Sri: Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama: Dear Sri Kasturi Rangan, This is why we look to Azhvars works and Acharyas commentaries. I think it is granted that the Vedas and the Upanishads can be and are confusing to most of us. Let me illustrate with an example. Our Nappinnai likes to use Physics in her examples, so let's take one from there. We all know that Einstein's Theory of Relativity is not easily grasped. It is a complex theory and does not jive with our normal understanding of how things work around us. However, none of us would simply take it up and read a few books and go challenge a researcher or professor in that area. Either we would study the subject for a long time and then come to that position or we would depend on the experts to do that and tell us how to understand it. In this case, the experts are the Azhvars and Acharyas. Since most of us have neither the inclination to spend a lifetime learning this nor do we possess the qualifications to do so, we don't have a choice but to listen to the experts. I am not saying that you are not an expert or well learned in this area - I am only representing the position held by the rest of us. Now, I know that you would protest to this as an agnostic, stating that which expert do I believe in - this is where faith in the sampradhayam comes in. Recall Bhattar's explanation to his disciples on why he honored an elder who was not a scholar but ignored the well read pundit (see http://www.acharya.org/articles/aditlooa/aditlooa011.html ). Without this faith, we can't get anywhere. Even amongst the physicists we put our faith in certain people and their explanations. We use some reasoning such as their integrity, the cause and effect, their stake in what they say etc to believe in them. This is what we need to do here also. Azhvar and Acharyas don't have anything to gain by telling us all of this. They could have kept their ideas to themselves. But they did not and it allows us to use their expertise to see where we need to go. Finally on the question of Narayana paratvam, I leave you with this poem by Pillai Perumal Iyengar: mangaipAgan sadaiyil vaiththa gangai yAr pathaththu neer? vanasa mEvu munivanukku mainthanAnathillaiyO? senkaiyAl iranthavan kapAlam Ar agaRRinAr? seyyathALin malararan siraththil AnathillaiyO? vengkaN vEzham mUlamenna vanthathungaL dhEvanO? veeRuvANan amarilanRu viRal azhinthathillaiyO? angkaN nyAlam uNda pOthu veLLi veRpaganRathO? AthalAl arangananRi vERu theyvamillaiyE There are those who say stories from itihAsas and purANas should not be considered here and discussion should be solely based on Vedas. However, this is not a tenable position as our experts (azhvars and acharyas) are clear that these cannot be ignored for many number of reasons. adiyEn madhurakavi dAsan --- amshuman_k <amshuman_k@xxxx> wrote: > Dear devotees, > > I am under the assumption that for us Vedas are the > supreme > authority (ignoring NDP for the moment). Puranas are also > considered > authorities as long as they don't contradict shruti > vakyas. The same > goes for Dharma sutras and smrities. Pancharatra agamas > is also > added to the list (at this point we diverge from smarthas > ?!). > > ... __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com
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