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'Quality' of a sv - more insights.

From the Bhakti List Archives

jasn sn • July 12, 2002 


 
SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA.

Dear devotees,
Let me bring to your notice more information on the
‘quality’ of a sv,
sent by Sri T. Parthsarathy Iyengar.                  
                                   


  Another important quality of a Sri Vaishnavan is ' 

NAICHYANUSANDHANAM SESHATHVANUSANDHANAM

  This behaviour occurs on realisation by the sv that
he is the servant 
of Emperuman and his duty is to do ' kainkaryam'. 


   When two Srivaishnavites happen to meet they
prostrate before each 
other simultaneously, irrespective of their age and
other  
qualifications.

Here Quotes from Srivachana Bhushanam are given below.


Sutra 212;...' Uthkrishtamaka Brahmitha Janman prasmsa
sambhavaniayale 
' sarerecha' enkirapadiye

   bhaya janakam ( He who considers himself as great
does so  out of 
deception.This is the begining of dangerous path.)


Sutra 213:.. ' Athukku swroopa prapthamana naichyam
pavikkavenum '.  
                To avoid this he shoud adhere modesty
(Naichyam )which 
is natural  (swroopa swabhavam) to him.


215' Naichyam janma siddham'... Modesty is the birth
right of SVs who 
acknowledge Seshathvam is their swaroopam. 


  There are many examples.  Sri. Alavandar in his
stotra ratna, Sloka 47  
says" Digasuchiavaneetham... ( Lo!, curse myself, I am
unclean, not 
corrected by master... etc.,

Sri Manavalamamunigal in his Ethiraja Vimsathi, from
sloka 6 to 13 
considers himself low or deficient in many qualities .
In fact it is not 
so. This is the way " Naichyanusandhanam ' is
expressed. Almost, Ethiraja 
vimsathi is an example for this quality.

All our poorvacharyas have excelled in this quality.

(Another point to note)

In the beginning of last century, Namam was respected
and people wearing it were revered. why the position
has changed ? Let us make an 
introspection.

     In the first place what is Namam ? why we should
wear it ? 
what is the benefit out of it ?
How many of us ( Srivaishnavites) adopt this now a
days ?

     ' NAMAM ' is a symbol worn on the person of
Srivaishnavites 
in  various places of the body, particularly on the
fore head. It 
represents the Lotus feet of Emperuman together  with 
Mahalakshmi.

       It is an act of expressing our 'swaroopam' that
we, jeevas 
are His servants and we ACCEPT soverignity of the
Lord. We do it 
with pleasure and pride and not out of compulsion.

       Any body who wants any  favour from a higher
influential, 
powerful person fall at his feet and seek his
protection. That 
means he has surrendered to a great person; has thrown
away his 
Ego; and seeks the protection of the great one and
accept his  
subordinate  position.

       We respect our National flag ( if you do'nt it
is a piece 
of cloth)

       We worship images of Gods printed on paper,made
of metal 
or stone.

 If we donot give respect to that .. we have not
understood the 
meaning of worship. we  may do worship out of fear or
expecting a 
favour. This is in  initial stages. But, later when
the spiritual 
knowledge developes, adopting us to the various
procedures become 
automatic. One such thing is wearing Namam.

   Sri Alavandar has  described the virtues of Lotus
feet of 
EmperumaN IN 6 SLOKAS( 26 to 31) in his 'STOTRA RATNA 
'

         HOW ONE WHO HAS ENJOYED the nectar flowing
FROM YOUR 
LOTUS FEET CAN DESIRE FOR ANY OTHER THING ?

          AN 'ANJALI DONE' TO YOUR LOTUS FEET BY ONE,
ONCE, IN 
ANY FASHION, from that instant itself, all his sins
are washed 
away. That does not stop there. It gives all RICHES
for ever. 
Never stops thereafter.

     In this fashion other slokas continue. In sloka
31 He asks " 
When your Lotus feet is going to adore my head ?

  In Ramanuja Nooranthathi sloka 4.
          ENNAI PUVIYIL ORU PORULAKKI MARUL SURANTHA
          MUNNA PAZHAVINAI VEERARUTHU OOZHI
MUTHALVANAIYE
          PANNA PANITHA RAMANUJAN PARAN PADHAMUM EN
          CHENNI THARIKKA VAITHAN  ENAKKETUM CHITHIVU
ILLAYEE !


         Acharya Sri.Ramanuja made me a meaningful
object in 
earth. Past  sins because of ignorance were washed
away 
completely. Sri. Ramanuja enlightened me in detail
about Emperuman 
who is  the creator of the samsara. He made the LOtus
feet of 
Emperuman to stay in my head for ever. Here after
there will be no 
down fall to me.

  Such is the greatness of Lotus feet of Emperuman. We
adore this 
symbolically in our fore head, and other parts of the
body out of  
LOVE,REVERENCE,RESPECT AND DEVOTION.


        Now a days, many of the Srivaishnavas have
joined the 
main stream of humanity running after food and
vanities.  Out of 
fear that they may be singled out, they do not want to
identify 
themselves as separate religious group. They feel shy
of adoring 
the fore head with Namam. Even foreigners have joined
ISKON  and 
sporting Namam of their group and changed their style.
But, we 
srivaishnavites hesitate.   This is partialy due the
lack of 
proper knowledge on Srivaishnavism. Even those who
have some 
knowledge, due to thier working conditions are  also
not able to 
wear it. Above all   sectional struggle over Temples,
in the 
beginning of the last century undermined their
prestige among the 
people. Also, other religious sects are taking
advantage of the
difficulties of Srivaishnavites and dispersing
incorrect and false 
informations.

         The Vedic Philosophy and the religion based
on it is 
different from other religions.They excel other
religions as they 
deal with 'Moksham". Srivaishanvam has in addition
Azhvar's 
Arulicheyals (Tamizh Marai).    Should we loose this
heritage ?


    What is the remedy ? If we have faith and respect
in our 
Emperumanar Dharsanam We should develope our  will
power  to raise 
ourselves from the present muddle. Be  honest and
sincere one. Try  
to learn our heritage and improve the knowledge on 
it. Obtain 
informations from authentic sources. Do not believe
rumors and 
gossips.  Mingle with Srivaishnavas as far as
possible. Think
good and be good to society. If We have the will and
oppurtunity 
to adorn Namam in our fore head  WE SHOULD  NOT FEEL
SHY OF IT. 
Take it as a pride AND DO IT .   this kind of passive
resistance  
will definetely fetch  respect. And those who have
correct 
knowledge on Srivaishnavism  share it with those who
are 
interested to know about it.



Adiyen Ramanuja dasan, T.Parthasarathy.



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