Hinduism and Brahmins

[kumarskanda]

Share:

Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Share Link

If we look at Society in a bird's eye view, there are religions, non believers, and believers in human and social values respecting both. If we take all as God's creations, then Our Hinduism is part and not a whole of GOD's WORLD. But still we particularly feel that Vedas are supreme and belong to whole universe. We, including me, find immense pleasure in chanting Vedas or upanishads. I feel that apart from the mere external truth there are immense features attached to our vedas which we have not comprehended yet. Those who have comprehended have not expressed outside to the world. Are there any brahminical or Hinduistic researches made pervading the whole universe not confining to Hinduism or simply this universe.?

 

[HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA]

Hinduism is new coinage of term before that there is no name. some of the cultural practices were practiced by whole world before the advent of neo religions. please read London swaminathan posts .please also read mahaperiVals deviation kural .those who have comprehended taught to others in guru shishya parampara till now.

 

[sangom]

If we look at Society in a bird's eye view, there are religions, non believers, and believers in human and social values respecting both. If we take all as God's creations, then Our Hinduism is part and not a whole of GOD's WORLD. But still we particularly feel that Vedas are supreme and belong to whole universe. We, including me, find immense pleasure in chanting Vedas or upanishads. I feel that apart from the mere external truth there are immense features attached to our vedas which we have not comprehended yet. Those who have comprehended have not expressed outside to the world. Are there any brahminical or Hinduistic researches made pervading the whole universe not confining to Hinduism or simply this universe.?

Shri kumarskanda,

First let me tell you that I hail from a vaideeka Tabra family. I am 72 years old. I started my life as a young tabra believing all that you say about vedas, upanishads, etc. But then I had very little knowledge of sanskrit and whatever was taught (like purushasooktam, rudram, chamakam, mahanyaasam, panchaadi, udakasaanthi mantram, etc.,) was reproduced in those sing-song fashion which used to give a sense of having pleased the God (deity) in question and thus having gone one more step towards the divine.

But doubts started in my mind at some point in life and questions like—

1. Is hindu religion anything special or is it just yet another religion?

2. If the vedas are for the whole world, why did not God see to it that all the people got the vedas and followed one religion?

3. What exactly is the function of religion in human life?,

etc., started coming up in my mind again and again. One reason for this was, I think, I was a "frog-in-the-well tabra ambi" till I got an all-India job. When I went and lived in different parts of the country, I found, to my surprise that there are good people and bad people in all classes/castes/religions etc. Ironically, I found that people who were outwardly very religious, often proved to be highly untrustworthy people as well. This sort of made me think about the role of religiosity in the personality.

After my retirement I started learning a little bit of sanskrit and also our scriptural books after I could find enough money to own a desk top PC. This study has continued for nearly twelve years now. While my sanskrit knowledge is meagre even now, I am able to read and decipher the meanings of most verses with the help of dictionary, commentaries by reliable authors including western scholars, etc.

I tend to agree with you in your statement that "Those who have comprehended have not expressed outside to the world." But in my view the various religious heads, swamijis, pravachanakartas, etc., either did not bother to dig deep into the scriptures and were contend to regurgitate whatever their gurus had taught them or, they kept silent about inconvenient aspects of our various scriptures. But if you diligently search, you will find that here and there one person who is really an authority has come out in the open and conveyed the reality of our religion/scriptures for the benefit of the world.

I will suggest to you the following two books authored by Agnihotram Ramanuja Thathachariar, who was an authority on Yajurveda and also a very close friend of the Kanchi Acharya Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi :—

1. இந்து மதம் எங்கே போகிறது? (intu matam eṅke pokiṟatu? - whither goes the Hindu religion?)

2. சடங்குகளின் கதை (caṭaṅkukaḷiṉ katai - the story of some religious rites)

A reading of these books is likely to tell you whether hindu religion is for universal welfare, or otherwise.

 

[kumarskanda]

thanks a lot and definitely i also felt the same ie. the gurus are confining themselves to preserving ideals and not into dwelving deep to do research and bring more contribution to humanity which may keep Hinduism on top in world. Ofcourse Dharma does not need any advertisement but Humanity is the loser if more and more truth of the same is not brought outside.

 

[sangom]

thanks a lot and definitely i also felt the same ie. the gurus are confining themselves to preserving ideals and not into dwelving deep to do research and bring more contribution to humanity which may keep Hinduism on top in world. Ofcourse Dharma does not need any advertisement but Humanity is the loser if more and more truth of the same is not brought outside.

Shri Kumarskanda,

The swamiji's who are heading the various mutts (maṭhams) do not have any authority to reinterpret any of our scriptures; they simply reiterate whatever their lineage, (smarta, vaishnava, thenkalai/vadakalai, etc.) Acharyas had told. Unfortunately the Shankara maṭhams believed to have been established by AdiShankara to propagate the advaita philosophy, also appear to practice the dvaita system of worship in their day-to-day routine and their involvement with advaita is confined to publishing books and perhaps taking part in learned discussions/debates with scholars of other schools of thought and so on. They seem to justify this dichotomy between their role envisaged in acting as beacon centers of advaita philosophy and adopting a daily routine fashioned like dvaita system, by citing Adi Shankara's statement that for persons who have not obtained realization of Brahman (ब्रह्मन्), and coming under the delusion caused by māyā, the concepts such as īśvara, worship of īśvara, etc., are the methods to achieve brahmajñāna. The net result is that none of the
maṭhams have become agents of reformation in Hinduism to any significant level. All that these maṭhams do at best, is to comply with the common Law requirements of the country and hence, it is the Government of free India which has become the major change-agent and initiator of reforms in Hinduism, AFAI can see.

The exact meaning of the word "Dharma" can be very confusing at most times; here, it seems you have used this to mean "Hindu Dharma" which, when shed of embellishments, will stand for Hindu Religion and its precepts, I feel. Please correct me, if this is not so. Personally, I believe that all religions are of the same class or variety; if Hindu religion is more valuable to me, it is merely because I was born into a Hindu family and have been brought up to believe that its tenets alone are true, while those of the other religions need not be so. But, if a dispassionate analysis is made of the role played by religion in human society, it will be seen easily that religion functions as a source of social unity, promotes welfare of the society, enables (to varying degrees) social control, controls the way of economic growth in the society, etc., apart from its main role as a medium between Man and the unknown. It is, however, the last characteristic which is of most relevance today since temporal powers have been taken over by different kinds of popular governments, religion being concerned only with the "spiritual" aspects and not the temporal ones. (Of course, there are some countries which are religion-based states.)

In regard to the spiritual side, almost all religions function as the medium between human understanding and things which seem inexplicable to such human understanding for the present. Religions in this respect claim to be the arbiters and the priesthood in each religion is considered to be the spokespersons for the unknown and mediators between the unknown and Man. While some religions have heir priesthood on the lines of government service, in Hinduism the role of priesthood is dispersed widely and there is no clear-cut structure. Barring one or two such differences, the Hindu religion is in no way radically different from other religions if we take a holistic or overall view, imho. Therefore, I am unable to agree with your view that "Humanity is the loser if more and more truth of the same (hindu dharma) is not brought outside."

 

[prasad1]

What is the incentive for the Mutts and Mttadipati to reform? If they preserve the status quo they mint money, and keep the followers. If they are radicals and want to make social changes they will be replaced or loose their sponsors.

In my opinion as long as there is a following these mutts will prosper and maintain the age old "traditions".

 

[sangom]

What is the incentive for the Mutts and Mttadipati to reform? If they preserve the status quo they mint money, and keep the followers. If they are radicals and want to make social changes they will be replaced or loose their sponsors.

In my opinion as long as there is a following these mutts will prosper and maintain the age old "traditions".

I am not challenging your view, but some at least of these matham heads command so much respect and implicit belief from large sections of their followers/disciples, that if they spearhead some reforms which are suited to the needs of the changing times, I am sure these mutts will attract some of the followers from other (rival?) mutts. That will increase the money flow and prosperity of the mutt. But ironically all these mutts appear to be engaged in a reverse-walking race!

 

[prasad1]

I am not challenging your view, but some at least of these matham heads command so much respect and implicit belief from large sections of their followers/disciples, that if they spearhead some reforms which are suited to the needs of the changing times, I am sure these mutts will attract some of the followers from other (rival?) mutts. That will increase the money flow and prosperity of the mutt. But ironically all these mutts appear to be engaged in a reverse-walking race!

I am convinced that sometimes the reverence and respects are misplaced on these so called "religious leaders". If they were in a respected professional field they would not be qualified. A physicist, biologist, brain surgeon has to prove themselves, and have to accredited by their peers. In religion a glib talker and a Vesham is enough.

 

[manoharkumar]

In religion a glib talker and a Vesham is enough.

Dear Prasad Sir, but do you feel that with these attributes they can last long? We have seen in out present times that so called guru's & swamijis have been exposed!! Real guru, or swamiji will not need these glib talking and Vesham!! We have enough examples of such great ones also.

regards & cheers.

 

[kumarskanda]

if the matadhipathi decides then he can atleast bring out some benefits for the humanity by dwelving deep into vedic studies

 

[sangom]

Dear Prasad Sir, but do you feel that with these attributes they can last long? We have seen in out present times that so called guru's & swamijis have been exposed!! Real guru, or swamiji will not need these glib talking and Vesham!! We have enough examples of such great ones also.

regards & cheers.

Those exposed have gone beyond the boundaries of Law and have been "caught", so to say. But if one takes account of the innumerable swamijis, gurus, babas, godmen/godwomen of all varieties, it will be found that the Vesham and some ability to quote some Sanskrit passages from here and there, will be more than sufficient to gather millions of followers. If the so-called guru can do some "miracles" like regurgitating an idol, sivalingam, etc., or produce vibhuti from closed hand, then such a person will be considered as even GOD himself. I knew one bright young bank executive who sincerely believed that his godman (one like this) would not die except when that Godman himself wanted to, but when this guru died an ordinary human death, this poor fellow was shell-shocked and he also died soon, in the prime of his age, due to a massive heart attack!

 

[Raghy]

Those exposed have gone beyond the boundaries of Law and have been "caught", so to say. But if one takes account of the innumerable swamijis, gurus, babas, godmen/godwomen of all varieties, it will be found that the Vesham and some ability to quote some Sanskrit passages from here and there, will be more than sufficient to gather millions of followers. If the so-called guru can do some "miracles" like regurgitating an idol, sivalingam, etc., or produce vibhuti from closed hand, then such a person will be considered as even GOD himself. I knew one bright young bank executive who sincerely believed that his godman (one like this) would not die except when that Godman himself wanted to, but when this guru died an ordinary human death, this poor fellow was shell-shocked and he also died soon, in the prime of his age, due to a massive heart attack!

Sri. Sangom Sir, Greetings.

I had the opportunity of meeting one of these 'Swamis'. One elderly person brought the Swamy to our place; my wife offered them coffee. Sawmy wanted to conduct a 'pooja' at our home. We declined with thanks. So, off they went to a nearby house; I went with them. There, the lady of the house agreed for the pooja. Swamy produced an idol of Ganesh out of no where, installed it in her pooja place and conducted a small pooja. After $100 offering and after light snacks, Swamy left. In a few minutes the lady found that the Ganesh idol was missing! She was searching frantically every where... I suggested her to contact the elderly person who brought the swamy.. to check if they took it back.. sure enough, that idol was taken back by the swamy when that lady was not watching! A cool trick earned him $100!

Cheers!

 

[prasad1]

Dear Prasad Sir, but do you feel that with these attributes they can last long? We have seen in out present times that so called guru's & swamijis have been exposed!! Real guru, or swamiji will not need these glib talking and Vesham!! We have enough examples of such great ones also.

regards & cheers.

What percentage of speeders are caught, 10% may be 20%? But rest of the 80% got away, it does not mean they are not guilty.
I am not saying all religious leaders are fakes. Some of them are teachers, and do not claim to be anything else. They may wear the professional Garb, but are not trying to cheat people. There is another set who are ignorant, and you see them in all places of pilgrimage and are begging for alms, they are not even glib talkers.
A set of them are professional cheats, and have perfected the art of glib talking to swindle people out of their money. These con artist are as phony as $3.00 bill, but gullible people adore them and shower them with money.

So there is various striation of "religious leaders". None of them is involved in social uplift of the society.
I am not getting into an argument with you by naming any personal gurus.

 

[sangom]

Sri. Sangom Sir, Greetings.

I had the opportunity of meeting one of these 'Swamis'. One elderly person brought the Swamy to our place; my wife offered them coffee. Sawmy wanted to conduct a 'pooja' at our home. We declined with thanks. So, off they went to a nearby house; I went with them. There, the lady of the house agreed for the pooja. Swamy produced an idol of Ganesh out of no where, installed it in her pooja place and conducted a small pooja. After $100 offering and after light snacks, Swamy left. In a few minutes the lady found that the Ganesh idol was missing! She was searching frantically every where... I suggested her to contact the elderly person who brought the swamy.. to check if they took it back.. sure enough, that idol was taken back by the swamy when that lady was not watching! A cool trick earned him $100!

Cheers!

Dear Raghy,

Some 50 years or so ago, one ordinary fellow who seemed to be a tabra in Kaashaayam, used to come to my friend-cum-cousin's house, once in a while (making good use of the gullibility of my cousin's father). This person used to carry a rather heavy jute bag (which was very common in those days, with the provision stores people). His stay in my cousin's house used to be for a week or such, never for long time and he rarely, if ever, depended cousin's house for food, except the morning coffee.

Once this person came after a long time. Then my cousin enquired of him as to why he did not turn up for an inordinately long time. The answer given was not very satisfactory. Somehow my cousin got a doubt about the bonafides of the person and tried to "follow" the activities of this fellow, with the help of some of his friends. It turned out that this fellow was visiting the houses of very religious-minded folks and impressing them by "materializing" small objects like idols of different deities, saaLagraamam, Sivalingam, rudraaksham, garland ostensibly made of Tulsi beads, etc., etc. Then my cousin one day decided to face the fellow with one or two friends as witnesses. When his jute bag was inspected, a very good stock of the materials he was 'materializing' were found inside. Fuller questioning made the person admit that he used to get stocks of such small items from Nasik, Varanasi and some other places and that he had methodically practised this art of 'materializing' objects from a small, road-side magician somewhere in Maharashtra! That was the end of his visits.

My cousin suspects that it is this same person who later became a very well-known Acharya and has installed a so-called "Peetham", etc., and has made crores worth of assets. May be this is true.

 

[sankara_sharmah]

I am sad to point out that Tamil Brahmins have become mainly followers of God Men/God Women. The God man who performs miracles is GOD. Where is the question of Advaita, Dvaita or anything else in such a situation?

Tamil Brahmins seem to want only Avatharas. Sankaracharya is reduced to an Avathara od Dakshinamurthi. Then you have God women who are Avathras of Devi.

Ramakrishna movement is now reduced to worship of Sri Ramkrishna as an Avathara. Sri Ramakrishna is GOD.

Since Godmen who are Avatharas are popular every one is eager to join the crowd.

 

[sugavani]

In my opinion as long as there is a following these mutts will prosper and maintain the age old "traditions".

 

[vijay_sivasubramanian]

What is the incentive for the Mutts and Mttadipati to reform? If they preserve the status quo they mint money, and keep the followers. If they are radicals and want to make social changes they will be replaced or loose their sponsors.

In my opinion as long as there is a following these mutts will prosper and maintain the age old "traditions".

Mr. Prasad sir,

Just a small question: Which part of India are you from? You seem to have bad experiences with Mutts and "Swamis". My opinion here is that there are "good" and "bad" everywhere and it is for us to take the "good".

Also, I believe that there are certain duties which a Guru of a Mutt has to perform and is bound by that. Maybe there is a deeper meaning that you are missing here.

I can only recall reading an incident that happened when both Kanchi Mahaswami and Ramana Maharishi where living. The incident happened when Kanchi Mahaswami visited Thiruvannamalai. Do try and look it up whenver you can.

All I can say is that keep that allow that window to be open just a bit, there is a just a slight chance for the cool breeze to flow in

Regards
Vijay

 

[zebra16]

Tamil Brahmins seem to want only Avatharas.

You mean all Tamil Brahmins??

Sankaracharya is reduced to an Avathara od Dakshinamurthi.

Do you mean Dakshinamurthi was inferior to Sankaracharya, that the status of Sankaracharya is reduced by equating Adi Sankara with Dakshinamurthi as his avatar?.

 

[zebra16]

Shri Kumarskanda,

Unfortunately the Shankara maṭhams believed to have been established by AdiShankara to propagate the advaita philosophy, also appear to practice the dvaita system of worship in their day-to-day routine and their involvement with advaita is confined to publishing books and perhaps taking part in learned discussions/debates with scholars of other schools of thought and so on.

What in your opinion should they be doing instead?

They seem to justify this dichotomy between their role envisaged in acting as beacon centers of advaita philosophy and adopting a daily routine fashioned like dvaita system, by citing Adi Shankara's statement that for persons who have not obtained realization of Brahman (ब्रह्मन्), and coming under the delusion caused by māyā, the concepts such as īśvara, worship of īśvara, etc., are the methods to achieve brahmajñāna.

Are they wrongly citing Adi Sankara's statement that one has to worship Isvara etc. when one is under the influence of Maya and when one is an ajnaani? Or are they mis-interpreting Adi Sankara's teachings? What is your opinion?

I have not heard anyone disputing that Adi Sankara installed the murthi of Sri Sarada in Sringeri Matham. Why would Adi Sankara go about installing Sri SaradAmbal, if its pooja was not to be done on daily basis.

Further taittiriya upaniSad in SiSyAnuSasanam advises the young vedic student returning to his house to follow the conduct of a knowledgeable person (excplained as a Srotriya and brahma-nishta in advaita circles) in his conduct of Dharma when he is not clear about doing or not doing a particular thing. Should not the Acharyas of Sankara maTham setting the standards for their followers? Where they are wrong, in your opinion?

 

[sangom]

What in your opinion should they be doing instead?

In my view, these Shankara Mathams (those four mathams stated to have been established by AdiShankara; I am not including the fifth one which has got itself included in that list, nor any of the innumerable Shankara Mathams of large and small sizes which we find in various parts of the country today) should ideally have their heads doing "nididhyaasana" or deep contemplation about the nature of the Self. These Ashrama may, if the finances are available, build large halls which will help large numbers of adherents/followers to practice such deep contemplation and thus strive for self-realization or ātmajñāna. May be admission to such exercise or course is vetted by a group consisting of the head Acharya and a few others who are adepts in this field of spiritual exercise.

These mathams should concentrate in bringing out publications relating to Shankara's advaita. All available accounts of Shankara's life state that He made use of the daśanāmī order of mendicants and prescribed the minimum level of spiritual attainment required of a sanyasi to adorn the Gaddi of each of the four mathams. But this is being interpreted today to mean that the Acharya has laid down what honorific title/s can the head of each matham prescribe for himself! These mathams should, imo, train willing candidates to take up propagating the real advaitic tenets among the people who repose faith in the matham and its acharyas.

On the contrary, what we find is that these mathams do hardly any work for spreading "advaita" but whatever they do is not qualitatively any different from what a temple like Tirupathi, for example, is doing. Worship of God in different forms is widely propagated, the messages are intrinsically helpful for the dwaita point of view. More, the Acharya's birthday is celebrated with lot of expenditure; why should a sanyasi bother about his birthday?



[QUOTE]Are they wrongly citing Adi Sankara's statement that one has to worship Isvara etc. when one is under the influence of Maya and when one is an ajnaani? Or are they mis-interpreting Adi Sankara's teachings? What is your opinion?[/QUOTE]

I have tried to locate the exact place where Adi Shankara has said so, but so far I have not been successful. All I have found is second-hand references only, not the Acharya's very words. If an ordinary person who is afflicted by the ill-effects of Maayaa is allowed to worship Isvara, pray to that Isvara and do many things which will fit in into the dvaita scheme of worship and philosophy, is it not tantamount to saying that for ordinary people dwaita is the best and advaita is not for them? I cannot imagine that a brilliant intellect like that of AdiShankara who challenged many adversaries and defeated them all for establishing his advaita philosophy throughout the length and breadth of the sub-continent in his life time would have unwittingly nailed the coffin of advaita, figuratively speaking, by propounding such a theory.

Either the mathams are misinterpreting deliberately because they themselves do not know what the life-style of a true advaitin ought to be, or, these mathams which might have started their existence in a very different form, have been compelled by later developments like Ramanuja's philosophy or the Dwaita philosophy of Madhvacharya, to compromise on many issues so that adequate followers are available. Most smarta, advaitin tabras follow a daily routine prescribed by the Dharma Sastras which were written during the Poorva Meemamsa time and these are identical to what the vaishnavites (Visishtadvaitins) and the dvaitins also meticulously adhere to. Hence these Shankara Mathams do not seem to have done any significant contribution towards the spread of advaita as such.

I have not heard anyone disputing that Adi Sankara installed the murthi of Sri Sarada in Sringeri Matham. Why would Adi Sankara go about installing Sri SaradAmbal, if its pooja was not to be done on daily basis.

Further taittiriya upaniSad in SiSyAnuSasanam advises the young vedic student returning to his house to follow the conduct of a knowledgeable person (excplained as a Srotriya and brahma-nishta in advaita circles) in his conduct of Dharma when he is not clear about doing or not doing a particular thing. Should not the Acharyas of Sankara maTham setting the standards for their followers? Where they are wrong, in your opinion?

Shri Zebra sir,

No one obviously will dispute the story of Adi Shankara installing the murthi or idol of Saradambal, for two reasons, imho. 1) they may not have any valid evidence to the contrary to disprove this notion, and 2) people, in general, like to have such places of worship of idols, i.e., Temples. Simply an Asramam with a sanyasi will not attract ordinary people to Sringeri.

But, there is a belief that what AdiShankara originally installed in Sringeri was an idol of the goddess made in Sandalwood, which became very deteriorated and so when Vidyaranya was the head, this new idol was installed. Is it not possible that idol worship at Sringeri started only during Vidyaranya's time? And the story of the sandalwood idol, just a piece of convenient imagination?

Srotriya means one who is well-read in Sruti or Vedas. I agree that the Acharyas of Shankara Mathams should set examples/standards for their followers, and if we take your Taittireeya context seriously, only when the follower gets a doubt as to what is his right duty (karmavicikitsā) or about what is appropriate action (vṛttavicikitsā). Srotriya does not come here but only sammarśinaḥ brahmaṇāḥ are referred to. But should not the Shankara Mathams set an example for the contemporary problems? Let us for the moment forget about advaita, dvaita, etc. Should not a tabra going to office at fixed time and returning only in the evening, get a ready example from these mathams as to when and how he should do maadhyaahnikam daily? when and how to do amaavaasyaa and other tarpanams of the 96 prescribed annually? Should he follow the example of the matham and do his devapooja in an elaborate way just as the Chandramoulisvara pooja is done by the Acharyas? Should he take leave of absence on the days of Sraaddha and the previous day (upavaasam)?

Obviously, neither the Acharyas themselves nor the other sammarśinaḥ brahmaṇāḥ/ Srotriyas attached to the Mathams are able to set the standards for the people in general. They follow their own anachronistic lifestyle and expect that the gullible crowds look upon them as holy objects of worship and adulation. I doubt very much whether AdiShankara had only this much in his mind, and, if yes, how he envisaged to spread his advaita philosophy.

 

[sankara_sharmah]

You mean all Tamil Brahmins??



Do you mean Dakshinamurthi was inferior to Sankaracharya, that the status of Sankaracharya is reduced by equating Adi Sankara with Dakshinamurthi as his avatar?.

I meant that you have reduced Sankaracharya to the level of a God Man all of who claim to be Avathatras. Sankaracharya was not one of the God Men.

BTW Avathara is a Vaishnavite concept. Shiva and Devi do not take human Avatharas.

 

[ozone]

While the primary purpose of establishing these matams were to spread the advaita philosophy, that each matam was given a specific mahavakya ( that could be my understanding only) could imply the larger purpose of communicating the essence of vedas ( which essentially would be the same)
I dont think it was envisaged that all of the general population would run to the matam to seek Brahma/Atma vidya and be mumukshus.
Even at that time this learning was not imparted to everyone and only to those that have strictly adhered to the prescribed qualifications and acquired Brahma vritti.
So, I believe there was a social side to the expectations of these matams where they help the general karmanishtas also lead a 'spiritually meaningful or rather conducive' life. In that aspect they acknowledging Ishvara to be a brahma swaroopam I feel is not contradicting or negating the advaita thinking. Till such time one is able to understand and realise Brahman, visualising him in a form is a prescribed way. Without this the karma side would only decline which would not help but only further keep people away from seeking the knowledge.
The matams are in a dilemma I feel as regards to providing guidance to people adapting to current ways of eking a living. No prescribed ways are going to apply universally and any prescription would be questioned and asked to be justified. If you approach them individually and if they find you to be sincere, they might give you a guidance, but their honest advise should be to give up what/how you are currently doing and follow exactly what your ancestors were doing - which I think would not be comforting or practical.

 

[prasad1]

What do we expect the Matadapati to be?
In religion we get, what we think we want. There are people who are either have the position "given" to them or smart (in a crooked way) to get our want and act to the part.

There are very rare leaders who can buck the trend and have the courage to show the path.
Adi Sankara, Kabir, Nanak are rare individual.

 

[sankara_sharmah]

These Maths were established to spread the Smarta religion and not Advaita. They were most probably established by Madhava Vidyaranya patron saint and high priest to Harihara Raya I and Bukka Raya I, the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 13th century. He is the author of Sarva Dharsana Sangraha. Most important fact is that he is the author of Sankara Digvijaya on which we base Adi Sankara's life story. A book written about 500 years after Adi Sankara's death.

It is worthwhile reading about the reconstruction of Adi Sankara's history in the 1920 and 1930s and the controversies surrounding it. How corroborative evidence was lacking and how we arrived at an official version. One of the important points to note is that the Namboothiri community seems to have migrated to Kerala only around 1100 A.D. Kanchipuram was one of the contestants for the birth place.

 

[sankara_sharmah]

In this forum many members repeatedly wonder why the Sankara Mutts do not initiate social reforms. They expect that the Mutts should do it. Many non-Brahmin groups have also expressed such an opinion.

This assumption is basically wrong. Sankara Mutts are religious organizations. Religious organizations are not for carrying our social reforms. There are many Brahmin Gurus who personally do not believe in the caste system. But they do not speak up against it. They are religious Gurus and not social reformers.

Two of the popular religious Gurus who tried social reform were Sri Narayana Guru and Ramalinga Adigalar. Ramalinga Adigalar is almost forgotten and Sri Narayana Guru has been reduced to a caste leader.

We are all aware of what happened in the Kanchi Mutt in 1987. How the social activities of Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal led to a crisis. Even now not all the Tamil Brahmins approve of the social activities of the Mutt.

If the Sankara Mutts preach social reforms a number of Tamil Brahmins will leave the Mutts.