Q: Place of marriage in the life of Vaishnava Acharyaas

From the Bhakti List Archives

• March 1, 1996


Hari OM-
I've been keenly following the scholarly postings of Dr. Sadagopan, Mr. 
Dileepan, Rengarajan, Mani and am thankful to them for stooping to my 
level in the process. I thank them profusely and request them to keep 
these coming.

My question is on the role of marriage in a monk's life. Monks like 
Shankaracharya never married. From the various postings here, I gather 
that most Vaishnava Acharyaas were married before they became monks. Does 
this have any connection with the School they followed (Advaita, Dwaita 
etc.). Can one reasonably draw a parallel with the different sects. in 
Christianity (For ex: Catholic priests should never be married).

Om Namo Narayana.

-Srivilliputhur Gopalan Srinivasan