Clarification please/Vaishnavite Traditions

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Vannakam Venkatram,

 

Thank you for kindly words regarding our Cyber Rudraksha Family

group Sri DDji has given you a good answer.

 

May I herein Very Humbly complement him as follows:

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

 

Many Vaishnative practices are very strict. Highly religious

Vaishnavite Pujaris and devotees of Lord Vishnu and especially his

Avatar of Lord Krishna, can be even stricter sometimes. It differs

from region to region in India, i.e. from place to place, whether

North or South, etc.

 

Instead of touching the pujari's feet, full prostrations could have

been offered in front of the Krishna Murthi. Quitel likely, the

pujari would rather you did this instead of touching his feet.

 

You see, there are Vaishnavites who do not allow people to touch

their feet because pujaris, archaryas, pandits and other holy people

instinctively decide they are not able to take on your karmas. Once

you touch their feet, they take on your karmas and have to perform 10

times or 1000 times more sadhana to release the karmas (depending on

your karmic bank of course

 

Another explanation is:

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The pujari shows Great Humility. He serves Lord Krishna and does not

need people to show him respect or reverence by touching his feet. He

would rather you touch the floor near to Lord Krishna's Murthi. This

will also give you blessings as it is a holy place and usually

prasadam is given near to the Sacred Sanctum.

 

Even if one is wearing rudraksha, we should be even more humble and

modest. We shall fall at the Divine Feet of those we feel are worthy

of respect and reverence and pay homage to "The Divine In Them".

 

Please continue the ancient Indian tradition of touching the feet of

elders who are not Vaishnavite pujaris. In every temple and

tradition, there are protocols. Certain temples allow some things.

others allow different things. Should enquire with temple

caretakers. Or ask a pujari first, if he would kindly allow you to

touch his feet.

 

Ommmmmm

Simone

 

 

 

, vinitha pai

<vvniceguy> wrote:

>

> 2:49 PM 15-Jan-05

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> Greetings of the season and best wishes to one and all for the New

Year - 2005 that has just started off.

>

> It has been my pleasure to read through all the views that have

been expressed over here on the Rudraksha Beads Societies group.

>

> I have had the following doubt after I visited a Krishna Temple in

Bangalore sometime back.

>

> As each of us know, its a practice amongst Hindus anywhere in

India, to fall at the feet of elders and pay our respect and

reverence.

>

> I was at the Krishna Temple at Malleswaram, in Bangalore on the

occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi and the temple priest offered me

prasadam and flowers from the feet of the GOD. After taking aarathi

and theeratha, I fell at the feet of the priest and he told me not to

as I had the 'prasadam' in my hands.

>

> This made me wonder if a person who is wearing Rudrakshas should

fall at the feet of others elder or otherwise, in case they are not

wearing them.

>

> This is a thought that grazed my mind after that incident with the

priest and I thought I can exchange opinion with some of my friends.

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> Very cordially,

>

> J. V. Venkatram Sastry,

>

> No. 2075, Udaya Ravi, 8th A Main, 'E' Block, 2nd Stage,

Rajajinagar, Bangalore - 560 010. India. email: jvvsastry,

vvniceguy phone: +91 - 80 - 2342 1444. cell: + 91 - 94480

73421.