Dear Sri TCA Venkatesan: Your position is quite understandable and not altogether unexpected. But, I think claims of insertion in 3000 padi, etc. can be viewed as motivated. Let us just stick to facts. It is a fact that recognized and traditional Vadakalai vidwans unanimously affirm the authenticity of the 3000 padi pramANam that was provided in support of Swami Sri Pillai Lokacharya's authorship of the Thaniyan. I know Thenkalais do not accept this, but at least among Vadakalai vidwans there is unanimity about this. It is in this sense that I enquired whether there was unanimity among Thenkalai vidwans about Swami Sri Desikan's authorship of the referred Pancasat. I have now received private e-mails indicating that this is not so. This claim is not universally accepted by all the Thenkalai vidwans. Particularly, it has not been accepted by a noted Thenkalai vidwan who is well known for grantha publications. IMHO, each side should respect the other's considered opinions in these matters, and, each side should also admit that their view in these matters is just their position and the other side may not accept it. They must not then try to "prove" to the other side why their view is more authentic, etc. What would be the point of that? All the proofs have been offerred and countered a million times over. Neither side is going to be persuaded by the other side. The best thing for us to do is to live and let live. The two kalais have much in common, but we cannot start to celebrate this until we can respect our differences and accept them as they are. If we try to out do each other (e.g. my acharya is better than yours), or try to deny the legitimacy of the other side (e.g. your acharya actually belongs to my sampradayam, your sampradayam did not even exit more then xxx years ago), we have a bright future in acrimony. -- dileepan
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