You are here: SriPedia - Ramanuja - Archives - Apr 2003

Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00074 Apr 2003

 
Apr 2003 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


Sri:
Srimathe Ramanujaya nama:
Dear KK,
This reply tries to address your corollary. If a westener 
wants to get into the fold of SV,he first has to undergo samAshrayaNam
(sharaNAgati is also done along with that for TK's but I guess,am not 
very sure, VK's do prapatti/sharaNAgati separately). This is the 
occasion the AcArya imparts the rahasyam,imprints shankha,chakra and 
also the title "adiyen ramanuja dasan" to the disciple. In short,the 
disciple gets "ramanuja sambandham" and his salvation is assured. 
Strictly speaking,one is not supposed to write "adiyen ramanuja 
dasan" without undergoing samAshrayaNam. In the case of a westerner
(or even us)he is supposed to follow the code of conduct(for prapanna 
alongwith Ramanuja's instructions) and it is this conduct that makes 
one a SV and not by mere signature "adiyen ramanuaja dasan". The 
devotees who have undergone the samAshrayaNam can help you better:-)

With respect to your first question,I would only like to 
quote some incidences from Purvacaryas life. One of Sri YAmunAcAryA's 
disciple was a sudra and his name was mARanEri nambi. Although 
mARanEri nambi was not privileged to learn vedas,he acquired the same 
knowledge(of brahman)through the grace of AcArya. This disciple even 
took AcArya's disease called "rAja piLavai", a kind of "spinal 
cancer/tumor" as a prasAdham. Sri YAmunAcArya instructed another 
disciple Periya nambi to do the last rites for MARanEri nambi
(brahmameda samskaram) instead of handing over his body to his kith 
and kin(who think the body as Atma) who do not have any claims on 
such a noble soul. So periya nambi(a brahmin) also did the last rites 
when mARanEri nambi passed away. 

EmperumAnAr asked Periya nambi: "isn't this particular act 
violate the rules of varNAshrama dharma?" Periya nambi 
replied: "Srirama(who performed sAmAnya dharma) did brahmameda 
samskaram for Jatayu. In what way I'm superior to Srirama or in what 
way mARanEri nambi inferior to Jatayu? Did not Yudhishtira do brahma 
meda samskaram for ViDhura?" Initially Yudhishtira had doubts but his 
doubts got cleared by sages and rshis. 

The ego that arises out of one's birth/caste, makes the person
(with so much knowledge) lose naicyam "adiyArkku adiyOm". This should 
not only be at the level of thinking but also in practice. That's why 
EmperumAnAr(and also Sri NampiLLai),would hold the hands of 
MudaliyANdAn(R's nephew and disciple,a brahmaNa)on his way to Kaveri 
for morning ablusions and after ablusions,EmperumAnAr would hold the 
hands(for support) of his disciple PiLLai uRangA Villi dasan,who was 
a sudra. This is cited in AcArya Hrdayam 85. When some people asked 
EmperumaNAr "how can a brahmaNa touch a sudra and is it not against 
varnAshram dharma?", EmperumAnAr gave the above mentioned reply. 

PS:All our AcAryas have defended Pancaratra texts.

AzhvAr EmperumAnAr JIyar thiruvadigaLE sharaNam
NC Nappinnai




[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
ramanuja-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list