From: gb29+@andrew.cmu.edu (Guntur N Balaji)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Subject: Re:Kuram narayana on Andaal
Date: 29 Dec 92 16:22:18 GMT
Organization: Masters student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA



In a previous article, narayana@oracorp.com (K. T. Narayana) says:

>
>The Bhakthi regime was a serious blow to the development of secular
>Hinduism. Actaully idol worship as exemplified by the TN variety is
>the worst communal form of Hinduism one can find. It rigidifies the
>thought, sectarianizes the subjects, and worse makes people believe
>that Moksha is something you can get by going to a temple. If one reads
>the Thiruppavai, and the worship performed by AndaaL (we used to go
>to the temple early morning every day in the Dhanurmasam period to
>hear to the Thiruppavai), one clearly see that behind the facade
>of total prapatthi of AndaaL (admirable that AndaaL is), there is a
>total absense of any intellectualism. In other words, the religion
>of the south immensely damaged the intellectualism and the secularism
>of the Hinduism.
     Hinduism is far more than Intellectual search for the salvation of
the soul.  If you are well informed, you will know that there are
several Yogas or Margas for realisation.  The Yoga which deals with
intellectual methods is the Jnana Yoga.

     And one should not forget that Bhakti Yoga is as much a means
for salvation as any other method.  It all depends on the mentality
or make up of the individual, his wish to follow a particular way to
achieve his end.  If Andaal chose the Bhaki marga, then there is
nothing wrong or demeaning about it.  Depending upon a persons
vasanas, and his environs. etc. he may propose to choose any path
for his salvation.  This freedom given to an individual in Hinduism
is the Secularism of Hinduism.  What else do you mean by secularism
in a religion ?
>
>Thus the decline of Hinduism in the north, and the recent revival
>of the brahminical vedantic tradition, along with the yagnas and
>the yagas, is perhaps the best that we should hope for.
>If it takes of, we will have more thinking Hindus than chest-beating
>Hindus chanting "Ayappo-Swamyne-Ayappo" variety. Intellectualism
>is the fulcrum of Hindu thought. It offered diversity, freedom thought,
>and liberation of mind. More importantly, it offered individuality
>of thought and action without the abiding structure.
>
>...kt
>
  If Ayappo Swamye is chest beating, then performing blind yagnas
without understanding their purport is as much of the chest beating
variety.  And I dont understand how performing an Yagna and offering
sacrifices in the Agni is more intellectual than a song of devotion
of Andaal.  If you look in more carefully you will find that Andaal
probably excercises her head more than the ones doing the Yagna !

     I appreciate that you said Intellectualism is the fulcrum
of Hindu Thought.  Fine, but shouldn't an iota of what you preach
be followed by you.  I mean an intellectual understanding for the
evolution of the religion.  If you have heard the Bhaja Govindam
song of Adi Sankaracharya, you will notice that no less an authority
like him has suggested "Govindam Bhaja Mudamate".  With his intellectual
approach and his understanding of the Advaita philosophy, he still
persisted in writing works like Bhaja Govindam, Soundarya Lahari and
commentary to Vishnu Sahasranamam and glorified the Bhakti marga as
much as he glorified the vedantic approach.   And except for the
commentary on Vishnu sahasranamam, the other two works were made by him
at the fag end of his life.  If you really like the intellectual way of
Hinduism, I am glad for you, but stop bashing the other proven and
verified margas of salvation.

Regards,

Balaji/...