[Vaideekam] Digest Number 230

July 22, 2005

Dear mama,

I am now back in chennai and my residential telephone has been changed to

23650911. I have today only read a week's messages from you. One thought I

wish to submit for your consideration. In the present times, brahmins have

deviated from the path of karma as per dharma sasthras in ways more than one.

They do different karmas in order to earn a living. They have left villages and

migrated to cities and towns and countries all over. We cannot follow the

ancient dharma sasthras now. Can we call ourselves 'brahmins' by any standard?

Is it not hypocritical? Merely by birth and yagnopaveetham, can we retain the

brahminhood and follow some and leave most of the duties prescribed under the

dharma shastras. Women also are not following dharma shastras and they also

violate them and do various duties which are not expected of them by the dharma

shastras. We are caught between the devil and the deep sea. I mean we cannot

follow dharma shastras prescribed for brahmins but want to call ourselves

brahmins and try and see if we can do this or if we can do that or what is the

prayaschitham for this or for that, etc. We are getting nowhere. Let us accept

the present day world as it is and recognise what we can do and what we cannot

do. As you have rightly said let us to the Aagna Karmas like sandhyavandanam,

srardham, tharpanam, and any other (which you can list) which are doeable.

Those of us who have retired and are wanting to follow dharma sasthras can try

for that to the extent possible. I seek your guidance for

all brahmins in the present days what they should do irrespective of what is

said in the dharma sasthras. I am not faulting them. They were prepared

thousands of years before under the then prevailing conditions. They cannot be

followed in this century. Strictly speaking, the four varnas are not there at

all nowadays. Some of us use it when it suits us and forget it when it does not

suit us. Division of varnas, according to Gita. is based on karma and duties

and the three gunas. When prescribed duties are not followed, the distinction

automatically goes. It does not mean that persons born as brahmins may do

whatever they want to do. I do not mean that. To the extent possible, one

should do duties as per family customs, traditions and practices and if we have

to adjust to the requirement of time, well we have no option. What Bhagavan

wants is Bhakthi towards him. This bhakthi should be total, sincere,

unpolluted and without seeking quid pro quo and with a only view to

get our souls liberated with his Grace. Faith is the prerequisite for

developing bhakthi. Let us not miss the wood for the trees, as they say.

I am sorry for this long message and I may be pardoned if I had offended the

sentiments of anyone. Perhaps you can throw some light on this.

Thanks and Regards,

T V Padmanabhan

***Dear Advocate Sir,

Your arguements are very well and very pleasing to members who are also sailing

in the same boat (or ship?)

I wish to say a simple reason for now and I can give more details if required

later.

For your words ...

" what is said in the dharma sasthras. I am not faulting them. They were

prepared thousands of years before under the then prevailing conditions. They

cannot be followed in this century. ... "

If you wish to have a new amenments then a " Prpancha Pralayam " should take place

by the " Samhaara " karma of bhagavan, our thinkings and expectations might have

been arrived to the God, with this experience and suggestions he will produce a

new version of world with new dharma sastras in the next " Shrushti "

till that there is no other go we should abide by the rules which are already in

practice.

We should try to prepare us to pass the exams with the current syllabus, our

murmorings and blamings will not help us to get marks?!

" Payikku vazhkai padanumna puliya maram yeriththan aahanum " .

No execuses required we are sharing our views thats all.

Best regards,

Moderator

***

There may

July 23, 2005

dear mr.padmanabhan sir,

hatever you have said is excactly correct!! i would always wonder when people

say the proverb' kaanamal koonamal knadu kodu ' for the timigs of trikala sandya

vandanam!!! its self understoo!!that is do the prata sandya before su nrise,the

madyaniham before 12 or 1 and the saayam sandya before the sun sets!!! but

analysing it deeply one can understand that this came into practise for

inculcating the habit of getting up early in the morning anmd going to bed early

in the night!!in olden days there was no power and all the work had to be

finished before sun ste!!probably thats why it was said?i ont know if that is

correct!!

and regarding this patthu and ecchal....probably they wouldnt have known that

the same spoon which is used to serve buttermilk when used for sambar or rasam

spoilt the rasam or sambar and thought it is not good to touch both together

...thats why they wah hands?and there is this clear picture of cleanliness in

this and discipline in the previous one!!

but at prestent when one goes to sleep late in the night and wakes up in the

morning thiniing about the no of water cans that he has to lift it seems to be a

bit hard to follow all those customs as it were!!

i dont know if i am right or not!!!

murali.