Re: [Kainkaryam to aacharyan]

From the Bhakti List Archives

• August 15, 2000


Dear Shree/Shreemathi Andal & Sourirajan,

Let me write my views as answer to your questions/doubts. 

Aacharya/Guru is he who enlightens us regarding
Brahman-Purushoththaman-Shreeman Narayanan. He should be well versed in the
apowrusheya Veda-Vedanta, Gita and Brahma Sutra and authentic smruthies. He
practices the teachings contained in the saastra and then teaches us the
saastra regarding the same. Aacharya/Guru is therefore considered with highest
regards because he makes the jIvAtman to realize tatva-hita-purushaartha of
parama-vaidika-matham and makes the jIvAtman to adopt either bhakti or
prapathi. Without Aacharya/Guru of Bhagavath Ramanuja Darsanam, a jIvAtman
cannot reach the paramapadam. From this, I think you can understand who is
your Aacharya. In simple words, if you have been blessed by Pancha-Samskaaram,
then consider the person who blessed you with pancha-samskaaram as your
Aacharya/Guru. You can also consider those persons as your Aacharaya who
taught you saastra ascertaining its purport as it is in our Shree Vaishnava
poorva-aacharya's works. 

You have written:
>One of my astrolger told me that I have some kainkaryam to my 
> aacharyan. They told me, it can be compensated by doing a 
>  sumangali-pratanai. Now I do not know who my Aacharyan is, I am put
> in   a trouble spot.

Though I am not able to understand the full context of your words, I would
like to tell you something. Doing kainkaryam to Aacharyan has to be out of our
own interest and pure dedication. In fact the upakaaram (help) done by the
Aacharyan is unparalleled and unsurpassed. There is nothing equal, which we
can consider as "repayment/compensation" for his mercy on us. Therefore
considering an astrologer's words and then thinking of doing kainkaryam to
Aacharaya and further linking "aacharya-kainkaryam" with a "equivalent"
"*compensation*" is NOT appropriate - this is according to me. I suggest
reading our poorva-aacharya's commentaries on the Divya Prabandam
"KaNNi-nuN-Chiru-Taambu" for further details. Further a
person who has adopted "Prapaththi-Saranaagathi" as per our Shree
Sampradayam should not have any fear/worry regarding his future. In this
aspect, a "Prapanna" should not consult astrology. For the Prapanna,
the astrology (Jyothisha Saastra) is just for ascertaining the 
time/date for doing various vaidika karmas.

Thanks & Regards
M.S.HARI Ramanuja Daasan.



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