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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00041 May 2002

 
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Dear Venkatesh,

I don't want to prolong this discussion anymore because
you find nothing wrong in calling profound scholars
fanatics and in ridiculing their views without knowing
the whole story. I really don't want to unwittingly be 
a party to this so this will be my last post on this
subject.

For the record I did not find the statements downplaying
Maamunigal's greatness in any way acceptable and those who
know me know that I have condemned similar disparaging
remarks in the past as well.

I only want to write a few more words and I will not
discuss this issue again.

1) I am certain that Sri Uttamur Swamy had responses
to every question Sri PBA Swamy posed, as would 
Sri PBA Swamy to every question Sri Uttamur Swamy
would have posed. These matters
eventually become complex and are an issue of personal
faith. Many of them (such as prapatti's svarUpa 
or the nature of Lakshmi-tattva) simply go back and
forth and there will *never* be an objective resolution.
Everyone is colored by their background. 

In other words, after a while there is no point to
argument and I am not surprised if one side or the
other gives up and just goes home to be at peace.

2) The so-called "fanaticism" of Sri Madurantakam Swami
is a criticism easily levelled. But for each time
he could be so condemned so could many acharyas that
are close to your heart. This, simply put, is *not* the way to 
carry out discourse. I could argue that Sri PBA Swamy
has taken Swami Desika out of context here and there,
but this gives me no right to ridicule him in public or call
him a fanatic. These vidvAns deserve a separate 
level of respect, not only for their learning, but
for their anushThAna and for their status as acharya-
purushas in our tradition. Sri Madurantakam Swami
was an acharya-purusha of the Eechambaadi aachaan vamsa
and has sishyas in this country. At least out of
concern for these sishyas we should demonstrate more
care, in my opinion.

In other words, critize the *view* and not the *person*.

3) Everyone in the lIla-vibhUti is subject to the three guNas,
even great people such as Chaturmukha Brahma. If Sri D.T.
Tatacharya Swami, a recipient of the Panditaratna
title, or his brother made some errors in reference to 
a temple mentioned in a paasuram, it does not seem like 
a hangable offense to me. We should look at someone's
merits and not their defects.

I will not convince you, I am sure, but I felt duty-bound
to at least mention that these great scholars were worthy
of respect, certainly more respect than you are giving them.

May we never forget those paasurams beginning with
'payilum sudaroli', 'nedumaarkku adimai', and
'en adiyaar adhu seyyaar'!

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,
Mani






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