narayanas and lakshmis

[Guest guest]

Dear Members(the Narayanas and Lakshmis)

Addressing other members appropriately is an issue engaging the

attention of some members. The thrust of the issue raised is whether

we should use the Hindi word " Ji " as suffix to the name while

addressing others. Again using this suffix " Ji " along with the

prefix " Shri/Smt " to the name is another issue posed as involving

double respect and meaningless.

In northern India suffixing " Ji " is a mark of respect; however as I

know the prefix " Shri/Smt " and suffix " Ji " together are not used.

Thus we say either Shri Krishna or Krishna Ji. Not Shri Krishna Ji.

As I understand, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala people generally prefer

to address others by first name be it male a or female except for

those who command high respect .In Kerala for quite some time a

tendency has also settled to address others by adding the

suffix " Chettan/Chechi/Chettathi " .

I do not know whether there are any North Indian members in the

group and they may not find anything unusual in the suffix " Ji "

Hindus are generally given the names of Gods .I have heard that

the custom of naming us in the name of Gods are with intention that

while calling others by the given name we are also made to say the

name of the God, thus chanting the names of Gods being made a part of

our routine.. What a noble ideal! Remember the story of Ajamila who,

despite being evil minded, just by calling out his son Narayana at

the time of death was given moksha by Vishnu. Unfortunately this

significance is lost on the majority as in most of the cases we

call our family members by pet name which some times are meaning

less (such as Juju,chiku,- I have an uncle who call his grand

daughter Pinky where as the girl is of dark complexion) discarding

the real name thus losing on the opportunity to chant the names of

God while calling out our dear and near

 

As I see most of the members are having the names of Gods and that

too of Guruvayurappan or such names associated with him such as

Krishna Prasad, Hari, Krishandaya ,Ramakrishnan Balagopal, Sarojam,

Lakshmi( pardon me other members- these names just came to me readily

and not that I am ignoring others.) and the likes. Perhaps in line

with the custom of naming us with Gods name and the logic behind the

same as stated above , if we address other members JUST by FIRST

NAME without any prefix of shri/smt and suffix of ji , in my

opinion ,that will take all of us a step closer to our LORD.

I do not know how many will buy the idea of being addressed by others

just by the first name especially women members. One way of getting

over this problem is addressing others by using the prefix " Pujya " -I

think in English it is translated as " esteemed'. Looking at the word

I feel what it means really is " one worthy of veneration " -if that be

so, all the more apt in that all humans are really divine(Narayanas

and NOT narayanas in masks) and when we call a person by his (god)

name we are actually addressing the God in him and not his

individuality.

If none of the above ideas are worthy nothing prevents us from

continuing the present practice- after all in the universality of

vision preached by Gita nothing indicating a higher value needs to

be discarded

 

Saseedharan.v.k