Re: The "real" Ramanuja (excerpts from Sri Bhasya)

From the Bhakti List Archives

• March 13, 1996


>
>This Sutra refutes this view and denies to Sudras by caste, the right
>to Brahmavidya. Though meditation is only a mental activity yet the
>intellectual knowledge required as a means to the Upasana it not
>possible with the study of the Vedas, as in the casee of ritualistoc
>action. As Sudras are barred from Vedic studies they cannot therefore
>have the necessary qualifications for such Upasanas.
>


  Enquiring the caste of a Sri Vaishnava is supposed to be
  a grave apachara.  Perhaps theolgical justification for
  demphasising caste in Sri Vaishnava lives can be built
  around this concept.  Wouldn't our poorvaachaaryaas look
  upon an acharya who does this, with the same kindness that
  ThirukkOshtiyoor Nambi looked upon Sri Ramanuja after he
  committed the apachara of disobeying the direct instructions
  of his acharya.



-- dhaasan parthasarati dileepan