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Oppiliappan List Archive: Message 00340 Dec 2008

 
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Dear ShrimAn Kochhappa & other Esteemed members who have expressed their thoughts on the above subject:

 

These are my humble views that somewhat differ from the views expressed so far.

 

We all complain of the cost involved in performing Vaideeka ceremonies.  We are also seeing a steady decline in anushtAnams and the aachaarams required by those who officiate in our religious ceremonies and take part in Braahmanaarthams etc.,  The Bruhaspathees (except a small percentage) also lack the knowledge and the Shraddha required for performing Vaideeka ceremonies correctly and (as far as possible flawlessly).  Overall, the cost aspect is only a small problem associated with the performance of Vaideeka ceremonies and our focus should be to increase the quality of these activities as laid down in the Shaastraas.  Also, the e-Bruhaspathy while serving a noble goal cannot replace the divine presence of a Brahmana (who practices anushTanams and aachhaarams along with the spiritual qualities of âashta vidham pushpamâ), that is so vital to perform vaideeka Karmas.  In the USA the problem is much more acute as temple priests who are trained in aagamaas perform Vaideeka karyams.  What can we do collectively to improve the situation?

 

First: How we as âLowkiikaasâ have contributed to this problem:  For people like Kochhappa, the question to be asked is: Am I contributing at least 3% of my income to Vaideeka Kaaryams and other charitable activities.  Statistics show that we as Hindus completely lack the charitable spirit.  We need to be generous and practice more wholeheartedly the spirit of giving.  Otherwise our complaints have no meaning.  We as Hindus need to increase the financial base for Vaideeka activities so that we attract talent and quality people to practice Vaideekam as a profession.  We, who have given-up our village, our Vedic roots and the Brahmanical way of life (because of materialistic pursuits), should resist from complaining against the Vaadhyaars who apparently would also like to partake of the economic prosperity that we all enjoy - like cell phones, tv, cars etc -  and money is the medium. 

 

Second:  How can we rekindle the âlowkiikaaâsâ interest in Vaideeka kaaryams?.  I think the solution lies in every Sri Vaishnava Brahmana learning a minimum of Vaideeka Kaaryams along with their regular education.  The matams should focus on opening summer schools (2 to 4 weeks duration) or classes (after school-hours) where children can learn simple things like performing a punyahavaachanam, Upaakarmam, Sandhya vandanam, Bhagavat aaradhanam, Agni sandhaanam, and important mantraas of upanayanam, Vivaaham and Shrarddham etc.  This is the only way we can create shraddha and the high standards required to perform the Vaideeka karmas.  The proposed e-bruhaspathy can certainly supplement this need but it cannot be a replacement.

 

Finally, no organization including matams & temples can escape the need for money to offer quality services for the people that they intend to serve.  We should whole-heartedly support them (by being lavish) but at the same time demanding high quality in their performance.  In my humble opinion we should have a Vaideeka Association that will recognize exceptional âBruhaspathiisâ and encourage other Bruhaspathiis to constantly improve through continuing education. 

 
Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan Chakravarthy

 Buffalo/NY


S. Vijayaraghavan Buffalo/NY




To: Oppiliappan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: kochappaa@xxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:43:42 +0530
Subject: Re: Fw: [Oppiliappan] Re: Cost of srardham

Sri:
Namaskaram to Sri. Sadagopan swamin.
At the outset kindly bear with the delay in my reply. My yahoo mail did not open for 3 days.
I am extremely grateful for the kind steps your goodself and Sriman nvs swamy offered. I will certainly render whatever assistance that I could do. The e bruhaspathi would be a great boon to many. I earnestly hope many asthikas will come forward to lend a helping hand.
Adiyen
Kochappaa


--- On Sun, 21/12/08, Dr.V.Sadagopan <yennappan@computer.net> wrote:
From: Dr.V.Sadagopan <yennappan@computer.net>
Subject: Fw: [Oppiliappan] Re: Cost of srardham
To: "Ponnappan" <Oppiliappan@yahoogroups.com>, "Sgt" <saranagathi@yahoogroups.com>, "SG" <Tiruvenkatam@yahoogroups.com>, "DS" <desikasampradaya@yahoogroups.com>, RamanujaandDesika@yahoogroups.com, "Swami" <malolan_net@yahoogroups.com>, "IRS" <ramanuja_society@yahoogroups.com>, "RB" <Raamabhakthi@yahoogroups.com>, Rajeev@parakalamatham.org
Cc: "av" <ahobilavalli@yahoogroups.com>, "Srikanth Veeraraghavan" <hindusrikanth@gmail.com>
Date: Sunday, 21 December, 2008, 6:18 PM

ï
Sri:
 
Dear Sri Kocchappa Iyengar :
 
Thanks for your mail and staying deeply interested .
Yes , Many have responded and the exchanges are good
 
Time has now come to take action .
 
The intent in taking action and creating ways to address
the needs of sincere AasthikAs is to come up with a solution
based on modern technology ( Skype , Multimedia , Text
and Video ) so that many who long to perform SrAddhAs but
do not have access to knowledgable Brahaspathys as well as
limited by the steep costs requsted by some  Bruhaspathys . 
 
We do not plan to reduce the earnings of Bruhaspathys but
want to create a Bruhaspathy assisted performance of
annual SraaddhAs and Maasa TarpaNams etc . The thinking
on my mind is the creation of an ebruhaspathy approach , where
the karthA is assisted online . The technical problems 
are addressable . Precursory instructions will be provided 
so that one approaches the performance in a prepared state .  
 
I come from a family of Bruhaspathys , whose strength was
in the Knowledge of Veda Mantraas and PrayOgams and
they earned very little .They went to extraordinary lengths
for AasthikAs to recite the Mantrams precisely and follow
the  prayOgams without Mantra lObham . My grandfather
was an expert in both the Yajur and Saama Veda prayOgams .
They wer eindeed PurohitAs in the fullest sense of the term .
 
There are a few uncompromising Bruhaspathys , who do n ot
look upon their services as a  business . SambhAvanai YathA
Sakthi can be made . Those who have can give and the others
can provide sambhAvanai within their means . Bottom line ,
Vaidhika KarmAs are carried out and mental peace is attained
thru the performance of these prescribed pitru karmAs .
 
It will take a little  time to set this all  up but can be done if
Sri Lakshmi Nrisimhan blesses us to proceed .
 
A Membership oriented organization has to be built
for efficent cooperation and effective scheduling .
It would be more than a full time activity for
that "ebruhaspathy " , who can perhaps be assisted
by similar minded people to ease the load on the assumption
that there will be a good usage of such services to AasthikAs .
 
Let me hear from you whether you like this proposal
so that I can work further on this and streamline this
process . It is a major effort and it is not worth pursuing
unless there is significant interest . 
 
Oppiliappan Koil V.Sadagopan 
Co-Moderator , Vaideekam Groups       
 
 
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 2:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Oppiliappan] Re: Cost of srardham

Adiyen is moved by the sincere response from a number of swamins on the cost of srardham and most have concurred that concern should be for reduction of cost so that people with little or moderate finance will not be driven to think of giving up the practice. However, I doubt whether most of the bruhaspathis will ever listen, as they have their own concerns. However,  I prostrate to all those swamins who took the pains to spend time to ponder on the issue. Someday, solution might come.
One swami had remarked that one should understand the meaning and do the srardham. It is true but who is going to explain the detailed meaning of mantras to karthas, as bruhaspathi swamins have also have to race against time. But I request that at least if any one explain, at least briefly, the significance of the following steps in srardham, it would be of solace that the financial strain is compensated.
 
1.After agnisanthanm by wife and owpasanam etc., placing (dropping ) the annam with ghee in the Agni, for pithu, pitha maha, pravitha mahan, mathu pithamahi and prapithamahi.
 
2. Placing annam on the floor before the leaf of nimantrana swamigal, after serving food to them but before their start partaking the food.
 
3. Placing the rice ball to crow
 
4. Pinda pradhanam with water and thil after the above.
 
Of the above, which is very vital and really goes as food to the forefarthers, so that if some bruhaspathi rushes through and omits we can ask for?
Adiyen,
Kochappaa
--- On Mon, 15/12/08, thirunarayanan swamy iyengar <nanu_04011955@ yahoo.com> wrote:
From: thirunarayanan swamy iyengar <nanu_04011955@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Oppiliappan] Re: Cost of srardham
To: Oppiliappan@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Monday, 15 December, 2008, 9:10 PM

Respected swamy,

I know one Sama vadhyar by name Sriman U.Ve.Devanatha Iyengar, he will help the person(s) who do not have sufficient money to pay to the vadhyaar.   But he will get more sambhavanai whose status is high without fail.

My periappa who was in Serangulam near Mannargudi.  He will  go to others house for srardham as "Swamin" take oil bath and food etc.   But instead of sambhavanai, he will accept only " THULASI THALAM".   Similarly, my mutual understanding when my periappa
does srardham in his house, the swami will also take only THULASI THALAM as sambhavanai from my periappa.

No one should demand money.  We have to do all ceremonies by mutual understanding only.

S.THIRUNARAYANAN of Karappangadu


--- On Tue, 9/12/08, kidambi1950 <kidambi1950@ yahoo.com> wrote:
From: kidambi1950 <kidambi1950@ yahoo.com>
Subject: [Oppiliappan] Re: Cost of srardham
To: Oppiliappan@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, 9 December, 2008, 10:43 PM


--- In Oppiliappan@ yahoogroups. com, "kochappaa" <kochappaa@.. .> wrote:
> i accept the views expressed by Sri. Kochappa. the brahaspathis has to consider the fianancial capacity of the karthas. moreover many of the brahapathis are not even bothered to perform the rites/rituals in full and many times, if the kartha is not having any knowledge of the mantras, they skip the mantras and complete the srartham in 30 minutes. so it is time for them to relaise and come forward to help the poor brahmins. ofcourse, i am capable of meeting the demands of the vadhyars but writing this letter over my willingness that the poor should not stop the srarthams due to financial bvurden    
k.r.narasimhan
> Respected swamins,
> I want to share a haunting thought of mine. I am a retired middle
> class pensioner in Banglaore. For the past 3 or so years I find
> things are becoming very costly for doing annual pitru srardhams.
> The charges are like this: Rs.650 for Bruhaspathi + small coins
> Rs.50, Rs.600 for 2 swmingals, Rs.700 for thaligai swami and the
> provisions Rs. 600. Thus the total cost of a srardham is Rs.2600. I
> have to do two per year and arrange for the srardham of my poor
> sister who passed away. Many middle class bramins must be facing
> this kind of music. Can any middle class person can afford such
> costs? Whether any other people from other religion or even other
> caste people would spend like this annually on remembering the
> departed souls? Rs.500 if donated to an orphanate or oldage home
> would feed atleast 25 mouths. Where is our sect heading towards. I
> am sure that unless our sect wakes up and rationalise and regulate
> these fleecing bruhaspathis, the whole custom of peforming such
> rites would quickly vanish. It is time, our mutts start some
> registered body where they should register these bruhaspahtis and
> swamins and fix reasonable tariff also.
>
> adiyen
> Kochappaa
>


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