vaishNavism-royal patronage

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VaishNavism – royal patronage

 

SrI:

SrImatE rAmAnujAya nama:

SrI lakshmI narasimha parabrahmaNE nama:

 

Dear vaishNavAs,

 

Today there is no trace of doubt about declining

situation of vaishNavism in the society. Most divya

dEsams of SrIya pati are suffering in severe poverty

stricken state, not having enough facilities even to

perform basic kainkaryams. The great monumental temple

buildings are about to break down. Many contemporary

vaishNavAs forgot their traditions and leading lives

of lust and greed. The term ‘VaishNava’ lost its

importance in the context of an individual, as if it

were only representing one’s birth in a family. Many

attribute this apparent fall to secular governments,

changed social scenario (work for bread), advancement

in technology,…..

 

It is clear for historians to find vaishNavism to

flourish between 11th – 20th centuries as a result of

royal patronage and their generous contributions to

temple and brAhminical culture. However, I disagree

with the view that this is the reason for the flourish

in the olden centuries and fall in the present era. If

we take the examples of all great AchAryas in our

sAmpradAya, all of them withstood the onslaughts of

different political outrages. Many important AchAryAs

had to flee to another safe place to protect the

deities and own lives, when para-mathas(other

religions) attacked us severely. One has to clearly

understand a crisp point that the great royal families

that helped the cause of vaishNavAs originally

belonged to para-mathAs. Our AchAryas CONVERTED them

to our religion by defeating the para-mathas with

their logic, conviction and devotion. This proves the

fact that our AchAryas were in no better position than

ourselves, but successfully turned the tables in favor

of the Almighty. Hence the past vaibhavam(glory) of

vaishNavism can be only attributed to the unflinching

devotion of vaishNavAs of that era. In today’s world

context, most countries are secular and it is free for

people to practice their own religion without being

offended by others. It is such an unfortunate

situation that in a such favorable conditions we are

losing our traditions.

 

It is also true that, in the present day world, one

has to work very hard to maintain one’s family in good

condition. Yet, there is a trade-off between the

amount of time and effort we put in our culture and

bread. One has to find an optimistic solution so as

not to lose the ultimate goal of life, performing

kainkaryams to the Supreme Lord, SrI hari. We do not

have to build great temples like that of Sri rangam,

but we just need to protect already manifested temples

which are the result of SrimAn nArAyaNa’s and great

AchAryAs grace for us to be blessed with the privilege

of serving them.

 

The Technological advancement should be used to

remember the Lord more efficiently than to completely

forget Him. This -groups is an example of how

technology can help us serving the Lord.

 

By the mercy of SrI AchAryAs and SrI ranganAtha’s

consort, many vaishNavAs are able to reach good

positions in their professional lives. Accordingly if

we all serve the divya dampathis who are already

Self-satisfied, will be pleased and grant us with much

more bhAgyam of serving Them; eventually leading us to

un-interrupted service (in SrI vaikuntham). Hence let

us not make lack of royal patronage as a hinderance in

our services to Them. Else we are proving vaishNavism

to be a mere droplet of historical royal activities.

 

May SrI AchAryAs give us more determination to perform

kainkaryams to divya dampathis!

 

sarvam SrI krishNArpaNamastu.

 

dAsOham,

SrIperumbUdUru vEnkaTa vinOd.

 

 

 

 

 

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