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Srivaishnava Lakshanams

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Srimahavishnu Vinjamuri • April 10, 2001 


Thiruvengada jeeyar thiruvadigale Saranam
Om Namo Venkatesaya

SrImadanantArya mahAguravE namah.

Dear Bhagavatottamas,

namaskar.

Followin is the explanation of Parasara Bhattar for Ananthalwan's comparison of a Srivaishnava with salt.

lavaNa tulya SIlatvam:

A. Salt, when added in proper qty to a dish, makes it delicious. But nobody praises it but praise the dish and its cook only. Similarly, a Srivaishnava should not receive any praise for his kainkaryams. He should always be pleasing Bhagavan, Bhagavatas, and Acharyas by whatever small kainkaryam he is able to do. But he should be never be excited about his acts. On the other hand, he should always be counting his apacharams and lamenting them.

This suggests that a Srivaishnava should never be proud of his kainkaryams. As we hear from the learned, his happiness is derived from mukhOllAsam or pleasure of Bhagavan (also Bhagavatas and Acharyas).

B. When salt content is more or less in a dish, its taste gets spoiled and all find fault with the salt. similarly, when another Bhagavata finds fault with a Srivaishnava, the latter should be highly thankful to the former for pointing out his mistakes and never feel bad about it.

C. Salt, when used in cooking, loses its shape in the process but makes the things tasty. Similarly, a Srivaishnava should continue his kanikaryams even when he is personally getting destroyed.

Now, before explaining why Alwan has said a true Srivaishnava should be like his (Bhattar's) disciple, Bhattar asked his disciple what has happened there. the disciple tells him that he was always asked to sit in the last in tadIyArAdhanam row and Alwan never talked to him much and he (disciple) was always obedient to Alwan. bhattar feels vey happy about his and tells his disciple, "Whenever a Srivaishnava goes to the ThirumALigai of a Bhagavtottama, he sould sit in  whatever place he is asked to sit, and accept the tirtham and prasAdam
with utmost reverence."

>From all this, we understand as to how humble a Srivaishnava has to be.

dasan
vishnu





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