[sri ramanuja] : Vaishnavism and Brahminism-Need to do all the vaidhika karmas.

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhaghavathas

I would like to add few points on the discussion on the above mentioned subject..

Swami Ramanuja says in his Vedhartha sangraham in the first stanza itself that one has to perform all the duties as per his Varnashrama Dharma.

I am quoting the relevant portion below.

Jiva paramatma yatatmya gnana purvaha varnashrama dharma iti kartavyaha

parama purusha sarana yugala,dhyaya,archana pranama adhibihi atyanta

priyahprapti phalah||

This means that knowing the nature of jivatma and paramatma

and understanding the importance of one's own varnashrama dharma and doing bhakthi,meditation ,salutation etc. on the LOrd's feet with great joy ,one attains Brahman.

Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Nayanar defines in Acharya Hridayam two groups of people , Karmaparah and Kainkaryaparah.

Kaikaryaparah are those doing Bhagavat kainkarya to the Divya Mangala Archa vighraha in the Divya desas.and others are Karmaparah .

The full sutra reads (sutra 31)

"Jathi Asrama dikshagalil bhedikkum dharmangal pole,

Athani sevakathil pothuvanathu nazhuvum'

Athani Saevakam is the Kainkaryam to the Lord.

Nayanar says that the dharma for the Kainkaryaparah as mentioned above are different as in the case of each Varna and within that varna according to Ashrama.

The persons not involved in Bhagavat Kainkaryam to the Archa Lord have to perform ordained duties according to varna Asrama dharma.

It is of significance that Swami Manavala Mamunigal says in his vyakhyanam in manipravala style

'Ippadi irukka seythe shishtargal anushtithu porugirathu

Swa anushtanathai pin senru lakam nasikka onnathu ennum manru samsayathalire..

This means that

Inspite of this rule, great people perform the dharmas according to one's own position, varna ashrama dharma for the good of the world..

I stand to corection if any.

Adiyen

Ramanuja dasan

Soundararajan

Azhwar Emperumanar Jeeyar thiruvadigale saranam

Radhika Parthasarathy <rad26hika > wrote:

Adiyen

Noone denies the need to perform sandyavandanam and other nithya naimithika karmas but at the same time one must also realise that these are vidhis aimed at deha visishta aathmas not for nishkrishta aathma vesham.

When they say you can skip sandyavandanam and other duties it is when one is involved in baghavat kainkaryam.

ATHAANI SEVAKATHIL PODUVAANADHU NAZHUVUM.Says naayanaar.

As we vaishnavas are thirumanthra nishtargal seshathva paratanthriyam to Sreemann narayanan is our asaadaarana darmam.All the veda vihitha karmas aims at devata antaryami which is not so preferred by our lord as compared to the kainkaryams we perform directly to him.This state can be realised by any soul irrespective of caste creed relegion .

All the vaishnavas need not be brahmins and the vice versa.Besides all the sandyavandanaadi karmas are to be performed by us as bagvataagyaa bagvat kainkaryam and not with a upaayathva budhi.These are not means to an end but yogyatha apaadaka gunam.Any way karma swaroopam can never be sacrificed only our attitude while performing it like kartruthva budhi mamatha budhi should be sacrificed along with palasanga raahithyam.These are adhikaari viseshanams.Otherwise swamy emperumaanaar at the age of 120 would not have stood up to give arkyam or our Kannan in his vibavam would not have performed his vaisya darmam.So it is sishtaachaara sidham.

adiyen Ramanuja dasi

 

varadha rAmAnuja dAsan <varadha.ramanujadasan > wrote:

srI:

srImathE rAmAnujAya namaha:

Sathya. Kaliyamoorthy swami,

Though all the things you have stated happen to be true, Iyengars cannot escape brahminic duties using this reason. Are you suggesting that we are all vaishnavas and need not do sandhyavandanam? If it is so, adiyEn begs to differ and surely poorvAchAryAs will not agree with your view. If we dont need to practice brahminic activities, then what IS the need for upanayanam and yagnopaveetham?

The preface to nithyanusanthanam book by Lifco: (Written by pillailokam sthalasayanathuraivar swami) reads:

"A iyengar should never leave these four things: 1) sikhai, 2) thiruman kAppu, 3) yagnOpaveetham and 4) sandhyavandanam"

(Though the word iyengar is not mentioned in the beginning, it is understood that it is meant for iyengars - adiyEn does not remember the exact sentence as it is - but the meaning is intact).

emperumAnAr tiruvadigaLe saranam!

--

adinAyEn,

varadha rAmAnuja dAsan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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