Fw: On the issue of Maya

[Guest guest]

Dear Vikas

 

I think your response is very relevant so I am taking the liberty of sharing it with the list. I agree that both the terms Maya and Leela are quite often misunderstood and translated into practice. Hence the redefinition of Maya by Vivekananda is crucial. It is a very powerful idea that needs to be properly understood else it can be seriously counterproductive.........regards jay

 

 

Dear Jay,

This is regarding discussion on Maya.

 

About a year back some influential/socialist ministers in Govt. of Karnataka were trying to take control of the Udupi Krishna Matha, which is the centre of Madhwa – Dwaita tradition. The 8 mathas who come under that, are ill organized and suffer from ‘leadership crisis’ – as any other hindu organization. The ministers were articulate talking about Brahmin hegemony etc and were expressing themselves on all popular TV. Though Madhwa community is known for intelligent people, there were none who were pleading for the Mathas.

 

One of the seers Shri Vishweshateerta is an articulate person and is one of the vice-presidents of VHP. Though in his 80s, he is a dynamic leader, whom all hindus look for guidance in Karnataka. On the TV programme he was asked by anchor

 

“Swami, (no ji was used) why are you here to articulate your views ? Why don’t you let the govt take over the control of the temple. After all it is the will of God – his LEELA”

 

To this the swami said: Shri Madhwa in his work has said as following <quote madhwa> “ Everything happens according to the will of God – called his Leela. But how do we know “what is his leela ?” – So we should do our work. We should do our work rather forcefully, as a dedication to that God”. “ <end of quote of madhwa>

 

However, this concept is never stressed by local harikatha story tellers. They keep telling about “Leela of God”. Like “Maya”, this type of Tamasik interpretation of “Leela” or the “Vidhi” (destiny) is the cause for many of our faults.

 

Regards,

vikas