The need of the hour is to find a solution to this real problem -
we are all experts in diagnosis - why don't we articulate solutions as
well and go on to implement it
Diagnosis: there are both intra community issues
and extraneous pressures - it is unfair to criticise the current crop of
priests - they have the courage to stick to their vocations
(either of their own choice or due to circumstances!!!) and
able to follow whatever they can to their best ability given
extraordinary limitations - it is very easy for people sitting
outside India or in metros in well paying jobs to postulate
hypotheses - real test is not in 'Gnanam' but in
'Anushtanam'
Current Situation: The vaishnavite mutts have
recognised this problem long time back and doing whatever they can - for
example the veda patashalas in Selaiyur (Chennai), Madurantakam (TN)
have started to equip their students in Maths, English and Computer
Sciences - like wise the veda patashalas run by advaitins are equally
progressive in their outlook. Special mention to the Oriental school run
by Ahobila Mutt in West Mambalam - I recently visited the school - the
students were very well behaved, cultured and talented - the
infrastructure is very poor - the mutt is doing their very best they
can
The problem: Basic problem (vital one though) -
lack of marriage prospect for grooms following 'vaidikha' life
style
Reasons: (1) Not fair to put the blame on the
prospective brides - afterall they are conditioned predominantly by
their parents who fail to impress upon them in the early years the extra
ordinary traditions of our sampradayam (2) Need for survival - monetary
constraints given that society has literally stopped the practice of
supporting genuine brahmins who practice 'vaidikha' life style (3) - the
list goes on
Solution: The veda patashalas are few and far
between and often seen as the last resort of boys from poor families -
the need is to integrate such Veda patashalas in the main stream - that
is encourage schools run by Hindu institutions to have a wing where they
can train brahmin students in vedas as well - Oriental school is a
classic example - but we need many more schools - again schools run by
Mutts will be orthodox and inflexible (for lay men) - that is because
they have to strictly adhere to their code - we can attach Veda
patashalas run by main stream schools where in student need not
necessarily wear say for example - dhotis, shikais etc. - afterall what
is the big deal in external appearance - as Thondardipodi Azhwar says
'Memporul pogha vittu, meymayai migh unarndhu...' - leave the extraneous
considerations and reach for the ultimate truth
Execution: As with all ideas execution is the real
challenge - i welcome ideas and happy to follow up - we shud make sure
that there is atleast one school per major city - we need a system that
enables an interested student to say gain an MBA and as well as become a
Chaturveda Shatakratu - WHO WILL DO THIS: definitely not the
government - it is left to us interested individuals - there are many
many well to do brahmins - if they have the will there sure is a way
out
Result: I am sure as the vedic instruction becomes
mainstream a groom with masters degree and vedic knowledge will be the
most sought after!
Real Life example: I am currently aware of a
family that has voluntarily put one of its child in a veda patashala -
the kid is in his 8th standard - 3 years into yajur vedic training -
also attends mainstream school - kid is the topper in his class
consistently - he says if i can read vedam there is nothing that i
cannot do in this world - his brain is so sharp that he makes very
little effort in his school studies - his parents attribute his
sharpness to the veda classes
SO WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR - IF WE CAN IDENTIFY A FEW SCHOOLS IN
MAJOR CITIES TO BEGIN WITH WE WILL BE DOING THE MANKIND A PHENOMINAL
SERVICE
--- On Mon, 9/29/08, Mohan
<mohan0128@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Mohan
<mohan0128@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [ramanuja_society]
Fwd: Who will marry our priests ? To:
ramanuja_society@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, September
29, 2008, 10:46 PM
Dear Sri Sadagopan, While I can understand and
appreciate Sri Shiva Iyer's concerns, I think we are in a
situation"apples to oranges" in comparingt our priests with religious
leaders of other faiths. This is because Mullahs, priests,
rabbis and ministers serve a much greater role in their respective
communities than our archakars. While I cannot speak for
Mullahs, from my interaction with them, I am certain that priests,
rabbis, and ministers are well-trained not only in rituals, but in the
esoteric meaning of scriptures. They are also taught psychology,
anthropology, ethics and world religion so that can lead their
congregation in finding meaning and solace in the ebbs and valleys of
life. As a result, their education is on par and often times
exceeds that of the laiety. Despite spending up to 16
years studing in Veda Patasalas, how many of our archakars can say
that they are trained at this level? Leaving aside the rest, how
many priests do we know who can teach us Rahasyatrayasaram or Sri
Vachana Bhushanam? This is not to put down our priests, but we
who employ them. It is our lack of interest that makes them lack
interest. We do rituals for rituals' sake, and so they do the
same. The only way that our archakars can regain their respect
is if we set higher standards for ourselves, and in turn, for
them. irAmAnusa adiyEn Mohan
On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 10:37 AM,
Dr.V.Sadagopan <yennappan@computer. net> wrote:
SrI:
Dear Sriman VenkatakrishNan &
Sriman Siva Iyer :
Thanks very much for posting this
important article .
It provides focus on an important area
. Sri Ahobila Matam
and Sri Andavan Aasramam are training
these future scholars
with not only sampradhAyic knowledge
but also modern skills
( Computer skills) that could
increase their employabilty
in the main stream as well , while
rooted in their
Vedic Training . I am sure that other
AchAryAs are giving
serious thoughts to this difficult situation . Our young girls
want to run as far as possible
from qualified Vaidhika
bachelors with tufts (Sikhai) and who can not take them to
the movies & restaurants .
I know one Bruhaspathy , who has fully
trained his son
in performing all the Vaidhika Kaaryams
, while sending
him to school to earn a Technical
degree from an IIT .
His other son is staying in a classical
Veda PaatasAla .
These are real problems needing real
and creative solutions .
V.Sadagopan
-----
Original Message -----
B.C.VENKATAKRISHNAN .
From:
V.M.Ramkumar <vmrk.74@gmail.
com>
Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 2:17
PM
Thought provoking fact in our life........
......
Who will marry our priests
The other day, I had been to a
VEDA_PAATHASHAALA in Kerala, where they impart VEDIC
education in the four Vedas,
esp the YAJURVEDA, with the prime objective of
creating highly trained priests and trained VEDIC
chanters for conduct of various Hindu functions and
rituals.
As a NRI, and also a trained YAJURVEDI myself,
I find lots of peace and solace whenever I'm
able to give back to such great institutions
providing the priests of our great religion who are
important cogs of our faith, without whom we would
all be lost.
I was impressed at the number of young men
training enthusiastically in the Vedas and the chief
old priest welcomed my modest donation. And
then he added with a wry smile.
NRI Hindus like you and other well to do Hindus
in India come here and give us lots of money and
resources for our Vedic school and we are no doubt
indebted to them. BUT NOBODY GIVES US
GIRLS IN MARRIAGE FOR ALL
THIS ELIGIBLE YOUNG MEN HERE, EVEN THE
HIGHEST QUALIFIED PRIESTS..WHY? ? AREN"T THESE YOUNG
MEN NOT GOOD AS ANY DOCTOR OR LAWYER OUT THERE
BY VIRTUE OF EXCELLING IN THE VEDAS, THE ENGINE OF
OUR HINDU CULTURE. WHY DOES OUR SOCIETY GIVE
THESE YOUNG MEN SECONDARY STATUS AND LOOK DOWN UPON
THEIR PROFESSION?? , the old priest
asked and set me thinking.
YES: THE OLD PRIEST WAS VERY RIGHT. WE DO
NOT WANT OUR SISTERS/DAUGHTERS TO GET MARRIED TO ANY
PRIEST EVEN IF THE PRIEST IS WELL QUALIFIED IN THE
VEDAS AND EVEN HAS GOOD INCOME.
EVEN YOUNG HINDU GIRLS, MESMERIZED BY WESTERN
VALUES AND FASHION DO NOT WANT TO MARRY PRIESTS...
WHY???
And immediately my thoughts went to their
counterparts in other religions
and what I see is this:
THE MULLAH, THE
RABBI, THE FATHER, HAVE GOT MUCH MUCH BETTER STATUS
IN THEIR SOCIETIES AND CIRCLES THAN OUR HINDU
PRIESTS. MANY OF THE MUSLIMS FEEL THAT IT IS
THE HIGHEST HONOR IF THEIR DAUGHTERS/SISTERS COULD
GET NIKAAH WITH A MAULVI WELL VERSED IN THE KORAN.
And here I mention my encounter with
a multimillionaire Jewish business from
Australia (where I live) proudly sending his
two sons to Israel to get trained in a Jewish
Seminary where they could choose to become
highly qualified rabbis, should they deem so.
I then asked this businessman as to whether he
would have any objections if his sons became Rabbis
instead of joining him in his business or taking up
other-so-called- made-it occupations. For this
the businessman replied without hesitation: I
WILL BE THE MOST FORTUNATE FATHER IF MY SONS BECOME
QUALIFIED RABBIS."
And then I wondered:
HOW MANY RICH HINDUS WILLINGLY SEND THEIR SONS
TO VEDA PAATHASHAALAS WITH THE SOLE INTENTION OF
MAKING THEM PRIESTS???
THE ANSWER: ZILCH...
AND THIS IS A MATTER OF GREAT SHAME FOR ALL
HINDUS.
AND WE TALK OF SURVIVAL
OF HINDUISM IN BHARAT WHEN WE DO NOT GIVE A DAMN FOR
EVEN OUR GENUINELY WELL QUALIFIED
PRIESTS????
MASTERING THE VEDAS IS
AS PROFOUND AND EVEN HIGHER THAN BECOMING A DOCTOR
OR A LAWYER OR A SCIENTIST...
THERE IS AN IRONIC SIGN
IN Udupi AND IT READS:
HERE PRIESTS AND COOKS
CAN NEVER GET MARRIED!!!
260908
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