Re: Cleanliness...
From the Bhakti List Archives
• October 14, 1999
Sri.P.B.Anand,> wrote: > Dear Sriman Sampathkumaran : > > Your feelings and genuine concern about cleanliness> in > temples is well-placed. > If I have spoken too much, adiyen may kindly be > forgiven. > > Dasan > Anand First of all, I request Sri.Anand not to use the honorific "sriman" for me. I am very ordinary person and feel uncomfortable being addressed like that. Just "Sampath" or "Sri.Sampath" (for sake of politeness) is OK. You have written well on the subject of cleanliness. Exnora is doing good work in Madras in some areas but not in all. Also I am not well read so I have not heard of authors you mention like Naipaul and others. My point was different. Why Vaishnava sampradyam cannot specifically articulate or stipulate cleanliness like it does other things like importance of wearing "urdhvapundram" or "samAshrayanam" or reading "sri-bashyam" or going on 108 DD tour once in lifetime? Why can't our "achAryA-s" make it a point to say that everyone comes to seek their 'diksha' must also show proof that their "kainkaryam" includes certain hours of cleaning or rubbish clearing they did in temples or mutts or in some religious spot? In Sikh religion devotees are held very dear and special if they show that they have done some cleaning duty at the Golden Temple... like scrubbing the floor, cleaing the Golden Temple toilets, watching over chappals of pilgrims etc. Similarly why some of our "achAryA-s" like even HH Azhagiyasingar and Jeeyar also cannot insist that those who come to ashram must compulsorily show that they have spent so many hours cleaning the surroundings of some DD or some madapalli, or sweeping mutt rooms, removing cobwebs, washing clothes of vaideeka-bhagavatha-s etc? When such people come to him for 'danda-samarpanam' and getting 'mantra-akshada' acharya should show same extra pleasure and happiness in meeting them like when he meets some one who says he has mastered 'tarka' or 'mimamsa' or 4000 prabandam-s? Why "achAryA-s" are not in the habit of specifically talking about "cleanliness" of temple, mutt, ashram surroundings? Why always preoccupation with building tall gopurams, more sannidhi-s, or making jewellery etc. If "achAryA-s" become strict and campaign about outward "shuddhi" as much as they do about inward "suchi" and go on non-stop giving messages about cleanliness surely all disciples will have some fear and then begin to follow strictures. Please don't take this as criticism of any acharya or any particular temple. I am very,very sorry if I gave you that feeling. I have great respect for all achAryA-s. I am talking in generality only. I am only sad because of uncleanliness some of our temples do not present a good sight. One of my good Hindu friend used to joke that cleanliness at places of worship may be Christian ethic not Hindu one but if cleanliness is next to godliness then we should not be surprised if God puts a healthy distance between Himself and some of our great temples. I get very angry at his remark but sometimes it makes me wonder. I hope I too have not spoken too much and out of turn. I am new member in this group and I am very sorry if I'm coming across as offensive. Sorry, very sorry. Please pardon. Sampath ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
- Next message: Sadagopan: "The word PradhakshiNam and the performance of PradhakshiNa KriyA ."
- Previous message: Sadagopan: "Re: Some questions regarding some of our customs ..."
- Maybe in reply to: P.B. Anand: "Cleanliness..."
- Next in thread: Ramanbil_at_aol.com: "Re: Cleanliness..."
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] [ attachment ]