You are here: SriPedia - Ramanuja - Archives - May 2006

Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00114 May 2006

 
May 2006 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


Dear members, praNAmams

     Thank you for the clarification, Sri Rajagopal Kannan swAmin, 
as to what the definition of archakar is and what the distinction 
between the different roles are.  What I was referring to is that 
there were clearly adult males *without* yagnyopaveetam serving 
close to Thaayaar, offering manjakkaappu to the devotees, and if I 
mistakenly called these people 'archakars' then I am sorry for the 
mistake.  Part of this arises from the confusion with my using the 
English word 'priest' to describe a number of different distinct 
temple roles.

     The reaction I was a little saddened by is the assumption that 
other castes are not pure enough to serve close to the deities as 
per Varnashramam.  These people, whether they are called 'kainkarya 
parALs' or 'archakars' or whatever, were close to Thaayaar's 
vigraham and distributing the prasaadam, that is the main thing that 
I meant to convey.  I thank yourself and Sri K.P. Sarathy swAmin for 
clarifying what their roles are.  But I would have thought that in 
traditional varNaashramam, non-dvijas would not be allowed so close 
to the idol because they would be deemed impure? Please clarify.

     Dear Sri Mukundan Pattangi swAmin, I am guessing that the 
specific "mis-quote" of Bhagavad Ramanuja that pained you was mine, 
in which case I am very sorry if that caused you pain, but I would 
like you to clarify what was incorrect with my quoting of Ramanuja 
Gita Bhashya 18:47.  "Doing one's duty...", as per the commentary 
there, does not seem to mention anything about the jobs for 
different varnas or jatis, it seems to talk only about Jnaana Yoga 
and Karma Yoga, as per my reading.  If my quoting of that passage 
has caused you hurt then I am truly sorry, as it is not my wish to 
hurt anyone's feelings.

     I completely understand the concern that those hereditary 
archakar families who are being displaced in the current climate are 
facing tremendous problems and facing losing a livelihood.  I think 
even those of us who have supported the possibility of non-Brahmins 
becoming priests would not doubt that this is a terrible situation 
for those poor Brahmin families - no-one with any humanity would 
wish the loss of livelihood on anyone, brahmin or otherwise.  My own 
great grandfather on my mother's side served as the archakar in a 
temple in Tippur, Karnataka and my grandfather himself was also 
trained in this role before becoming an architect.  So I have no 
desire to be "politically correct" when people's livelihoods are at 
stake, and I am sure those who are favourable to the possibility of 
non-brahmins becoming priests also would not wish such misfortune on 
those poor brahmin families.  I think your charge that we are 
falling prey to the arguments of "non-believers" is a little harsh, 
though.  We are merely expressing a legitimate doubt of ours.

     I would like to illustrate the flip side of the coin with a 
family anecdote.  My father's family hail from one of the Divya 
Desams (which will remain unnamed for now) and knew many of those 
involved in temple affairs (whether they were archakars or doing 
veda parayanam I don't know; suffice it to say they were brahmins in 
close proximity to the Deity on a daily basis).  My father's family 
were close enough to them to know that some of them were regularly 
drinking ***alcohol, consuming forbidden foods and having all sorts 
of extra-marital relations***.  Now *please* before anyone jumps on 
this I am not suggesting *for one moment* that this is the state of 
all brahmins in all temples, which would be a gross bhAgavata 
apAchAram.  I am just telling you the facts in one particular case 
that I know of.  Here is one instance where heredity has not worked 
at preserving the high standards of sampradaayam and shaastram.

     I am no expert on dharmashaastra or aagama to know what 
the "dos-and-donts" are with regard to which jaatis can serve in 
temples.  But when so many "don'ts" are already being commited, 
especially by those who we look up to, I think it is legitimate to 
ask the question "are we losing focus"?  I have no qualification to 
say "we must have non-Brahmin archakas in temples" but when faced 
with the possibility of a sincere, devoted non-Brahmin who is 
willing himself to put in the hours of training, learning and live 
according to the high standards required, we should at least be 
allowed to ask the question, "why not?".  I would suggest that 
accusing us of falling for media propaganda if we ask such questions 
is a little extreme perhaps, and does suggest that we can't think 
for ourselves.

     Lastly as I said, it is my hope that we express compassion 
first and foremost in all our opinions, whichever side we fall on.  
Let us wish the brahmin archakar community well, let us also wish 
well to those of other communities who want to offer sincere service 
in the temple, let us also cultivate a humble attitude of devotion 
within ourselves and our families - perhaps this is really the key 
to how we will preserve our tradition, rather than wasting our 
energy getting upset at the government, the Empire and any other 
past rulers.

sarvAparAdhAn kShamasva
namO nArAyaNAya
Ranjan








------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
You can search right from your browser? It's easy and it's free.  See how.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/_7bhrC/NGxNAA/yQLSAA/.itolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

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/
 



[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
ramanuja-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list