Can one, who has performed Bharanyasam, offer milk to termite mounds (where snakes live) on Adi and Thai Fridays at any Perumal temple or Tiruvahindirapuram Sesha kinaru (well)?
Vidwan’s reply
It is a practice to offer milk to the snakes that live in termite mounds or Sesha kinaru considering them as a part (amsham) of Adiseshan.
It is said that after one has performed Prapatti, one must not perform archana at temples in one’s name, lineage (gothram) and star (nakshatram); kindly clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
It is inferior or secondary for anyone to perform archana in one’s name, lineage and star, not restricted only to those who have performed Prapatti. It is superior to perform archana taking a vow that one does so to please Perumal (Bhagavad preetyartham) and doing archana in His name
Notes:
If Perumal is pleased, He will grant all our wishes without the need for us to ask Him; He will grant them all on His own volition. If one still wants to ask Him over and above this, one must seek His satisfaction alone, which by itself will grant us all health, comfort, wealth, or anything that we desire.
Can women go to temple in the morning on the day of their parents’ shraddham?
Vidwan’s reply
They are not prohibited from going to temple, but it is good to avoid as a mark of respect.
Moreover, those who can participate during shraddham must help out in the kitchen or aid any related works. Those who are unable to do can observe it mentally.
Helping out during a shraddham accrues benefits that is equivalent of visiting temples.
Can women partake milk, curd and butter during Ekadasi?
Vidwan’s reply
If women cannot observe total fast, they are permitted to take milk, curd which is not considered sin.
Approximately 150 years ago, my ancestors migrated from Kanchipuram to Salem. My great-grandfather is Kotikannikadhanam Thathacaryar. As my grandfather and father were not made aware of who our kula daivam was, pray clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
For all Srivaishavanas, kula daivam is Bhagavan Sriman Narayanan. Alavandar says ‘stoshyAmi naH kuladhanam kuladaivatam tat’.
For Tirumalai Thathacaryar Svami and his lineage, Tirumalai Venkatachalapathy is kula daivam
For the one who has raised this query is from the lineage of Kotikannikadhanam Thathacaryar for whom Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal is the kula daivam. Based on this, the questioner can consider that Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal as the kula daivam
Adiyen has two Salagrama deities at my home in America donated by my father and father-in-law. It is considered inauspicious to have two deities as one, four or more deities are to be worshipped. I shall try to obtain the required set of deities. But my question is will Perumal harm his devotees for this?
Vidwan’s reply
One Salagrama deity is allowed to be worshipped
If there are two Salagrama deities, thirumanjanam and other offerings should be conducted in a grand and elaborate manner for one of the Salagrama deities and they can be kept separately in a box or two different boxes.
Thirumanjanam should be done primarily to one of the deities along with other offerings while all the offerings except thriumanjanam are to be done to the other deity until one obtains two more Salagrama deities.
What is the state of Prasadam that is offered to Bhagavan while there are no such things as hunger or thirst in Paramapadam?
Vidwan’s reply
We do not offer food to satiate His hunger; instead, we offer it as a service.
Moreover, they accept the subtle portion of the food and grace us back as a pious food which in turns become a prasadam that we partake. Agama also says the same.
What are the vegetables that can be cooked during Dvadasi?
Vidwan’s reply
Vegetables that can be cooked during Dvadasi are
Pumpkin
Yellow Pumpkin
Ladies finger
Broad beans
Colocasia
Cluster beans
Vegetables that are to be avoided are
Raw plantain
Brinjal
All Plantain based vegetables are to be avoided during Dvadasi, some households do not cook snake gourd as well. One should follow as per the elders’ practise of their respective household.
Can adiyen repeat in thiruvai at 10pm the stotra patam that adiyen had learnt through GSPK? Are there any specific timings for learning stotra patam?
Vidwan’s reply
Stotra Patam are meant for all to practise at all times. There are no rules as such and one can learn them at nights also. That is why Swami Desikan had mercifully graced us with such Stotrams.
Can we accept the prasadam from non Srivaishnava devotees who had performed Saranagathi? Will we be committing any offence against a bhagavata if we do not accept it?
Vidwan’s reply
It is not a must for an orthodox Sri Vaishnava who strictly follows the ritualistic practises to accept the prasadam from a non Srivaishnava devotee. As their strict ritualistic practise are nothing but Bhagavad Thiru Aradhanam, they will not do something that causes hinderance to their worship. It is not a sin if one rejects it.
Notes:
There are two matters that are to be considered – one is austerities and the other is the devotion. It is considered superior to accept the prasadam that are offered to Perumal by the devotees with utmost devotion.
True devotees will not cause hinderance to an orthrodox Srivaishnava, as they are aware of their strict adherence to rituals; hence they will stay away and will not distribute their prasadam to such people.
There was a topic on misdeeds and atonements in the previous Sudarshanam issue. Due to time, place and the current pandemic outbreak we could not perform certain rituals; how to atone for such misdeeds? Please clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
In general, we atone by submitting our prayers to Perumal seeking His pardon. One does it exclusively by performing prayaschitta sharanagati.
Scriptures have provided atonements for each misdeed. If we are aware of the misdeeds, then we can atone accordingly, or we can recite the following verse from Swami Desikan’s Nyasa Dasakam and pray to Perumal as such for atonement.
akrutyAnA ca Karanam krutyAnAm varjanam ca me |
kshamasva nikhilam deva pranatArtihara prabho ||
As I am desirous to become a Sri Vaishanava, what are the practises that I should follow?
Vidwan’s reply
There are many books on Ahnikam that provides details on practises of Srivaishnavas. You can learn this from an elder about such practises and through Sri Vasinava Dinacharya.
Importantly, Sri Vaishnavas should apply Thiruman on their forehead, perform Sandhyavandanam, Thiruvaradhanam, visit temples to worship Perumal. Apart from this they should address themselves as ‘adiyen’. These are the traits of a Sri Vaishnava.
At the outset, adiyen would like to ask for forgiveness if adiyen’s query is meaningless. We are followers of principles of Vishisthadvaitam; for emancipation, we perform Prapatti and the liberated souls are blessed with eternal servitude to Permual in his eternal abode; we are fortunate to be part of such a sublime tradition. But what is the need for Perumal to reveal himself? Why did he incarnate and why did he create this world? While there is no bondage because of the karmas for him, why does He strive to elevate us from the bondages of this material life? Why does he exist and why did He create this universe?
Vidwan’s reply
The question of why Perumal exists and why this universe was created does not arise at all as this query will be relevant only when something is created new; Perumal exists eternally and so is this universe.
Before creation began and during the time of universal dissolution (pralaya kalam), the universe and other beings were in subtle forms. To enjoy the experience of playing with His children, Perumal beings the creation – this is similar to a mother waking up a child that has been sleeping for a long time to feed that child.
Instead of suffering in this material world, if we reach Srivaikuntham, where there no hunger and thirst, and we can have supreme and eternal happiness. We can be with Perumal like how children live with parents. Perumal incarnates to make us realize this and leads us to Him.
Like how parents care for their children, Perumal does all of these because of his affection for us, His children.
We have witnessed that Azhagar bringing bridal gifts during the wedding of Meenakshi; why then Sri Vaishnavas do not worship Ambal? Why do we not celebrate Varalakshmi Vratam?
Vidwan’s reply
Perumal performs many activities on behalf of Devas like carrying bridal gift for Meenakshi, appearing at the tip of Paramasiva’s bow for Tripura samharam; he also appears as Upendran for Indran’s army. This is his way of gracing the Devas.
Emperuman is awaiting to grace us directly. We can acquire all auspiciousness if we directly worship Perumal.
As all demigods are under the control of Emperuman, we will not beget their wrath if we do not worship them and worship only Perumal.
It is appropriate that we do not worship other gods as it is akin to being a chaste wife who is faithful to her wedded husband. Emperuman is our only husband and after being wedded to Him, it is our duty to worship Him alone.
As it is not a custom, Sri Vaishnavas do not celebrate Varalakshmi Vratam.
How to celebrate Deepavali traditionally? As adiyen had felt for a long time that bursting of crackers are latest additions over a passage of time. Please let us know how our elders celebrated Deepavali.
Vidwan’s reply
It is important ritual to take Ganga snanam on Deepavali. One must wake up at early dawn before sun rise, apply nalangu (turmeric mixed with quicklime) take oil bath with hot water.
One must wear new clothes that has been offered to Perumal, partake the sweets and savouries offered to Perumal.
Bursting of crackers is a part of tradition. Elders have followed this practise for many years. It is also in practise to light up a sparkler before the sanctum of Emperuman. So, one should follow all these to celebrate Deepavali traditionally.
What is the purpose of Navarathri? Our temples have a festival of launching arrows (ambu podudhal) during Navarathri; does this signify slaying of Ravana? Are there any special stotrams that women can chant during this period?
Vidwan’s reply
The purpose of Navarathri is
Worshipping of auspicious Goddess Lakshmi Devi
Worshipping of Lord Hayagreeva
To celebrate the victory of Lord Sri Rama
To render nine different devotions
Women can recite Lakshmi Sahasram, Chatusloki, Sri Stavam, Sri Gunarathnakosam, Swami Desikan’s Sri Stuti, Bhu Stuti, Godha Stuti and Padhuka Sahasram during Navarathri. If women are desirous to read Ramayana, they can recite Mahaveera Vaibhavam on all the nine days which is equivalent to reciting Ramayana completely. Temples celebrate the utsavam of launching arrows on Vijaya dasami to showcase how Emperuman had become Vijayaraghavan after defeating Ravana.
This tradition is in practise to ascertain the number of years a king had ruled the kingdom. The number of Vanni trees at the border of a country that are cut down by the kings with arrows signify the number of years the king had ruled. As Emperuman is the king of all kings, he appears on a horse and cut the Vanni tree during this festival.
To know about this in detail please click this link below
Has Swami Desikan mentioned about Deepavali in any of his works? Kindly clarify
Vidwan’s reply
This is traditional festival. Swami Desikan has mentioned about Deepavali in a shloka and in continuation he has provided many details. To know more on this please click the following link
What is Swami Desikan’s instructions on how to eat?
Vidwan’s reply
Out of many ways on how to eat, here are a few – one has to follow these instructions before partaking prasadam
Honoring guests
Acamanam
Asanam (Seating)
Preparing the place
Placing the leaf from which food is partaken
Ensuring five parts of the body are wet
Sitting on the place prepared
Most important is related to uttareeyam – upper garment
To learn more in detail about the above 8 points, what entails anna shuddhi (purification of cooked rice), vandanam, etc., before one eats, please refer to the YouTube channel available on this link
