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Re: Ramanuja & Bhagavatam

From the Bhakti List Archives

Malolan Cadambi • January 31, 2003 


> The staunch vaishnavite might always find it tough to accept Buddha
> or Jaina being reffered to in any work.

That is because Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) is not mentioned in *ANY* work.
Besides, none of the standard buddhist texts themselves regard Buddha as an
avatara of srimann nArayana. However, there have been innumerable
interpolations by scores of people. Enough said about them.

In the hagiography of jain thiirthankara-s, the story of Rishabha, the first
of the thiirthankara-s is very very different from that in the Srimad
Bhagavatam. Clearly an identification of the jain thiirthankara to the
bhagavatam is a vague interpolation. This might have been done either
consciously or unconsciously.

> But the complications only continue. Because, in "jayadeva-ashtapati"
> the very first song talks about the 10-avatars and one of them refers
> to Buddha.
>
> Ashtapati, is a very well known part of 'sampradaaya-bhajanai' being
> followed by all bhagavataas, during any 'radha-kalyaanam'.

No. Ashtapati is not followed by every sampradayam, and certainly not by the
Sri Sampradayam. This list focuses on the Sri Sampradayam. A discussion of
the Ashtapati is beyond the scope. Moreover, Ashtapati is not a prakarana
grantha, so there is no meaning in accepting it as a standard work. Please
realise that I do not have any ad hominem to the author of asthapati. He is
very respected. To oppose philosophically is very different from
disrespecting.

> But it is true that they do not base their 'siddhanta' on the Vedas.
> So we(asthikaas) dont accept either the Boudhas or the Jainas.
>
> Also, one should recollect that 'ahimsa' and life of extreme docility
> is not something for the entire race. We have a way of life called
> the 'sanyaasa' for that purpose.

Ahimsa and sanyAsa are not inspired by the jain religion. They are eternally
present in the prasthana trayam.

Regards,

Malolan Cadambi




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