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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00130 Apr 2003

 
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Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

Dear Shri Vimal,

Here are my answers. "You" is a second person usage as usual and is 
general.

> So, what exactly is your point with respect to
> Varnashrama Dharma (specifically: casteism) in the
> curent day SriVaishnvasim?? Do you say that those who
> are born as SriVaishnavas are definitely superior to
> those who are not but still practise SriVaishnavism??

The "BODY" of one who is born as a brahmana is superior to that of 
others as per the shruthi/smruthi/ithihasam. So, even if a brahmana 
does something wrong, do not criticize him. Whatever mistakes he does 
let him bear it as a consequence in his next births. Shri Vaishnavam 
talks about atma ujjeevanam - self realization. And hence, once a 
person realizes that, does not talk about the caste. BUT, when it 
comes to marriages, it is a better idea to keep the culture in place 
by not indulging in inter-caste marriages(our purvacharyas have 
maintained this). Whether you are a brahmana and a vaishnava and you 
marry a brahmana girl who is not a Vaishnava, it does not matter. A 
true Vaishnava can change anyone and everyone.

> Given that you stick to the importance of
> Varnashrama Dharma, how would you advocate practising
> it today?? Do you advise all of us born in the
> "Brahmin" families to start leading a "vedic" life
> like in the olden days?? May I add that no matter
> what, we all belong to the "fourth caste" for the only
> reason that we are serving people who are not even
> interested in God, but only interested in making more
> money?? 

If one can practise good old vedic life, that would be great! If one 
cannot, be open to accept that it is you who chose to be so. Please 
do not propogate that Shrivaishnavam encourages to drop off 
Varnashrama Dharmam. If you want to mix up all the castes and creeds, 
then please feel free to do so. But kindly don't involve Shri 
Vaishnavam into that. That is all my request is. Vaishnavam is 
realization. When one attains that, one will not see any caste or 
creed. Until one reaches that level it is better to maintain the 
basic integrity of the deha-dharmas to the level best possible say by 
performing one's nithyakarmas(at the least), prabandha recitations, 
maintaining food habits, madi/acharam to the best possible etc.

I will stop with this post(moderator - this is a promise:) on this 
subject. Kindly talk to the appropriate acharyans to find out more 
details.

Yatheendra Pravanam Vandhe RAMYA Jamataram Munim

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan,
Lakshmi Narasimhan




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