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question

From: Srinivasan Rangarajan (srangara_at_ic.sunysb.edu)
Date: Fri Apr 02 1999 - 00:01:11 PST 

question:

To followers of visistaadvaitam, there is no necssity for sanyaasam to
gain liberation.  Unlike Raamaanujaachaaryan,  Vedanta desika lived in
grihastaashramam for instance. I can probably understand the state of
sanyaasaasramam as total disengagement from worldly relationships and
hence an expression of ultimate devotion to lord.  I can also imagine a
life as a grihasta in total devotion to the lord.  In this context what is
the significance of having children (procreation) and with what
perspective does one take part in the associated act which must of nature
involve sensory pleasure of two souls without apparently a devout purpose?

This also got me thinking about what position unmarried people are
accorded, although they might not have taken up sanyaasam ?  Can you give
an example of a significant bhagavata from our lineage who might not have
married? I can think of Bheeshmar from Mahaabhaarata but then i believe he
had strong 'sankalpam' to forsake marriage.  What about normal people who
never marry?


Srinivasan Rangarajan