SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
Q and A Video responses
Q. How to bring naichya bhAvam (humility) naturally into our day to day behaviour?
https://youtu.be/bCneU5UDQVY?si=i6Ig49JyIo0VPmHM
Q. Is it compulsory for us to learn dhivya prabandham from our samASrayaNa AchArya only?
https://youtu.be/6AFjRwWZFDI?si=MFWgvB3kvZIngK8v
Q. How do we develop affection for bhAgavathas?
Q. How to retain the early morning goodness throughout the day?
Q. What are the fundamentals which a SrIvaishNava should understand and practice?
Q. What should be an ideal daily routine of a SrIvaishNava?
Q. What should be our general etiquette when we meet and speak to jIyars/AchAryas?
Q. Who is a vaishNava? Who is a SrIvaishNava? How should vaishNavas interact with others?
Q. How to develop attitude of praying to bhagavAn only for kainkaryam, not for other benefits?
Q. How should a SrIvaishNava react to superstitious behaviour of people around him?
Q. How to overcome typical comments from our relatives on our devotional practice?
Q. How to create awareness in young generation people to follow sampradhAyam principles?
https://youtu.be/Wg3U68J3-xo?list=PLcJLpGJlP9mq1ujSPoQLn5ayAi6Jl6Www
Q. How do we address SrIvaishNavas – in terms of different age groups and genders?
https://youtu.be/NxGiWANnzlo?list=PLcJLpGJlP9mq1ujSPoQLn5ayAi6Jl6Www
Q. What do we need to carry when we visit AchArya’s thirumALigai or mutt?
https://youtu.be/334aoQfZX5E?list=PLcJLpGJlP9mq1ujSPoQLn5ayAi6Jl6Www
Q. What is the difference between bhAgavatha and SrIvaishNava? Are they same or different?
https://youtu.be/ysrgrKxO38o?feature=shared
Q. How to avoid mAnasika apachArams towards a bhAgavatha? What prAyaschiththam should we do?
https://youtu.be/TylGaZn1pEc?feature=shared
Q. We say asmadhgurubhyO nama:/sarvam krishNArpaNam asthu. Please explain the significance.
https://youtu.be/61Hw4zyU9IU?feature=shared
Q. How can we bring SrivaishNava principles into practice in our day to day life?
https://youtu.be/T2kRhOLJe8o?feature=shared
Q. In our sampradhAyam, chanting of thirunAmams/dhvayam which is more recommended?
https://youtu.be/Wn2n8ZNCtKs?feature=shared
Q. Is nAma sankeerthanam recommended for a person who has undergone pancha samskAram?
https://youtu.be/0DJD44qVuOc?feature=shared
Q. For a SrIvaishNava, focus should be on community sEvA or bhagavadh/bhAgavatha sEvA?
https://youtu.be/N9JIxY_kuuM?si=4pSewAiuoY2Cinx1
Q. Can SrIvaishNavas go and offer milk to snakes in their burrows?
https://youtu.be/-jOwGk_ETlo?feature=shared
Q. According to our sampradhAyam, how much is too much in taking care of our physical needs?
Q. What are the standard rules to be followed for wearing a thuLasi mAlA?
Q. Some cannot perform SrAdhdham due to financial situations. How to handle this?
Q. If our forefathers already attained mOksham, is it necessary to do SrAdhdham for them?
Q. Is a SrIvaishNava allowed to do any parihAram mentioned in jyOthisha SAsthram?
Q. Should prapannas avoid friendship with opposite gender, other religions?
Q. Can SrIvaishNavas worship dhEvathAs other than SrIman nArAyaNa?
Q. If a prapanna/SaraNAgatha doesn’t follow the principles properly, will he be punished by God?
https://youtu.be/mYzZLQGKi30?feature=shared
Q. In our sampradhyAyam, can we break and offer coconuts in temples?
https://youtu.be/vxfLs6Le6MQ?list=PLcJLpGJlP9mq1ujSPoQLn5ayAi6Jl6Www
Q. How can one progress in attaining Sishya lakshaNam?
Q. According to our sampradhAyam how to honour a guest who visits our home?
https://youtu.be/au3A7-BRPW4?si=tbsAPBkU2DJLgLxd
Q. Debates vs personal conduct/compassion – Which is more important for the present day?
https://youtu.be/4fEip4zZmqY?si=u5QH82DbbIQtL4HV
Q. Dilemma of a sincere prapanna – solution for that
https://youtu.be/kPjeYYw0mEI?si=3pPiRDbafVhHUBoS
Q. Touching dogs is considered impure. Please explain.
https://youtu.be/9gR8EaU7rkU?si=XJWuV1ieVTN3nDB6
Q. As a SrIvaishNava what are anushtAnams to be followed during evening/night time?
https://youtu.be/XJ8cNdzqDe0?si=QgzcTeGzsAiHUZ3Y
Q. How to manage sandhyAvandhanam 3 times a day, while we are working?
https://youtu.be/dLUtQ1eOnc0?si=GXfEakwWPxY5o4bw
Q. What are the rules and regulations to be followed for SikhA and shaving?
https://youtu.be/9PH-31kAcBc?si=EN_bYL5hx0DCl0Xt
Q and A Text responses
Q. Why do vaishNavas wear kamala gatta mAla?
yE kaNta lagna thuLasi nalinAksha mAIA
yE bAhu mUla parichinnita sankha chakrA
ye vA lalAta phalakE lasadh Urdhva puNdrA
thE vaishNavA bhuvanam Asu pavithrayanthi
This purANa SlOkam explains who a vaishNava is from a physical appearance perspective and what he does to the place where he lives. One who wears mAlas (necklace) that is made out of thuLasi and lotus stems (also includes pavithra mAlai which was adorned by perumAL, thAyArs, AzhwArs, AchAryas), One whose shoulders are decorated with the unique symbols of SrIman nArAyaNa – Sankham and chakram (as part of the pancha samskAram process), One whose forehead is decorated with Urdhva puNdram (an authorized symbol applied by mixing the clay that is found in holy pilgrimages and that represents the holy feet of SrIman nArAyaNa) – while it talks about forehead specifically, our pUrvAchAryas always applied 12 Urdhva puNdrams at various places of the body as per SAsthram, That vaishNava quickly purifies the world (the place where he is present).
Q. Can SrlvaishNavas worship dhaththAthrEya avathAram of bhagavAn?
dhaththAthrEya avathAram is an AvESa avathAram. AvESa avathArams of bhagavAn are not meant for worship for mumukshus.
Q. Is there any grantham in which complete process of pancha samskAram /samASrayaNam with steps and details is mentioned?
Srl pAncharAthra Agama, parASara dharma SAsthram etc explains about it.
Q. In our sampradhAyam we worship SrIman nArAyaNa in aiSvarya bhAvam. Shall we worship Him or different avathArams?
Different AzhwArs have enjoyed SrIman nArAyaNa in different bhAvam. For example: nammAzhwAr, thirumangai AzhwAr et al – mAdhurya bhAvam; periyAzhwAr – vAthsalya bhAvam. So, yes, bhagavAn can be enjoyed in different moods.
Q. As a SrIvaishNava, are we allowed to observe the new year?
Yes – but it varies from region to region. Generally, chiththirai month (starting around April 15th in gregorian calendar) is considered as the first month in our native calendar. The way new year is celebrated can be seen from one incident in bhagavath rAmAnujar’s life. Once when Srl rAmAnujAchArya was informed about new year, he became joyous and told “We are getting closer to reaching bhagavAn as we have shed one more year in our life”.
Q. vaishNavas don’t consume onion, garlic, mushrooms, etc. But can we consume drugs/remedies that contain them?
We can try our best to avoid such medicines also. But if we have to take medicines for survival, we may not have any other choice.
Q. In SrIvaishNava sampradhAyam, is thuLasi vivAham performed?
Such practice is not found in our granthams or pUrvAchArya anushtAnams.
Q. While offering thAmbUlam and sambhAshanam should we say ‘adiyEn dhAsan’ or abhivAdhanam?
Saying ‘adiyEn dhAsan’ is the norm.
Q. Please tell us what to do on samASrayaNam day. Should we celebrate the date or same star? What are the proceedings on samAsrayaNam day?
That day can be considered as the real birth star and one can show gratitude to one’s acharya for making that happen. Please see – https://granthams.koyil.org/2015/12/22/simple-guide-to-srivaishnavam-pancha-samskaram/
Q. For a prapanna new year begins only in aippasi thiruvONam. Please explain.
Yes – this is said considering the appearance of first AzhwAr happened on that day as it dawned a new era for us, SrivaishNavas.
Q. Is sUrya dhEvar the avathAram of perumAL according to SrlvaishNavas?
Not specifically. But sUrya maNdalam is said to be a special abode of nArAyaNa — he is known as sUrya nArAyaNa in that place.
Q. Is samASrayaNam still valid if it is done to children who don’t know what it means?
It is certainly valid —- but as they grow up, they should be taught about its significance.
Q. To get an overview of our sampradhAyam and philosophy, can we study books of scholars/researchers/ohilosophers?
If you want to understand our SrivaishNava sampradhAyam and our philosophy, it is better to study books by our sampradhAya people. You can see our publications in books.koyil.org.
Q. As devotees following Srl vaishNava sampradhAyam, is it correct to pray sarasvathi dhEvi for education, since sarasvathi dhEvi herself named swAmy rAmAnujar as ‘Srl bhAshyakArar’?
No – we should not be praying to anyone else for anything. sarasvathi dhEvi was inspired by bhagavath rAmAnuja’s work — just because she did that, we need not worship her. Our prayers should only be to bhagavAn for eternal kainkaryam as the only benefit.
Q. Sometimes we are getting confused due to other sampradhAyams’ philosophies. What is the remedy for this? Many of us didn’t have direct association of our sampradhAyam in the past.
Only if we stop listening to other sampradhAyam people, we will start getting clarity. If we keep comparing, it will only lead to constant confusion. When our AchAryas have given everything, why should we seek other sampradhAyams? Different sampradhAyams will have different concepts, personalities, etc. – we will not have explanation for everything. We have to understand and accept that certain things are beyond us, and let it be. If we focus on our sampradhAyam alone, then we can be learning in a more focussed manner. We need to know what is important and what is not from our sampradhAyam perspective. It will take time. Years of continuous study is required. Everything cannot be learnt just like that. Now that we have some association, we should take time and slowly go through the available resources one by one. Patience and perseverance are the key for learning.
Q. How should SrlvaishNavas spend their time in a day?
Ideally, we should make sure that the following aspects are done everyday:
* Wake up early in the morning (around 4.30 AM)
* Remember guruparamparai, rahasya thrayam and chant ‘hari’ 7 times
* Complete our early morning activities
* Perform some dhyAnam on guruparamparai and dhvayam
* Take bath, apply thirumaN/SrichUrNam, if applicable, perform sandhyAvandhanam
* Learn some pAsurams, SlOkams. Listen to lectures for some time
* Perform thiruvArAdhanam
* Visit to temple, AchArya’s mutt/thirumALigai if possible
* Accept prasAdham (meals)
* Studying AzhwAr/AchAryas works, under the guidance of an AchArya
* Evening sandhyAvandhananm, thiruvArAdhanam
* Spend some time together with family on devotional aspects
* Sleep early (maximum by 10 PM)
Q. Are prapannas not supposed to take thirtha prasAdham from dhivya dhEsams which have anya dhEvatha sannidhis as well?
If our sannidhis are managed by SrlvaishNavas – then there is no issue. The other dhEvathAs’ sannidhis can be avoided.
Q. Please explain how EkAdhasi is not an upAyam for SrlvaishNavas.
For SrivaishNavas, EkAdhaSi is not a means to attain something. Because in SAsthram, it is emphasised as an authentic vratham, we observe it as a kainkaryam. The goal of EkAdhaSi is to maximise our time in bhagavath vishayam. We try to avoid cooking which needs elaborate efforts. But if someone is unable to fast, each person can see how best he can limit his food consumption and keep it minimum. Sincere effort should be there – but if we are unable to do full fasting, it’s not going to be an issue for us.
Q. Some people have this fear in mind that if we don’t worship other sampradhAyam AchAryas then perumAL will be upset on us. How do we view this?
No need to fear at all. When bhagavAn is there to protect us, why would he punish us for doing what is ordained for us to do?
Q. Which purANams are recommended by our pUrvAchAryas to read?
Srl vishNu purANam is the main one.
Q. What are some of the SrlvaishNava paribhAshai for cooked items?
offered cooked rice – prasAdham
ghee – neyyamudhu
sAmbhar – nezhi kaRiyamudhu
vegetable – kaRiyamudhu
kootu – koottu, kaRiyamudhu
appalam – appalam
vadai – thiruppaNiyAram
rasam —- sARRamudhu
pAyasam – thirukkannal amudhu (thirukkaNNAmudhu)
curd — thayiramudhu
pickle — (thiru)UrugAy
Q. Can ‘harE rAma…’ be chanted before taking samASrayaNam?
Before samASrayaNam – yes. But it would be good to recite ‘SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:’ and continuously pray to bhagavath rAmAnuja, for the samASrayaNam to happen.
Q. Can we chant hanumAn chAlisa?
For SrIvaishNavas, it is important to learn, recite and understand dhivya prabandhams, sthOthrams and other works by AchAryas such as rahasya granthams and their vyAkyAnams. There is a lot of bhakthi literature which are present in different sampradhAyams. SrlvaishNavas must focus on our core literature.
Q. Why do many SrivaishNavas apply only SrlchUrNam and not thirumaN?
Both thirumaN and SrichUrNam should be worn together only. During aSoucham, one should not wear SrichUrNam, but thirumaN is always compulsory.
Q. Did Srlman nArAyaNa really promise rAmAnujar that one who has sambandham with rAmAnujar will attain mOksham at the end of their current life?
Yes – it is said in gadhya thrayam as such. The kainkarya prApthi he prayed for is not just for himself, but all his sambandhis, and perumAL granted that. But one has to remember that – one should remain a rAmAnuja sambandhi and conduct one’s life as a rAmAnuja sambandhi.
Q. What does it mean to conduct ourselves as a rAmAnuja sambandhi?
In general – his thoughts are laid out in rahasya granthams by piLLai lOkAchAryar such as mumukshuppadi and Srlvachana bhUshaNam – these will be the main source of how we should conduct ourselves.
Q. Why do we recite the charma SlOkams?
It is to remember his orders:
sarva dharmAn parithyajya mAm Ekam SaraNam vraja – give up all dharmam and surrender unto me only.
mA Sucha: – don’t worry
and his surety:
aham thvA sarva pApEbhyO mOkshayishyAmi – I will ensure that all your sins are eliminated
These should be constantly remembered.
dharmam – upAyam. One should give up all upAyams other than bhagavAn. dharmam should not be seen as righteousness, in this case.
Q. Can a SrlvaishNava prostrate or do SAshtAnga pranAmam before lauklka gurus (school teachers, college professors and mentors in work or business circle)?
Not unless they are also SrIvaishNavas.
Q. Can a SrIvaishNava approach dhEvathAntharams to handle diseases?
There is no need to go to dhEvathantharam – it is just a disease and should be treated aptly.
Q. In some venkatESwara temples, ganESa is present with Urdhva puNdra on forehead? Should SrIvaishNavas worship this ganESa?
No – not to be worshipped by SrIvaishNavas.
Q. Can SrIvaishNavas worship AvEsha avathArams?
AvEsha avathArams are avathArams where emperumAn descends on a karma bound AthmA. Hence, they are not worshippable by mumukshus. mumukshus can celebrate the works of the avathArams of perumAL but cannot worship the AvEsha avathArams.
Q. Can SrlvaishNavas celebrate nAga/garuda panchami?
Not specifically at home.
Q. Can SrlvaishNavas perform vara lakshmi vratham?
No.
Q. Do SrivaishNavas celebrate vighna nivAraNa chathurthi?
Nothing to celebrate for us on that day. It is not a SrivaishNava festival at all.
Q. Do SrlvaishNavas celebrate rAdhAshtami?
No.
Q. Can SrIvaishNavas use mAla for japam?
We should not do japam with mAla. Because, focus goes on counting – main principle of our sampradhAyam is – when we do japam, we should focus on the meaning of the manthram and meditate upon the meaning constantly.