SrimatE Raamaanujaaya Namaha //
SrimatE Nigamaanta Mahaa Desikaaya Namaha //
SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya/
SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya//
KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava: /
SrI RanganAthO jayathu Sri Ranga Sri cha VardhathAm//
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SRI RANGA SRI VOL.07 / ISSUE # 43 dated 9th March 2006
=============================================================
EDITORIAL
Dear Bhagavatas:
Here is a mail from a Bhagavata who is not a BrahmaNa.
It is a bit long but is self-explanatory.
Quote:
?Dear Swamin,
If all three of the Varnas have to do this important thing, why are they not
following it? To be more precise, to a very great extent, when I grew up,
Sandhyaa Vandanam was observed as a Brahmin ritual. May be our elders did
not know its importance, or they did not find it interesting. I am
surprised! Why did this degradation happen? Adiyen is just trying to
understand why other Varnas apart from Brahmins do not observe this AT ALL
TOTALLY? I mean why this callous attitude towards prescribed practices?
Even a lay man will understand that getting up in the morning, having a
bath, praying to god for few minutes and going to work needs some
discipline. This discipline will help him, in managing his other tasks too.
Having said all these, Adiyen will be very grateful to you if you can
persuade every body to start following them.
Adiyen would definitely thank you for this enlightenment because I never
knew the significance of Upanayanam, because even my Brahmin friends told me
that they do it for wearing PooNal.
I mean it is probably going to be very disheartening to a noble soul like
you. But the last few posts have been truly revealing about the real nature
of SV. Adiyen could not agree more. You sure have some intellectual
understanding, some experience with God to appreciate or understand that.
Sri V. Sadagopan Swamin once told me that everybody has to wander in his own
desert before he finds the right path and also that every soul has its own
karma to work out.
Adiyen is indeed blessed to be with you all great people. Thanks a lot,
swamin!
Can you put together a list of ?dos? and ?not dos? for all Varnas? What the
scriptures say as necessary, like the ones people should not miss at all??
Unquote
=====================================================================
IN THIS ISSUE
1. SANDHYAA VANDANAM -? Part 2 - 4
FAQs AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VARIOUS OBSERVANCES IN CONNECTION WITH
"SANDHYAAVANDANAM"
(ANBIL RAMASWAMY)
=====================================================================
The following questions have been answered
Q 17 Can you put together a list of ?dos? and ?not dos? for all Varnas?
Q 18 What the scriptures say as necessary, like the ones people should not
miss at all?
Q 19.We have to take bath because we get dirty. But, why then, should
Bhagavaan have his ceremonial bath (Tirumanjanam)?
Q 20 Some people wear red and others wear yellow SrichurNam.
Is there any stipulation on wearing Red or Yellow SrichurNam?
=====================================================================
ISSUES RELEASED
So far, 219 Regular issues of SRS have been released apart from
Special Issues:
27 Issues of Vol. 1
15 Issues of Vol. 2
42 Issues of Vol. 3
35 Issues of Vol. 4
28 Issues of Vol. 5
30 Issues of Vol. 6 and
42 Issues of Vol. 7
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=====================================================================
1. SANDHYAA VANDANAM -? Part 2 - 4
FAQs AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VARIOUS OBSERVANCES IN CONNECTION WITH
"SANDHYAAVANDANAM"
(ANBIL RAMASWAMY)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 17 Can you put together a list of ?dos? and ?not dos? for all Varnas?
Ans: There are quite a lot of ?Saamaanya Dharmas? that are applicable to all
VarNas and there are in addition special Dharmas for the various VarNas and
Stations in life known as ?VarNa and Aasrama Dharmas? respectively.
These have been explained extensively in Chapters 13 and 14 of my book
?Hinduism Rediscovered?.
The book is about 900 pages and has received rave reviews from Journals and
Newspapers and ferom Acharyas and Scholars both In India and outside India.
It is priced at Rs.480/= in India and US $ 48.00 ex-India.
Those interested in acquiring the book may send a check drawn favoring
?Ramaswamy Anbil? and send it to -
Ramaswamy Anbil, 1638 Omara Lane, Smyrna, GA -30082 or
Call on Phone (770) 434-9596.
Please also send email to Ramanbil@xxxxxxxxxxx to help link your order and
expedite dispatch of the book to your given address.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 What
the scriptures say as necessary, like the ones people should not
miss at all?
Ans: While the question is simple, the answer cannot be so. It needs a
digression from the main theme of this series on SV but would be necessary
as steps leading to the performance of SV. We have to begin from the
beginning of the day and close with the close of the day in listing out the
procedures. Even then, it would not be possible to detail all the ?Dos? and
?Don?ts? involved. Thus, the list can neither be exhaustive nor can be said
to represent the final say in the matter. This is because apart from the
Saastrai-c injunctions, the ?AnushTaanam? procedures followed by different
Poorva Achaaryas also known as ?SishTaaachaaram? are considered more
authoritative than the scriptures themselves. The main procedures may be
more or less the same, but there may be slight variations adopted by Poorva
Achaaryas. Sishyas of different lineages will, therefore, have to follow the
practices followed / advised by their respective Achaaryas. We can at best
provide the salient points to remember.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The day is divided into 5 periods during which one worships Bhagavaan. They
are as follows: Morning (Praat-ah), Mid-morning (Sangava), Mid-day
(Maadhya-ahnika), After-noon (Apara-ahna) and Evening (Saaya-ahna). They are
allocated for the various routines called Abhigamanam, Upaadaanam, Ijyaa,
Svaadyaaya and Yoga respectively.
Swami Desika has detailed al these in his ?SriVaishNava Dinasari?. These are
applicable to all (Not only just for SrivaishNavas). A few relevant
observations relating to each period are provided elsewhere in this and
subsequent postings by way of general guidelines on the ?Dos? and ?Don?ts?
as advised by our Achaaryas during their KaalakshEpams on ?AnushTaana
Granthas?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. ?Abhigamanam? (Reverent approach to the Lord)
One should wake up even before dawn with Hari?s name on his lips and pray to
Him to lead him in the right path s during the day that begins. After
brushing teeth and easing, strictly in accordance with the procedures for
cleaning, one should take an early bath and carry out the morning rituals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2. ?Upaadaanam? (Acquisition of articles for worship)
The Lord is said not to look into the value of articles offered but values
only the intensity of the devotional love (Bhakti) with which the offer is
made. Yet, Saastras outline guidelines on what articles can be offered and
what articles should not be offered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
3. ?Ijyaa? (The main procedure of worship)
With a pure mind and clean body, with love and devotion one has to approach
the Lord and offer garments, flowers and whatever prepared food offerings.
The bottom line is that the offer should be made with love and affection,
awe and respect as one would to a royal prince, a long expected guest or a
loving son.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
4. ?Svaadhyaaya? (Study of Holy scriptures)
like Upanishads Itihaasas, PuraaNas, hymns and StOtras by Saints and
Achaaryas of their respective traditions).
While doing this, one should concentrate on the ?Divya MangaLa vigraham?
(the beautiful and divine figure of the Lord, His ?Subha-Aasraya guNas?
(auspicious qualities) and His (ChEshTitas) wonderful exploits, as revealed
by our Achaaryas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
5. ?Yoga? ( Meditation)
One should go to sleep with the name of the Lord on the lips, with the
thought of the merciful Lord in the heart thanking Him for granting a whole
day of rightful utilization and a prayer for the grant of blessing for
another day with similar opportunity.
In fact, while in deep (dreamless) sleep, one is said to be united with the
Lord (which is signified by the term ?yOgA?) lying on the ?lap of the lord?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, some observations on the above:
1. ?Abhigamanam? (Reverent approach to the Lord)
=======================================================================(1) On
getting
up from bed:
- One should get up from bed, around 3 hours (7 ½ naazhigais) before
Sunrise
- Utter ?Hari, Hari? thrice and ?Hari? once totaling 7 times.
There is a famous slOkam that shows how the different names of the Lord
should be mediated upon on different occasions. It says on getting up, the
name of ?Hari? should be recited; while walking, ?KEsava?, while eating,
?GOvinda? and while going to bed, ?Maadava?
?uttishTan chintaya harim vrajan chintaya kEsavam/
bhunjan chintaya gOvindam svapan chintaya maadavam?
- Meditate on the episode of the Lord?s saving Gajendra.
- Feel regret for having wasted your lifetime in transitory (a-sthiram)
and
useless (a-saaram) pursuits and beg the Lord to forgive your transgressions.
- Place the RIGHT foot first on the ground, after seeking the pardon of
Mother Earth (Bhoomi dEvi) reciting the following slOkam:
?namOstu priyadattaayai tubhyam dEvi! vasundarE!/
Tvam maataa sarva lOKaanaam paada sparsam kshamasva mE //
Samudra vasanE! dEvi! parvata sthana maNDitE1 /
vishNu patni ! namas tubhyam paadasparsam kshamasva mE//?
- A subtle point to note is that while entering one?s own home, or a
friend?s homeor the Pooja room, one should place the RIGHT foot first. While
commencing a journey, entering an enemy?s home, place or city, one should
place the LEFT foot first. This latter method is supposed to ensure victory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) BRUSHING TEETH:
- Brushing the teeth should be done with a ?tooth stick?. Tooth sticks
are
made from small twigs of a variety of medicinal trees like ?VEppa-maram?
(Neem or MargOsa tree), ?Aalamaram? (Banyan tree), ?Arasa-maram-? (Papal
tree) or ?VEla-maram? (Babool tree). The tip of the twig is crushed to form
a brush for cleaning teeth. After brushing the teeth, the twig should be
discarded as trash.
- This is prescribed by Yadhava Prakaasa, the teacher-turned disciple of
Bhagavad Ramanuja. It follows that the use of modern day toothbrushes was
either not known in those days or was positively discouraged.
- Asmad Achaaryan, Srimad Andavan, Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam, used to
say that once used, the tooth brush becomes polluted with spittle and cannot
be used again but should be thrown away. In any case, the practice of
packing a used tooth brush along with other items like toothpaste etc while
on travel is considered to pollute the rest of the packing!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SOUCHAM (Cleaning after easing):
It may be interesting to note that for these seemingly innocuous and
commonplace daily routines, several authorities like Viswaamitra, Gaarga,
Devala, Jamadagni, Daksha, Kapila, Angiras, Kratu, Gaalava, Atri, Harita,
BOdaayana, Saunaka and many other sages have laid down very strict
procedures.
?There are minute prescriptions regarding the maintenance of bodily purity;
when and how to bathe; how to purify after eating, defecating and urinating,
after sexual intercourse and menstruation, and after touching anything or
anybody impure; what to eat, from whom to accept food; with whom one can
have social or physical contact and so on? Guarding the bodily boundaries
and openings implies that the internal structure of the body is pure, just
as protecting the boundaries of society makes sense only if that society is
regarded as a valuable structure? (P20-21 Patrick Olivelle).
While these are common to all, in matters relating to purity and penance,
ascetics are expected to do more than laymen and any laxity is deemed to
strip them of their Sannyaasa Aasrama with devastating punitive
consequences..
The most important part of Soucham is the use of mud (or sand, where mud is
not readily available) and water to clean the private parts and the number
of times this has to be done ranging from 5 to 15 times in the case of all
other than Sannyasais, while for the Sannyaasis the requirement is extremely
strict and the number of times is increased fourfold times besides many
other restrictions special to them. (Vide p39 of ?Ahnika grantah? by
Prakritam Azhagiya Singhar in his Poorvaasramam).
For want of space, we do not delineate on this theme here)
Another aspect to be noted in this connection and in the case of taking bath
and in fact in relation to the usage of water for any religious purposes is
that the rules allow only waters taken out from flowing river that is
considered to be always pure. ?Even the only other bodies of water that can
be used like Well, Tank and Lake need to be poured from the vessel to make
it run before it can be used for ritual purposes? (Patrick Olivelle p32)
While this may be practicable back in India where people have access to
waterfronts, it is not known how this could be followed in letter and spirit
in foreign lands.
This is probably one of the reasons why TRUE VAIDIKAS AND ESPECIALLY TRUE
SANNYAASIS found it not conducive to the strict regimen of their station in
life) to travel overseas. ?Swaroopa Viruddham?. Such transgression is
deemed to strip them of the ?Sannyaasa Dharma? and they forfeit their right
to be deemed as ?Sannyaasis?
The sacred thread should be wound on the right ear. The reasons for this
will be explained later on while discussing the methods of wearing sacred
thread in different modes on different occasions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) HAIR DRESSING!
Today, we find that whether one does Sandya Vandanam or not, one religiously
resorts to the daily ritual of ?self-shaving? obviously to make oneself
?presentable? in the company of sophisticated work environment! Can anyone
point out any authority from the scriptures for this practice?
On the other hand, as personal cosmetic grooming was of no great concern in
the setting of religious chores,, ?Kshouram? was prescribed for all males
once a month and that too a ?Sarvaanga Kshavaram? (whole body shaving) on
specific days. In between, one was not supposed to go for a ?hair-cut?not to
speak of a ?face-shave?!
This leads us to another FAQ as to why one should have tuft (kuDumi)? If we
look at the ?anga-nyaasam? and ?kara-nyaasam? prescribed as preliminaries
for any ritual action, we will find the statement ?Om Sakthyai Shikaayai
VashaT?. As we invoke the six qualities of Bhagavaan, we touch the topknot
of the strands of hair on top of the head for invoking ?Shakti? (power or
inherent energy)
This is not peculiar to Hinduism but can be seen in other religious
practices too. For example, Jews cover the spot of their head (corresponding
to ?shikaa?) with a cap, presumably for a similar purpose. We also see in
the story of ?Samson and Delilah? that when his topknot was cut off, he lost
his entire might and got vanquished.
Some of us may remember that in the olden days, Achaaryas would not deign to
offer ?SaTaari? for those with ?cropped head?, (i.e) those without ?Shikaa?.
But the Achaaryas themselves seem to have relaxed on this these days perhaps
because ?cropped head? has become the rule than the exception!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) TAKING BATH
As already explained earlier, water for bath can be used only from well,
tank, lake or flowing river. This excludes even Sea waters except on
Amavaasya days in the months of Aadi (KaTakam) and Thai (Makaram) months.
(As an additional exception Saastras permit taking bath in sea water at
TiruppullaaNi, where Sri Rama took his ?Dharba Sayanam? (bed of holy grass)
Travel by crossing the Ocean was looked down upon because:
1. In the olden days, the only way to cross the ocean was by ships that
took
months on end to reach the shores of land and if in the meantime any
?Aa-soucham? should occur, Vaidikas could not perform their daily
Tiruvaradanam to Bhagavaan. And, for the true Vaidikas, missing this
important rite was worse than meeting with death. Today, air travel takes
one to land at the nearest airport within hours. So, this objection is not
valid anymore.
2. The human wastes were dropped in sea waters while traveling by ship.
And,
polluting the ?Samudram? was considered a heinous crime. Today, they empty
the human waste only after the aircraft reaching the landing airport. So,
this objection is also not valid anymore.
3. The most valid objection, however, is that waters from well, tank,
lake
and flowing river will not be available in overseas locations and the only
source of water available is through metallic pipes that cannot be touched
Vaidikas.
- When, we offered to construct a metallic hand rail to help asmad
Achaaryan
to hold while stepping down to the bottom of the well dug inside the Asramam
tank (that had dried up due to drought), he refused to have any such
contraptions as that would vitiate his Sannyaasa dharma against holding on
to a metal frame!
- On another occasion, when asmad Achaaryan slipped while walking on foot
and was offered a wheel chair to sit, he refused to use it saying he could
not get in contact with a metallic chair. Bearing with utmost fortitude and
suffering the excruciating pain, he preferred to stand up and walk all the
way back to the Asramam!
- When I requested a kainkaryapara of H.H. Azhagiyasinghar
(who is now the Srikaryam of H.H) to translate some writing from Sanskrit
into Tamil, he said that he could not ?touch? paper before offering
?Bikshai? to H.H. Such are the strict norms observed by Achaaryas and even
the Kainkaryaparas of our Asramamas and Matams.
That is why, as already explained, TRUE VAIDIKAS AND ESPECIALLY TRUE
SANNYAASIS found it ?Swaroopa Viruddham? (Not conducive to the strict
regimen of their station in life) to travel overseas
We are advised to take bath in cold water but to drink hot water. Which is
just the opposite of what we do! This is probably because, the natural
quality of water is to be cold and we are advised to be in sync with nature.
No doubt, as an exception, bath in hot water is also recommended for people
who are unwell and cannot take a cold water bath.
Even during the biting cold month of Maargazhi, the octogenarian asmad
Achaaryan proceeds to the well dug in the Asramam tank early in the morning
for taking bath, unmindful of physical discomfort! This marks him apart from
others who shudder at the very thought of taking a cold water bath
especially in the chill morning.
While taking bath, we should imagine that we are giving bath to Bhagavaan
who is said to reside in our hearts as the Indweller (antaryaami). When
Bhagavaan takes His abode in our heart, our body becomes automatically His
temple. It is our duty to keep this temple clean and neat to make it worthy
of the Lord.
Did not Rabindranath Tagore say in his ?Gitanjali??
?Life of my Life
I shall ever keep my body pure
Knowing that thy living touch is upon all my limbs?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 19 As we get dirty, we need to take bath. But, why then, should Bhagavaan
have his ceremonial bath (Tirumanjanam) and why should PerumaaL wear the
sacred marks?
Ans: This is because, Bhagavaan in ?archa? form is required to be treated as
a honored guest for whom the 16 kinds of respectful submissions (shODasa
upacharams) like Tirumanjanam, dress, sacred thread, sacred marks etc are
offered treating him like a crown prince who had come to grace our home.
Also, the Lord has Tirumanjanam and wears these sacred marks to show by
example how we should also take bath and wear the sacred marks..
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 20 Some people wear red and others yellow SrichurNam. Is there any
stipulation on wearing Red or Yellow SrichurNam?
Ans: Both Yellow and Red SrichurNam can be used. The basic ingredient of
SrichurNam is turmeric which is yellow in color. There are numerous
references in ?Sri Sooktam? that point to the need to use yellow SrichurNam.
The TirumEni of PiraaTTi is said to be golden-hued and gold is yellow in
color.
For example,
HiraNyavarNaam: in Sloka 1,
HiraNya praakaaraam in Slokam 4
PingaLaam: in Slokam 13
SuvarNaam in Slokam 14
HiraNmayeem in Slokam 14
There is also a reference to her color being that of the Red Lotus flower
Padma varNaam in Slokam 4
Paramaikaantins or Prapannas usually wear Yellow SrichurNam.
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