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agamas and initiation

From the Bhakti List Archives

Unknown Sender • Sun Mar 12 2000 - 05:48:38 PST 


In a message dated 3/11/00 4:39:49 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
bhakti-list@egroups.com writes:

<< 
 Second, what is your position on initiations for
 Westerners? Does the Sri Sampradaya initiate
 Westerners who show brahminical qualities? Where in
 the Sri Sampradaya scriptures can I find slokas
 dealing with that topic?
  >>

Dear devotees,

This is a very informative thread on Agamas. I also have a similar question 
as quoted above. My understanding is that Pancaratra is part of the 
Ekayana-branch of literature, and that while the Vedas-proper teach of saukra 
(seminal) succession of varna (brahmanhood, etc) , the Ekayana/Pancaratra 
teach that souls born in non-brahmana families may be evaluated to see what 
varna they are actually qualified for. And that after the Buddhist age, when 
most have given up their varna status along with the rest of Hinduism, many 
many people seeking to become followers of the Vedas had to be evaluated 
according to their qualities in order to re-establish proper varna-ashrama 
dharma. Does anyone have reasons or evidences supporting or rejecting this 
understanding? 

Thank you
Gerald Surya

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