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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00011 Feb 2001

 
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In a recent issue of SriRangaSri Vol. I/022
d/02/20/01,
Sri Ramanjua Acharya Swamy from Australia correctly
points out that use of the word "IDOL" is rather
demeaning and insulting. My feeling is that there is
no equalent term in English language. The best term to
use is "Sri Vigraha." This was pointed out by Sri
Prabhpada, and ISKON devotees always use the term Sri
Vigraha. I am not an authority and am a very ignorant
person, but the question is Why not use the proper
sanskrit term? 

In the service of Lord Sriman Narayana and his
devotees, I remain,

Sincerely
Narender P. Reddy
reddynp@xxxx



________________________________________________
"Dear Sir 
Adiyen dasanudasan 
I am a westerner who was given SamAsrayaNam by His
Holiness Yatiraja 
Jiyar Swamigal of Sriperumbudur. Some years back I was
appointed as 
AchArya of the Ten Sampradaya by His Holiness. Here in
Sydney 
Australia we have established a branch of the Yatiraja
Jiyar Matt 
with both Indian and western members, and are having
regular 
programs, Bhagavad aradhanai, upanyasa and
kAlakshEpams, utsavams 
etc. We have jokingly called ourselves "Metgalai"
Sampradaya, because 
there are certain points of the Vadakalai Sam. which
we consider as 
correct and some points of the Tengalai Same of which
are more valid. 
The long -standing conflict between the two branches
of the 
Sampradaya should be bridged, we feel, Swami Desikan
was indeed one 
of the greatest luminaries that appeared post
Bhashyakara, but 
Manavalamamuni was not without greatness and wisdom.
We in Australia 
study the works of both the AchAryas with equal
reverence. 

I have a great regard for your journal but there is
one thing that 
disturbs me greatly being a westerner; - the use of
the word IDOL. 
This is a horrible, pejorative term coined by
missionaries to 
denigrate the practice of ArchA Aradhana - it is a
term of 
colonialism, cultural oppression and religious
imperialism that 
should never be used by us. The correct term to use is
ICON, it is a 
neutral term in modern society and is also the name
which the 
Catholics apply to their own ArchA.
Yours humbly
in the service of Srimannarayana and the prapannas. 
Sri Rama Ramanuja Acharya 
=================================================
I appreciate the spirit in which you have advised the
use of the 
word "Icon" in the place of "Idol". As per the
standard dictionaries, 
both the words are synonymous and nothing pejorative
about the 
word "idol" (Vide "Roget's Thesaurus of English words
and phrases" 
pages 940-941)
The meanings of the word "Idol" are as follows: 
Image, Exceller, Desired object, Person of repute,
Loved one, 
Favorite, Good man, God, etc.
The meanings of the word "Icon" are as follows:
Copy, Image, Picture, Ritual object etc.
You may kindly review with reference to the above and
if you still 
feel that "Idol" may not be used, please feel free to
inform me.
==================================================
His further Comments:
Dear Anbil 
Adiyen Dasanudasan!
Thank you very much for replying to me in spite of
your busy schedule.
I refer to your dictionary definitions. The use of
language is not 
only according to the literal dictionary definitions -
but also 
culturally based. 

I know that in India alone it is very common for
Hindus to refer to 
Archas as Idols. In the west the same Archas in
churches and 
religious establishments are never referred to as
idols but as icons. 
So although this usage is common amongst Hindus and
perfectly 
acceptable - to westerners this is a very negative
term used to 
denigrate, never to appreciate. So in my teaching I
have always found 
it useful to use the culturally based language of the
masses. I teach 
many westerners and whenever they hear this word idol
they cringe. 

If you read the bible you will find this term used
pejoratively 
against the gods of the pagan masses and it states
quite clearly the 
God of the bible hates idol worship and idolaters. So,
Western 
culture is informed by biblical ideas and concepts and
hence the 
discomfort with this term. 

If your magazine and upadeshams are directed only at
expatriate 
Srivaishnavas - there is no problem and my
well-intentioned remarks 
are merely superfluous but if you anticipate reaching
out to western 
readers and potential prapannas - then I think you
should consider 
changing terms. For your interest I am including some
quotes from the 
Bible.
Thank you for your time 
Dasanudasan RamAnuja Dasan

__________________________________________________
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