Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 03:38:16 -0600 From: Madhuri and Mohan <mmsagar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: hokrishna@xxxxxxxxx Dear Sri Krishna, This is in response to your e-mail on SriRangaSri asking for the meaning of the term "Iyengar". Contrary to popular belief, the term "Iyengar" is not a Tamil word, but rather has its origins in ancient Telugu, This language had once been very popular among scholars in South India, because of its larger alphabet and heavy Sanskrit influence. The word seems to have been a derivation of the root "Iy" (pronounced "eye"), which is same root for the number five (Iydhu), which implies the five-fold set of activities that are the center and fundamental foundation of the SriVaishnava way of life. These are: 1. Da:sa - recognizing ourselves to be in the service of those who are in service to the Supreme Being 2. Tha:pa - taking on the symbols of Sankha and Chakra to indicate to ourselves and others that we are the sole property of the Supreme Being 3. Pundra - donning the Supreme Being's Lotus Feet on our head and other parts of our body to indicate that He is our only Protection and Strength 4. Mantra - meditation on the Supreme Being in our heart through contemplation on the Three Great Mantras as gifted to us by our Acharya 5. A:ra:dhana - worship of the Supreme Being in His Form as the Deity in our home and temples It is unfortunate that over the past 100 or so years, the full meaning of this sacred word has been forgotten, and is now just being considered as being a title for a specific subsect of Brahmins. Because, when properly understood, the use of this term can be of deep significance to us in our lives, irrespective of our caste. For a more detailed discussion on this, please click: http://www.srivaishnavan.com/tomcat/srivaish5.html I hope this helps. Mohan ----------------- srirangarAja charaNAmbhuja rAja hamsam srimad parAnkusa padhAmbhuja brungarAjam| sri bhattanAtha parakAla mukhAbhja mitram srivatsachihnna saranam yathirAjameedE|| I pay homage to Sri Ramanuja, the swan who has chosen the Lotus Feet of Sri Ranganatha as his refuge; who is collecting the pollen and nectar from the flower-like feet of Parankusa (NammAzhwAr); who brightens like the sun the faces of Bhattanatha (PeriAzhwAr) and Parakala (Thirumangai AzhwAr), and who is the refuge of Kuresa! Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/.itolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> azhwAr emberumAnAr jeeyAr thiruvadigalE saranam 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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