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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00033 Mar 2008

 
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Dear Bhagavatas:

vasuchak@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
DATE: Fri, 7 Mar 2008 23:48:59 -0800 (PST) 
 
"Mukkur Sri Lakshmi Narasimhachar was of the view that ladies should not recite Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam"

My Reply:

It is not only Mukkur Swami but also so many Acharyas say that ladies should not recite “Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama”. Unfortunately, they have not provided the reason why.

 

As indicated in our "Guidelines"-

"Wherever any views are expressed, they should be based on appropriate authority (PramaaNams) from the Srisooktis of Acharyas of Bhagavad Ramanuja - Swami Desika Satsampradayam. A bland directive of “Do’s and Don’ts on anushTaanams without such PramaaNams (authority) from the scriptures may be considered as mere blah-blah and are likely to be trashed by the readers whom they seek to educate"

 

With reference to “Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama” recital, Paarvati asks Lord Siva:

“kEnOpaayEna laghunaa vishNOr naama sahasrakam/

paTyatE paNDitair nityam SROTUM ichchaami aham prabhO //

 

Paarvati said “Srotum ichchaami” NOT “PaTitum ichchaami”

She wanted to “Hear” leaving the “PaTitum” (Recital) part to the Pundits.

This may be the reason why Mukkur Swami and others advised that ladies should NOT recite but can listen to the recital by Pundits.

 

In spite of the best efforts of these Acharyas for centuries, the recital of “Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama” did not become so widely popular UNTIL Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi came on the scene and made it extremely popular by singing the StOtram.

 

And, she is a WOMAN!

 

Today, thanks to Smt. M.S., it has become so popular that in every household people especially women are singing the stOtram almost daily and reverberating the whole atmosphere holy as never before!

 

In my posting, I have merely stated that the view that there is “an alternate view” without being judgmental about the advice of Sri Mukkur Swami and other Acharyas.

 

I have also given the PramaaNam for this view

 
1. There is a slOkam which says -

Srthree soodra dvija bandhoonaam trayee na sruti gOcharaa:/

Iti Bhaaratam aakhyam kripayaa muninaa kritam//

 Meaning

“Sage Vyaasa out of his infinite compassion to redeem  womenfolk, soodras, brahmins who fallen off BraahmaNatvam by  neglecting their duties prescribed for them and those who are not considered fit to hear the Vedas has composed Mahaabhaarata acclaimed as the fifth Veda”

 

2. In the Phala sruthi, it is stated –

Ya idam sruNuyaat nityam yas chaapi parikeertayEt/

Na asubham praapnuyaat kinchit sOmutra iha cha maanava: //

 Meaning

“Anyone who listens (sruNuyaat) as also anyone who recites (parikeertayEt) this StOtram will never ever face inauspiciousness in this life (Iha) and in the after-life (amutra)”

vEdaantagO BraahmaNa: syaat, kshatriyO vijayee bhavEt /

vaisyO dhana samruddha syaat Soodra: sukham avaapnuyaat//

Meaning

“So listening/ reciting - Brahmins will become well versed in the vEdas, Kshatrityas will become victorious, Vaisyas will become wealthy and Soodras will become happy”

 

It is clear, therefore, that all can listen/ recite this “Sri VishNu Sahasra naama stOtram” and none is debarred!

 

Scholars may provide appropriate authority, if any,  for the classic view against the recital by women.

 

Hope this clarifies.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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