PraNaams to all members, Just one other point of different between the Sri and Gaudiya traditions on the gaayatri mantra: I understand that in the Gaudiya tradition the gaayatri initiation usually takes place after initiation as a Vaishnava. In most Iyengar families today, the initiation into gaayatri is performed before at the upanayanam ceremony, and initiation as a Vaishnava (samashrayanam) probably takes place later (although I don't know if it has to be done this way, it just seems to be traditional to do it this way round from what I've seen). My guess is that since Sri Vaishnavam tends to be viewed from the more traditional Indian caste context than Gaudiya Vaishnavam, initiation as a brahmin is seen as very important at a young age (perhaps for social reasons, also according to dharmashaastras it is best to perform upanayanam for brahmin 'born' children between 7 and 16 years). ISKCON on the other hand follow the policy of allowing gaayatri initiation to those who show the requisite brahminical qualities, after sufficiently testing their commitment (I know a Gaudiya devotee who is waiting to undergo his gaayatri initiation - he follows a very strict lifestyle indeed). In many ways I feel that had if I had been asked to follow such strict restrictions before gaayatri initiation as my Gaudiya friend is following, I would have failed dismally! It does seem a bit sad that some 'Iyengars by name' (myself being the worst culprit) in our families almost get gaayatri initiation "for free", regardless of whether they then perform sandhyaavandanam or not, just because of social customs - whereas it is treated with deadly seriousness in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, despite not being restricted to 'birth brahmins'. Certainly I feel that we, the Shri Vaishnava community, owe a great deal of respect to the Gaudiyas for reminding us of the importance of gaayatri in this context. namO nArAyaNAya aaNDaaL tiruvaDigaLe sharaNam with praNAmams, Ranjan --- In ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, pritesh patel <tesh_tel@xxxx> wrote: > > Jai Sri Krishna. > > As far as i am aware only the devotees who are given initaition by a Bonfide Guru can chant the Gayathri mantra. I myself is un- initated therefore i am only elegible to chant the Namo Narayanaya (without the Pranava (om) prefix). I dont know what the view is by Srivaishanvas, but a Gaudiya vaishnava devotee told me that the Gayathri Mantra is very confidential and has great power thus only those who have proper Knowledge given by a Guru should chant it. > > Today the Gayathri mantra is recorded on tape and listened and chanted by everyone, but according to the scriptures this is not permited as it should be confidentialy taught to a trained person. As this mantra is a Great Vedic mantra, one can incure more sin by chanting it in a incorrect way. However the Mantra where the Lords Name is directly chanted (such as Namo Narayanaya, Hare Krishna, Sri Krishna Sharanamma), does not have this effect. We can recall the life of Sri Ramanuja, when he was given the Astakshari mantra (namo Narayanaya), we went to a temple tower ad loudly anounced it to all devotees as every human is permited to chant this maha mantra, However Sri Ramanuja did not announce the Gayathri in the same way. > > Jai Sri Krishna > Hari R <harih13@xxxx> wrote: > Dear All > > Can the respected members let me know your thoughts on the holy Gayatri > mantra. > I try to practise this mantra every day and have experienced certain > helpful results > from the same. Eager to know about the thoughts of fellow practitioners > of this great mantra. > Also, if there are Vaishna texts that interpret the Gayatri, can the > respected members > enlighten me on the same. > > regards, > Hari > -- > Harihara Krishnan > harih13@xxxx > > -- > http://www.fastmail.fm - Accessible with your email software > or over the web > > > > > > Azhvar EmberumAnAr JeeyAr ThiruvadigalE Saranam > http://www.vedics.net > > > > > > SPONSORED LINKS > Bhagavad gita Culture Thirumalai Ways of Successor Sri > > --------------------------------- > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > > Visit your group "ramanuja" on the web. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > ramanuja-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. > Azhvar EmberumAnAr JeeyAr ThiruvadigalE Saranam http://www.vedics.net Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ramanuja/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ramanuja-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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