VMS Statement on the nADa geethe and sri madhvAchArya controversy

[Guest guest]

Dear KrishNa bhaktas,

VMS Office bearers and some volunteers have come up with a public VMS

statement on the controversy on nADa geethe (state anthem) of karnAtaka and

the non-inclusion of sri madhvAcharya's name there. Several well known

writers of Kannada have made incorrect statements about sri madhvAchArya's

philosophy in this regard. This statement addresses all these issues.

 

It is essential that all of us face this controversy with calmness and

strength. Getting upset and angry is not the right solution as that gets us

into rAjasic mode (kAma esha krodha esha rajo guNa samudhbhavaH - gita).

Some good is going to come out of the controversy as the population in

general will know more about sri madhvA's philosophy than before.

 

 

I suggest that all discussions about this be held in the vms-philosophy

list. Any comments about the statement are welcome. Statement will be

released to the press within a day.

 

 

Madhva rAyara nenedu parishudhdha ragiro,

 

Namaste,

Vasu Murthy

 

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Public Statement by VMS on the issue of nAda geethe and Sri madhvAcharya

 

Vishwa mAdhva Sangha (VMS) is a non-profit organization established to

promote and celebrate philosophy of Sri madhvAchArya. It has members in the

US and other countries of the world.

 

VMS members are deeply distressed about the statement by Sri tejaswi

about sri mAdhvAcharya. As Sri Sri vishwesha Theertha swamiji of PejAwara

maTha and VMS founder patron Sri Sri Sugungendra Theertha swamiji of Puthige

Matha and Sri bannanje govindAchArya have stated, Sri Tejaswi's

statements have no basis on facts and responsible writers like Sri tejaswi

should not spread false accusations. We request Sri tejaswi to discuss the

issue with revered swamijis or Sri govindAcharya to find out what Sri

madhvAchArya has actually stated. VMS members demand an apology from Sri

tejaswi for spreading false statements about Sri madhvAcharya.

 

Regarding the issue of sri madhvAchArya's name in nAda geethe (Song of

the land), VMS members feel that if Sri Shankara and Sri rAmAnuja's names

are there in the song, sri madhvAchArya's name should definitely be

included. VMS members feel that inclusion of Sri madhvAchArya's name does

not glorify sri madhvAchArya who has already found a very exalted place in

the annals of world philosophers, but it will definitely glorify karnAtaka.

Sri madhvAchArya's philosophy is a land mark contribution to the philosophy

of India and the world and is among of the most glorious and rigorous

philosophies of the world. Inclusion of sri madhAchAryA's name in nAda

geethe only adds further glory to the song and validates nADa geethe. it

also tells the world that karnAtaka people are celebrate the brilliant

philosophy of sri madhvAchArya.

 

It is well known that Chaitanya was inspired by AchArya madhva. Therefore

including Chaitanya in the nADa geethe and excluding AchArya madhva makes no

sense. Similarly inclusion of Kabeera and exclusion of purandara dAsa makes

no sense either. You can have personal favorites in a song, as long it is

just a personal song composed by some composer. If a song claims to be a

nADa geethe, then it should represent all the great souls of the land in an

impartial manner.

 

As several people have pointed out, sri Shankara and Sri rAmAnuja were not

born in karnAtaka and spent only some portion of their life in karnAtaka.

Sri madhvAcharya was born in karnAtaka and spent majority of his life there.

Sri HaridAsa pantha was inspired by sri madhvAcharya with his devotional

musical stotra of sri dvAdasha stotra. Sri HaridAsa literature and music

created by great enlightened souls such as Sri purandara dAsa, Sri kanaka

dAsa, sri vijaya dAsa, Sri gopAla dAsa, sri jagannAtha dAsa and others

stands as the one of the pillars of devotional music literature in Kannada

or in any other language of the world. Sri madhvAchArya's name MUST BE

INCLUDED in the nAda geethe if there is any sense of fairness and balance

towards all the residents of karnAtaka. Requesting the inclusion of sri

madhvAchAryA's name does not mean that VMS or mAdhvAs are trying to

diminish other AcharyA's sri shankara and sri rAmanuja or their

contributions as some people have implied. There is place for all the three

AchAryAs in the nADa geethe.

 

nADa geethe or the regional anthem should aim to unite and uplift people

instead of dividing them and creating bitterness. nADa geethe can not be

called a nADa geethe if it does not represent all the sections of

population. By ignoring one of the most important philosophers of the

karnAtaka and of the world whose followers have given significant

contributions to humanity as whole, nADa geethe and remarks of Sri

tejaswi create divisiveness instead of unity.

 

VMS calls upon on Sri tejaswi to repudiate his remarks. If that is not

forthcoming, other writers and responsible citizens of karnAtaka should

repudiate his remarks.

 

Latest decree by KarnAtaka govt has removed the stanzas about sri

Shankara and sri rAmAnuja. This has removed the main focus of the

controversy but not the incorrect and offensive remarks made by Sri tejaswi.

The correct decision will be to have somebody rewrite the stanzas giving sri

madhvAchArya a premier and rightful place among the son's of KarnAtaka.

Other alternative is to make other well written songs about karnAtaka as

nADa geethe.

 

Some people like sri tejaswi, sri NC Gundu Rao and sri K. Chennabasappa

have misunderstood, misquoted and applied false logic to statements of sri

madhAchArya. VMS along with dvaita scholars will publish a detailed rebuttal

of the incorrect analysis and logic of these individuals trying to denigrate

sri madhvAchArya's philosophy. This article will show that sri

madhvAchAryA's logic and analysis are brilliant and impeccable. VMS members

feel sorry for these poor, ineffective attempts to find fault with sri

madhvAchArya's philosophy. These respected writers are only hurting

themselves by these kinds of poorly thought out articles and statements.

These statements only show the prejudices and incorrect analysis and logical

skills of these individuals.

 

 

Signed VMS Directors

 

Sri Bindu Madhavan

Sri Bheema Rao

Sri Malur SathyanArAyaNa

Sri Srinivasa Bhat

Sri Hunsur SriprasAd

Sri Vasudeva Murthy