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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00046 Jan 2004

 
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adiyen's humble pranams,

I was reading with interest the postings on " Color of Srichurnam "
While it is an individuals right , wish, will and pleasure to adorn 
whatsoever color he pleases, the debate and controversy arises only 
when he tries to justify what he adorns is right.

The earlier day Vadagalai Acharyas / Acharya Purushas who used the 
Red Srichurnam definitely would have been authorities in Sashtras, 
pramanams, anushtanams etc. Hence, it is definitely not inferior to 
apply Red nor superior to apply Yellow which is the present mass 
practice. Learned members will agree that superiority and inferiority 
does not arise out of external appearance.

My colleague and friend who belongs to Ahobila Mutt Sampradayam never 
applied the Srivaishnava mark years back. 
On way back from office he started visiting SriParthasarathy temple 
along with me. Slowly he started to adorn the Red Srichurnam at my 
house and then go to SriParthasarathy temple along with me. Suddenly, 
a year or so back he started using the Yellow Srichurnam. When I 
asked him the sudden change, he told me that this was under the 
advice of elders. Though initially he could not explain the reason, 
finally he admitted that this was to distinguish!!! I persisted and 
then he told me that all including Bhagavatas also use the red, hence 
nowadays we have been told to shift to Yellow only!!!

Yet during recent Samprokshanam of a Divya Desam in Nangur, I saw a 
Bhagavata - a millionaire from Coimbatore - with Vadagalai Thiruman 
and Yellow Srichurnam.

During, adyayana utsavam, I visit Srirangam and invariably used to 
visit my friend's uncle who is Vadagalai. 

As I am seeing him for the past 12 years or so I have always seen him 
in Red Srichurnam only. Recently about 2 months back I met him in a 
marriage function and he was with Yellow Srichurnam. I asked him the 
reason for this sudden transformation. His reply was - I did not have 
Red so I borrowed it from a relation who had only Yellow !!! 

>From the above I mean no insult or hurt to anyones feelings or 
affliations. I am stating facts as observed.

Regarding Vaikhanasa archakas - it is fact which learned members will 
agree, that they cannot be classified as Vadagalai or Thengalai. 
Their Acharya is SriVikhanasa Muni, though they may respect 
Srivaishnava acharyas. 
However, since they are archakas of Srivaishnava temples, when the 
Srivaishnava population was assertive and strong, they adorned the 
Thengalai Thiruman with Red Srichurnam. This has been continuing for 
ages and it is a fact that most of Southern district Srivaishnava 
temple Vaikhanasa archakas adorn the Thengalai Thiruman. This is also 
the case in staunch Srivaishnava tradition following temples like 
Thiruvallikeni, Sriperumbudur, Srivilliputhur etc. This 
has been their tradition as followed by their forefathers.
In my hometown, Sholinghur(Ghatikachalam) temple, the main archaka 
mirasi wears Thengalai Thiruman while many of the gumasthas use 'U' 
with Yellow Srichurnam.
Whereever Srivaishnava population migrated or became weak, the later 
generation Vaikhana archakas sometimes changed. However, I must admit 
with guilt, that while a majority of Srivaishnava population have 
deserted the temples in their hometowns some Vaikhanasa archakas have 
held on and in some temples they have reluntlessly 
toiled to renovate and conduct utsavams - a duty which we 
Srivaishnavas should be doing. 
In some southern district temples I have heard that Vaikhanasa 
archakas are instrumental in arranging adyayana utsavam - so dear to 
the heart of Srivaishnavas.

Of late, many younger generation Vaikhanasa archakas have started 
applying the Yellow Srichurnam with 'U' Thiruman. In case of 
migration of the Srivaishnava population the Thiruman has changed 
to that worn by the Vaikhanasa archakas. In such cases, there has 
been erosion and in some cases total abandon of the exclusive 
Srivaishnava traditions. Again this is my observation only.

The Vaikhanasa archarka mirasis of Thirumalai temple adorn a Thiruman 
which resembles the Vadagalai Thiruman that is 'U' with yellow 
Srichurnam. But again, learned members will agree that their 
Sampradayam is not Vadagalai, though many people take pleasure in 
pointing out that Thirumala archakas of Thirumala adorn Vadagalai 
Thiruman. It may be noted that even in Thirumala the Vaikhanasa 
archakas who are from southern districts wear Thengalai Thiruman with 
Red Srichurnam.It is for Vidwans of Vadagalai Sampradaya and 
Vaikhanasa Agama pundits to sort it out whether Vaikhanasas are 
Vadagalai and viceversa or not.

The above are my observations and I think I am accurate to the 
extent. However, learned members may point out any discrepencies and 
I will correct myself.

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar ThiruvadigalE sharanam

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

S.A.Narasimhan.
--- In ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Srinivasan Narayanan <malaseen@xxxx> 
wrote:
> Sri:
> Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:
> 
> Pranams to all.
> 
> Adiyen would like to thank Sriman Pattangi for the wonderful 
explanation 
> regarding the color of Sri Churnam. As he correctly said, there 
should 
> not be any strife on such a trivial matter. We must take pride in 
> wearing the Urdhva Pundram, weather it is vadagalai or Thengalai 
> sampradayam. One must try his best to serve with single minded 
> devotion, the lotus feet of Perumal, Thayar, our Acharyas and pray 
for 
> their divine katAksham.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Dasan
> Srinivasan 
> 
> Pattangi wrote:
> 
> > Sri:
> > Humble pranam to all devotees of the LORD:
> >
> > Since adiyen received some mails regarding this, it is my duty
> > to make sure this clarification also gets posted here,
> >
> > Adiyen wrote:=====================================
> > The yellow color is also used by Vaikhanasas Vaishnavas who do 
not 
> > undergo
> > Bharanyasam, (They undergo panchasamskaram while in thier 
Mother's womb)
> > End original note=======================================
> >
> > This was in clarification to sri Srinivasan Narayanan's qs, that 
after 
> > Bharanyasam yellow srichurnam
> > is adorned,
> >
> > The point adiyen made above is that there are others who do not 
> > undergo Bharanyasam
> > and still adorn yellow sriChurnam.
> >
> > PS: There are Vaikhanasa priests in many many DhivyaDesams who 
wear 
> > RED Srichurnam.
> >
> > Adiyen wrote:=====================================
> > All the Thengalai sampradaya wear red SrIChurnam. 
> > End original note=======================================
> >
> > I have heard from others that some Y based thiruman adorners also 
wear 
> > the yellow Srichurnam.
> >






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