Vaishnavism-way of life or mere chauvinism?

[Guest guest]

Dear bhagavathas,

please accept my humble pranams. I would like to point out some finer

nuances of the basic principles of vaishnavism. The basic ideology

behind Sri vaishnavism is often interpreted as being wedded to the

Infinite,Omnipotent and Omnipresent Almighty. This is none other than

Lord Sriman Narayanan. There are two points which i would like to

address here:

1)Inside each of us resides a unique shesham of His personality,and

this is what lends a unique identity to each and every entity,be it

living or non-living. Since each of us share a unique relationship

with a unique part of the Lord,can it not be comfortably defined to

be one-to-one relationship with Him,just like a husband and wife?

2)If one is uncomfortable with this idea,our relationship with the

Infinite can be likened to that between a father and his children.

Each child shares a special,one-to-one relationship with his or her

father.Who else,but the father,can heed to the child's whims and

demands?

Assuming that each of us conform to either of these school of

thoughts,we find that the basic ideology of Sri vaishnavism is

realised. Vaishnavites,by this line of argument,would approach none

other Sriman Narayanan in course of their existence. The best we

would do is to consider other Gods,with respects to them,as signposts

to the Ultimate. This would just stop short of surrendering to them.

Of course,that privilege is reserved to Sriman Narayanan, and Him

alone!!!!.

This is my humble view,and i would be ever open to any other

interpretation by learned bhagavathas.

With humble pranams,

Srinivasa Rajan Ramanuja Dasan