What does "Iyengar" mean? (fwd)

[Guest guest]

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 03:38:16 -0600

Madhuri and Mohan <mmsagar

hokrishna

 

Dear Sri Krishna,

 

This is in response to your e-mail on asking for the meaning

of the term "Iyengar".

 

Contrary to popular belief, the term "Iyengar" is not a Tamil word, but

rather has its origins in ancient Telugu, This language had once been

very popular among scholars in South India, because of its larger

alphabet and heavy Sanskrit influence. The word seems to have been a

derivation of the root "Iy" (pronounced "eye"), which is same root for

the number five (Iydhu), which implies the five-fold set of activities

that are the center and fundamental foundation of the SriVaishnava way

of life. These are:

 

1. Da:sa - recognizing ourselves to be in the service of those who

are in service to the Supreme Being

2. Tha:pa - taking on the symbols of Sankha and Chakra to indicate

to ourselves and others that we are the sole property of the

Supreme Being

3. Pundra - donning the Supreme Being's Lotus Feet on our head and

other parts of our body to indicate that He is our only Protection

and Strength

4. Mantra - meditation on the Supreme Being in our heart through

contemplation on the Three Great Mantras as gifted to us by our

Acharya

5. A:ra:dhana - worship of the Supreme Being in His Form as the Deity

in our home and temples

 

It is unfortunate that over the past 100 or so years, the full meaning

of this sacred word has been forgotten, and is now just being considered

as being a title for a specific subsect of Brahmins. Because, when

properly understood, the use of this term can be of deep significance to

us in our lives, irrespective of our caste.

 

For a more detailed discussion on this, please click:

http://www.srivaishnavan.com/tomcat/srivaish5.html

 

I hope this helps.

 

Mohan

 

 

 

 

 

 

-----------------

 

 

srirangarAja charaNAmbhuja rAja hamsam

srimad parAnkusa padhAmbhuja brungarAjam|

sri bhattanAtha parakAla mukhAbhja mitram

srivatsachihnna saranam yathirAjameedE||

 

I pay homage to Sri Ramanuja, the swan who has chosen the Lotus Feet of Sri

Ranganatha as his refuge;

who is collecting the pollen and nectar from the flower-like feet of Parankusa

(NammAzhwAr);

who brightens like the sun the faces of Bhattanatha (PeriAzhwAr) and Parakala

(Thirumangai AzhwAr), and

who is the refuge of Kuresa!

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