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From: Anand Karalapakkam (kgk_at_md2.vsnl.net.in)
Date: Thu Apr 20 2000 - 05:35:48 PDT
Sri:
Sri Lakshminrusimha ParabrahmaNE namaha
Sri Lakshminrusimha divya pAdukA sEvaka SrIvaN-
SatakOpa SrI nArAyaNa yateendra mahAdESikAya namaha
Dear SrI HarikrishNa,
namO nArAyaNa.
Thanks for your questions. Many of your questions arise from your
unawareness of the distinction between the metaphysical entity
Brahman/God and the other metaphysical entity Suddha Sattva, as
established in ViSishtAdvaita. First of all, the nature of Brahman
has to be understood. Then, one has to understand the appropriate
names that can be designated for that Brahman. The most important
of the names turns out to be nArAyaNa, since it explains a lot
about Brahman and its relationship between all other metaphysical
entities which are sentient and non-sentient. Thus, the word
"nArAyaNa" as used in Upanishads and SrI VaishNava works is not
some "avatAra" of Brahman etc with a particular specific form,
but verily the all pervading Brahman, which is madeup of jn~yAna
and also has jn~yAna. Brahman takes up many forms and there are
specific names assigned to such forms taken by Brahman ie. Brahman
characterized by a specific form is also given a name. For example,
rAma, KrishNa, vAmana are all names of Brahman associated with
a particular form. nArAyaNa is also a name of a sub-vyUha
avatAra of Brahman. But, its also to be understood that, these
names verily denote the person who is "Brahman". It is Brahman,
who is the person, and not its form. So, when one says that
krishNa is the Supreme Person, it refers to the Brahman only, who
is also called as nArAyaNa. No one is objecting the fact that
KrishNa is svayam BhagavAn ie.KrishNa is indeed the Brahman itself
having taken a particular form.
I will prepare a detailed document on the various issues involved
in your questions. The document will have appropriate pramAnas to
answer your questions. The above stated points, which are very
brief, will also be elaborated in detail in that document.
Since this by itself will turn out to be a very large document, I
would first of all post certain cursory articles on certain issues
like Lord and His divine form, Swaroopa jn~yAna, dharmabhUta
jn~yAna, Suddha Sattva etc to explain the stand of ViSishtAdvaita
in these issues. These articles will not dwell deeply into various
pramAnas, but will serve the purpose of understanding the
philosophy of ViSishtAdvaita in general on these issues. I will
then answer your questions in detail based on pramAnas and the
cursory articles will help to give a good background of the
technical terms and concepts that will be employed in that final
document. In the final document, the stand taken by
ViSishtAdvaitins on these issues (which will be mentioned in the
cursory articles) will be elaborated based on the various
pramAnas. I will also give all the needed references for
you - be it works of SrI Vaishnava AchAryas Or otherwise.
After going through the cursory articles, please do feel free to
write to me, about any specific details you want me to address in
the final document. That will also help me to prepare the
appropriate contents of the document.
Since I have a quite hectic schedule, it will take some time
for me to prepare the final document. Please excuse me for that.
Since I would like the document to be thorough in its treatment,
I need more time also. But, I will post the cursory articles
quite soon. Thanks for your understanding.
Hope that bhagavd sankalpam and the blessings of AchAryas will
make adiyEn write these articles.
adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,
anantapadmanAbhan.
krishNArpaNam.
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