let us join hands
Reality and thoughtsSometime in May 2018 in Facebook's brahmins group page (somehow I missed copying and I couldn't trace later), a smartha member posted a lengthy note about the bad experience undergone by him when he was to perform the shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ) of his parent in Shankara Mutt, Shankara Pura near Gandhi Bazar, Bangalore. While admitting the truth of the contents in the post, many smartha members also expressed in the 'comment column' about their dissatisfaction feelings and the bad experience, they had undergone at the time of doing 'shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ) ceremony'. Some smartha members wrote that the mutt employees/ purohits are not extending even the minimum co-operation at the time of performance of shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ).
On going through the various comments I came to conclusion that some smartha/advaita followers are definitely not happy with the service at Bangalore Shankarapura Shankar Mutt. But, I still believe these members might haven't evaluated the difficulties of the mutt authorities and employees. One of the true reasons might be due to pressure of heavy work, the employees are unable to extend proper service to the respective community.
With due respect to all orthodox families, to all those who are dissatisfied with Shankar Mutt, the following is my suggestion:
Let us have Shraddhe (ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆ) while doing Shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ). Hence, once we start doing the ceremony, we may have to forget what is happening in and around that place while performing the ceremony.
As the details of mismanagement/not doing justice by Purohits, etc., shall be known only during the course of the ceremony. The Kartha, in my opinion, should not question as this would lead to, not having concentration, thereby disturbing his mind and the purpose of doing Shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ) will be defeated.
One may have to introspect and analyse why there were short comings; are they due to heavy work by the purohits or for any other valid reasons. Whatever may be the case, I feel we have to give another chance to the mutt authorities. But, even after forgiving/ignoring the first bad experience, if the same bad experience is repeated, then the best thing is that one has to avoid going to that particular place and look for alternatives.
Yet, if, at a later date, when the person is sure that the things are going in normal way in the mutt, he may again perform the shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ) in that place forgetting his earlier bad experiences. This is how, one can reconcile, when the mutt authorities have reconciled.
Let us all be more and more broad-minded. Let us not distinguish between advaita followers (smartha/iyer/ sanketi/havyaka etc and dwaita followers (madhwa/ vaishnava) and vishitadwaita followers (iyengars). Our custom is to remember the departed parent/s at least once in a year by doing a ritual as prescribed by shaastra. Unfortunately, this shaastra differs from community to community and region to region.
In my opinion, we have to remember our deceased parents and do whatever the purohit asks us to do during the conduct of the ceremony. There is no point in questioning. I have seen even under the same sub-caste, be it madhwa or smartha, the north Karnataka area customs vary with that of southern karnataka or Udupi area. Likewise, the Udupi area customs vary with the one that is prevalent in southern Karnataka or north Karnataka area. We see variations from region to region or state to state.
In my opinion, we have to remember our deceased parents and do whatever the purohit asks us to do during the conduct of the ceremony. There is no point in questioning. I have seen even under the same sub-caste, be it madhwa or smartha, the north Karnataka area customs vary with that of southern karnataka or Udupi area. Likewise, the Udupi area customs vary with the one that is prevalent in southern Karnataka or north Karnataka area. We see variations from region to region or state to state.
Under the above context, a smartha can think of Madhwa Mutts which are plenty in number in every place and the expenses are very much affordable to middle-class family. Please let us not question the different ways of performing shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ) in madhwa mutts and compare with shankar mutt tradition. I have already said in the earlier para that we find differences from region to region. Greatness lies in ignoring such things while performing the shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ). Let us have Shraddhe (ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆ), that's it.
In Mysore madhwa mutts, we pay around Rs.600 to Rs.800 for this ceremony including the prasada (food) for two. We need to pay Rs.150 for extra person's food. Dakshine (tips) as per Kartha’s wish. In all we may have to spend around Rs.1500 per shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ) for two members of a family. This amount is very reasonable considering today's cost of living (year 2019).
In short, my simple logic is that we need to compromise. That's all.
The shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ) ceremony is traditional and is a custom in the brahmin community being performed from the past over several centuries. This ceremony has its own benefits to all those who believe in it. Let us not skip the ceremony and take any harsh decisions. We shall rather adjust to the present scenario or look to competitors (like smarthas utilising madhwa mutt's service or vice versa, etc). I give the best example. Nowadays, we are trying to compromise the sub-sect while looking for a bride or a groom in most of the literate brahmin families. Please apply the same logic. We need to have just Shraddhe (ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆ) while doing Shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ). And leave the rest to God. Remember “Karmanye va….”
Some opine to stop doing shraddha rituals and spend the money by giving donations and serving the poor. We shouldn't agree to this for two reasons. We shouldn't break the tradition that is being followed by our ancestors. Secondly we are helping our community people as only brahmins are involved.
I know everybody is proud of his sub-sect in brahmin community and try to argue that his/her sub-sect is better and purer than others in the same brahmin community. Hence, please don’t opine otherwise, if some are not happy with my suggestions, at least, in order to bring all sub-sects in brahmin community together. Thanks.
Here is another reaction in FB on 10 March 2019
Here is another reaction in FB on 10 March 2019
- ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ತಮಗೆ ಸ್ವಾಗತ. ಶಂಕರ ಚಾರ್ಯರ ತತ್ತ್ವ ಸಿದ್ದಾಂತ ಮರೆತು ಅಧುನಿಕ ಇತರರ ನಡವಳಿಕೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನ ಮುಳುಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಮಠದ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಕರ್ತರ ಜವಬ್ದಾರಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿಗಮನಿಸಬೇಕು.
Hide or report this - Bere math dalli hige maduttare annudakinta Namma matadalli Elli tappagide adannu tiddi kollabeku Hage maneyalli darma palisabeku adannu Bittu mathadalli padhdhati Matra beku endre hege rayar mathadalli onde aduge bere karyakramakke badasuttare adu estu janakke gottide avar mathadalli maduva devaralli taratamya namage sari hogudilla
Hide or report this - ನಿಮ್ಮಂಥ ಹಿರಿಯರು ಮುಂದಾಳತ್ವ ತಗೊಂಡು
ಬಲವಂತ ವಾಗು ಮಾಡಿಸಿ
ಮಾಡಿ ತೋರಿಸಿ
ಇವತ್ತು ನನ್ನ ಮಗ ರುದ್ರ ಚಮಕ ನಮಕ್ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಹಾಕ್ತೀನಿ
ಬೇರೆ ಹಾಕಮ್ಮ ಅಂದ ಮಠ ಅನ್ಸತ್ತೆ ಅಂತ
ಮಠ ಅಂತಾನೆ anko ಒಳ್ಳೆದು ಅಂದೆ
ನೀವು ಹೋದ ಕಡೆ ನೀವು ಮಾಡಿ
ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನ ನೋಡಿ ಬೇರೆ ಹಿರಿಯರು ಮಾಡ್ತಾರೆ
ಅದೇ ರೂಡಿ ಆಗತ್ತೆ ಅಷ್ಟೆ
My personal view
Today, the gentleman (Facebook) is saying the services in Raghavendra Mutt is good. My view is that let us not compare one Mutt with another and draw conclusion. Every Mutt, be it a smartha mutt or a madhwa mutt, is managed by different group of people at different times and we may be unhappy with the services during some period of time in either mutt. And definitely these group of people might get changed at a later date. And madhwa families might want to go to a smartha mutt for doing shraddha (ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧಾ) due to location advantage or for any other reasons.
end- thoughts documented sometime ಇನ್ 2019
No comments:
Post a Comment