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From the Bhakti List Archives

I.K. Rengarajan • April 12, 1997 


Dear venerable members:
Speaking of the blasting sound emanating from the tall domes of the 
mosques five a times a day, sometimes a nuisance breaking into the 
serenity of the atmosphere and some times a pleasant reminder of our 
spirutual chores as pointed out by Sri Sudarshan, there is an invisible 
link between muslims and sri vaishnavas especially in the Ramathapuram 
area in Tamilnadu.
I don't know how many of you have noticed the fact that in many major 
Muslim business houses, the key person would be a sri vaishnava. The 
major muslim pockets of Kizhakarai, Ramanathapuram, Thondi etc. both 
these groups go hand in hand despite the vast differences in the habits 
and cultures. I know several of the muslims who would avoid doing things 
during Raghu kalam.
The reason quoted is that several decades ago when the muslim invaders 
were doing their " business " among other things they gave the option of 
"Quran" or the " dagger" and some of the sri vaishnavas chose to live as 
muslims. I remember my uncle talking about atleast one muslim guy whose 
grandfather was a sri vaishnava.
All said and done, the destination is the very same for all of us 
regardless of the route we take.
Subham
I.K.Rengarajan