Can ladies recite Gadyatrayam as part of the nityaanusandhaanam at home? Or is it allowed only for men? If women should not recite Gadyatrayam, are they allowed to listen to related discourses to learn the meaning?
Vidwan’s reply:
A few believe that since Gadyatrayam is a Stotram, ladies can recite. A few others have thought about whether ladies must recite Gadyatrayam since it is not a simple Stotram and in addition to it being a Stotram, it also contains messages from Vedanta such as sharanagati. One can recite, considering it to be nothing but a Stotram.
Can Mangalya Stava shloka be recited by both sumangali-s and widowed women?
Vidwan’s reply:
The term ‘Mangalyam’ in the Mangalya Stavam shloka refers to all things auspicious and it is not included to refer only sumangali women of a house. With a broad outlook, it refers to all that is auspicious. Hence it appears all, including widows, can recite Mangalya Stavam.
Is the name “rAmA” mentioned in Divya Prabandham? How is the name rAmar referred to in Tamil?
Vidwan’s reply:
Nammazhvar explicitly mentions the name “rAmar” in his “kaRpAr rAmapirAnai allAl maRRum kaRparO” pAsuram.
The name Raman in Tamil means one who is pleasing to the mind. ramayati – on is pleasant to everyone. In chaste Tamil it is “manattukkiniyAn”. This is what Andal has said in her pAsuram. A few more related pAsuram-s:
Cittira kUDattu iruppac ciRu kAkkai mulai tINDa
attiramE koNDeRiya vanaittulagumm tirindODi
vittaganE irAmA O ninnabhayam enRu azhaippa
attiramE adan kaNNai yaRuttadum Or aDaiyALam
(Periyazvhar Tirumozhi – 3.10.6)
ciRRavai tan sol koNDa sIrAmA tAlElO!
Kulashekara Azhvar (Perumal Tirumozhi 8-6)
silai valavA! sEvaganE! sIrAmA tAlElO!
Kulashekara Azhvar (Perumal Tirumozhi 8-6)
