathing Remarks on Vaishnavites-SUN TV-3 July 2002

[Guest guest]

SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA;

APPAN THIRUVADIGALE SARANAM.

 

Dear Vijayaraghavan swami

 

Accept my pranam.

 

 

Adiyen am able to understand your agony..This kind of tirade is

not a new one. Earlier, Adiyen too,in similar instances have

written letters to the concerned ;but, those who are indulging in

this kind of activities are commercial ones who live their

livelihood on this kind of cheap acts. They cannot afford to

antognize the powerful, influential sections of the community.So,

this kind of humiliations are likely to continue and are to be

ignored.

 

That does not mean that we should not protest. Those who feel

very much may express their feelings to the concernrd. Sometimes,

it may work.

 

There is another way to counter this problem. In the beginning

of last century, Namam was respected and people wearing it were

revered. why the position has changed ? Let us make an

introspection.

 

In the first place what is Namam ? why we should wear it ?

what is the benefit out of it ?

How many of us ( Srivaishnavites) adopt this now a days ?

 

' NAMAM ' is a symbol worn on the person of Srivaishnavites

in various places of the body, particularly on the fore head. It

represents the Lotus feet of Emperuman together with

Mahalakshmi.

 

It is an act of expressing our 'swaroopam' that we, jeevas

are His servants and we ACCEPT soverignity of the Lord. We do it

with pleasure and pride and not out of compulsion.

 

Any body who wants any favour from a higher influential,

powerful person fall at his feet and seek his protection. That

means he has surrendered to a great person; has thrown away his

Ego; and seeks the protection of the great one and accept his

subordinate position.

 

We respect our National flag ( if you do'nt it is a piece

of cloth)

 

We worship images of Gods printed on paper,made of metal

or stone.

 

If we donot give respect to that .. we have not understood the

meaning of worship. we may do worship out of fear or expecting a

favour. This is in initial stages. But, later when the spiritual

knowledge developes, adopting us to the various procedures become

automatic. One such thing is wearing Namam.

 

Sri Alavandar has described the virtues of Lotus feet of

EmperumaN IN 6 SLOKAS( 26 to 31) in his 'STOTRA RATNA '

 

HOW ONE WHO HAS ENJOYED the nectar flowing FROM YOUR

LOTUS FEET CAN DESIRE FOR ANY OTHER THING ?

 

AN 'ANJALI DONE' TO YOUR LOTUS FEET BY ONE, ONCE, IN

ANY FASHION, from that instant itself, all his sins are washed

away. That does not stop there. It gives all RICHES for ever.

Never stops thereafter.

 

In this fashion other slokas continue. In sloka 31 He asks "

When your Lotus feet is going to adore my head ?

 

In Ramanuja Nooranthathi sloka 4.

ENNAI PUVIYIL ORU PORULAKKI MARUL SURANTHA

MUNNA PAZHAVINAI VEERARUTHU OOZHI MUTHALVANAIYE

PANNA PANITHA RAMANUJAN PARAN PADHAMUM EN

CHENNI THARIKKA VAITHAN ENAKKETUM CHITHIVU ILLAYEE !

 

 

Acharya Sri.Ramanuja made me a meaningful object in

earth. Past sins because of ignorance were washed away

completely. Sri. Ramanuja enlightened me in detail about Emperuman

who is the creator of the samsara. He made the LOtus feet of

Emperuman to stay in my head for ever. Here after there will be no

down fall to me.

 

Such is the greatness of Lotus feet of Emperuman. We adore this

symbolically in our fore head, and other parts of the body out of

LOVE,REVERENCE,RESPECT AND DEVOTION.

 

 

Now a days, many of the Srivaishnavas have joined the

main stream of humanity running after food and vanities. Out of

fear that they may be singled out, they do not want to identify

themselves as separate religious group. They feel shy of adoring

the fore head with Namam. Even foreigners have joined ISKON and

sporting Namam of their group and changed their style. But, we

srivaishnavites hesitate. This is partialy due the lack of

proper knowledge on Srivaishnavism. Even those who have some

knowledge, due to thier working conditions are also not able to

wear it. Above all sectional struggle over Temples, in the

beginning of the last century undermined their prestige among the

people. Also, other religious sects are taking advantage of the

difficulties of Srivaishnavites and dispersing incorrect and false

informations.

 

The Vedic Philosophy and the religion based on it is

different from other religions.They excel other religions as they

deal with 'Moksham". Srivaishanvam has in addition Azhvar's

Arulicheyals (Tamizh Marai). Should we loose this heritage ?

 

 

What is the remedy ? If we have faith and respect in our

Emperumanar Dharsanam We should develope our will power to raise

ourselves from the present muddle. Be honest and sincere one. Try

to learn our heritage and improve the knowledge on it. Obtain

informations from authentic sources. Do not believe rumors and

gossips. Mingle with Srivaishnavas as far as possible. Think

good and be good to society. If We have the will and oppurtunity

to adorn Namam in our fore head WE SHOULD NOT FEEL SHY OF IT.

Take it as a pride aND DO IT . this kind of passive resistance

will definetely fetch respect. And those who have correct

knowledge on Srivaishnavism share it with those who are

interested to know about it.

 

 

 

 

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan, T.Parthasarathy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Prof.TAS Vijayaraghavan"

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saranagathi, @

On Thu, 04 Jul 2002 Prof.TAS Vijayaraghavan wrote :

>Dear Sir,

>

>I wish to bring to your notice that some of the dialogues in

>yesterday's ( July 3, 2002) telecast of the Annamalai serial in

>the SUN TV wherein the character Komathy Nayakam makes scathing

>remarks on Vaishnavite symbols and  the religion. When Kankani

>points out to the Thiruman ( referred as namam) which Komathy

>is

>having on his forehead the character Komathy says  that "

>Besides

>Vadakalai and Thenkalai, he has started another kalai......."

>and

>to Thavasi he says that he has only small namam and Thavasi

>will

>be given a big namam by Kanthimathi ammal.

>

>This is hurting the sentiments of the Vaishnavites and I donot

>know what is the fun the Producer, the Director , the actors

>and

>others want to have out of this. Is it made to demonstrate the

>Director's sick sense of humour? What do you people want to

>portray? Do you want to say that Vaishnavites are cheats and

>they

>put namam on others to cheat or they are cheated by others and

>so

>they are putting this on their forehead? How long you people go

>on hurting the Vaishnavites and their symbols? Why didn't the

>character say that I have a small Pattai ( i.e. Vibhuthi

>Pattai)

>and Thavasi will get a big Pattai from Kanthimathi ammal? Is it

>because the serial revolves around Annamalai, a Shivaite Deity

>or

>you are scared of people in the Political Circle who are

>Shivaites? Can you do the samething with a Christian or a

>Muslim

>community? Can Komathy say that he is going to start another

>sect

>in Christianity or in Islam? Since the Vaishnavites are peace

>loving and donot resort to any violence or fight, you are

>taking

>us for granted.

>

>What do you know about the Vaishnavaite Culture and the

>contribution of Azhvars and Vaishnavas for Tamil Literature

>which

>the so called political parties could not do for decades with

>all

>the public money they have been having?

>

>Are they the same team of Radaan who produced the brilliant

>serials Chiththi and Kaveri where the stories were woven around

>Iyengar families and were well handled without any scathing

>comments? I am shocked. I had great regards for Mr.CJ.Bhaskar

>and

>Mrs.Radhika Sarathkumar after these two serials and used to

>feel

>proud when the initial clippings of the serial Chiththi showing

>the Temple of SriRangam ( Vaishnavite Seat equivalent to

>Vatican

>for Christians and Mecca for Muslims) with the Thiruman

>majestically portrayed is also being continued in Annamalai.

>But

>after seeing yesterday's  episode, I am shocked to see if they

>are also influenced by cheap popularities.

>

>KIndly refrain from making such remarks in those serials and as

>the CEO of the Network, kindly make sure that you don't permit

>these types of dialogues in the serials from your network.

>

>I am marking this e-mail to all the of the Vaishnavites

>in the world and request everyone of them to send e-mail, or

>telephone or send a letter to lodge our protest. I also

>apologise

>to my members in these to pardon me for bringing this

>as

>part of the ongoing discussions.

>

>Regards

>

>Dr.T.A.S.Vijayaraghavan

>Professor

>XLRI, Jamshedpur

>

>

>

>

>------------------------ Sponsor

>

>azhwAr emberumAnAr jeeyAr thiruvadigalE saranam

>

>

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>

>

 

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