conversion of agraharam

[nachi naga]

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Sri Dharampal in his book "Beautiful flower", produced some docs belong to the 18th century, which included some of the report on what kind of activity was going on in Agraharams.

Agrahram is originally for a collection of people with particular life style and activities. There were vedic schools, teaching (main profession) and quite in manners and poor. There were many documents reproduced in the same book (not imaginary) which portrays the life in agraharam as recent as in 18th century. There was an instance, whole community abandoned agraharam due to the tyranny of a muslim ruler, and migrated to some other place. (later they returned and the Jamindar had written what type of maniyams were given to the brahmins to continue their vedic learning and koil works which was just sufficient to support their needs. There was not many luxurious things to go after. When they were quite tight to mind their day to day living, where is the time to dominate others. But when the basic culture changed, when they set about finding wealth to satisfy ஆடம்பர வாழ்க்கை, the total setup is changed. Few people stole the identity of entire brahmins. The concept of agraharam, gone with the thrust for different life style. So, now, bringing back the agraharam with "brahmins" will never occur, and due to the brashness, even if such agraharams are established, it will be worse than olden days சேரி.

Few months back, i passed through an agraharam in a village (after Kambarasam pettai trichy). There were old Houses with very small width and enormous length, typical தீப்பெட்டி வீடுகள். After the entrance there was only darkness. And in one of the thinnais few people were leisurely chatting in the afternoon. With a very ordinary வேஷ்டியும் சாதரண சட்டையும். A simple income and satisfied mind is the richest.

Its all in the mind.

In olden days, எளிமையும் உண்மையும் அறிவும் மற்றவர்களுக்கு தீங்கு நினைக்காமல் இருப்பதும் ப்ராமணர்களின் குண நலமாக கருதப்பட்டது. அதனிலிருந்து, பிரழ்ந்தவர்கள், இன்னும் அந்த identityஐ பிடித்து கொண்டிருப்பதுதான் irony.

We are hearing too many times, that the world has changed, the time is changed, we are in 25th century, etc etc..... For that Kavi kannadasan wrote,

வந்த நாள் முதல் இந்த நாள் வரை
வானம் மாறவில்லை - வான்
மதியும் மீனும் கடல் காற்றும்
மலரும் மண்ணும் கொடியும் சோலையும்
நதியும் மாறவில்லை!
மனிதன் மாறிவிட்டான்
மரத்தில் ஏறிவிட்டான்!


Regards

brilliant post sir,especially kavi kannadasan poetry,pramaadum.

 

[pannvalan]

Adhu 'Maraththil yeri vittaan' illai. 'Madhathil Yeri vittaan' enbadhe sari. Here, religious fanaticism is condemned.

Kurangu thaane marathil erum?

 

[pvraman]

adhu 'maraththil yeri vittaan' illai. 'madhathil yeri vittaan' enbadhe sari. Here, religious fanaticism is condemned.

Kurangu thaane marathil erum?

எல்லா படைப்புகளும் படைத்த நிலையில் காரியம் ஆற்றிக் கொண்டிருக்க, மனிதன் மட்டும் தனது ஆறாவது அறிவை உபயோகித்து, மிருகமாகி (குரங்காக) மாறி மரத்தில் ஏறி (இய்ற்க்கைக்கு எதிராக மாறிக்) கொண்டிருக்கிறான்.

 

[rajaramansethuraman]

Kanchi seer opposes religious conversion
KANCHEEPURAM: In what is understood to be a renewed political activism of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Sri Jayendra Saraswati has taken a serious view of what he termed forcible conversions of people in the war-torn Sri Lanka, and is staying in 'close touch' with the happenings in the island nation.

According to the pontiff, the aftermath of a war is always conducive to conversion, particularly to Christianity because the Biblical themes of persecution and exile instantly resonate with them. He is going to oppose "forcible conversions and proselytizing by force, allurement or by fraudulent means," anywhere because it is against the grain of Hindu ethos.

In an exclusive interview, the pontiff said he was going to sensitize Hindus on Indian spirituality and to achieve that end he would organise a padayatra of madhathipathis and sadhus soon.

The 69th head of the mutt said it would be organised under the banner of a newly formed "Mana Matha Ottumai" society and three slogans — Manam Maraathey, Matham Maarathey, Panathukku Assaipadathey (don't change your mind, don't convert, and don't fall prey to lucre) would be popularised.

He said when Sri Lanka was recently trying to enact an anti-conversion bill, he was elated, and then his spirit drooped when the imminent internal strife and subsequent election somehow postponed the legislation.

Recalling his inter-faith meet with Vatican's head for interreligious dialogue, Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, and Mumbai's Cardinal Oswald Gracias several months ago, he questioned if the Roman Catholic Pope could give an assurance to Israel to the effect that "the Catholic Church would desist from all missionary and conversion activities among the Jews" why cannot they take a similar stand in India.

In response to a question, he said he could not fault the Centre, or for that matter the Reserve Bank of India through which funds are routed to frontline NGOs in India which, hand in glove with Christian missionaries, are involved in forceful conversions of the poor Hindus.

Asked what the people who fall prey to the allurement of conversion missed in Hinduism, he listed two reasons: untouchability and caste entitlement. "We do not practice untouchability but the people of other castes within the context of Hinduism do practice that for societal reasons," the seer admitted.

Criticising that neo-Christians are deliberately following the Hindu traditions and rites, the seer said that in Andhra Pradesh, Christians are conducting festivals a la Hindu Urchavam with flag hoisting ceremonies.

He said he would like to describe India as a spiritual country rather than a secular country.