Who will marry our priests ?

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear Sriman Govindarajan :

 

Yours is one of the balanced and

unemotional , practical , can do

responses that I have recieved in

the groups that I directly moderate and

in those I .

 

The word " priests" covers a lot of groups :

Archakas , Bruhaspathis and students

who go thru Veda PaatasAlAs .

 

As in all discussions in public forums ,

the responses are some times on track

and others widely off the mark . It has been

however interesting to note that many are

concerned and they care a great deal .

 

Thanks very much .

V.Sadagopan

 

-

Ramji Govindarajan

Wednesday, October 01, 2008 8:41 AM

Who will marry our priests ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The need of the hour is to find a solution to this real problem - we are all experts in diagnosis - why don't we articulate solutions as well and go on to implement it

 

Diagnosis: there are both intra community issues and extraneous pressures - it is unfair to criticise the current crop of priests - they have the courage to stick to their vocations (either of their own choice or due to circumstances!!!) and able to follow whatever they can to their best ability given extraordinary limitations - it is very easy for people sitting outside India or in metros in well paying jobs to postulate hypotheses - real test is not in 'Gnanam' but in 'Anushtanam'

 

Current Situation: The vaishnavite mutts have recognised this problem long time back and doing whatever they can - for example the veda patashalas in Selaiyur (Chennai), Madurantakam (TN) have started to equip their students in Maths, English and Computer Sciences - like wise the veda patashalas run by advaitins are equally progressive in their outlook. Special mention to the Oriental school run by Ahobila Mutt in West Mambalam - I recently visited the school - the students were very well behaved, cultured and talented - the infrastructure is very poor - the mutt is doing their very best they can

 

The problem: Basic problem (vital one though) - lack of marriage prospect for grooms following 'vaidikha' life style

 

Reasons: (1) Not fair to put the blame on the prospective brides - afterall they are conditioned predominantly by their parents who fail to impress upon them in the early years the extra ordinary traditions of our sampradayam (2) Need for survival - monetary constraints given that society has literally stopped the practice of supporting genuine brahmins who practice 'vaidikha' life style (3) - the list goes on

 

Solution: The veda patashalas are few and far between and often seen as the last resort of boys from poor families - the need is to integrate such Veda patashalas in the main stream - that is encourage schools run by Hindu institutions to have a wing where they can train brahmin students in vedas as well - Oriental school is a classic example - but we need many more schools - again schools run by Mutts will be orthodox and inflexible (for lay men) - that is because they have to strictly adhere to their code - we can attach Veda patashalas run by main stream schools where in student need not necessarily wear say for example - dhotis, shikais etc. - afterall what is the big deal in external appearance - as Thondardipodi Azhwar says 'Memporul pogha vittu, meymayai migh unarndhu...' - leave the extraneous considerations and reach for the ultimate truth

 

Execution: As with all ideas execution is the real challenge - i welcome ideas and happy to follow up - we shud make sure that there is atleast one school per major city - we need a system that enables an interested student to say gain an MBA and as well as become a Chaturveda Shatakratu - WHO WILL DO THIS: definitely not the government - it is left to us interested individuals - there are many many well to do brahmins - if they have the will there sure is a way out

 

Result: I am sure as the vedic instruction becomes mainstream a groom with masters degree and vedic knowledge will be the most sought after!

Real Life example: I am currently aware of a family that has voluntarily put one of its child in a veda patashala - the kid is in his 8th standard - 3 years into yajur vedic training - also attends mainstream school - kid is the topper in his class consistently - he says if i can read vedam there is nothing that i cannot do in this world - his brain is so sharp that he makes very little effort in his school studies - his parents attribute his sharpness to the veda classes

 

SO WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR - IF WE CAN IDENTIFY A FEW SCHOOLS IN MAJOR CITIES TO BEGIN WITH WE WILL BE DOING THE MANKIND A PHENOMINAL SERVICE

 

 

--- On Mon, 9/29/08, Mohan <mohan0128 > wrote:

Mohan <mohan0128 >Re: Fwd: Who will marry our priests ? Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 10:46 PM

 

 

 

Dear Sri Sadagopan,While I can understand and appreciate Sri Shiva Iyer's concerns, I think we are in a situation"apples to oranges" in comparingt our priests with religious leaders of other faiths. This is because Mullahs, priests, rabbis and ministers serve a much greater role in their respective communities than our archakars. While I cannot speak for Mullahs, from my interaction with them, I am certain that priests, rabbis, and ministers are well-trained not only in rituals, but in the esoteric meaning of scriptures. They are also taught psychology, anthropology, ethics and world religion so that can lead their congregation in finding meaning and solace in the ebbs and valleys of life. As a result, their education is on par and often times exceeds that of the laiety. Despite spending up to 16 years studing in Veda Patasalas, how many of our archakars can say that they are trained at this level? Leaving aside the rest, how many priests do we know who can teach us Rahasyatrayasaram or Sri Vachana Bhushanam?This is not to put down our priests, but we who employ them. It is our lack of interest that makes them lack interest. We do rituals for rituals' sake, and so they do the same. The only way that our archakars can regain their respect is if we set higher standards for ourselves, and in turn, for them.irAmAnusa adiyEnMohan

On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 10:37 AM, Dr.V.Sadagopan <yennappan (AT) computer (DOT) net> wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

SrI:

Dear Sriman VenkatakrishNan & Sriman Siva Iyer :

 

Thanks very much for posting this important article .

It provides focus on an important area . Sri Ahobila Matam

and Sri Andavan Aasramam are training these future scholars

with not only sampradhAyic knowledge but also modern skills

( Computer skills) that could increase their employabilty

in the main stream as well , while rooted in their

Vedic Training . I am sure that other AchAryAs are giving

serious thoughts to this difficult situation . Our young girls

want to run as far as possible from qualified Vaidhika

bachelors with tufts (Sikhai) and who can not take them to

the movies & restaurants .

 

I know one Bruhaspathy , who has fully trained his son

in performing all the Vaidhika Kaaryams , while sending

him to school to earn a Technical degree from an IIT .

His other son is staying in a classical Veda PaatasAla .

 

These are real problems needing real and creative solutions .

 

V.Sadagopan

 

-

venkata krishnan

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.C.VENKATAKRISHNAN .

website www.vedascience. com--- On Mon, 9/29/08, V.M.Ramkumar <vmrk.74 (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

V.M.Ramkumar <vmrk.74 (AT) gmail (DOT) com>Monday, September 29, 2008, 2:17 PM

 

 

 

Thought provoking fact in our life........ ......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who will marry our priests

 

Sivaram Hariharan Iyer, om.sriguru (AT) gmail (DOT) com

 

The other day, I had been to a VEDA_PAATHASHAALA in Kerala, where they impart VEDIC education in the four Vedas, esp the YAJURVEDA, with the prime objective of creating highly trained priests and trained VEDIC chanters for conduct of various Hindu functions and rituals.

 

As a NRI, and also a trained YAJURVEDI myself, I find lots of peace and solace whenever I'm able to give back to such great institutions providing the priests of our great religion who are important cogs of our faith, without whom we would all be lost.

 

I was impressed at the number of young men training enthusiastically in the Vedas and the chief old priest welcomed my modest donation. And then he added with a wry smile.

 

NRI Hindus like you and other well to do Hindus in India come here and give us lots of money and resources for our Vedic school and we are no doubt indebted to them. BUT NOBODY GIVES US GIRLS IN MARRIAGE FOR ALL THIS ELIGIBLE YOUNG MEN HERE, EVEN THE HIGHEST QUALIFIED PRIESTS..WHY? ? AREN"T THESE YOUNG MEN NOT GOOD AS ANY DOCTOR OR LAWYER OUT THERE BY VIRTUE OF EXCELLING IN THE VEDAS, THE ENGINE OF OUR HINDU CULTURE. WHY DOES OUR SOCIETY GIVE THESE YOUNG MEN SECONDARY STATUS AND LOOK DOWN UPON THEIR PROFESSION?? , the old priest asked and set me thinking.

 

YES: THE OLD PRIEST WAS VERY RIGHT. WE DO NOT WANT OUR SISTERS/DAUGHTERS TO GET MARRIED TO ANY PRIEST EVEN IF THE PRIEST IS WELL QUALIFIED IN THE VEDAS AND EVEN HAS GOOD INCOME.

EVEN YOUNG HINDU GIRLS, MESMERIZED BY WESTERN VALUES AND FASHION DO NOT WANT TO MARRY PRIESTS... WHY???

 

And immediately my thoughts went to their counterparts in other religions

and what I see is this:

 

THE MULLAH, THE RABBI, THE FATHER, HAVE GOT MUCH MUCH BETTER STATUS IN THEIR SOCIETIES AND CIRCLES THAN OUR HINDU PRIESTS. MANY OF THE MUSLIMS FEEL THAT IT IS THE HIGHEST HONOR IF THEIR DAUGHTERS/SISTERS COULD GET NIKAAH WITH A MAULVI WELL VERSED IN THE KORAN.

 

And here I mention my encounter with a multimillionaire Jewish business from Australia (where I live) proudly sending his two sons to Israel to get trained in a Jewish Seminary where they could choose to become highly qualified rabbis, should they deem so. I then asked this businessman as to whether he would have any objections if his sons became Rabbis instead of joining him in his business or taking up other-so-called- made-it occupations. For this the businessman replied without hesitation: I WILL BE THE MOST FORTUNATE FATHER IF MY SONS BECOME QUALIFIED RABBIS."

 

And then I wondered: HOW MANY RICH HINDUS WILLINGLY SEND THEIR SONS TO VEDA PAATHASHAALAS WITH THE SOLE INTENTION OF MAKING THEM PRIESTS???

THE ANSWER: ZILCH... AND THIS IS A MATTER OF GREAT SHAME FOR ALL HINDUS.

 

AND WE TALK OF SURVIVAL OF HINDUISM IN BHARAT WHEN WE DO NOT GIVE A DAMN FOR EVEN OUR GENUINELY WELL QUALIFIED PRIESTS????

 

MASTERING THE VEDAS IS AS PROFOUND AND EVEN HIGHER THAN BECOMING A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER OR A SCIENTIST...

 

THERE IS AN IRONIC SIGN IN Udupi AND IT READS:

 

HERE PRIESTS AND COOKS CAN NEVER GET MARRIED!!!

 

SHIVA IYER, om.sriguru (AT) gmail (DOT) com

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