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Re: Iyers and Iyengars (Jagan's Posting)

From the Bhakti List Archives

Venkat Nagarajan • May 4, 1999 


Dear Sri. jagan

You friend's statements are a result of nescience.  It seems he is unable
to differentiate between mundane and non mundane terminology.  The
terms Iyer and Iyengar are mostly used in a mundane context.   one who
is superficial, by nature, may be tempted to associate the term Iyer with
those Brahmanas who are adherents of the Advaitic notion of the nature
of reality and the term Iyengar with those Brahmanas who are adherents
of the Vis'istadvaitic notion of the nature of reality.  However, this type of
assignment is a farce.  The significant proportion of Iyers and Iyengars
are only Brahmins by birth (Kevala JAti Brahmanas.)  They, may know
the terms Advaita, and Vas'istadvaita, but don't have a clue as to what
they stand for!  

To an ardent seeker of truth, regarding the nature of reality, the terms
Iyer, Iyengar, Hindu, are all meaningless!   All that is relevant is: 
1.  the most perfect exposition of the nature of reality, is denoted
Vis'istAdvaita Vedanta;  
2. Vis'istAdvaita Vedanta is the only, unadulterated, detailed exposition
of Vedanta;  
3.  He or she either is or desires to be a Vis'istAdvaitan.

Adiyen,
Venkat