Dear Happy Hindu,
Smirti is just a law.Laws has been written by man. Laws are subject to change to time , place and person.I am aware of caste in the Smirti point of view.I would not want to call a law ,scriptures.
I am also aware of the classification of varnas of anuloma/pratiloma type.
I myself am one born from a kshatriya father and brahmana mother.
I consider myself a hindu.
I dont attached any importance to my caste as it will not last.
It will perish when I perish.
I rather concentrate on God.
Even in a democratic with constitutional Monarchy government in Malaysia any law is subject to change if there is 2/3 majority in the parliament.
Laws are not eternal.Laws are perishable.
Smirti is not the word of God.Its is the word of man.
Did any avatar preach it?
Avatars never preached discrimination.
Only man preached discrimination.
For all practical purposes I rather concentrate on the word of God and not the word of man.
The 4 mahavakyas of the Vedas do not mention caste.
Ayam Atma Brahma
Prajnaanam Brahma
Aham Brahmaasmi
Tat Tvam Asi
Dear Happy Hindu,
I saw the link about Adi Shankaracharya you posted.
God comes to show us our errors and misconceptions.
Do you really think AdiShankaracharya did not know about what the so called Outcaste told Him?
It was all just role play.
God works through multiple ways.
AdiShankaracharya was just showing the world that no matter how learned one is he can still have prejudices and make wrong judgements.
He was also showing to us that knowledge can be in anyone and can be learnt from anyone regardless of his origins and everyone should be given respect.
After all isnt AdiShankaracharya the incarnation of Lord Shiva?
Didnt Lord Shiva learn the Pranava from Lord Muruga.
Lord Shiva had earlier shown that age is no bar when it comes to giving knowledge.
As Adishankaracharya He was showing the world that bodily caste is no bar to giving and having knowledge.
Anyway the video here is a little different.
I thought the original story goes that the so called Outcaste had 4 dogs with him which represented the 4 Vedas .
Anyway the actor was kind of cute.
You speak my mind Renu.
However, please understand that to brahmins of a particular kind, smrithis are eternal laws, unchangable, applicable in all yugas and divine in nature. And that is what some mutts propagate. And to others who understand later-day central asian mlechha origins its an irony.
You are indirectly attacking both Kanchi mutt and followers like me. I have understood your statement. Go ahead. No problem
The prob is that some particular 'brahmins' do not recognize something called "change in laws" nor they they recognize that indians exhibit a genetic continum of tribes converted into castes, with every recent community being a mix of old tribes plus showing genetic inflow into their population groups.
Changes are happening every where. Please read the following article. Changes are happening in Kanchi Mutt also.
The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Kanchi Acharya first pontiff to mingle with Dalits'
So far, God has never abused man, but man has abused man in the name of God.
Addition:
Btw, i suppose you will like the manisha panchakam very much which came to Adi Shankara impromptu during the chandala incident. http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_pdf/manishhaa5.pdf
You speak my mind Renu.
However, please understand that to brahmins of a particular kind, smrithis are eternal laws, unchangable, applicable in all yugas and divine in nature. And that is what some mutts propagate. And to others who understand later-day central asian mlechha origins its an irony.
Surprisingly those who take the puranas as divine, overlook the bhavishya purana which says that the mlechhas will rise in the kaliyuga. One particular angle of this rising is really ironical for those who view that angle in that way too.
The prob is that some particular 'brahmins' do not recognize something called "change in laws" nor they they recognize that indians exhibit a genetic continum of tribes converted into castes, with every recent community being a mix of old tribes plus showing genetic inflow into their population groups.
So far, God has never abused man, but man has abused man in the name of God. By god's grace, these things are not widely prevalant. Its just that it causes a few social POVs. Which affects the society as a while. And looking at the social probs these things create, it is sort of sad.....but what to do, it is the kaliyuga of adharma.
Addition:
Btw, i suppose you will like the manisha panchakam very much which came to Adi Shankara impromptu during the chandala incident. http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_pdf/manishhaa5.pdf
dear all,
I just want to relate an incident that took place when I was in Puttaparthi sometime back.
A prominent and eminent speaker was giving a talk on mantras etc in front of Sathya Sai Baba.
I was listening attentively as the speaker was really learned and his talk was very enlighting.
when he came to the portions of some mantra being coined by certain rishis he started identifying himself with a particular rishi and said that he is from that particular rishis gotra.he repeated this a couple of times.
I was quite suprised to hear this because he was addressing an international audience in the presence of Sathya Sai Baba and despite being so learned he was still identifying himself with his caste and gotra.
A few minutes after what he said Sathya Sai Baba had started to leave the audience(actually He was going into the Prashanti Mandir) but the crowd thought that Sathya Sai Baba was leaving the place and the crowd started leaving the hall.
The speaker was going on talking despite the audince leaving.
And at that moment Sathya Sai Baba decided to come into the hall again and the crowd noticing Baba coming in again rushed into the hall.
This time the speaker started stammering a little.
I wonder if the speaker realised that the audience only wanted Sathya Sai Baba and were not interested in his lecture and his gotra/caste made no difference to them.
The Bhakta only seeks God and nothing else.
You are indirectly attacking both Kanchi mutt and followers like me. I have understood your statement. Go ahead. No problem
Dear Happy Hindu,
Thanks for the manisha panchakam. nice to refresh my memory from time to time.
It does not really matter to me if anyone wants to believe that any law is eternal.
I was just giving my personal opinion on how I would like to interprate my own Religion.
I dont want to blame any Brahmin or Mutt in this.
It would just go to show that I still practice discrimination if I blamed anyone.
It does not matter to me if anyone else sees everything as different but I just hope to maintain I can see all as One.
After all even Christians and Muslims also believe their laws are eternal.
For them only those of their own faith are saved and the rest are destined to be consumed by flames in Hell.
Tell me in this world who does not discriminate?
Many of us have not reached the state Of Dvanda Teetham and Triguna Rahitam
Sri.Anand,
Now that Sri.Dr.S.Ramanathan had not responded, I shall talk about my post in detail.
Sri.Dr.S.Ramanathan said
"....All of them require intergroup support for harmonious living in a society. At the same time, they require harmonious blending of body and mind for a healthy living.Thus, a Brahmana, who does very little physical activity,is symbolised by the mananam and uchchadanam done by his mukham, the intonations, pronounciations, Jadai,Ganam etc. Since this alone will not be enough physical exercise, heis adviced various yogas. Due to male chauvanism, when the yogas were discouraged for the ladies ( imagine Urdhwamahathandavam for Parvati?), Bharatamuni brought in the culture of Mudras anbd the dances for them.Since they dont do much exercise, frugal food was adviced for them and the need for material comfort was also less.Thus, the mouth was symbolic of the Brahmins or vice se versa.
You require a strong pair of arms to protect your clan and hence the arms represent the Kshatriyas....".
in that above assertion, I honestly do not see anything that a society would desperately need from brahmins. A society would need protection, trade and cultivation and all the work related to that. Time and time again I was told that brahmins taught all the other three varnas their related trade by the way of vedas. I could never agree to that. Majority of the Brahmins essentially did not get their hands dirty. I know, a minority of brahmins literally worked in the farms; took up arms etc. they were only exceptions. (I do not bring out an example that I would not do, by the way).
My example is far from trivial. When a vulnerable patient requires such services, possibly that patient's mobility would be compromised (due to extensive injuries; after a major surgery etc). More often than not such persons would likely have an in dwelling catheter (a tube inserted into the bladder to drain the urine into a bag). if such a person gets wiped in the wrong way (towards the genitals), or towards a wound, then that person would readily develop infections. this phenomenon was extensively studied; most efficient method was developed (The method includes psychological well being of the patient. You may imagine the distress one would go through if one is placed under such situation). Products were developed to protect the care provider and the patient from any kind of infections. It is huge subject in any hospital ( I don't know about Indian Hospitals though). Many research had been conducted on this subject. I just wanted to let you know that it is not trivial subject.
Cheers!
Dear Sri Raghy,
The development of the products and the knowledge about them that you are talking about is EDUCATION and this is achieved by interactive study between the teacher and the student, often the student at a higher questioning pedestal. This is the duty of Brahmana as a Varna and as distinct from Brahmin as a caste. I hope I am clear.
The Acharam, conventions etc have all the time changed and are changing. The only permanent thing in this world is CHANGE.
The Dalits and other backward classes have significantly improved in their status, education, etc, in pockets and in certain families. Unfortunately, the curse of Reservation has made them develop a "Railway passenger mentality",preventing others from entering in. If economy rather than caste status is the guiding factor for reservation, the country would have been better off long time back. The "Haves" wanting to "Have More" all the time, is indeed the curse.
Let me go back a little.In the early part of last century, the Justice party was in ascendancy. This helped uplifting certain castes, as a whole in Tamil Nadu, Andhra and to a lesser extent in Karnataka.Shortly after independence, a couple of other communities attained dizzy heights. There was no reservation for these communities then. They do not clamour for reservation either.But, after Reservations were introduced,have we seen upliftment of community as a whole or only of a few individyuals and their families only?. The caste fight and promotion is being carried out by these persons only for their political end and not by the Brahmins and much less by the Brahmana varna.
Regards and Respects,
Ramanathan.
present day youth have no one to guide them , or answer their queries.Even about their nithya karmas every one should perform, is not clear and doubts in the mind of our youthSri.Anand,
Kindly refrain from apologising, please. There is no need. As I mentioned earlier, I am in full support for a caste brahmin to perform his nithya karmas. I am prepared to stand guard for him in case of any disturbances. I am not against that at all. But, he should contribute in a quantifiable fashion. Lots and lots of brahmins do that in the present age. I was talking about brahmins of bygone era. Every caste brahmin who is contributing to the society should feel proud. Performing nithya karma, pooja punaskarams are his personal rights. Actually such personal rights (which are not offending anyone) should be protected. That is my opinion.
Cheers!
Caste based reservations has divided the society instead of uniting it.
Dear All,
Why in scriptures they keep some innocent people as outcast when they distributed all kind of jobs to the 4 Varnas.
Please include birth based reservations in religion in the above too...
Infact that's where it all begins (and actually ends as well).
Atleast the government is not assigning "spiritual' value to its reservation system.
`Legal' has become more relevant than `spiritual'.
Mahatma Gandhi said `God has no religion'. So I didn't include religion.
All the best
"Legal" does not hold true for institutions that promote caste discrimination in the name of dharma.