Rama and demigod worship

From the Bhakti List Archives

• May 1, 1997


Srivaishnava Acharyas only accept the original Valmiki Ramayana as
Pramanam.  Swami Desikan states that "All the Vedas speak in one
voice about the supremacy of Sriman Narayana and his glories..."

Sri Mukkur Lakshmi Nrsimhachariar states in one Kalakshepam that Sita
and Rama acted out the Vedas so that ehey could be enjoyed everyone
and attain perfection.

Anything that contradicts the original Ramayana will not be accepted
by our Acharyas.  Also, whether one takes the case of the our
Azhwars, or the Gopis of Vrindavana or Sita in Ashoka Vana, or
Bharata in Nandigrama, their Parama Bhakti was in their burning
separation from Sriman Narayana which they found impossible to bear.
This is stated by Narada in the Narada Bhakti Sutra as the highest
form of Bhakti.  (This sutra, though called bhakti talks about
Prapatti only and references to bhakti here are as the fruit of
Prapatti and not Bhakti Yoga.)

Jaganath.