--- In tiruvenkatam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Sudarshan K Madabushi"
<mksudarshan2002@xxxx> wrote:
Dear friends/members,
Here is a wrap-up note on the discussions we have all so far had on
the subject. SrimAn Anbil Swamin has summed up the matter really well
with the usual dash of delicate diplomacy.
But I say that all said and done, in the final analysis, as
adherents of the Vedic/Agamic faith, we cannot absolve ourselves of
guilt and responsibility for a certain kind of desecration of our age-
old temples.
When a particular structure or precinct of an ancient temple is
removed or re-located, we will all raise a hue and cry, we will call
foul and lament from rooftops of how the "sAstra" is being brutally
trampled and heritage being mutilated. But when a new "sannidhi" or a
subsidiary shrine for some 'parivara' or 'anya-devata', is quietly
constructed within the "prAkAra" of an ancient temple (in open
defiance of Agamic "sAstra" and under so-called "modern pressure and
compulsion"), we will simply look the other way. To ease our guilt,
we will offer all sorts of specious rationalizations in support of
such construction. And at the end, in the face of the "fait
accompli", and in order to preserve public face and peace, (much like
Sri Anbil Swamin) we will put forth "liberal-minded" arguments in
support of our desecration... But, of course, we will be careful to
couch our words in sweet reasonableness, gracious compromise and
consummate diplomacy.
God save our temples and temple-builders in India and abroad!
On the Tiruvenktam list, let us treat this subject as closed and move
on to other topics.
Regards,
dAsan,
Sudarshan
****************
--- In SriRangaSri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Ram Anbil" <Ramanbil@xxxx> wrote:
Dear Bhagavatas,
DESIGNER TEMPLES
It is a recognized as an inalienable dictum that Mumukshus (those
desirous of mOksham) should not engage in Anya Devata worship. It is
also a recognized and indisputable fact of life that in the USA (with
the solitary exception of the Sri Ranganatha Temple at Pomona) a
mixed bag of deities have been installed in the various temples. In
India also, too much of this mixing up has come up and keeps coming
up - a mix up of Sannidhis for Bhagavaan and Anya Devatas. In fact,
this trend has come to stay with newer additions in the recent past
(including Sannidhis for Ayyappa and other Devatas). In Buffalo, one
can see Sannidhis for Buddha and Jaina, both of whom were naastikas
who repudiated the Vedas! Once, I have seen even Jesus Christ being
displayed in the Hare Krishna temple at Wheeling!.
All these may be due to societal compulsions.
THE PROBLEM
The problem, however, is nothing new. Even among Divya Desams such
mixing up
is seen. For example, in Thiruchitrkootam (sung by many Azhwars like
Periya Azhwar, Kulasekara Azhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar), Sannidhis
of Govindaraja and Nataraja are seen side by side from the very
beginning. (Let us not delude ourselves by the claim by some
overzealous Srivaishnavas that Nataraja came to be superimposed by
some Shaivite Sthala Puranam subsequently!)
Similarly, in Kanchipuram, the Sannidhi of Nilaa Thingal Thunda
Perumal otherwise known as Chandrachooda Perumal (sung by Thirumangai
Azhwar) is enshrined within the Sannidhi of Ekambareswarar.
THE SOLUTION
The solution can be gleaned from what these Azhwars did under similar
circumstances. They seem to have been obviously oblivious of this
factual mix up.
Like Arjuna who saw only the bird perched on the branch of the tree
and not either the branch or the tree, these Azhwars had their
concentration riveted on
Bhagavaan and nothing else. They saw Bhagavaan and sang His praise;
they
were practically blind and deaf-mute about who stood at the various
other Sannidhis and what obtained in their surroundings.
AGAMAS:
I raised this question during the Agama conference held in Madras
University as to which Aagama sanctioned such mixing up of temples.
I was told by the Aagama experts there that there was absolutely no
sanction in any Aagama for this practice. But, other devatas can be
installed as Parivara devatas around the Pradakshina praakaarams and
elsewhere. That is why we find images of these deavatas in VishNu
temples, like Ganesa at the entrance of Tiruvallikkeni Parthasarathi
temple.
I do not know if the converse practice is in vogue wherein VishNu is
installed as a Parivara devata in the temples dedicated to other
devatas and if so under what scriptural basis.
WHAT WE CAN DO?
The mixed temples have become the "fait accompli" and perhaps, we can
do nothing about it. All that we can do as "Paramikantins" is to
ignore these other Sannidhis and offer our worship to ONLY Bhagavaan
and Bhagavaan ONLY.
By "ignore" I do not mean "showing disrespect".
- As all beings are the Sareeram of Bhagavaan, as much as we
ourselves are, we cannot disrespect any of them. Will you keep quite
if somebody hurts your body?
- As all beings are the children of Bhagavaan, as much as we
ourselves are, we cannot disrespect any of them. Will you tolerate
anyone who abuses your children?
- As some of them may be VishNu bhaktas, we should not indulge in
Bhaagavata apachaaram which is considered to be more heinous than
Bhagavad apachaaram.
In fact, there can be no greater VisNubhakta than Lord Siva (when he
is dominated by Sattva guNa)
A prapanna while offering obeisance to Bhagavaan will not take
cognizance of other Devatas any more than of a mannequin in a
departmental store, before which no one would stand and pray
for "Moksha".
Since Bhagavaan can grant all the other wishes also as a bonus
(anushangikam), Paramaikantins have NO NEED to pray to other devtas.
So, if you are a "Paramaikanti", go straight to the PerumaaL
Sannidhi, offer prayers and come away. You need not feel guilty for
not visiting devatantara sannidhis. This is the way our Azhwars have
shown us and let us follow their example.
IT IS IN THE BEHOLDER'S EYE!
Ultimately, it is in the beholder's eye that these Vaishamyams seem
to loom
large or fade into nothingness, as the case may be. This vanishing
trick was
remarkably pronounced in the case of the Azhwars. And, we have to
draw a
lesson from this.
Let us develop the right attitude and enjoy the worship of our Lord
wherever
He is enshrined.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
--- End forwarded message ---
--- End forwarded message ---
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