[Sri Vaishnava] Samasrayanam (Pancha Samskaram) do's and dont's?

[JR]

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Namaste,

I am interested in knowing what are the do's and dont's if one gets Pancha Samskara done for initiation into the Sri Vaishnava order. My mother told me that when you have it done, you cannot eat outside food as in restaurants. What other constraints does one have to observe? Is daily aradhana of family deity important (can't miss a day)?

Thanks,

JR

 

[Vaagmi]

Namaste,

I am interested in knowing what are the do's and dont's if one gets Pancha Samskara done for initiation into the Sri Vaishnava order. My mother told me that when you have it done, you cannot eat outside food as in restaurants. What other constraints does one have to observe? Is daily aradhana of family deity important (can't miss a day)?

Thanks,

JR

1. Samasrayanam is just becoming a Sri Vaishnava. As a vaishnava you are supposed to take a vow not to do things which are prohibited and so cause displeasure to Sriman Narayana. You are supposed to do things which will please Him.

2. Eating food cooked by others is avoided because we believe that the food gets contaminated by the thoughts of the cook. Also we are supposed to avoid rajasic and tamasic dispensation as far as possible to be sAtvic. Food helps us in this.

3. At the time of samasrayanam, the Acharyan teaches you ArAdhana of SrimanNarayana. The ArAdhana is to be performed daily. If you are unable to do daily there are simplified methods to do it taking minimum amount of time. Sampradhaya recognizes that it is the sincerity that matters and not the elaborate rituals. Consult your Acharyan and he will tell you how to do the ArAdhana.

There are no other constraints except that you should practice ahimsa and live a life free from vices.

 

[JR]

Thank you very much, Sir.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

1. Samasrayanam is just becoming a Sri Vaishnava. As a vaishnava you are supposed to take a vow not to do things which are prohibited and so cause displeasure to Sriman Narayana. You are supposed to do things which will please Him.

2. Eating food cooked by others is avoided because we believe that the food gets contaminated by the thoughts of the cook. Also we are supposed to avoid rajasic and tamasic dispensation as far as possible to be sAtvic. Food helps us in this.

3. At the time of samasrayanam, the Acharyan teaches you ArAdhana of SrimanNarayana. The ArAdhana is to be performed daily. If you are unable to do daily there are simplified methods to do it taking minimum amount of time. Sampradhaya recognizes that it is the sincerity that matters and not the elaborate rituals. Consult your Acharyan and he will tell you how to do the ArAdhana.

There are no other constraints except that you should practice ahimsa and live a life free from vices.

What about worshipping Lord Shiva and other Saivite Gods? You have conveniently omitted that line.

 

[JR]

Oh yes, I have read elsewhere that one should practice Mahavishwasam to Sriman Narayana and stick to worship of just Vaishnava deities. As such being a Vaishnava, I do not worship Shaivite deities doing my nitya-aradhana, but doing pilgrimages on the way if there are Shiva temples, do visit them and bow down to the Lord. Also do Ganesh Chaturthi at home. I wish to know if these are allowed or not. I asked someone knowledgeable, and he said by Mahavishwasam, it means I can bow down to any deity, except that I do not ask things of him/her and even if I do, ask for more devotion and knowledge to Sriman Narayana. I want to know if this view is right. Owing to this reason only, I thought Samashrayanam is not do-able for me...

 

[Vaagmi]

What about worshipping Lord Shiva and other Saivite Gods? You have conveniently omitted that line.

If you have any doubt about worshipping Shiva you should address that question to a saivite and not to me. It is a doubt of a srivaishnava about the method of worshipping Srimannarayana which was answered. there is no place for Shiva there. There is no convenience or inconvenience involved there in it. There is only mischief in the question there. LOL.

 

[Vaagmi]

Oh yes, I have read elsewhere that one should practice Mahavishwasam to Sriman Narayana and stick to worship of just Vaishnava deities. As such being a Vaishnava, I do not worship Shaivite deities doing my nitya-aradhana, but doing pilgrimages on the way if there are Shiva temples, do visit them and bow down to the Lord. Also do Ganesh Chaturthi at home. I wish to know if these are allowed or not. I asked someone knowledgeable, and he said by Mahavishwasam, it means I can bow down to any deity, except that I do not ask things of him/her and even if I do, ask for more devotion and knowledge to Sriman Narayana. I want to know if this view is right. Owing to this reason only, I thought Samashrayanam is not do-able for me...

Samasrayanam is just about a ritual in which you are initiated into Vaishnavism formally by an Acharyan. Saranagati is different. Saranagati has mahaviswasam as a prerequisite. A vaishnavite understands well that all the deities are just convenient avatars of srimannarayana for easy worship by a devotee. Thus any deity-Amman, Siva, Muruga, Ganesa, etc., have as their antaryami Srimannarayana. so they are worshipable as such. That is they should be worshipped as Srimannarayana and not as Devi, shiva, muruga or ganesha. Saranagati when done to a higher ultimate authority will lose its meaning if every authority around is worshipped asking for this and that. Vaishnavites who believe in Srimannarayana as the one and only ultimate God do not go to other deities for anything like when you are a friend of the all powerful king you do not bow before a minister or the guard at the gate. This is without any malice to any one's faith. If one believes in shiva fully I do not find any need for him to worship any other deity including that of srimannarayana. A rose by any other name will smell as sweet.

 

[JR]

Great post, Vaagmi ji! Thanks. Now I see the difference between Samashrayanam and Saranagati.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

If you have any doubt about worshipping Shiva you should address that question to a saivite and not to me. It is a doubt of a srivaishnava about the method of worshipping Srimannarayana which was answered. there is no place for Shiva there. There is no convenience or inconvenience involved there in it. There is only mischief in the question there. LOL.

Why are you dragging Saivites here?

Since you are categorical about food and aradhana, you should have also informed him about the choice of deity, which you did only in the subsequent reply. I think, you people are not bold enough to say that you will not give importance to other Gods.

I raised this question only to tell the Pseudo Vaishnavites (followers of Sankara Mutts) the real position.

Thank you.

 

[Vaagmi]

Why are you dragging Saivites here?

Since you are categorical about food and aradhana, you should have also informed him about the choice of deity, which you did only in the subsequent reply. I think, you people are not bold enough to say that you will not give importance to other Gods.

I raised this question only to tell the Pseudo Vaishnavites (followers of Sankara Mutts) the real position.

Thank you.

Dear Chandruji,

I know where you stand in these matters. It was a conversation between two vaishnavites. I choose not to get drawn into bigotry and street fighting. I would also carefully avoid coming in the way of the holy cows of this forum. LOL. Be happy wherever you are. all the best.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Dear Chandruji,

I know where you stand in these matters. It was a conversation between two vaishnavites. I choose not to get drawn into bigotry and street fighting. I would also carefully avoid coming in the way of the holy cows of this forum. LOL. Be happy wherever you are. all the best.

Sir,

Questioning does not mean street fighting. Anyhow thank u for yr wish.

 

[sangom]

Why are you dragging Saivites here?

Since you are categorical about food and aradhana, you should have also informed him about the choice of deity, which you did only in the subsequent reply. I think, you people are not bold enough to say that you will not give importance to other Gods.

I raised this question only to tell the Pseudo Vaishnavites (followers of Sankara Mutts) the real position.

Thank you.

Vaishnavites especially the old folks never attended any social functions like marriage, first birthdays, seemantham, etc., even in their neighbours' houses in the agrahaaram, during my younger days. Instead only the younger members used to be sent to attend such functions in non-vaishnavites' houses. On enquiry, I was then told that those Iyengars were prohibited from even entering our (smartha saivite brahmanas) houses because we are Siva worshippers. (I was told that these youngsters had to take bath, change poonal and do some special pooja to Perumal in the "Thevisai" in their houses, to atone for the sin of having eaten from a saivite's house!) Similarly, I have observed that no Iyengars, including the younger people, used to bow down before the Siva temple at the end of the street even when passing in front of it. One staunch Iyengar collegemate explained to me once that Siva was an evil demi-god like Chaatthan, Esakki, MaRuthai etc., and Iyengars will not worship Siva and saivite gods including Ganapathy, Murukan etc.

I am confused by Shri Vaagmi's broad-minded views; is JR being misled into the evil non-vaishnava path?

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Vaishnavites especially the old folks never attended any social functions like marriage, first birthdays, seemantham, etc., even in their neighbours' houses in the agrahaaram, during my younger days.
I am confused by Shri Vaagmi's broad-minded views; is JR being misled into the evil non-vaishnava path?

How were Iyengars allowed to live in Agraharams. Were they not meant only for Iyers, considering the name?

What do u mean by broadminded views?

In the early 70s, when K V Jagannathan (KEE VAA JAA) was the editor of Kalaimagal, he published story about Saivite Vaishnavite wars.

In one story: a Chettiar was talking to an Iyengar in his house. The child in the house obliged nature's call (two bathroom). The Iyengar asked the Chettiar to pour some Vibhuthi on the human waste. The Chettiar shot a reply and told the Iyengar to call Vishnu in Varahara (Pig) avatara to clean it. LOL

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Vaishnavites especially the old folks never attended any social functions like marriage, first birthdays, seemantham, etc., even in their neighbours' houses in the agrahaaram, during my younger days. Instead only the younger members used to be sent to attend such functions in non-vaishnavites' houses. On enquiry, I was then told that those Iyengars were prohibited from even entering our (smartha saivite brahmanas) houses because we are Siva worshippers. (I was told that these youngsters had to take bath, change poonal and do some special pooja to Perumal in the "Thevisai" in their houses, to atone for the sin of having eaten from a saivite's house!) Similarly, I have observed that no Iyengars, including the younger people, used to bow down before the Siva temple at the end of the street even when passing in front of it. One staunch Iyengar collegemate explained to me once that Siva was an evil demi-god like Chaatthan, Esakki, MaRuthai etc., and Iyengars will not worship Siva and saivite gods including Ganapathy, Murukan etc.

I am confused by Shri Vaagmi's broad-minded views; is JR being misled into the evil non-vaishnava path?

Human psychology seems to the extremely complicated.

Dalits are being harassed, tortured, not allowed to enter temples etc. But, there is no strong resistance from them.

If the elders in the Iyer community in the Agraharam knew full well the tendency of Iyengars, why were they invited for functions? Each religious group has its own customs and conventions; and the group has every right to follow it. When Iyengars think that Shiva is not God, which happens to be the presiding deity of Iyers, then Iyers should not mingle with Iyengars for religious functions. They should be treated like Christians and Muslims; as they don't approve Hindu Gods.

Similarly, despite Iyers knowing that there are lot of dissimilarities between Iyers and Iyengars, Iyers inviting, participating with Iyengars in religious functions is quite baffling. Iyers must avoid Iyengars for religious functions to maintain the separate identity and SUYA MARIYADHAI. This is a sheer nonsense.

 

[JR]

How were Iyengars allowed to live in Agraharams. Were they not meant only for Iyers, considering the name?

What do u mean by broadminded views?

In the early 70s, when K V Jagannathan (KEE VAA JAA) was the editor of Kalaimagal, he published story about Saivite Vaishnavite wars.

In one story: a Chettiar was talking to an Iyengar in his house. The child in the house obliged nature's call (two bathroom). The Iyengar asked the Chettiar to pour some Vibhuthi on the human waste. The Chettiar shot a reply and told the Iyengar to call Vishnu in Varahara (Pig) avatara to clean it. LOL

Dear Sir,

Shall we not ridicule our devatas in such a manner? I find this joke quite an insult to either faith, be it Shaiva or Vaishnava. Even if such a joke existed, it need not be publicized by us because ultimately it looks back/stares at us as if to taunt to our otherwise good intentions.

(I am a staunch Vaishnava who likes Lord Shiva and offers naivedyam to Shiva everyday in my worship).

Thanks & Regards,

 

[JR]

Why are you dragging Saivites here?

Since you are categorical about food and aradhana, you should have also informed him about the choice of deity, which you did only in the subsequent reply. I think, you people are not bold enough to say that you will not give importance to other Gods.

I raised this question only to tell the Pseudo Vaishnavites (followers of Sankara Mutts) the real position.

Thank you.

It is not that we are not 'bold enough', but the right phrase would be to say 'we are sensitive enough and mindful enough' that we do not name-call devatas, whosoever they be, or offend any bhagavata, even if they are devotees of who is 'Anya devata' to us. True Vaishnavas do not mud-sling on any bhagavata or offend their feelings towards their bhagwan! I believe Vaagmi ji and myself to be 'true Vaishnavas'!

Thanks & Regards,

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Dear Sir,

Shall we not ridicule our devatas in such a manner? I find this joke quite an insult to either faith, be it Shaiva or Vaishnava. Even if such a joke existed, it need not be publicized by us because ultimately it looks back/stares at us as if to taunt to our otherwise good intentions.

(I am a staunch Vaishnava who likes Lord Shiva and offers naivedyam to Shiva everyday in my worship).

Thanks & Regards,

Madam,

The above narration is not going to undermine anything.

It was published in a magazine edited by the noted tamil scholar KEE VAA JAA, who was a student of TAMIZH THATHA. There were couple of narrations also under the above caption. This incident covers how serious were people following different faiths. The question of staunch or liberal does not arise here. Probably, you are unable to digest the immediate retaliation.

What would be the reply if an Iyer was there instead of a Chettiar? He would have kept quite. That is probably what you want.

 

[JR]

No, honestly I could neither withstand the idea of holy ash (vibhuti) being sprinkled on human waste nor Varaha avatara being asked to clean it with his mouth.

It is neither Iyer or Iyengar or Chettiar in the message -- it is Lord Shiva, Sri Varaha and 'human waste'.

(When advaitin scholar, original guru of Srimad Ramanujacharya compared the Lord's eyes to that of monkey's bottom, tears rolled out of Srimad Ramanujacharya's eyes.).

I hope you understand.

Thanks & Regards,

 

[sangom]

Human psychology seems to the extremely complicated.

Dalits are being harassed, tortured, not allowed to enter temples etc. But, there is no strong resistance from them.

If the elders in the Iyer community in the Agraharam knew full well the tendency of Iyengars, why were they invited for functions? Each religious group has its own customs and conventions; and the group has every right to follow it. When Iyengars think that Shiva is not God, which happens to be the presiding deity of Iyers, then Iyers should not mingle with Iyengars for religious functions. They should be treated like Christians and Muslims; as they don't approve Hindu Gods.

Similarly, despite Iyers knowing that there are lot of dissimilarities between Iyers and Iyengars, Iyers inviting, participating with Iyengars in religious functions is quite baffling. Iyers must avoid Iyengars for religious functions to maintain the separate identity and SUYA MARIYADHAI. This is a sheer nonsense.

Chandru Sir,

I am talking of one agrahaaram in the Trivandrum of the late 1950's. In the house on the opposite row was a very orthodox Iyengar family. We were living in rented houses in those days and we had known this family from one of our earlier rented houses (an outhouse kind of small dwellings, four or five in a large compound, the central mansion occupied by the owner); this family was then living in the large Bungalow opposite to ours and they were living very luxurious lives. Some years later when we came to the said agrahaaram house, the old lady had been widowed and we presumed that perhaps the death of her husband had affected them and they had to shift to the (large, by our standards) agrahaaram house owned by her late husband and which had been rented out earlier.

There was this lady and another old man, her younger brother along with the old lady's 3 sons, one daughter and DIL; but the widowed lady and the old man never used to attend any functions in smartha houses although they could be seen in functions in Iyengar houses!

In Trivandrum those days, the Iyengars were relatively few and they used to own/live in agrahaarams mostly full of smarthas; it was 'live & let live' perhaps, I don't know. One of the Iyengar Vaadhyaars in those days also lived in one such agrahaaram and since he was a saamavedi, our Vaadhyaars used to take him for most functions to chant Saamavedam.

What I wrote is from my observation of the Iyengar family opposite to our house and also the general "news" which used to be there and also from interactions with one or two Iyengar friends after I went to college.

 

[Vaagmi]

Vaishnavites especially the old folks never attended any social functions like marriage, first birthdays, seemantham, etc., even in their neighbours' houses in the agrahaaram, during my younger days. Instead only the younger members used to be sent to attend such functions in non-vaishnavites' houses. On enquiry, I was then told that those Iyengars were prohibited from even entering our (smartha saivite brahmanas) houses because we are Siva worshippers. (I was told that these youngsters had to take bath, change poonal and do some special pooja to Perumal in the "Thevisai" in their houses, to atone for the sin of having eaten from a saivite's house!) Similarly, I have observed that no Iyengars, including the younger people, used to bow down before the Siva temple at the end of the street even when passing in front of it. One staunch Iyengar collegemate explained to me once that Siva was an evil demi-god like Chaatthan, Esakki, MaRuthai etc., and Iyengars will not worship Siva and saivite gods including Ganapathy, Murukan etc.
I am confused by Shri Vaagmi's broad-minded views; is JR being misled into the evil non-vaishnava path?

There is nothing narrow minded or broad minded about my views. They are just facts as they are.

I usually keep away from such conversations in this forum because the freedom of expression here is limited by the vital interests of sacred cows of the forum which are untouchable by a vaishnavite. But Sangom sir being a different kind of individual I believe his doubt is genuine and so I tend to explain. Moreover I don’t expect Sangom Sir to go to admin with a complaint that his religious belief and sensibilities have been grievously hurt after reading whatever I write here. And finally, I just do not care if this post is removed by the moderator. I have split the presentation into two so as to reduce the reading fatigue.

Part 1 of the 2 part presentation:

Srivaishnavam is a vedic religion and hence believes in vedas being the ultimate truth. Sri vaishnavam draws its metaphysics, philosophy etc from vedas. So whatever I write here about Srivaishnavam has its base in Vedas.

Srivaishnavam is a religion which has its basic principle that SrimannArayana is the sole paramAtman and there is no second or equal to HIM. They have their philosophical base in the visishtadvaitam which cogently presents an argument in favour of that paramAtman being a saguna brahmam or a kalyAnagunArnavam (meaning: a sea of all auspicious and desirable qualities). As I explained in some other thread in this forum Srivaishnavam has in its tenets a belief that paramatman exists in five forms. They are 1. antaryAmi 2. paravAsudeva 3. vyuhavatar 4. vibhavavatar and 5. archavatar.

As said in the vedas and upanishads (which are part of vedas) it is very difficult to place the God entity within the coordinates of any defining space. But human beings who are capable of only visualising things within defining coordinates for easy understanding, tend to define God with whatever equipment they have in their possession. As saivam says "ஒரு நாமம் ஓருருவம் ஒன்றும் இல்லார்க்கு ஆயிரம் திருநாமம் பாடி நாம் தெள்ளேணம் ......." it is just a matter of convenience to give a form and figure to the difficult-to-perceive entity called God and God also comes to be present in these idols and vaishnavites call them the archAvatAr. It is like a child singing நிலா நிலா வா வா. As this kind of idol worship of a kalyAnagunArnavam is deliberately done fully knowing that God is not an entity which can be captured by human minds, there is nothing stupid or laughable about it. These facts lead us to the conclusion that Iyengars have solid logical reasoning behind their 5 states of God's existence. The antaryAmi state is the one which is nearer to the state in which other major religions of the world see God. God pervades everything in the universe and beyond is the meaning of this antaryAmi state.

Now let us get back to the vaishnavam's belief that this God is a kalyAnagunArnavam-meaning: a repository of all good and noble qualities that human beings can think of or know. This same God is there in Sri Vaikuntam which is his abode in the form of paravAsudeva which is reached ultimately by all aspiring jeevatmas with His grace. The same God is there in the form of vuhavatar (this is a little complicated to explain in the limited space here. It is enough if we understand that it is the state in which he is realized by yogis through the practice of yoga.) The same God came down into this world in the form of Nrisimha, SrivarAha, Sri Krishna, Sri RAma etc., (besides the 10 well known DasavatAr there are many other avatArs also in which God came down to the world).

 

[Vaagmi]

Part 2 of the 2 part presentation:

Having accepted the principle that God can be just only one and cannot be many vaishnavites believe in worshiping that one and only God. They have accepted the name Srimannarayana for that God. If any other group of people want to call the only God by any other name they have no problem with that. But if they have multiple Gods each equally powerful and great or each for granting a particular wish, they would call it poly-theism and would not accept that belief system as vedic. There are groups among Hindus who would accept many Gods and worship all of them with equal fervour. Vaishnavites consider this as blasphemous. This is the reason why vaishnavites do not worship any God other than Srimannarayana or his avatArs. This is the reason why they do not have names which are other than that of Srimannarayana/Lakshmi and their avatArs. Even if they worship other deities when they come in procession in the street to their house in an agraharam (it would look odd if you close your house and remain indoors if the deity comes through your street on a procession) they do it keeping in mind the fact that their Srimannarayana as the antaryAmi of that God head is worshipable. They just worship the antaryAmi srimannarayana in that deity. And this is the reason why they do not go to temples where Srimannarayana is not the principle presiding deity.

Srivaishnavites have two important ritualistic ceremonies. One is samasrayanam and the other is saranagati or prapatti. Samasrayanam is the ceremony through which one is made a vaishnavite even if he is born to vaishnavite parents. Saranagati is the ritualistic performance of surrender before God with the help of an Acharyan. In both these rituals Acharyan plays an enabling role. Every vaishnavite is supposed to go through these two rituals (while vadakalai faction has two separate ceremonies, the thenkalais have comnbined these two into just one) in his life time at the earliest. But some people postpone them and remain a “non-vaishnavite” for long. These people take advantage of the lose discipline and eat any thing from anywhere and worship any God including Abrahamic God entities. Those who have made the final surrender of saranagathi are called prapanna and they are steadfast in their bhakti towards Srimannarayana. They meticulously avoid everything that can come as hurdle in their spiritual path. It is these people who avoid food from outsiders, avoid going to temples other than that of Perumal etc., and are invariably misunderstood by other Brahmins.

A devout vaishnavite prapanna never takes food from anywhere else other than his house or his close relatives’ house. He does not accept food even from another vaishnavite unless he knows the family well. He does not take food when he attends a marriage unless the food is cooked by vaishnavite cooks. This strict adherence to a principle is misunderstood by others and hence a vaishnavite prapanna excuses himself from taking food in a marriage house by giving health reasons or any other non-controversial reason.

It would only be nice and proper on the part of other people to leave vaishnavite prapannas to follow their belief system without interfering into it in any way. While we enthusiastically support minorities in preserving their religious faith and practices, we should extend the same benefit of peaceful coexistence to the vaishnavites. That will add shreyas only to these “others”. For a long time I had been wanting to write abou this here. Thanks to Sri Sangom sir for presenting this opportunity.

Let us not bother about any iyengar who refuses to pray to a Shiva, who refuses to eat in a saivites house, who refuses to name his children with names like Subrahmanyan, Sivakumar, Natarajan etc., Let us live with what we believe in and let him live with what he believes in. There is nothing superior or inferior in this whole exercise. A rose by any other name will smell as sweet. Similarly God (not Gods) by any name (not names) will remain just God.

 

[Vaagmi]

1.How were Iyengars allowed to live in Agraharams. Were they not meant only for Iyers, considering the name?
2.Similarly, despite Iyers knowing that there are lot of dissimilarities between Iyers and Iyengars, Iyers inviting, participating with Iyengars in religious functions is quite baffling. Iyers must avoid Iyengars for religious functions to maintain the separate identity and SUYA MARIYADHAI. This is a sheer nonsense

Chandruji,

1 and 2 above creates a doubt in my mind. Are you a brahmin? Just touch your conscience and answer yes or no depending on the truth.

If you do not want to answer me you need not. It will still be ok for the forum and for me.

 

[renuka]

I believe Vaagmi ji and myself to be 'true Vaishnavas'!

Thanks & Regards,

Dear JR,

I too believe Vaagmi Ji is a True Vaishnava..in fact he is like Narada.

Narayana..Narayana!

 

[renuka]

Dear JR,

You used the word True Vaishnava..can there be a Pseudo Vaishnava?

I dont think so isnt it?

One drop of Lord Vishnu is so potent that it makes everything pure.

Remember the story of Ravan where he was asked why didnt he take the form of Lord Rama an approach Seeta?

To which he said if he were to take the form of Lord Rama..he will become like Rama.

So you see technically a Pseudo Vaishnava can not exists..Yad Bhavam Tat Bhavati.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

1.How were Iyengars allowed to live in Agraharams. Were they not meant only for Iyers, considering the name?
2.Similarly, despite Iyers knowing that there are lot of dissimilarities between Iyers and Iyengars, Iyers inviting, participating with Iyengars in religious functions is quite baffling. Iyers must avoid Iyengars for religious functions to maintain the separate identity and SUYA MARIYADHAI. This is a sheer nonsense

Chandruji,

1 and 2 above creates a doubt in my mind. Are you a brahmin? Just touch your conscience and answer yes or no depending on the truth.

If you do not want to answer me you need not. It will still be ok for the forum and for me.

Sir,

First, who is a Brahmin.

Yes. I think so. What is the meaning of Agraharam?

Again, it is yes. If one is a true Iyer, knowing Iyengars are not properly recognizing, reciprocating, participating in their functions whole heartedly and not giving proper recognition, a true Iyer will definitely ignore and eliminate such people from his list of participants.

As a true Iyer, I will only follow that. Gandhian philosophy will not work here.

Dalits are partly successful only because of such retaliation.

Courtesy should not be a one way traffic.