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From the Bhakti List Archives

Parthasarati Dileepan • January 8, 1997 


First, I wonder whether Thirumazhisai Azhvaar would have considered the
actions of those brahmins as "apachara".

>From the exchanges we have had on this topic it seems to me that devout Sri
Vaishnavas who scrupulously follow the dictates of saasthraas and the
teachings of Sri Ramanuja and Sri Vedhantha Desika in all aspects will end
up getting judged to have committed apachara, and yet many of us who are
hardly making an attempt at anushtanam as prescribed by our poorvacharyas
will pass this test!!!

If strict adherence to sasthraas as mandated is to be followed, I am afraid
those brahmins did not have much of a choice.  Further, I am unable to
quite understand the criticisms as the brahmins seem to have shown proper
deference to the Azhvaar immediately after realizing his divinity.

I also wish to submit that "human values" and adherence to saasthraas are
not mutually exclusive.  IMHO, no Sri Vaishnava practitioner of the kind
referred in the second paragraph above would disagree that disrespecting
individuals just based on Jati is condemnable.  In this respect, I submit,
the Jati of the perpetrator is not a significant factor.

Thanks,



-- Dileepan