Ramanisblog

Tag: Iyer

  • Sumangali Prarathanai Hoovili Habba Procedure

    Two essential ceremonies are conducted in Brahmin Households in the South.

    These are followed as a More than as one sanctioned by Sruthi or even Smriti.

    Pudavai Kalam, Sumangali Prarthanai.Image.jpg
    Pudavai Kalam, Sumangali Prarthanai.

    More is a Group of practices followed by a specific group rather than as a matter of personal choice.

    These are followed in the South of India, in the States of Tamil Nadu,Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra.

    One is Samaradhanai and the other is Sumangali Prarathanai.

    Samaradhanai is conducted before or after an auspicious occasion like Ayush Homa, Upanayana, Pilgrimage , Marriage.

    This is conducted for any auspicious occasion.

    This is conducted either before or after the event .

    In Samaradhanai , Family Deity is worshiped at Home and people are fed.

    In Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, this is called Dhadhiyaarathanai.

    In those case where people are not sure of their Family Deity, the Pooja is offered to Lord Subrahmanya, in the case of Iyers, and in the case of Sri Vaishnavas, Lord Balaji.

    The other ceremony is the Sumangali Prarthanai.

    This again is a custom practiced and it does not find a reference in the Sruthi or Smriti.

    This function is more of sentiments practiced in the Family.

    This has to be performed, as a thumb rule, following the practices of the ancestors.

    While it is not advisable to start this practice if it has not been practiced by the ancestors, it is equally essential note that the practice is not to be discontinued if it had been in vogue in the Family.

    This is a function meant for women, married with Husband being alive.

    This has to be performed once a year for one Gothra and more than once in year should not be conducted.

    Tuesdays and Saturdays are to be avoided.

    Fridays during the Waxing of the Moon is advisable.

    Wednesdays/Thursdays are also permissible.

    Ashtami,Navami Thithis are normally avoided.

    Panchami is preferable.

    In this function the Blessings of the departed Sumangalis, those whose deaths precede the death of their husbands are sought and those who died young before getting married.

    Generally, if the daughter is getting married, the event is done before the marriage.

    In the case of a son getting married, this is performed after the marriage, with the Daughter-in-law conducting it.

    7 ladies and 2 young girls (preferably below the age of 10) are invited to participate in the function, partake the feast and receive thamboolam.

     

    The total number of ladies should always be in Odd numbers.

    The maximum number of ladies allowed normally is 11.

    Minimum is 5 +2.

    Advisable that unmarried Girl is about Eight Years as it is believed that she represents the Devi.

     

     

    The ladies who sit for the puja represent all the women of the family who are no more alive.

    The function is presided over by the elderly lady members of the family.

    Usually the kartha is a sumangali from the family.

    The gifts to the ladies vary among families and depend on the financial status of the kartha, very similar to the nandi sradham.

    The menu for the feast is also very similar.

    9 yds saree in silk or cotton is be bought along with a Blouse piece.

    The preferable colours are red, yellow and green.

    Invite and procedure.

    Those to be invited, kumkum, haldi, oil, shikakai, vasanai podi  are to offered at thier Home a day earlier

    On the morning of the day, wash the 9 yds saree & a blouse piece with madi (shuddam)after bath & dry.

    The Person conducting the Sumangali Prarthana should not take an oil bath.

    Kalyana kolam/Rangoli in the entrance, and semman & tie “ mavilai” at Home.

    For the pudavai kalam – put a square kolam, (padi kolam), over that keep a palakai & put kolam on that.

    In front of that, put a kolam to keep the elai.

    On both sides of the Pudavai(Sareee) kalam put kolam for 2 elais , beside for elais facing North, East is preferred next

    Fold the dry saree so that the “ pallu” comes on the top.

    The corner of the same should face N. Fold the blouse & keep on that.

    On the saree keep the following:

    A small mirror
    Oru kavuli ( 100 no:s) vethalai
    Plenty of Kali paakku
    Plenty of urundai manjal
    Nalangu manjal – (mix of haldi and chunnambu) on a vethalai
    12 bananas
    10 yds malli, kathambam or roses
    Maruthani on a vethalai
    A ball of haldi & water on a vethalai
    Chullu vella urndai in a vethalai.
    A gold chain.

    .
    In a “ kudam” – water to which cardamom powder and  dry ginger powder are added.
    One sombu( Vessel for storing water) of panakam
    One sombu of neer mor.
    Coins to give ladies with vethalai pakku
    On the kolam in front of pudavai kalam, put double nuni elai, one overlapping the other.

    Nuni should face North.

    On other kolams, place elais and Water for Drinking.

    Start before or after Rahu kalam.

    When the ladies arrive give them manjal mixed with water, to wash their legs, apply  and welcome them.
    Then give them chandanam(sandalwood paste), kumkum & flowers & ask them to take their seat near the elais.(plantain Leaf)
    Offer all items on menu to the pudavai kalam first & hthen serve clockwise to other elais.
    Show “ doopa deepam” to pudavai kalam first & then to all ladies.
    The “ conducting person” should take in the hand akshathai & flowers, sprinkle below the pallu of the saree in the pudavai kalam & pay your respects( in mind) to all the deceased sumangalis of the family.
    Show karpooram (Camphor) .
    Now offer a teaspoon of Water to the pudavai kalam and to all women in their hands.
    They are to drink it , start eating.

     

    Nobody should get up halfway through.
    After everybody finishes eating, again offer a teaspoon of water to thepudavai kalam & move the pallu corner to the North.
    One of the daughters in law should eat the pudavai kalam sappadu.
    After meals the ladies should be given naeer mor, panakam & chukku vellam.
    Then smear haldi on their legs and apply nalangu.(Mehendi)
    Offer flowers, maruthani, chandanam & kumkum.
    In a plate keep lot of vethalai, pakku, gundu manjal, coconut, kumkum bharani, comb, mirro, coin, 2 bananas, blouse piece – keep in their paLLU.
    Give akshathai in their hand, do namaskaram ,request them to Bless you.

    After the person who conducts has eaten, she must give the saree to a poor woman who also is asked to eat.

    The custom varies from family to family.

    Best procedure is to get Family Elders’ advice .

    Menu.

    Paruppupayasam

     Thayirpachadi

     Vella pachadi.

    vazakkai curry.

    avarai or kothavarai curry.

    Poosani Kootu .

    Pitlai(Paakalkai) .

    Mor kuzambu .

    Thani kootu.

    Kadalai paruppu sugar kosemalli .

    Paasiparuppu savoury kosemalli .

    Coriander thogayal .

    Ginger, mango pickle.

    Curry leaf thogayal.

    Rasam .

    Banana.

    Mango.

    Jackfruit .

    Ulundu Vadai .

    Sojji appam .

    Thengai sadam.

    Lemon rice .

    Kalathukku paruppu .

    Ghee .

    Curds.

    Honey.

    No Appalam or Vadams.

    Ref.

    http://kramans.blogspot.in/

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  • Iyers Ayyangars No Sanction Vedas Smriti

    The term Iyer and Ayyangars,spelled as Aiyer and Iengars as well, are two Brahmin  communities in South India.

     

    Caste Mark of Ayyangars.jpg
    Caste Mark of Ayyangars.

     

    The Iyers worship Shiva and the Ayyangars Vishnu.

     

    How these names of these communities came into use?

     

    There is no reference to these communities in the Vedas or the Smrtis.

     

    The Vedas do not provide a distinction between those who worship Vishnu or Shiva,

     

    Those who follow the Vedas are known as Vaidikas, which includes everyone who follows the Vedas.

     

    Those who follow the Smritis are Smarthas.

     

    In this correct sense those who worship Ship Visnu and Shiva or any other God mentioned in the Vedas are Smarthas and Vaidikas (this refers to Brahmin community.

     

    It is suggested in the Smriti that Brahmins use the surname as  Sharma, Kshatriyas, Varma and the Vaisyas, Gupta.

     

    There are no other suggestions on this issue.

     

    One can also find , among the Brahmins of the North, to include the name of the profession,or the type of Yaga they performs, like Vajpayee-Those who perform Vajapaya Yaga: then there are others who include the Rishis name,like Kak, to indicate Garga, Gargi.

     

    The concept of surnames do not exist in India.

     

    This has been a recent development.

     

    The custom of keeping the Father’s name in the initial is also recent, say about 200 years, though there is no record of this.

     

    The Smritis have described the elaborate system of identifying one, in the form of Abhivadanam, where the first ancestors,three important lineage, the part of Veda one is practicing, the commentator whose commentary is being followed and one’s name.

     

    One would not find Father’s name here also.

     

    One can find the Grandfathers’ name if the individual is second born;if first-born the Family Deity’s Name will be known.

     

    It is traditional to keep the name of the Family Deity to the eldest child(Male))and paternal Grandfather’s name to the second Male.

     

    Hinduism forbids the disclosure of personal information to all and sundry.

     

    They can be used for Abhichaara Prayoga by vested interests.

     

    Abhivadanam is to be done for elders of the same community and Brahmins and only those who can Bless you with Veda Swasthi Mantra(Blessings from the Veda)

     

    As far as I could check the terms Iyers, Ayyangars seem to have evolved during the middle ages, some say during Ramanuja’s period, though there seems to be no solid evidence on this.

     

    There terms were formulated to build an Endemic group by some.

     

    Unfortunately this is being practiced to-day to divide Hindu Brahmins ans Iyers ans Ayyangars, North Indian Brahmin and a South Indian Brahmin.

     

    These have no sanction of the Vedas nor the Smriti.

     

    Inputs welcome.

     

    Please read my post on Abhivadanam.

     

    However in chaste Tamil Iyan means one who realized the Brahman, one of better upbringing , worthy of respect-no religious connotations are intended .

     

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  • Why Shiva When There Is Vishnu In Veda

    Thee was a message to me in Facebook from one of the members of  Facebook Community ,asking me,

     

    ‘Why there is Shiva when there is Vishnu in the Vedas?’

     

    Sankaranarayana ,Sankaran Koil.png
    Sankaranarayana ,Sankaran Koil.

     

    Very intelligent question, devoid of prejudice.

     

    ( The question could have been the other way around as well)

     

    If people had asked themselves this question and studied the Vedas , the clash between various sects of Hinduism ,especially between the Iyers and Vasihavaites would never have taken place.

     

    Religion is an Experience.

     

    One can feel it, experience, never know it.

     

    Like pleasure,pain’ hunger, thirst, these are to be felt.

     

    When some one says I know pain it means that he/she knows the feelings of Pain, not pain directly.

     

    Religious experience falls under this category.

     

     

    Hinduism believes in Reality, one , two  depends on one’s perspective and mental disposition.

     

    Truth is One people view it differently.

     

    All are correct.

     

    If you watch a cricket match, one may look like to out from One angle and not Not out from another view.

     

    From each stand point it is Right.

     

    In a match the Umpire gives the benefit of doubt to the Batsman.

     

    In Real life, we give to  the one with which we are comfortable.

     

    So Reality is One, an Abstract, Sat Chit and Anandham,Being,Consciousness and Bliss.

     

    It is difficult for the Human Mind to conceive of this Abstract Principle.

     

    Vedas are aware of the limitations of the Human Mind.

     

    So it allows people to progress in understanding the Reality from their perspective dispositions.

     

    In Life we have preferences and we can not find any reason for it.

     

    It is just there and we have to accept it.

     

    So we worship what suits our Nature, what inspires us .

     

    Vedas provide choices for you to choose.

     

    In Vishnu one has the principle of Kinetic energy, Shiva potential energy.

     

    Vishnu the protectorate, Rudra the destroyer.

     

    Vishnu , the Father, who is affectionate to a fault, corrects your faults gently. whom one approaches with freedom as with  liberal father

     

    Shiva, the disciplinarian father and a Teacher, who is a martinet, with whom one approaches with respect.

     

    Both are the same, two sides of a coin.

     

    Read my posts on Siva Stuthi by Krishna and how he admonishes who does not respect Shiva

     

     

     

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  • Roman Brahmin With Upaveeda, Bible Lost Veda

    If people who read my post ‘Christians posing  as Brahmins, new method of Conversion’ are struck with the idea to be original, they are wrong.

     

    Their predecessor,not only posed as a Brahmin from Rome, he also wore the sacred thread,Upaveeda.

     

    Roberto de Nobili.Image.jpg.
    Roberto de Nobili.

     

    He had the Upaveeda sanctioned be a Pope!

     

    He wore Sandal paste on his forehead, wooden sandals on his feet, had a Kudil(Asrama in Sanskrit)

     

    He learnt Tamil and wrote Thembavani, a Tamil work on the Life of Christ.

     

    He propagated that the Bible was the Lost Veda.

     

    The gentleman, who is venerated b the ilks of frauds like Karunanidhi is none other than Robert De Nobili and his work on Jesus was a compulsory

     

    portion from standard  Ten (4 Form as it was called when I studied, some 45  Years back, it was still there when my son studied some 15 Years back)

     

    Roman Brahmin!
    The man who laid the foundation of inculturation was the Italian priest Robert de Nobili (1577-1656). He learnt Sanskrit and Tamil, wore saffron robes, sacred thread (attached with a small Cross!) and sandal mark on forehead and called himself a ‘Roman Brahmin’. He set up an “Ashram” in Madurai, became a vegetarian and used “Pathukas” (wooden footwear). He claimed the Bible was the “Lost Veda”, the “Jesuit Veda” revealed by God, and was considerably successful in harvesting souls. Fortunately for Tamil Nadu, his European masters were not happy with his inculturation methods and subjected him to an enquiry which forced him to shift to other places like Trichy and Salem. Finally he settled in a small house in Santhome, Madras, and died in 1656. ..

     

    talian Munivar!
    The next Italian missionary, Constantine Joseph Beschi (1680-1746), called himself Veeramaamunivar (Veer-Maha-Munivar) to pretend he was a great lover of Tamil. Outwardly conducting himself like a Hindu Sanyasi, he took care of the conversion business in the districts of Madurai and Thanjavur. His work on a biography of St. Joseph, Thembaavani, was hyped as a great work and projected as equivalent to Kambar’s Ramayana!

    Even now it is propagated that impressed with the beauty and richness of Kamba Ramayana, Beschi wanted to create a similar Christian work and hence came out with Thembaavani. It benefitted Christianity by establishing St. Joseph in Tamil Nadu. He then came out with another work, Paramartha Guruvum avarin Seedarkalum (Paramartha Guru and his Disciples), to ridicule our centuries old ‘Guru-Sishya Parampara.’ This “Munivar”, who denigrated our Guru-Sishya Parampara, was honoured by Dravidian racists who installed a statue of him on Marina Beach.4

    German Iyer!
    In the same period, a German missionary Barthalomaus Ziegenbalg (1683-1719) also worked in Tamil Nadu and called himself Ziegenbalg Iyer. This Protestant priest landed in Tranquebar (Tharangampaadi) in 1706 and worked with a Danish company which was the first to bring German printing machines to Tamil Nadu. He printed the first Tamil Bible (New Testament). Even while indulging in conversions, he often quarrelled with the Danish authorities who put him in jail for some time. He was the first to stoke anti-Brahmanism by creating a hatred for Brahmins among other communities. As he fell sick often, he died at the age of 36 in 1719, leaving behind two Churches, a training institute for converted Indian priests, and 250 converts in Tranquebar. 5

    Italian Iyer
    Next in the list of Christian Priests who “served” the cause of inculturation was another ‘Iyer’ – G.U. Pope (1820-1907) or ‘Pope Iyer.’ He translated a few Tamil literary works such as Thiruvaachakam, Thirukkural and Naaladiyaar, and said he could find the teachings of Apostle St. Paul and St. Francis of Assisi in Sri Maanickavaachakar’s Thiruvaachakam; innocent Tamil scholars felt elated at his ‘graciousness’.

    Even some Tamil Saivite Mutts felt proud at G.U. Pope’s statement. Tamil scholar Muthukumaraswamy, who has in-depth knowledge on Saiva Siddhanta, demolishes this myth, citing Pope’s own statement, “In the whole legendary history of this sage … there stands out a real historical character, which seems to be a mixture of that of St. Paul and of St. Francis of Assisi. Under other circumstances what an apostle of the East might have become,” as evidence of Pope’s sarcasm and disdain. He exposes the mindset of G.U. Pope who states that a Religious Guru from the East would not have attained a spiritual level beyond this in order to undermine the spiritual greatness of Sage Maanickavaachakar.

    Dr. Muthukumaraswamy quotes another instance where G.U. Pope ridicules murti worship or vigraha aradana: “G.U. Pope says that a person who attains a higher level of spiritualism also indulges in Murti worship and rustic rituals, which go totally against his level of spiritualism.” 6

    There is another concocted story about G.U. Pope in Tamil Nadu which says that Pope wanted the statement, “Ingu oru Thamizh Maanavan urangukiraan” (A Tamil student is sleeping here) sculpted on his cemetery and that the statement is still present there on his cemetery. But those who have gone to the cemetery have confirmed that there was no such statement written on his cemetery except the ones from the Bible.

    Born in Montepulciano, Tuscany in September 1577, Roberto de Nobili arrived in Goa in western India on May 20, 1605. It is probable that he met here Fr Thomas Stephens, SJ, who had arrived in Goa in 1579, and was probably in the process of composing his Khristapurana.[1]

    After a short stay in Cochin in Kerala, he took up residence in Madurai in Tamil Nadu in November 1606. He soon called himself a “teacher of wisdom” (தத்துவ போதகர்), and began to dress like a Sannyasin. Claiming noble parentage he approached high-caste people, and eagerly engaged in dialogue with Hindu scholars about the truths of Christianity.

    De Nobili mastered Sanskrit, Telugu and Tamil languages and literature, with the help of his teacher, Shivadharma. As he expounded the Christian doctrine in Tamil he coined several words to communicate his message. He used the word “kovil” (கோவில்) for a place of worship, “arul” (அருள்) and “prasadam” (பிரசாதம்) for grace, “guru” (குரு) for priest or teacher, “Vedam” (வேதம்) for the Bible, “poosai” (பூசை) for Mass, etc.

    He adopted also local Indian customs, such as shaving one’s head and keeping only a tiny tuft. He wore a white dhoti and wooden sandals, to don the look of a sanyasin. Another symbol he embraced was the wearing of a three-stringed thread across the chest. He interpreted the three-stringed thread as representing the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

    He was one of the first Europeans to gain a deep understanding of Sanskrit and Tamil. He composed Catechisms, apologetic works and philosophic discourses in Tamil, and contributed greatly to the development of modern Tamil prose writing.

     

    His method raised a fierce controversy among his fellow Jesuits and with the Archbishop of Goa Cristóvão de Sá e Lisboa. The dispute was settled by Pope Gregory XV with the Constitution Romanæ Sedis Antistes issued on 31 January 1623. The customs of the three-stringed thread, the tuft, the use of sandalwood paste on the forefront and baths were allowed, inasmuch they did not imply any superstitious ritual. The Pope invited also the Indian neophytes to overcome their caste sensitivity and their despisal of the pariahs.

     

    Citation.

    http://vsrc.in/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D/item/54-inculturation-the-most-potent-weapon-in-the-church-s-armoury

     

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_de_Nobili

     

     

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  • EVR Fake Political Anti Brahminism

    Anti Brahimn Poster
    Anti Brahminism

    ‘If you find a Snake and a Brahmin, kill the Brahmin First”-EVR

     

    “Recalling his earlier Erode days my media friend said EVR used to address public meetings at Erode’s Karaivaikkal maidan. Power connection for loudspeakers came from an electricity line drawn from an Iyer lawyer’s place close to the maidan. At one such meeting the Dravidian Kazhagam supremo, in an anti-Brahmin rant, called on his followers to go for Brahmins with scissors and have their sacred-thread snapped. As lawyer Dhandapani Iyer heard EVR holding forth on cutting off Brahmins’ sacred thread he cut off power to the public maidan, leaving the mike system dead .

    Realising his tactical mistake EVR swiftly made amends by raising his voice, loudly enough for him to be heard by the advocate Iyer, that his followers must ensure sure that nice Brahmins such as Dhandapani Iyer were spared. Power connection got restored and EVR carried on his speech, avoiding references that could hurt the man who powered his public address system.”

    This actually happened.

    An unruly crowd went around in Srirangam, cutting the tufts of Brahmins, Their Sacred Thread.

    They went around chanting,

    ‘Paapan Ozhiga”

    Down with Brahmins’ the term used to denote was derogatory, Paapan, in their opinion.

    These jokers did not even know Tamil.

    The term Paarpan was the term first used by Thirumoolar in his Thirumandiram, a Yoga Sastra Book in Tamil.

    The term means ‘one who Has Realized, who has seen the Real Self’

    EVR called Brahmins as interlopers into Tamil Nadu, conveniently forgetting the fact he is a Kanndiga.

    He administered a  Ganapati Temple, which was in his Family control.

    He justified it by saying that he was just doing his family duty!

    If you believe in some thing honestly, you should be at least honest about it.

    His ilk later justified this act as a sign of his magnanimity.

    I had attended some of his meetings.

    In one meeting in Chennai he said, to the crowd, when there was a commotion,

    ‘I do not want intelligent people here.

    I want only fools

    Sudras, you are the illegal children of Brahmins,

    Go and l…,

    If you have any self-respect go a Brahmin woman”

    These abuses continued unabated.

    Suddenly he changed tracks.

    ‘I am not against Brahmins but Brahminism‘

    What is this?

    Till date no one has explained what the difference is between Brahmins and Brahminism.

    This is just like ‘Annaism’ by MGR, which neither he nor others could understand.

    Periyar on 13/10/1919

    ‘We are apprehensive because we think aff All Brahmins”….

    “Not all Brahmins  are bad.

    There are honest, dedicated and patriotic Brahmins.

    We should remember they are influential’!

    Note he gives away why he changed track in the last sentence.

    ‘We should not oppose Brahmins’-Navasakthi 28/2/1925

    It is a mistake to imagine that only Brahimns are arrogant and are obsessed by Caste.

    It is with the other communities-Kudi Arasu 2/8/1925.

    The man who publicly spewed venom against the Brahmins had a news item published in his newspaper meant to attack Brahmins thus.

    “EVR performed the last rites  according to Vaishnava Rites,of  his elder brother E.V.Krishnaswamy’s  wife Nagammal  by non Brahmins’

    Kusi Arasu 10/2/1927.

    Brahmins were attacked because their cultural and religious roots,but you perform the same rites through the others.

    What a Joker!

    The quotes are from the Book by Sri.Suppu ‘Dravida Mayayai’ Dravdianism .an Illusion

    Links.

    Periyar’s self-respect movement was founded on a principle of intense anti-Brahmanist racism, while nominally claiming to be a movement espousing “rationalism” and “athieism”.Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars) were frequently held responsible by followers of Periyar for direct or indirect oppression of lower-caste people on the canard of “Brahmin oppression” and resulted in innumerable hate attacks on Brahmins and which amoung other reasons started a wave of forced mass-migration of the Brahmin population. Periyar is alleged to have called for “Brahmin killing”s and burning down Brahmin homes. Later, in regards to a DK member’s attempt to assassinate Rajagopalachari, he “expressed his abhorrence of violence as a means of settling political differences”. The canard of “Brahmin oppression” rationalized conspiracy theories and pointed to Brahmins as enemies against whom the radical movements pitted themselves. The legacy of the anti-Brahmanism of the self-respect movement was taken over by the later Dravidan parties. Growing anti-Brahmanism in Chennai provided a rationale for polarization of the lower castes in the DMK movement. Eventually, the virulent anti-Brahmanism subsided somewhat with the replacement of the DMK party by the AIADMK. EVR’s followers have broken temple icons, cut sacred threads and tufts from Brahmin priests, and have often portrayed Brahmins in the most derogatory manner in their meetings and magazines.

    This mellowed down write up and find out how facts are doctored and presented as if EVR had no connection with virulent anti Brahminism

    http://www.thanthaiperiyar.org/social-activities/anti-brahmanism/

    http://mymysore3.blogspot.in/2006/12/periyars-brahmin-connection.html

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