Re: Neo-Hinduism and Traditional Hinduism
Originally Posted by
jignyAsu
Please relax on this topic. Everyone seems to mean the best. I am impressed by your devotion to Sri Ramanuja.
This much said here are some facts:
1. Sri Kanchi Purna - Thirukkachi NambigaL is indeed considered one of Sri Ramanuja's Guru.
2. Sri Ramanuja got His Pancha samskaram administered through Sri Periya Nambigal,who also formally gave Him the Asthakshari mantra. He was a Brahmin as well as Thirukostiyur NambigaL.
3. Sri Ramanuja DID initiate all irrespective of their varna and even outside Varna (Buddhists and Jains). Our recorded history has a lot of such examples; incidents on initiation of Buddhists is even preserved in Melkote. There seems to be a difference on opinion within sect regarding eligibility of uttering the mantra (edited this)
4. This initiation did NOT change their caste at all - nor were they all allowed to chant Vedas (no one had a problem with that as well. But this did not stop Sri Ramanuja to consider Himself to be their servants.)
5. To (over)analyze the caste of SriVaishnavas was considered by Acharyas like Sri Parasara Bhattar (of 11th century) to be equal to digging a Vigraha to find out the material.
6. It is described in Guru Parampara that Sri Ramanuja give out the MEANING of Thirumantram (Astakshari) - to all the "SriVaishnavas" that visited the temple(and not all). Meaning - He was the first one to consider all disciples who had the interest but not qualification (sadhana/penance).
Pranams,
I agree that overanalyzing one's caste background is rather non-devotional. That being said, I only ask to clarify Ramanuja's position and the facts of the matter. Sri Kanchipurna was considered Ramanuja's first "guru." But did Sri Kanchipurna initiate Ramanuja into study of the shruti, or is this more like a "shiksha guru?"
The rest of your comments are pretty much in line with what I had understood of Sri Ramanuja's position.
Philosoraptor
"Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools speak because they have to say something." - Plato
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