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From: Madhavakkannan V (srivaishnavan_at_hotmail.com)
Date: Fri Dec 22 2000 - 22:32:04 PST
SrI:
SrImathE GopAladEsika MahAdEsikAya Namah:
Dearest Srivaishnvas,
Please accept adiyEn’s dhaNdavath praNAmams at your feet.
The role of an AchArya in guiding a human being towards salvation can hardly
be exaggerated. Chandogya Upanishad, Kashyapa samhitha and many other works
emphasize AchArya’s part in shaping a disciple and his future.
GithAchAryan Sri Krishna tells Arjuna:
Tadhviddhi praNipAthEna pariprashnEna sEvyayA |
UpadEshyanthi thE jnAnam jnAninasthatha dharshina:
Learn by prostrating and questioning and by service to jnAnis (who have
seen- realized the truth) who will teach you this jnAnam. One of the most
essential requirements for a srivaishnava, thus, in order to lead a
religious life is to have a well qualified AchArya or Guru ( a spiritual
preceptor).
The term AchArya implies: one who acquires philosophic knowledge (jnAnam) by
the proper study of saashthrAs; by imparting such jnAnam that He had
acquired to His disciples makes them adopt the religious life fully in
accordance with or as laid down by saashthrAs; and one who follows the
saasthrAs himself. Yaangnyavalkya smruthi says:
AchinOthi cha saasthrArthAn AchArE sthApayathyapi;
Swayam AcharathE yasmAth thasmAth AchArya uchyathE
AchAryan should not only practice what he preaches; He also makes sure that
his sishyas too practice what he teaches. Our AchArya lineage does not end
or begin some time or other in the past. It traces back to Sriya: Pathi
Sriman Narayanan. It is not a thAnthOnRi (self styled) lineage. It does not
utter any statement an iota away from Vedic hymns. It is the most accurate
interpretation of Vedas, which does not violate any Vedic statement. It is
the one firmly propounded by Bhagavath Ramanuja and expounded by Swamy
Desikan.
And in this AchArya lineage comes our AchArya saarvabhouman Sri
Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam Srimad Andavan H.H Sri Gopaladesika
mahadesikan Swamy. There is no substitute to show our gratefulness to the
AchArya except to fall at his sacred feet again and again ( puna: puna :
PraNamya ).
Please pay your obeisance by contributing your mite and donate generously to
the cause of the 81st Tirunakshatram celebrations planned for March 24-31,
2001. Contributions
from the USA are tax exempt. Please mail your checks to
SMSA Inc,
c/o Smt. Nagu Satyan,
7821 W Alder Drive
Littleton, CO 80128
Please indicate on the memo of your check that your contribution
is
for Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam.
For those in India, please send the cheque or drafts in favour of "S.P.A.V
Truct, 81st Jayanthi a/c and send to Srikaryam, Srimad Poundarikapuram
Andavan Ashramam, 43- A/13, Asramam Road, Srirangam, TRICHY. PIN 620006,
India.
Regards
Narayana Narayana
AchAryan Thiruvadi
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