From the Bhakti List Archives

• October 3, 1995


>is.  Badri's comments are most apropos in this respect.
>An Acharya is worthy of respect primarily by setting
>the right example for his or her sishyas.  Sri Pillai
>Lokacharya and Sri Vedanta Desika explain in detail the
>qualities of a true acharya, emphasizing calmness, devotion,
>and kindness as the principal attributes


     I am almost an illiterate when it comes to the
     sri vaishnava writings, but I don't think the above
     is an invitation for prospective disciples to test
     the acharyas on these attributes.  If each random
     pupil starts to question the integrity of our acharyas
     all we will be left with is chaos.


 -- but never
>do they *equate* the random acharya with the Paramaatma,
>or even an Azhvaar.


    I think you are misreading Jaganathan.
    We must treat acharyas words as God's words, not
    acharyaas are equal to God.  Let me quote madhurakavikaL
    again, "dhEvu maRRariyEn."  For him nammaazhvaar was God!



-- Dileepan