Search:
Bhakti List Archives

Re: [sv-rituals] Re: temple entry

From the Bhakti List Archives

A.R. Ramachandran • May 10, 2002 


I would like to share some views on this, outside the tradition of Ramanuja,
so that it could offer some perspective. 

We all know that Ramanuja was perhaps the 'most catholic' or the 'only
catholic' among the three acharyas. Traditionally, also, people of many different
castes have rituals differing from each other. Such differences have been
accorded by sastras. Now, why not insist on a common code regarding rituals? We
have clearly allowed our 'democratic considerations' to cloud our vision...

I feel temple entry issue should be dealt accordingly. For example, among
Madhvas, Sri Raghavendra Swami is well known. He entered brindavan alive and
stated that he would be there for 700 years alive and blessing his devotees.
Before he entered brindavan, he stated that lower castes people could
circumambulate his brindavan only outside the main prakara and stated that he would
appear on a tower (specially constructed for that purpose) and bless them (This
was in vogue till the late seventies till unsavoury incidents and subsequent
intervention of govt 'secularised' it). The point to note here is that this
happened only around 300 years back.  People from all castes and creed (even
different religions) have acknowledged being blessed by him, both in his
times and later. In his own time, he is known for his meeting and blessing the
Nawab and later, in the Brindavan, meeting Sir.Thomas Munroe. I am unable to
quote the precise text, but in a nearer historical time, one saint so eminent,
from a very orthodox sampradaya, has chosen to make this distinction
regarding his own brindavan.

Our adherence to srutis and smiritis - all 'apauresheya' and books based on
it - is because 
our human mind is incapable of distinguishing dharma and adharma. It is not
blindness but our submission to divine will admitting our own limitations
that we practice so many things that are ordained, but which we do not
understand. So, it is appropriate not to bring political considerations, but  follow
and understand practices in such manner as to be in conformity to ancient
practices. In  continuation of the thread, saying 'some sampradayams changed...'
may be true. But what is equally true, is that certain older sampradayams (ie
restricted temple entry) got revived after a period of lull.

AR

> SriRAma Jayam,
> Srimate RAmAnujAya Nama:
> 
> Dear Naresh,
>             Even I wondered many times why this happens. People 
> follow traditions blindly at times!(without knowing why we do so). 
> All I can say(and visualize what my dear RAmAnujA would have done) is 
> all matters is bhakti(devotion to God which Bhagavad RAmAnujA very 
> clearly says)alone and this makes the person eligible to enter 
> temples. I strongly feel that certain sampradAyams have changed down 
> the years. It's a trajedy why we have such stringent rules(if this is 
> the case then how can we say that Hinduism is the most tolerant 
> etc...smrti(rituals come under)should be in consistent with sruti). 
> Yesudas is not allowed but his songs are played inside the GuruvAyur 
> temple!(Is there any sense in it?). In one of his concert he sang a 
> song on GuruvAyUrappan(Un sannidiyil pAda oru varam vendum) and also 
> in another concert he sang a song on Lord Ranganatha(En nenjil paLLi 
> kondavan SriRanga nAyakan and this particular song brought the scene 
> of Ranganatha right in front of my eyes,and I never visited this God 
> for many years,always craved to see Him,and atlast HE made me visit 
> Him). 
> 
> Which text says that Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter temples? Can 
> anyone throw light on this blind spot?
> 
> Sarvam krSNArpaNam astu
> gita  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- SrImatE rAmAnujAya namaH --
> 
>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
> 

-- 
GMX - Die Kommunikationsplattform im Internet.
http://www.gmx.net



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Stock for $4
and no minimums.
FREE Money 2002.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/orkH0C/n97DAA/Ey.GAA/XUWolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

-- SrImatE rAmAnujAya namaH --

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/